Episode 11: Unexpected Arrivals
Another beautiful morning after a night of love. Zack woke up with a smile as he looked over to the other side of the bed to see his wife. She was sleeping peacefully with a smile as well. He chuckled softly as he got up out of bed and headed for the bathroom to freshen up. When he heard NiGHTS get out of bed, he looked over at the bathroom doorway.
"Mornin', baby." He greeted.
"Hey, Zack." NiGHTS greeted back. "Last night was remarkable."
"Was it? Well, you know how I am when it comes to havin' some good sex."
"I know that." She walked into the bathroom and wrapped her hands around his chest. "So, for a week, what are we gonna do?"
"I don't know. Where's your brother?"
"He's in the room next door to us." While she was speaking, she gently held her stomach. "Maybe he can suggest something we wanna do."
"Good idea. I'll be back." After that statement, Zack left for Midnight and Grapple's room, leaving NiGHTS alone in the room. She started feeling a little weak and queasy as she continued to hold her stomach as she slowly walked out and gently sat on the bed. Seconds later, her grandfather mysteriously appeared from the doorway of the room. He looked a bit concerned about his granddaughter.
"NiGHTS, are you feeling okay?" He asked her.
"I don't think so." NiGHTS groaned as she held her stomach tighter. "I felt fine last night. I wonder what's happening."
"Hmmm. Let's see what's happening. Come on, sweetheart." George held out a hand as NiGHTS looked at it with confusion.
"What?"
"We're gonna get your older brother and see if he can determine your diagonsis of your stomach ache."
"Oh, okay." She took his hand and he led her next door to Midnight's room. She was surprised to see that Zack wasn't there and she expected him to be here. "Where's Zack?"
"He went outside to play with Grapple… and get some breakfast." Midnight replied. "Grandpa, what's wrong?"
"NiGHTS isn't feeling too well somehow. She said she felt fine last night and she's wondering why she feeling a little queasy this morning."
"Okay." The wolf brother of NiGHTS walked up to her and gently placed a hand on her stomach. He healed it along with determining the diagonsis. He gasped when he found out what was the problem.
"What is it, Midnight?" She asked with anxiousness.
"NiGHTS…… you're pregnant."
She was speechless. Same for George. It remained silent until Zack came back with Grapple, who was carrying the bags of breakfast.
"What's up, ya'll?" He asked. The three looked over at him and NiGHTS walked over to her husband. "What's with the speechlessness?"
"I'll tell you later." NiGHTS replied. "Right now, we need to eat. I'm starving."
An hour later…
NiGHTS and George were alone in Zack and NiGHTS' bedroom, discussing nightmaren pregnancy and how it works.
"Is nightmaren pregnancy just as the same as normal human pregnancy?" NiGHTS asked as she was sitting beside her grandfather with his arm around her shoulders.
"Not exactly. This is much different. Since you made love with and married Zack, this birth could be unlike any birth I've ever seen. Being a nightmaren mother isn't easy. Believe me, I know." George replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when your mother was pregnant with Midnight first, then you, it really made me happy. She always wanted to be a mom… a single mom at that. When you two were born, that's when she realized……… she was in danger."
"Of what?"
"………Your arch enemy: Raccoonilator."
"But, isn't...?"
"Wizeman was an enemy of yours long after Raccoonilator was born. I call him your arch enemy and I do mean yours when I say it."
"Why?"
"Well, when you just turned 3 and Midnight turned 8, Raccoonilator was planning a murder on the both of you when you were asleep. Luckily, your mother was sleeping with you and she heard the killer raccoon's footsteps. Minutes later, she started stabbing the raccoon in his abdomen hard with the nearest thing she could find…… my scale skinning knife. When Raccoonilator screamed for his life, the two of you woke up with terrified screams as you saw your mother fight the deadly bastard. Then, what happened 15 minutes after the stabbing made me break into tears…"
"………………"
"………He twisted her neck hard, making a sickening crack sound as this happened. You and Midnight were crying your hearts out for your murdered mother. NiGHTS, you were the one that amazed me."
