Monday mornings are quite the trial. Morning sickness sucked but I got through it. I got Cryss ready to go and checked on Alexis. Then we all had breakfast together. Soon Ben and Sam were off to protect Sanctuary. Tara came to pick up Cryss. I told her no Air walking. She shrugged and said they would go another way. Alexis headed to the farm for her fist full day of work. Finally I got myself out the door to teach my class. What a morning.

I got almost to the classroom when the Headmaster stopped me in the hall. I smiled at him. He said "What is that on your shoulder?

I smiled "This is Skya, She is a Crystal Dragon. She is here as part of my lesson today. She is my familiar."

He said "I am sure I give you a lot of leeway but you can not bring Pet's to school."

I looked at him with a glare that would melt stone if I let it. Then a voice behind him said "A Familiar is NOT a pet but a trusted aid and protector. I will not have Skya demeaned like that! As the head of the newly formed School advisory board I don't have to take it." I knew that voice and I rarely heard it this angry. The Headmaster turned and faced my Grandmother and the color drained from his face. She said "Ember I believe you have a class to teach. The Headmaster and I have some things to talk about!" I nodded and got away as fast as I could.

In the class room I was not surprised to find that the class had brought their Dragons. I smiled at the class. "Now it is time to get the class started. This class is on Familiars and what they do for a mage. To start I would like to introduce Skya my Familiar. As you can see she is a Crystal Dragon." The talk went on from there. All had Questions to no end, I answered and posed questions of my own for them to answer. It was a good morning. At lunch I caught sight of Tamara Being led into another building. It seems her punishment is underway. Everyone looked but no one came over since we had our Dragons with us. I smiled at that.

After lunch we flew to the Hall of Magic. We got our favorite practice room and settled in to making bags of holding. The Dragons helped and things went quickly. At the end of the day we were still a ways away from finishing. Everything was put up and cleaned up. I smiled I flew to the Mage Hall and called all the mage clerks together. Vicki, Yvette, Talulah and Heather looked at me as I thought of how to open this talk. I said "To start off I have to say I am Pregnant. because of this I am finding I need to cut back on some of my duties. To that end one of you will be promoted to my aid. This aid will do most of the paperwork and some of the decisions will be hers. I am not going to lie it will be hard work and the others will have to take up the slack. So I am going to let you four decide who will do the job. When you have chosen let me know. I will be in my office." At that I left the meeting room. At my office I settled in wondering how they will choose? Skya poked at my pocket and I smiled and gave her a crystal chip. I love Cryss in her human form but it is nice to have a dragon by my side again. I settled into finding what could be done by my aid and what I had to see too. I found there was very little I really needed to look after myself. I figured I could cut my time here to one day a week and get things done alright. There came a knock at my door. I said "Enter."

Vicki walked in and said "I was the one to get the job. There is not that much going on right now so it is a good time for the change. Where do we start?" So I gave here the rundown of current projects and what was needed. I showed her what paperwork will be hers to do and what I will need to do. I handed her a link compact and showed her how to work it. Lucky I had a spare. I told her it was if something came up she could not handle by using standard rules or preferences I had already stated and could not be put off till my office day. I said the office next door will be hers. We got up and walked next door and I showed it to her. The other girls walked up and asked if I was going to hire more clerks? I was going to let Darla do that but yes and you three will be higher up than the new ones. That made them happy and they all said congratulations for being pregnant. Soon we all settled down to get things done. I was happy at the way it all went.

I said on the way out "I will make Mondays my office days. Vicki will be in charge if you need anything. I will get Darla on more Clerks soon." Then I flew home.

It was just before dinner that I got home. Grandmother was there. She looked at me "You don't happen to have a spare room I could stay in till I sell my house do you?"

I smiled waved her to follow and I walked around the house. I drew in a breathe then Added 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms to my house. That made my house a 7 bedroom and 8 bathroom place. I added 2 more studies and a potion room. We went in the back door and I smiled that it all went so well. At dinner it was announced that Grandmother was moving in. Cryss loved the Idea. Ben was cool with it they had always got along. Sam was fine and Alexis said she was good.

