Belladonna walked down the hallway with a happy look on her face. Once she made it to the Library, she smiled at the sight of her Husband reading. She snuck up behind him and surprised him causing Balthazar to shout and fall out of his chair.
"Belladonna! What the hell!" Balthazar said angrily standing back up. Belladonna Laughed and hugged her Husband.
"I'm sorry, It's hard to resist the urge to scare you," Belladonna apologized, walking over to the table and sitting down in a chair. Balthazar sighed, and sat back down. He rested a hoof on Belladonna's stomach, "How's the baby?"
"Oh she's fine." Belladonna responded,
"She? How do you know it's a she?" Belladonna chuckled at her husbands question, Her eyes meet his.
"I just know, a mother just knows these things, that others do not," Balthazar shrugged, and returned to his work. The books he had been filling in were some spell books. He stood up and readied the spell, casting it at the practice dummy, It exploded one hit. What was left of it had was purple mist that floated around the room. Balthazar shock the leftover Black magic from his horn, and wrote down the results in the incomplete spell book. Belladonna watched closely, with curious eyes, Balthazar continued casting the spells, sending Lighting, Frost, Black magic, etc around the room. Belladonna watched him practice for an hour, before the Library doors were being opened with force. Balthazar spun around, ready to defend, but only to find Silver wing, Belladonna's Housecarl, at the door with an irritated expression. She bowed once close then made eye contact with Belladonna.
"Milady please you must be in bed, at Herb Leaf word and request." Silver Wing said forcing down the words she wanted to say. Belladonna frowned,
"I know, but I wanted to spend sometime to stretch my legs, Herb Leaf can't deny me that. Fine though I'll return to my bedchamber," Belladonna pulled herself up and out of the chair almost losing her balance if not for her husband. Silver Wing helped Belladonna down the long corridor lined with paintings, and the occasional guard. Once at the large dark oak ebony lined doors, Silver Wing pushed them open. Belladonna walked in and climbed into the King sized bed.
"Where is Herb Leaf by the way?" Belladonna asked before Silver Wing could leave and return to her duties. Silver Wing thought for a moment,
"She went down into the forest to collect herbs and clear her head, she said today had been stress full,"
"Oh, well if you see her send to my at once," Belladonna made a book hover over to her. Silver Wong nodded, bowing before leaving the room. The room smelt of lilac flowers, and the quilt was freshly cleaned, Belladonna smiled contently got lost in her book. After awhile Belladonna felt something kick near her stomach, she gasped dropping the book to put her hoof where she felt it, She smile widened. She returned to reading book, when to bedroom doors opened and a light green, purple maned mare came in the room.
"You summoned me, Milady?" Herb Leaf spoke walking to to the side of the bed.
"Yes, I was beginning to wonder about something..." Belladonna paused for a moment. She sighed, before continuing,
"I'm curious about your Health Herb leaf, you don't seem well today." Herb Leaf was taken aback, but answered reluctantly,
"I can't lie, I've be sorta depressed lately, but I assure its getting better, I don't know what causes the mood swings, it continues to vex me." Belladonna listened, nodding now and again. Herb Leaf fell quiet, and Belladonna remained silent, until she cleared her throat.
"Yes, I have a small Idea whats been causing it Herb Leaf," Herb Leaf glanced up, listening intently.
"I believe its just high anxiety, Herb Leaf, I understand how you worry for me and my health, but worry yourself so much that you befall into sickness," Belladonna put a hoof on Herb Leaf's shoulder, and smiled warmly. Herb Leaf smiled back, and began to laugh.
"I guess I was getting a bit to worried, its just this is your first foal, I nervous on how smoothly this will go," Herb Leaf held a concerned expression,
"It's alright, My Mother told me of that day many times and I helped her When birthed my little brother, I have confidence," Herb Leaf sighed,
"I can't argue with that Milady, but-"
"No more Buts dear, I know you trust me stop worrying yourself, It's never good when the mare that is having the baby is calmer than the one helping," Belladonna stated, Herb Leaf knew she was right, but she couldn't shake the apprehensive feeling from her being, it clung to her, and wouldn't loosen it's grip. Belladonna sighed, her eyes were going heavy, with a yawn she spoke,
"I'm......growing tired Herb Leaf," Herb Leaf hopped off the edge of the bed, and walked to the door.
"Sweet dreams then I'll be back soon to check up on you," Herb Leaf whispered before leaving the bedroom. Belladonna got as comfy as she could, she hated sleeping on her back, but with the baby she had too. Sleep was beginning to pull her under when another kick was felt. Belladonna held a small smile, before falling asleep, and letting her dreams take her away.
Balthazar checked the grand father clock, 10:00pm, He had been spell casting since 3:00pm. Balthazar sighed, he began to continue, but was stopped when he heard his wife crying out for him. His ears raised and her bolted down the hall to his room, he met up with Herb Leaf on the way. He pushed the door open and rushed over to his wife, who spoke once he neared.
"Balthazar...the baby.." She said between breaths. Herb Leaf rushed over to the bathroom and got hot water in a bowl with a towel and brought it to the table across from the bed, Herb Leaf was quick but careful, Balthazar and her changed out the covers. Balthazar took his wife's hoof and Herb Leaf began to walk her through. After a grueling 2 hours, It was over, Herb Leaf picked up the foal and brought it to the water, to clean of the blood.
"It's a Girl," Herb Leaf announced, wrapping the filly up in a bundle, and was about to carry it to Belladonna but a magic glow wrapped around the bundle and bet her to it. Balthazar eagerly tried to look, but Belladonna wouldn't let him, Belladonna noticed one thing about the filly,
"Herb Leaf could you step out for a moment me and Balthazar need to talk alone." Belladonna looked at her, her eyes communicating her fear and worry. Herb Leaf nodded and left the room, Balthazar frowned, "What is it Love?" Belladonna showed the bundle to him, He glanced at it. Balthazar's world froze, the filly was an Earth pony, no wings or horn. Belladonna cradled the bundle, the filly cooed lightly. Balthazar finally spoke,
"Well what are we going to do?"
"Nothing she is still our child, I indeed to do nothing," Belladonna look at her husband, her heart sank, his expression held sorrow.
"Balthazar, I'm sorry, I know you wanted to show her many things, but you still can even though she isn't a Unicorn," Belladonna tried to comfort her husband. Balthazar remained silent, but a small smile formed on his lips,
"OK, what are we going to name her?" He asked putting a hoof lightly on the filly's cheek, Belladonna thought for a moment.
"Shadow Gale," She whispered, Shadow Gale at that moment made a sound much like a laugh.
"Well she seems to like it," Balthazar laughed, lifting his wife up with magic and putting the original sheet, and covers back. He put her down and snuggled her in. With a spell he made a cradle with bedding and put it the corner bathed in moonlight shining in from the window. Belladonna used her magic to close the curtains.
"In the morning the sun will wake her," She commented. Balthazar nodded, realizing what she had pointed out, he walked over to the bed and crawled in, cuddling with Belladonna. Balthazar was asleep, and Belladonna soon as well, child birth was exhausting. When Herb Leaf knew they were both asleep, Herb Leaf snuck in to make sure Shadow Gale was alright and nothing was wrong about her health, finding nothing Herb Leaf smiled, and placed down a purple teddy bear in the cradle. Herb Leaf snuck, back out and down the hall to her own bedroom for much needed rest.