Chapter 498 – Visiting Another Mother

I've made it months, months! without getting pregnant. Well, just two months. That's not really that amazing for most people. It's normal to go years between pregnancies instead of days like I normally did. Decades, if I'm being honest. But progress is progress. There's no need to compare myself to others. And I am turning into a Goddess after just about a decade of having mana, so people probably don't want to compare themselves to me either.

I did wish turning into a Goddess was faster. I don't think I feel any different. Maybe I should have Fertility and Space bloat me up? That would have to speed things along, but it would be so painful.

Not that becoming a Goddess would be a good thing right now. Would they force me up into the divine realm? What about raising my kids and being an Empress for more than just a few months? And could that give Ashryn some way out of her punishment? So I can take it slow for a bit. I just have to make sure I become a Goddess before Yzzorres. I can't have my lazy mate beating me at ascending into that realm.

"Baby, do you have a plan for how we're going to handle all the pregnancies that will be going into labor soon? I can feel the kids shifting into place, and I know the rest of us are getting just as close," Mommy says.

I look like I'm in the valley of a vast mountain range when I wake up these days. Luckily, my newest body is for helping with my wives, so I can have a body stay in bed with them all day. Constant pampering is required for them, though Nakuma is the one oddity in the bunch. She still moves like she isn't pregnant, much to Yuki's dismay. But besides that pair, I have a lot of work.

Vanya and Inanos have at least had their kids. Inanos got a bit closer to her element than I would've liked, but she seems to be happy about it. Fluvis is happy that there are more elementals we get to raise, and Vanya is just relieved to be able to run around again, which does open up the option to get Victoria pregnant, but I have to get Stacy pregnant first.

Stacy's labor was funny. Victoria is not someone you want at your bedside. A constant stream of curses asking for you to just push the kid out, and why don't you just switch to this being or that one? Stacy finally got tired of hearing it and switched to a giant, and in Victoria's defense, the baby did slide right out.

Elyne is struggling to get out of bed and walk with her interesting pregnancy, along with just about every other woman from the ritual who got me pregnant.

"No idea," I say. "I just hope that they happen before Yzzorres gets into her postpartum mood that Eterna has been warning me about. Eterna just deflects every time I point out that I can't move because of how tightly she's holding me. 'Yzzorres will be worse' is not the excuse she thinks it is."

"I am interested to see how that plays out," Mommy chuckles. "But it is cute to see you two together in the morning."

"But I have to help Elyne in the mornings," I say.

"I know it is a problem, but cute is cute, just like the babies that we're drowning in," Mommy says.

"We do have too many of them," I say.

"No, we have how many we should have," Mommy says. "You're already planning on who is going to be giving you more kids next, and I know Ashryn won't be done after this pregnancy."

"I know. I just worry that I'm causing us problems with all the kids," I say.

"Kids aren't problems," Mommy says. "Baby, you love every one of them. You even know their names, somehow. I don't think I've seen you mistake a single kid for another. Kids are a series of problems. Whether you have just one or several hundred, you have to learn to love the problems with the kids, or you'll ruin everyone's life."

"Thanks," I say.

"We all love you and the kids," Mommy says. "Don't worry about a thing. Just focus on getting Elyne ready to see her family. I want to see how you'll pull off getting her begging you for more after seeing her go through this."

"Lots of massages and showering her in mana so she doesn't understand just how much I've messed up her body," I sigh. "I don't know if I should do this again, no matter how much fun it is to have a centaur stuck in your bed."

"Well, if she begs, you can do it if you promise to show her the same attention you have this time," Mommy says. "Come on, let's make sure the carriage is all set for her while the maids get her dressed and Nanoka brings her out to the carriage."

"I love you," I say.

"I love you, too, baby," Mommy says.

Getting Elyne to agree to the carriage was easy. I told her we could wait until after her pregnancy to meet her family, but she insisted on doing this during it. I think she's still worried that I'll let her die in labor. She should know better.

The carriage for Elyne now has a mini bed inside it for her and some extra suspension. We just need to get it all to Space's temple, and then go from her Temple in Elyne's home city to her family manor. And once we're there, she'll have to have Nanoka teleport her around the house. I should've just put twins in each womb.

Maybe if I hint that I'll only give her twins next time, she'll go for it? Wait, would she think that means only one kid in each womb? That would be twins. I could trick her a bit? We'll see how she's feeling after her labor.

"Hello, Alzi," Geta says.

"You're still pregnant," I say.

"Yes, but I'm a Valkyrie," Geta says. "So I'm still able to protect you. But Victoria is coming along with Vanya for the front line. And with Syro and Estrella, we'll all be enough."

"I suppose," I say. Eterna thought of coming along, but I'm only bringing my main body along, so she didn't want to go. She's taken a page out of Yzzorres's playbook and just sleeps all day, occasionally demanding that whichever body of mine is closest to her rests with her for a bit. I don't think she could make it without those moments for a few days.

I'm seeing why the True Dragons' and Phoenixes' population has gotten so low. Pregnancy is demanding enough without the added need of having their mate around all day.

Shimmer had better not behave this badly when she turns, and I breed her. But the populations of the True beings will grow, and we'll see how hard my new pregnancies are. It may be Yzzorres and Shimmer doing the heavy lifting if it's too hard on me.