After dinner I took Alexis back to one of the new studies. I said "You have been studying so hard I thought you would like a study of your own. This is your place no one will go in here unless you let them."

She said "Thank you big sis you are always so nice to me. First the Job now this." She gave me a hard hug! I chuckled.

I said "It just a room you make it your study and keep up the good work." I left her looking over her study and went out the back door.

I was thinking when Ben found me and started one of his mind numbingly great shoulder rubs. I guess I started to purr. He laughed and said "What are you part cat?" When I was quiet he turned me around. "Well?"

I sighed "It was during my time in the pits. I was working for this oddball mage who liked to draw Humanoid animals. With my shape shifting ability I was the perfect model. One of her favorites were Cat girls. I got real good and well, some of it stuck. Like my claws. I don't let them out often but I do have them. So yes my love I am part cat. So when you rub the right spot I purr. I was thinking that my shape shifting may help the kitten girls. It would be hard but it is a maybe. I went back inside and called Janis.

Janis answered quickly "Ember why am I not surprised? What do you need?"

I said "Do you still have any of the kitten girls still at your place?" She nodded "Are you going to be up for awhile?" She nodded again "I'll be right over I have an Idea that may help them."

She said "That would be a welcome change I have been having no luck in my research. I'll take a long shot since that is the only shot we got. I'll be waiting." She broke the link. I went in the house and grabbed my bag and staff. Grandmother sensing something was up came over.

She said "What's going on? You look like your getting ready for some heavy magic!"

I laughed "I am but if this works I should be able to help the kitten girls some. I am not sure how much but some. I just hope there is some of them left to help. Are you coming?" She picked up her bag and staff and we headed to Janis place.

We got there very fast by flying. I knocked and Dixie let us in. She showed us to Janis's office. She had one of the kitten girls curled up on the exam table. I smiled and nodded. I looked over the 6 year old kitten girl and tried with all my inner sight to find a spark of the 13 year old boy she used to be. I sighed "This one has given up there is no spark to grab onto for the change. I can make her look a little more human but there is nothing left of the other. Janis is there any other of the kids here?"

Janis sighed and had Dixie pick up the child and bring one of the others. It did not take long and I looked into this one and there sputtering but still there was the spark of personality. I looked at the sputtering flame and fed it with a little magic just enough to fuel the shift. It was delicate and painstaking work. I was pushing my sifting power for all it was worth. Slowly the shift started and there was a 13 year old boy again. I backed away. He was asleep but it certainly a boy now. I was sweating from the effort. Janis came over and gave the boy the once over and gave the thumbs up. Dixie and Janis carried the boy back to a room and brought one of the others to the exam table. I looked and there was a flame but it did not feel male. I fed the flame and brought on the shift. But this time there was a 13 year old girl on the table.

Janis asked "Were you not able to change this one back completely?" She was looking over the girl while she asked.

I said "This is who this person is inside there was no boy to find. Is the last one here? I need to finish this." They carried the girl away and brought back the last one. I looked and found a flame and fueled it till the shift happened. A 13 year old boy laid on the table. "Bring back the first one there is no way to change her back but I can give her an more human look or I can try." They brought back the first one. I searched again for any trace of who she used to be. There was none even the memories were faded and unusable. Then I found one memory that was sharp enough to use. It was when he was 6 and was curled up with a bunch of cats at his aunts place and he was in a play dress. That's when I found it a tiny spark. I fed that spark till it was strong enough to cause the shift. I looked down at an very pretty 6 year old girl. I fell back I was drained to the max. Grandmother caught me and helped me to a chair. I said "That is the best I can do for her she will need a lot of love to grow up but she will." I laid back my head and out I went.

Oh I felt totally out of it but I did wake up. I was in one of the sick beds at Janis's house I placed it right away. I wonder how long I have been out? Dixie came in with a tray and I smiled at her. A sniff and I knew there was food on that tray. I said "How long have I been out?" She arranged the pillows so to help me sit up and put the tray in my lap.

She said "It has been 16 hours. Your Grandmother said to just let you sleep and she would take your class today. It was really impressive thing you did changing those kids back. The boys are back at school and the girl will stay here as a helper till the fall. The little one will be placed in a good home. You gave them back there lives."