"If I can remember that night…" NiGHTS was in a deep flashback in her vision as she closed her eyes. She invisioned herself at her age of 3 in her nightmaren form, standing on her bed next to Midnight. She looked at her mother, who was dead and on the floor in front of Raccoonilator's feet. She was in tears as she saw herself cry in Midnight's calm arms. Then, her child form grew furious over her sadness and turned around to face the killer. She growled like a tiger as she started to mutate into a purple and white striped tiger cub and lept at his face in anger, literally eating his face up until his face was nothing but skinned and bloody when he died. She transformed back to her normal form and looked satisfied. Midnight jumped off the bed and was able to catch her just in time, due to the fact that she worn herself out. He gently placed her back on left half of the bed that their mom used to sleep in and tucked her in before he did the same to himself on the right half. The grown-up NiGHTS watched in tears as she saw herself and Midnight fall fast asleep, going into a flash back to the present again and she was still sitting beside her grandfather, who looked concerned.
"You remember now?" He asked.
"Yeah. That was the first time I ever mutated into my beast form." NiGHTS replied. "I still don't understand why you're saying that a nightmaren pregnancy can be difficult."
"The fact that you're a nightmaren, NiGHTS. Sure, you're a human being, but still. You have the nightmaren spirit inside you, which means flying is limited and nightmarens can go for more than a day without flying."
"Are being sarcastic?"
"Damn! She got to me!"
"Don't scare me like that."
"I'm telling truth, though… about the flying issue. Since you're pregnant, you and Zack has to live a life similar to a penguin until you go into labor."
"You mean, Zack has to do the cooking, the shopping, the whole nine yards while I have to stay and rest?"
"Exactly. You can't fly too much while you're pregnant."
"What'll happen if I do fly too much?" George replied his answer in her ear. After 10 seconds, her eyes went wide after what her grandfather just whispered to her. "Are you serious?"
"Yes, NiGHTS. I'm telling you this for your own good. Unless you want that to happen to you, I suggest you keep yourself on the ground and nowhere above that. Understand?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good girl. Now, here's the right time you can tell Zack: when you show your clue."
"Which is…?"
"Remember I told you that you took your mother's sewing profession when you were born? Sew some baby clothes for your child… or children for that matter."
"Huh?"
"NiGHTS……… you're gonna have sextuplets."
"Oh, my GOD! Really?"
"Yep. So, don't expect yourself to forget that your stomach's gonna be bigger-than-big."
"It is possible for normal humans to have a set of 6 being born on the same day, right?"
"Yep. This might be an amazing fact for you, but you are the first female nightmaren to become pregnant with sextuplets. I'm so proud of you." George embraced his granddaughter with love in his heart while NiGHTS embraced in return, breaking into tears of happiness and joy. Being a mother was her biggest dream, but she didn't expect to become a mother of 6. This could turn out to be Zack's big day when she tells him secretly by a clue. After 4 minutes of the embrace, they finally released each other and looked at each other with family love.
"Your mother was an excellent mother, NiGHTS." George continued. "I'm sure you will, too."
"I hope so. Here's a scientific question: who genes will get passed on to the babies the most?"
"Shockingly, it'll be Zack's. Let me explain why…" Before he could explain, Grapple's roar was heard from the distance and they both turned to see him sitting in the doorway. He was happy to hear that his best friend was about to be a mom. NiGHTS smiled at his happy smile as she walked up to him and hugged his left front leg.
"You heard us, huh?" She asked her pet, who nodded in response. "Well, it's gonna be tough for me to be a mom, but I'll give it my best shot. Are you gonna be a great helper for me during my pregnacy?" Grapple nodded again.
"Good boy. How long will I be pregnant before they're actually born, Grandpa?"