"They did a wonderful job with this bed," Mommy says. "I'm almost thinking we should just use this one to get around when Nanoka isn't taking us."

"Oh, am I being replaced with a moving bed?" Nanoka asks.

"No," I say. "You do more than move us around. Like, carrying my kids."

"Oh, I'm a pregnant transport now?" Nanoka asks. "From the strongest Queen, to a broodmare transport."

"No, you also have a bunch of fluffy tails for me to play with," I say. "Elyne, how are you feeling?"

"I can live with that; your hands are magical," Nanoka says.

"Worried," Elyne says. "But happy to see my Mother and Father again. My sister is going to be surprised to see me like this. All of them will be, but her, especially."

"You haven't told them?" I ask. My wives are so strange. How do you not tell your parents how pregnant you are?

"I've told them that I'm pregnant with your children, of course," Elyne says. "But I couldn't find the courage to say just how thorough you were."

"That's interesting," I say. "But it'll be exciting to see how they react to you giving them so many grandchildren at once. Well, you're here, so everyone should be set to go. Just let me squish in beside you. We'll be there soon."

"Thank you," Elyne says.

...

"How is Space?" Mommy asks.

"Wonderful," I say. "Sky is almost as fun as our little menaces running around. She's getting so big so quickly. And our next kid is close."

"That's good to hear," Mommy says. "Exciting is good. It's a bit unfortunate that she's growing so quickly."

"Yes, but it's good for the birds and dragons and phoenixes," I say. "I think. She never gives me a straight answer when I ask what she's going to do about the creatures that enjoy her domain."

"Kids like to tease," Mommy says. "They can't make it easy on the parents, or they wouldn't be doing their job."

"They don't have to include that in their job," I say. "What about just having fun?"

"That is fun for them. You should know, with how much worry you put me through," Mommy says.

"You're making me extremely happy about all the kids in my wombs," Elyne says.

"You'll learn to love it," Nanoka says.

"You're making it sound like Alzi is talking about my pregnancy," Elyne says.

"Has it worked?" I ask.

"Don't ask a centaur that," Elyne says with a small blush.

Maybe, just maybe, I should push my luck with her.

"Don't give me that devilish smile," Elyne says. "You look like you're going to get my Mother bloated right beside me."

"I would if you'd let me," I say. "Sorry, I mean I would never do that."

"I get more than my mother," Elyne says.

"Well, we know why your kids are such menaces," Nanoka says. "Don't give in so quickly, Elyne."

"We're here, My Empress," Kou says.

"Too late, then," I say. "Let's go greet another family."

I give Elyne a quick kiss before Kou helps me up. After a quick check over my clothing, I turn to help Elyne get up onto her four legs.

"Oh, thank you," Elyne says. "I'm not going to be standing for long."

"Everyone will understand that," I say. "Just a quick greeting, and then we'll go inside. You look absolutely stunning. Thank you for going through this for me. I understand some of the pain you're going through. Trust me on that."

"I'm just being weak compared to what you've been through," Elyne says. "Even my labor will be easier. I'm not about to push out a Goddess, and if you ever do that to me, it'd better be just one womb pushing."

"I'll see what I can do," I say. "Now, enough stalling."

Vanya opens the door for us, and I help Elyne slowly get out of the carriage, with Mommy and Nanoka following me out.

The manor is very different from the normal manors, with just a single floor and plenty of open spaces to run around. A wonderful manor for kids.

"Dear, what did you run off and do?" Elyne's Mother asks. "You come back as the wife of an Empress, well done, but pregnant in a way that is going to get you killed. I'm happy to be getting a bunch of grandchildren, but I would like my daughter to have the time to raise them."

"Hello," I say. "This is my fault. I had a ritual that needed two wombs in one woman. I promise I'll take good care of her during her labor. I'll have Kelly and the old Royal Healer helping as well. She'll make it through well and safely. I want her help with raising the kids just as much as you do." We can't afford to lose a caretaker at this point. Even Azula needs to live to help us.

"Empress Alzi, I'm sorry, thank you for gracing us with your presence and bringing our kid back," Elyne's Mother says. "I'm sorry. I just- When I saw that she got my curse, I was worried and..."

"I don't blame you," I say. "It's good to see you caring about your daughter. I've had some issues with some bad Mothers. You started with the important thing, so don't apologize for that. Come hug her, and then we can all go inside so she can rest."

"Thank you for your grace, Empress," Eyne's Mother says with a bow.

It isn't fair how far down centaurs can get with their bows. I'm normally not even able to bend at all, and she could kiss the ground if her top half were tall enough.

"Sister, I didn't know you could be this bold," Elyne's sister says. "Welcome home, and welcome, Empress Alzi, to our manor. We were so excited when Elyne said she was coming over pregnant. How many?"

"Too many," Elyne says, her Mother taking over supporting her for me. "But I'm excited. I trust Alzi fully."

"That's good," the man says. "To think I fathered someone who married a Queen and then married an Empress. I'm proud of you. Take good care of her for me, please, Empress."

"Of course," I say. "We've built a pretty good relationship over the past months, supporting her through this. But can we go inside, so she can sit? I have a lot of pregnant women around me."

"We would be happy to have you join us in the house," Elyne's sister says.