I looked at her "I should have thought of it sooner. Shifting is a ability that I don't use much any more so it had completely slipped my mind. I could have saved them all if I had thought to use that ability sooner."

Janis said from the door "Should have, would have, could have. The words every healer kicks them selves with on tough cases like this one! Let it go, they are all alive, all better off than before and all happy. That is all you can ask for in this sort of case. Now that you are awake there is someone I would like you to meet." over her shoulder she said "You can come in now." In walked a confident young girl. Her smile was very nice to see. I had seen her before my nap . She was the one that came out a 13 year old girl.

She said "I would like to thank you. You gave me the life I always dreamed of but thought I could never have. Oh by the way my name is Helen Rogers now. If there is anything you need just ask. I need to get back to work now so bye." She certainly looked and sounded happy. I'll call that a win. Maybe I did good after all.

Janis said "After you have eaten I'm going to give you the once over then you probly need to get back to your house and rest. This ones a win not all of them will be." I nodded and went back to eating.

An hour later I was back at my house. I went up and took a bath it was strange to have the house so quiet. I was not sleepy and the others will be getting back soon. Sasha was the first one back from the farm. with 4 bags of holding full of stuff for the house. She smiled when she seen me sitting on the porch. She said "The farm is really putting out a lot of good food. Whoever came up with that idea the sure is smart. I just nodded.

I said "Did you see Alexis while you were there? She is working there for a week."

She said "Yes Miss, I did see her she is really working hard with a lot of magic. I stopped by the herb garden to pick up a few things and there she was turning the soil to expand the garden. She seemed real happy but I did not talk to her."

I asked "Did you get the herbs for the refresher potion? I would like to teach you that one first. We have an hour before the others get back that should be long enough."

She smiled "Yes Miss, I got the herbs for all the potions that are in my book."

I stood up "Then follow me we will break in the new potions room." I walked into the house. I walked to the back of the house to the new additions and pointed to the room waving her in. I smiled when I went in behind her. she set down one of the bags. "Put everything for the potions in here take the rest into the kitchen." She left the bag she had put down and carried the rest into the kitchen. a quarter of an hour later she was back in her maids dress and ready to brew. I smiled at her happiness. She set her book on the stand were she could see it. then turned to me ready to start. For the next hour we brewed a refresher potion. In the end it looked right, smelled right but there was only one way to test it. I had her fill 4 bottles and a cup. "Well there is only one way to know if you brewed it right." I picked up the glass.

She said "Miss I should be the one to test the potion on. I would feel horrible if something went wrong."

I said "I watched you make the potion it is right. I made sure at every step. Bottoms up!" And I downed the potion. It was quite a pleasant taste and I felt the tiredness slip away till I felt quite good. Just as I should. "Very nice, it worked just as it should. You can sell the others to start getting a nest egg for your future. Yes very nice. You should clean up in here then get dinner started." I walked to the front of the house where grandmother was just coming in. "Grandmother how was class?"

She smiled "I have almost forgotten how much I love teaching. How are you feeling? All over the drain of last night?"

I smiled "Oh yes I feel quite good. If you love teaching why don't you teach a course in the fall. They would be silly to say no to you. I will be back to being a student so they are looking for someone to take my place. At the beginning of the winter quarter I should be giving birth. That should put me out for awhile. I will home school for the winter and spring quarters then see how it goes. Or just study for and get a GED and be done with school for now." I looked behind her an there was Tara, Cryss and Jessel walking up. I smiled and Grandmother turned.

Cryss caught sight of me and yelled "Mommy!" She flung herself at me nearly bowling me over. I just smiled the whole time.

Jessel looked at Tara and said "I will never get used to that. The princess of the pits with a kid."

I said "You know I have 8 kids and 6 grand kids. Magic is such a wonderful thing.

Jessel looked at Grandmother "Tell me she is pulling my leg?" Grandmother smiled and shook her head.

I went on "Of course all but Cryss are Dragons. Crystal Dragons to be exact. The latest batch are only a few days old." Skya flew up and landed on my shoulder. "Here is one of my Daughters now. This is Skya." I reached up and scratched her between the wings. she really liked that. Jessel just shook her head. Tara laughed and Cryss smiled.

