Another contraction hit Midnight. She neighed in pain. This labor was lasting longer and hurt more than when she gave birth to Dusk. Hopefully it would be over soon. A witch that specialized in animal care was already attending to her, but she wanted Anya by her side. The door to her stall opened. Midnight whickered happily at the sight of Anya.
Anya sat next to the animal witch. Both whispered reassuring words as Midnight pushed one final time. An enormous foal slid out of her and onto the hay. Midnight turned to tend to her child, but before she could, she felt another contraction. She whinnied in fear and confusion.
“Is she still in labor?” Anya asked. The animal witch nodded.
“She carries twins,” the animal witch replied. Midnight’s eyes widened. Twins? That explained why she felt as round as she was long. Luckily, the second foal was born much quicker than the first, though hurt more on the way out, as it was even larger than its twin. Midnight laid on her side, panting with exhaustion, her body still in pain. The animal witch tended to Midnight’s foals, proclaiming that one was a male and the other was female.
After making sure Midnight and the foals were fine, the animal witch said her goodbyes and left. It was just Midnight, Anya, and the foals left. Midnight looked at Anya hopefully. Anya smiled at her. She placed her hand on Midnight’s side. There was a flash of light. When the light cleared, Midnight had become Prince Jasper again.
“Thank you, Anya,” Jasper whispered in relief. He slumped against the wall of the stall. “I was worried I would never return to my true form.”
“I am glad I was able to protect you,” Anya said. “Now that you are here, we can discuss plans to take the throne back. And you will be able to have some input on your disguise this time.” Jasper managed a weak smile. Anya looked over at the foals. “But first, we have a rather significant loose end to tie up. I will be telling everyone that the mare known as Midnight escaped the stable. But what shall we do with the foals?”