"9 months to be exact. Remember, show your clue to Zack and he'll be crying in deep tears by the time you start sewing baby clothes for your baby boys."
"………'Boys'?"
"Yep. All 6 will be boys."
"How do you know all this?"
"NiGHTS, I know everything."
So, by he next few days, which was towards the very first day of NiGHTS' first month of pregnancy, Grapple and Midnight were very supportive to her until it was the right time for NiGHTS to start sewing her babies' garments for Zack to get surprised. Let's see how they do at this point of NiGHTS' life.
First Month
"Now, Grandpa, explain to me why Zack's genes are gonna get passed on the most." NiGHTS asked while she was watching tv with her older brother and pet. George was reading a book called The Luck of a Great Grandparent's Life.
"The reason why is because he's different from you. He's some kind of animal, right?"
"Yeah."
"Well, that's how your sons are gonna be born, but here's good news. They'll have some of your genes as well."
"Like?"
"The hair, the eyes, and your powers."
"They're gonna have powers?"
"Zack just mutates. Of course, they'll have powers from you. What kind of powers is what I'm unsure about."
"Whew!"
"Don't be too nervous about this parenting thing, NiGHTS. I'm sure you can handle it like Zack can handle when you… you get what I mean."
"Oh, yeah. When should I start sewing my sons' clothes?"
"Next month. He comes back by then."
"Zack left somewhere?"
"Yeah." Midnight replied. "He had an important travel meeting to go to in Greenland with his dad. He'll be back by next month."
"Oh. When you do start your sewing, I want you to sew about 10 outfits for each one." George stated as he closed his book.
"60 outfits!" NiGHTS exclaimed. "How am I gonna finish 60 outfits in a month?"
"You're a fast sewing person, just like your mother."
"That explains it. What colors do I need?"
"Red, blue, green, purple, white, and black."
"Odd group of colors."
"But, that's how it is."
"I'll start on the first day of next month."
Second Month
NiGHTS was alone in her bedroom, already sewing her 11th outfit in the blue color. She finished the reds.
"How the hell I'm gonna sew 60 outfits by the time I get into labor, I'll never know." She said to herself as she continued sewing the best she could, taking 5 sips of her ice cold bottled water every now and then. An hour later, Zack just came back and dropped his luggage with shock as he saw what his wife was doing.
"Oh, my God! NiGHTS, are you kiddin' me?" He asked with surprise. "Are you… sewing baby clothes?"
"Yeah and guess what?"
"What?"
"You're a father, Zack."
He became completely speechless as he ran up to his wife and kissed her casanova style, stopping her from her sewing for a minute. After a 10 minute kiss, they released from it, looking into each other's eyes.
"Oh, damn, NiGHTS! I'm so proud of myself!" Zack pleaded happily. "I've always wanted to be a father ever since I told my dad."
"Since when was that?"
"Since I was 3."
"Wow. Well, your dream has come true, baby." NiGHTS embraced him lovingly. Zack embraced back, having tears flowing down his cheek with happiness. Even though NiGHTS couldn't see his face, she could feel his happiness of being a father. Grapple, Midnight, and George were watching from the doorway and they were in happy tears as well.
"Aw! Happy couple." George said to himself as he patted Grapple on his giant leg for comfort. Midnight looked over at his grandfather before he spoke.
"Will I make a great uncle to her sons?" He asked randomly. George scoffed before he spoke.
"Of course, you will. If NiGHTS is gonna be an excellent mother, then you'll be an excellent uncle." He replied.
"I hope so."
Third Month
"So, NiGHTS," Zack started as he was helping with the sewing. He worked on the last three colors while NiGHTS was finishing the green. "What gender will these babies be?"
"Boys." NiGHTS replied. "I know you're happy."
"Hell, yeah! 6 boys! That makes my life a lot better."
"I know it does. I didn't know you could sew. How long has it been?"
