Realms of Starrilia

Few Years Past Part Two

  Victoria

People throughout all the Realms spent years searching for the lost prince and princess but to no avail. It was as if Ansley, Zen, and their captors just vanished without a trace, Eventually the search had to be called off when one of the search teams found what appeared to be the twins dead body. All the Realms mourned the loss of Princess Ansley and Prince Zen, though there were some that believed that the princess's and prince's deaths were faked and that they are both still very much alive.

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Today is Artemis's birthday and as per tradition to celebrate there is going to be a grand ball. Victoria has a special surprise for Artemis that she has been keeping a secret for the past couple of months, and she can not wait to tell him what she has been keeping a secret any longer. So Victoria is on a walk around the palace garden trying to decide how she wants to go about giving her husband his gift. Victoria had just stopped to smell a flower when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her waist.

"Well hello there my beautiful wife, and just what have you been up to today?" Artemis asks lovingly, placing a kiss on Victoria's cheek.

"Oh nothing really, just thinking about stuff that you do not get to know as of this moment." Victoria says nonchalantly.

"Oh I see keeping secrets are we, so is there a reason that you have been so secretive with me Victoria?" Artemis asks jokingly with a raised eyebrow.

"You, my dear husband are just going to have to wait and see, for all will be revealed in due time." Victoria says with a laugh.

"Well how long will I have to wait, you see I can be a very impatient man." Artemis jokes, causing Victoria to laugh

"Of all my time knowing you I have never known you to be a very patient man. Anyways we must get back to the palace to prepare for the ball. You are after all the guest of honor." Victoria says with a smile.

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The ball now is in full swing, everyone is dancing and having a marvelous time. Artemis and Victoria had just finished their twentieth dance, when Victoria began to pull Artemis onto an empty balcony.

"What are we doing out here Victoria?" Artemis askes confused.

"Well Dear I thought that you might like some privacy when I give you your birthday surprise. I have been working on it for quite some time." Victoria says, pushing Artemis lightly to make him sit down on one of the benches that are on the balcony.

"Okay, Okay. So now that you have my undivided attention, what is the surprise that you have been working on and keeping secret for so long." Artemis says

"Well the gift will take a few more months to get here. . . but . . ." Victoria started nervously.

"But?" Artemis questioned.

"I am pregnant" Victoria says both excitedly and nervously.

"What, since when-I can't believe it this is amazing I mean you're really pregnant. How long have you been keeping this a secret for?" Artemis says a bit shocked about the news that he just received.

"Yes I really am pregnant. As for how long I have been keeping this a secret, I have been pregnant for about five months." Victoria says with a smile.

"Okay I have to ask how exactly were you able to keep this a secret for FIVE MONTHS?? Artemis questions-almost yelling the last part.

"Magic honey, I used my magic" Victoria says matter-of-factly while rolling her eyes at her husband.

Artemis and Victoria continued talking for a few more minutes before heading back inside. Victoria wanted to start letting others know of her pregnancy, however Artemis was adamant that she not tell a soul. Victoria tried to reason with her husband that they should tell their parents, or at the very least tell his grandfather since as per tradition all Starrilian heirs are born in the Home of the Dragons. However Artemis was still adamant that they should not tell a soul, and that he would tell his grandfather later. When asked why he does not want anyone to know Artemis will just change the subject. Which strikes Victoria as a bit weird since he usually is not this secretive, though he has been acting a bit off since Ansley and Zen had gone missing-but who wouldn't.

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It has been three and a half months since Artemis's birthday ball, three months since Victoria told Artemis that she is pregnant. And Victoria can't shake the feeling that something weird is going on with Artemis. Victoria has noticed that for the past nine years Artemis has not been acting entirely like himself, and at first Victoria assumed that it was the grief caused by their children getting kidnapped and then their children being found dead just a few years after they were kidnapped. But now Victoria just isn't sure what to think about her husband's actions any more, because ever since she told Artemis about her being pregnant his behavior just keeps getting weirder and weirder. For example ever since Artemis was told about the pregnancy he has been very secretive, and keeps leaving to secret meetings that he refuses to tell her about, and just a few weeks ago Artemis started demanding that she not leave her room, and since he will not let her tell anyone about the pregnancy he just tells everyone that she is sick and that she can not leave her room etcetera, etcetera. Victoria has been able to sneak away a few times to go to the garden-which is where she is now.

"Victoria my love, what are you doing out here in the garden? You are supposed to be in bed resting." Artemis says, voice with concern.

"Artemis, as I have been telling you for the past weeks, there is absolutely no reason for you to demand that I be on bed rest. I might be pregnant but I am still very capable of doing whatever I want to do!" Victoria yells angrily

"Victoria listen to me-" Artemis starts.

"No you listen to me Artemis! You have been acting very weird and secretive ever since I told you that I was pregnant three and a half months ago, and I have had enough of your weird and secretive behavior. Gosh Artemis if I knew that I wouldn't feel bad about this later I would slap you across the face right . . . now." Victoria says angrily-though she whispered the last part with the look of shock on her face.

"Victoria? Victoria, what's wrong?" Artemis questions, concern written all over his face.

"Artemis, my water just broke." Victoria states.

⬧⬧⬧

Not long after Victoria went into labor Victoria and Artemis arrived at the small hospital in the Home of the Dragons. So that as per tradition the Starrilian heir will be born in the Home of the Dragons, and after eight long tiring hours of labor Victoria gave birth to a little girl, who made those who looked at her gasp in shock. For the little girl did not look like how one would expect. She has long pointy ears, the puppies of her large steel blue eyes resembled that of a reptile's, she has large navy blue wings, and a long navy blue tail that had a single blue feather at the end.

"W-what? A-a cursed one, my daughter is one of the cursed ones. I-I don't understand h-how is this possible? Artemis I have never been with anyone except you! I-I don't understand how this is possible . . ." Victoria states shocked. Then when looking at Artemis and that is when the realization dawns on her.

"No. No that's impossible, you died shortly after Ansley and Zen were taken. But I guess that explains all the weird behavior especially after I told you that I-wait a minute you knew that she would be a cursed one that's why you would not let me tell anyone about the pregnancy. You're a monster Harrison." Victoria states fearfully, causing Harrison to laugh.

"Well, well, well it took you long enough. It was so tiring to pretend to be my good for nothing baby brother, but now I can finally be myself around you. Though I will admit I did have some fun pretending to be Artemis, and now it is time for you to sleep." Harrison taunts before poking Victoria with a needle causing her to instantly pass out.

A/N

I am very curious did anyone see that plot twist coming or was it a surprise to everyone?