The Magical Baby, Part 1:
NOTE: The characters of Shimmer and Shine's parents, Raba and Dr. Najiv Aljunni, were created by fanfiction writer BigMoose01, and I got his permission to use them, along with the main genies' last names in this story series.
It was the morning that Zeta had returned to Zahramay Falls with Marlin and Gigi accompanying her to the Zahramay Falls Hospital. Gigi had called their mother and friends, and Marlin called his sister and her family to explain what's going on. Everyone came to the hospital to make sure Zeta was okay...
Empress Irielle: (frantic) How's my daughter?! Is she hurt?!
Empress Caliana: Calm down, Irielle. Zeta might just have a small flu bug going around.
Shine: I'm hoping she didn't catch the coronavirus!
Princess Samira: (laughs) I'm pretty sure that if she had caught the coronavirus, she wouldn't have been outside the whole day having fun with her sister.
As they all talked with each other to discuss the sorcerenie's illness, just then, Dr. Navij Aljunni, with his wife Raba by his side, came into the waiting room, and got their attention...
Dr Aljunni: (whistles) Everyone, listen up! I just finishing doing a check-up on Zeta.
Leah: Is she sick?
Shimmer: Is there something wrong with her, Dad?
Dr Aljunni: (chuckles) She's just fine, sweetie. In fact, she's perfect healthy. The reason for all these aches and pains, plus using the bathroom a lot, with frequent overeating is... because she's pregnant.
Zac: Wait just a minute, do you mean...?
Shimmer: (finishing the sentence) ...Zeta is going to be a mommy?!
Dr Aljunni nodded, to which the genies and humans were very happy...
Shine: Wow! This is a genie-rific day!
Kaz: I wonder what's Zeta is gonna name her boy?
Raba: Let's not get carried away, or we'll scare the young sorcerenie.
Gigi: Raba is right. Zeta hasn't been through childbirth before, and depending what she going to encounter, could be right for her.
Leah: Yes, we should show sensitivity to her, and help her out.
Dr. Aljunni: That's a good point to make, Leah. Zeta is due to give birth 2 weeks from today. Until then, Shimmer and Shine, I would like you girls to help her family and Marlin take care of her. The reason I say that is because I don't think it's such a good idea to return to her lair right now. So, could you two get some stuff she would need from there, and prevent her from working on her potions until after she has her baby?
Shimmer: We'll do that, Dad. We'll also have Zeta sleep with us in our bedroom. Additionally, we'll be there for her if something goes wrong, and make some of her favorite foods for her to eat while she's here.
Shine: (whispers to her sister) I wonder how many times we'll have to go back to the marketplace to get more food?
Zac: It takes months for a woman to give birth after becoming pregnant in our world. How do genies deliver theirs so soon here?
Dr Aljunni: It's because the genie world is more magical. Certain kinds of magic here can be done quick. Plus, in this hospital, it will also speed up whenever someone in Genieworld has to do a certain job. And no, Zac, you or Leah can't just wish for Zeta's baby to come out. Here, you still have to let nature do its course.
Marlin: I have to know, Dr. Aljunni, why can't I take care of my wife during her pregnancy? My sister and her family's mansion is big, and has plenty of room.
Dr. Aljunni: That's a great idea, Marlin, but we don't know how much magic during your wife's pregnancy could affect the real world. It's best that Zeta stays here in Zahramay Falls so her magic would go too out of control.
Marlin: (sighs) Well, alright then.
Calady: Could we go see how Zeta's feeling?
Dr. Aljunni: (nods) Please follow me.
The genies and humans followed the doctor down the hallway, and to the hospital room the sorcerenie was staying in...
When they entered the room, they saw that Zeta was a little nervous...
Zeta: (shocked) I just found out I'm having a baby!
Shimmer: That's wonderful!
Irielle: Sweetie, aren't you happy about that? This means you didn't catch the coronavirus.
Zeta: I'm okay, Mom. It's just that... I don't know if I'll be a good mother! I haven't exactly been a perfectly good person for most of my life.
Shine: That doesn't mean you wouldn't be a good person Now, Zeta. In the past 2 years, you've shown every genie in Zahramay Falls that you've changed.
Zac: Yeah, you've helped us save the world from an even more dangerous magician twice!
Leah: And thanks to that mistake with your potions, you showed yourself that you still love people again when you met Marlin, and later married him!
Samira: Back then, if you wanted to, you could've still tried to take over Zahramay Falls and the real world. But I have never lost hope that you would be a good person again, and you have done that. I have no doubt you'd be a good mother now.
Gigi: Also, you have many people who would help you out with that: Me, Mom, your friends, Nazboo...
Nazboo: Yeah, yeah!
Gigi: ...Marlin, his family...
Zeta: Wait, you mean you all would be willing to take up some of your own time to help me?
Leah: Of course, you're our friend!
Zeta: How about potion making? How would I still be able to work with that, knowing that I could go into labor?
Dr. Aljunni: Uh, there's a small problem with that, Zeta. You won't be back to go back to your lair to work on potions until after you have your baby, because
I think it's too dangerous for you to be making potions during your pregnancy.
Shimmer: But we would be happy if you and Nazboo could stay over at our palace until your baby is born!
Shine: I can cook some of my best dishes you'll ever have! (winks at Raba)
Raba: I'll even bring some of my own food over, Zeta.
Samira: I'll ask some genies around the Marketplace if they can spare some stuff for your new baby.
Zeta: (feeling happier, but straining) Well, could someone please help me get out of this bed and walk me out?
Two genie nurses assisted Zeta by lifting her out of the bed, and into a wheelchair, and used their magic to slowly wheel her down the hallway with them, with the sorcerenie's family and friends beside her. When they got outside, Calady and Marlin helped her helped up, and onto Shimmer and Shine's magic carpet. Shimmer got on and rode the carpet with the sorcerenie on it, while Shine rode on the bigger Nazboo's back to the lair, where she grabbed some important stuff that Zeta might need, including her magic transport potion bottle. When Shimmer and Zeta got to the twin genies' palace, Shimmer helped her friend get to a nearby bed to lay down, while Shine and Nazboo soon returned home with some stuff from Zeta's lair. The next 2 weeks were not only stressful for the sorcerenie, but for everyone else as well. Zeta had frequent mood swings people in the real world had during pregnancy, (eating a lot, needing lots of assistance getting up, feeling tired, etc.) while her family members and online genies were getting gifts for the new baby. While Zeta was feeling guilty that everyone was spending most of their time doing work for her, but her family and friends said that it wasn't a problem, they liked spending their time with her, plus, they felt it was the best care for her new baby.
To be continued in next chapter...