"Since I just started the 5th grade. It was difficult as first, but the more practice I got, the better I've become."
"Good."
It got quiet again as they continued sewing the babies' clothes. Zack took a good look at his pregnant wife and his eyes went wide for a moment. This puzzled NiGHTS.
"What is it, baby?" She asked.
"All 6 of them… in there?" Zack asked as he looked at her huge stomach. NiGHTS looked down as she saw it as well and smiled, rubbing her stomach in the process.
"Surprising, huh? You were the one who did this to me."
"Yeah, but I didn't expect you to have sextuplets as a result. I expected at least twins or triplets or somethin', but damn! I did a good job."
"You sure did. You know what you also did?"
"What?"
"Pass mostly your genes to them."
"Mine?"
"Yeah. Only a few things come from me."
"How do you know?"
"My grandfather told me."
"ZAAAAAAAAAACK!" A crowd called from the front door that was just opened by Midnight. "Congradulations!"
"Aw, thanks, guys." Zack thanked as he saw his entire family with baby gifts and congrats cards and other things. "What's with all the party stuff?"
"I'm planning a baby shower for NiGHTS." Zack's mother, Hannah, replied. "Sextuplets! WOW!"
"Yeah, wow."
"You think it's gonna be hard, don't ya son?" Peter asked, walking up to his son.
"Yeah. Two babies is a'ight, but 6?"
"Don't worry, sonny boy. You'll be fine. You and your mother could easily take care of you and your twin sister easy does it. I know you can handle 6."
"It is my fault she got sextuplets."
"True. You're the one that said: 'I can handle a little sex with you, NiGHTS.' And you proved it, too."
"Did you see how big her stomach is?"
"WHOA! LOOK AT THAT WHOPPER!"
"Dad…" NiGHTS moaned with annoyance as she finished her final white shirt and pants set. "…this stomach's big enough to carry 6 babies."
"I know. It's amazing. You oughta thank your husband for doing this."
"She did." Zack replied.
Ninth month
The biggest event of Zack and NiGHTS' life was about to be near its end. NiGHTS has been eating healthier than she usually does, just to keep all 6 babies healthy while Zack did the shopping for the food, since he knew that she couldn't fly during pregnancy. Everyday this month, he's been anxious to come from out of his stay-at-home sword training classes in the basement with his 7 students. Now, they arranged to have NiGHTS watch him do his classes while she relaxes until it's time.
"Okay, Joseph." Zack started, speaking to one of his students. "You have to have the bravery and courage to use a katana sword. I had it when I had my first sword."
"Do I have to hold it in some sort of posture or somethin'?" Joseph asked.
"Yeah. Hold it like you're about to slice some ass."
"Oh, okay."
NiGHTS chuckled as she shook her head with annoyance as she rubbed her tummy softly.
"Zack, how old are these students of yours?" She asked.
"9 through 14 so far. Why?" Zack asked, still keeping his focus on his teaching.
"You really shouldn't say words like that around them."
"But, at least they get what I'm tryin' to say."
"I really enjoyed my baby shower. I love these gifts they sent me."
"Hey, it's the thought that counts anyway."
"You had a baby shower, Mr. Nightmaren?" Tony, another one of Zack's students, asked curiously.
"Yeah. I'm expecting to be a father any minute now. For now, I'm a father-to-be."
"Cool. You're gonna be a dad!"
"Yeah, it is pretty cool. Tell ya the truth, I've been wishin' to be a dad from the day I turned 2."
"Neat." Gregiyo, another student, replied with excitement.
"Zack, I'm gonna go and call Tikal, Cream, Tanzanikyte, and Croc." NiGHTS called out as she slowly stood up. "I've gotta tell them this good news."
"Take your time, baby." Zack called back. "When you start feelin' anything, give me a holla."
"Okay." NiGHTS headed towards the kitchen to talk on the phone, but by the time she laid her hand on the receiver, she dropped it when her hand slipped and it made its way to her stomach, which was having contractions. "Zack…"
"What is it, girl?"
"It's time."
"ALRIGHT! WHOOOOOOOOHOOOOOO! I'll be right there, baby. Keep breathin'!" Zack cleaned up his teaching quarters and kindly dismissed his students early before he headed to the kitchen and escorted NiGHTS to his car.
"You're really worked up about this, aren't you?" She asked as she was taken to the car.
"Hell, yeah! I'm gonna stay by your side until the birth has been made. I promise." Zack replied as he opened the passenger door for his wife before gently setting her in and buckling her in as well.
"Aw, Zack. I know you will."
17 minutes later…
NiGHTS and Zack were at the Rallingsdale City Hospital, which was not too far from the hotel. They were in a room together, having Zack holding her hand in prayer… sort of. NiGHTS was really exhausted, due to the fact that she had a special numbing needle for nightmarens who have contractions. She smiled tiredly at her husband, who was whispering to himself with his head down.
"Zack, you okay?" She asked.
"Huh?" Zack surprisingly asked in the middle of his meditation. "Yeah… yeah. I'm okay. I just can't wait until the actual birth happens."
"Neither can I."
"You just go to sleep, a'ight?" Zack looked up at the clock behind him before he continued. "It's 11:54. I'll sleep over in one of those chairs, okay?"
"Okay. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, my angel."
The next morning…
"Is it on, man?" Zack asked as he was viewed in a video camera by his cousin, Martavin.
"Yeah." Martavin replied from the behind the camera. "Go ahead."
"Hello, Tikal, Cream, Tanzanikyte, and Croc. Ya'll know me, Zack. I'm at my city's hospital, which is Rallingsdale. NiGHTS just got into labor and she's doin' great. This was a big surprise for me, being a real dad and everything. Anyway, since the doctor's really can't get NiGHTS to do the normal birth process, they're gonna do the birth in C-section. They'll call me in when they're done."
"Zack, you can come in with her, if you want." One of the doctors called from the C-section room. Zack turned towards the door in response before he focused his attention back on the camera.
"Or better yet, I can go in there with her. I see you dressed up to go in there, man."
"Yeah, I am ready to see your kids, man." Martavin replied. "You dressed up, too."
"Duh, just in case they were gonna call me in. Speakin' of which, let's go."
4 minutes later…
The camera shows Zack sitting next to NiGHTS in he proper attire for being in C-section. She looked right at the camera with a smile as well as Zack as he spoke.
"This is the best thing that's ever happened in my life." Zack started. "Getting' married first, then having 6 children born on the same day? Damn! I'm lovin' this."
"Tikal, if you're watching this, I want you and Cream to be great godaunties to the boys when they are born. They'll need special care." NiGHTS said in the camera. "I'm hoping the very best from you."
"Aw, that's cute. And Croc and Tanzanikyte, don't horseplay with them… please. You don't have no idea how aggressive babies can be, trust me!"
"Zack…"
"It's the truth."
After 6 minutes of talking in the camera, a baby's cry was heard. This made tears automatically flow from NiGHTS' tears.
"Oh, my God. There's one." She pleaded happily as a nurse walked up to them to show the baby boy. It was the same animal type as Zack, except it had a little bit of red hair on top of his head and light gray fur. He was wide awake, showing his adorable red eyes, which were the same style as Zack's as well. This freaked out Martavin, even though he wasn't seen.
"Red hair and eyes, huh?" He asked with puzzlement. "That's weird."
"Why is he gray?" NiGHTS asked. "Isn't he supposed to be…?" She looked at her husband and saw that he was gray himself. "Zack, what happened to your fur? I thought you was supposed to be black."
"I was… until I found out you was pregnant. My black fur fades when I become a father." Zack replied.
"Oh, figure, but either way, he's really cute."
The nurse took the first baby and laid it in an incubator chamber.
10 minutes later…
All 6 babies were born and taken to the nursery while Zack went back to the room with his wife to rest after many tears of joy from the both of them. They were extremely happy to have their 6 kids born and healthy. Martavin was still recording the two as they explained their experience in C-section.
"We're here, back in NiGHTS' room, after a really joyous moment of seeing our 6 kids." Zack replied tiredly and softly, laying his head on NiGHTS' lap. She was sleeping peacefully as he continued. "They all look the same, but different colors, just like her grandfather explained. The colors we had to sew their outfits in were red, blue, green, purple, white, and black, just like the colors they are. We really wanna tell ya'll their names, but NiGHTS told me not to tell nobody their names unless we let them see the boys first. So, a promise is a promise. Tikal, Cream, Tanzany, and Croc, hang in there. You'll know their names when you get a chance. See ya'll."
After that, Martavin clicked off the camera and placed it back in his duffelbag before he spoke.
"You are so lucky, Z." He started. "You really turned it around bein' a dad, just like your dad."
"I can handle it. Besides, there's no need for a daycare center."
"Why?"
"I'm a stay-at-home sword trainer."
"That's your new job? How in the hell do you get paid?"
"From my dad, of course. He's my supervisor."
"Oh. Stay-at-home. I get it."
"Yeah. It ain't hard. Being a mini-kart salesman was whack."
"I thought you said it would be…"
"That was just bullshit, M.T.! Damn."
"My bad."
"Zack…" NiGHTS tiredly called as she slowly sat up from her nap. "…when do we get back to our team?"
"Tomorrow." Zack replied as he sat up slowly, cracking his neck a little in the process. "Afterwards, we go to our newest house I just brought with the money ya'll won for doin' those missions."
"A new house? For us?"
"Yeah. It even has really big space. Our bedroom has 6 cribs in it for our kids and everything. It also has plenty of playroom space and 6 more separate bedrooms for when the boys get older."
"That's nice. Where is the house?"
"I don't know the precise location, but all I can say is that it's in your world: Neotopia."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Your grandpa arranged the location."
"I'll thank him later. What about Grapple and Midnight?"
"Oh, they stayin' with us, there's just one problem…"
"What?"
"There's no room for Grapple to fit."
"Does the house have a roomy backyard?"
"Yeah… wait! NiGHTS, you're a genius!"
"Ain't I, though?"
The next day…
Zack, NiGHTS, Midnight, and Grapple waved goodbye to George and the remainder of Team NiGHTS as they were flown back to Neotopia by Grapple.
"So, now that you're a mother, you have to have a job." Midnight started.
"Me? A job? How can I do that?" NiGHTS asked.
"Easy, Just write out a good resumé and you'll be cool."
"The real question is: what job will I get?"
"You like animals, right?" Zack asked back, giving her an idea.
"Yeah."
"You could be a part-time zookeeper."
"Part-time, huh? Does this mean I won't work all day?"
"Yeah. You'll get to spend some time with the boys. Speakin' of which…" Zack looked behind him and saw his 6 kids dressed up and looking adorable in their personall floating baby-carrying basket. "…they're doin' fine."
"Are they sleep?"
"Yeah. Just like babies are supposed to sleep."
"Zack, I just wanna let you know… you're already the best father you've ever been and, to me, the best husband in the world." NiGHTS wrapped her arms around her husband's neck as she spoke. This made Zack smile.
"And you're the best mother and wife I've ever met." He replied back as he wrapped his arms around her waist. They were about to kiss until…
"GUYS!" Midnight called from the front. "Not in front of the babies."
"Oh, yeah." NiGHTS muttered shyly. "I guess we can wait until we get home."
So, from that day on, Zack and NiGHTS had a full family to take care of along with the 6 boys. How their lives will go in the future will be revealed in my newest story: The NiGHTHeroes. My own version, without the additional cartoon and video game characters, will be on my site in my homepage. Keep a lookout for it.
The End!