Grandmother said "Jessel when are you going to dance for the school I hear you are the best. The school could use some fun it is summer after all."

Jessel said "As soon as my crew arrive with my gear. It should be beginning of next week. I bought a house here so I'll be here on and off from now on. I am tired of not having a place to call my own. So when I am not working I will be here. It will be nice to pick and choose my work without worrying where I'll stay in between. I might even give up the road and start teaching full time."

I asked "Tara have you introduced her to Jessie yet? Jessie runs the finance department for the Queen. She is also a fire mage. I am sure if you need any financial help she would be the one you would want to talk to."

Jessel said "Is there anyone you don't know? Next you will be telling me you know the Archmage!"

Grandmother said "As a matter of fact she does and happens to be related to her. I happen to be the Archmage for three more days then I retire. I have decided to start teaching at the school here. Here is where all my Grandchildren are. As well as my Great Grandchildren and now Great, Great Grandchildren. So this is where I belong."

I said "I don't know everyone just the ones in power. There are Six at the top of everything here. They started this place with me. So knowing them means I know who is important here. Simple if you think about it."

Jessel looked at Tara "Do you know this Six?

Tara smiled "Of course I am #6 on that list. Angel is #1, Ember is #2, Jenny is #3, Tina is #4, Jessie is #5 and I am #6. We all started things here it has grown a bit since then. A year and little under a quarter ago. Darla is really #7 in our group but she likes to stay in the background. Five of the Six and Darla are taking care of the dragons known as the Brood. They are Cryss's little sisters. The brood just laid an egg each and they just hatched. So all but Cryss and Skya are Mothers. That is why Ember is a Grandmother and her Grandmother is a Great, Great Grandmother."

Grandmother said "Great make me feel old. Let's go inside."

I put my hand on my tummy an said "Oh my. I think the timings a bit off. the little one just kicked. I thought that wasn't going to start till 6 months?" Grandmother put her hand on my belly and the little one kicked again. She frowned. She led me inside and went over to the mirror and called Janis to come right over. Then she called Angel and asked her to come over. Then she shut down the link. She was certainly not happy about this.

Angel got there first. Then Janis and the new midwife Mother had sent. Janis looked me over then the new Midwife did, her name was Trixie. They both talked about it then looked me over another time. Before they said anything they checked Angel. Going through it all again. Finally Janis said "We believe that you are both at 4 1/2 months and kicking is a good sign. Your both ahead of projected marks as to how you are doing. You may have a short pregnancy. If that happens we can take care of it. I can tell you the sex of the baby if you want?" I shook my head so did Angel. "Ok well there seems to be nothing wrong. You will feel kicks now and then so don't be alarmed. It is better to tell us what's going on than worry about it. So we will see you next week." They headed out. Ben and Sam came in followed shortly after by Alexis. Alexis looked beat. I smiled she wanted to know what learning by doing meant. Everyone was relaxing waiting for dinner. There came a knock on the door.

It was the schools Headmaster. He said "I would like to talk to you for an moment or two if I may."

I said "Come on in we will use my study." I led him there and once we were sitting I said "What do you wish to talk to me about?"

He looked a little unsure of himself "I don't know how to ask this but would you like to stay on as a teacher in the fall term?"

I said "Wont that be a little hard with me attending classes? Unless you want me to go for a GED before the end of the summer? I could do that but why would I put myself through the stress? I certainly don't need any more stress this summer."

He said "If you could go for the GED and stayed teaching it would help out the school very much. You see it is your name that is bringing in new students. I would provide any help you need. It would solve the greatest problem I have right now. Will you try it?"

I said "Give me a day or two to think about it. There is one thing you might not know. I am Pregnant and my due date is in the middle of the fall term. I do have someone who could take over for me until I was back on my feet. Though it would be weeks till I was ready to return to teaching you would still have my name to work with."

He said "What is it something in the water? You are the third teacher to tell me that this week. We are going to set up a daycare for teachers and other staff soon. But this is getting out of hand. At least you said you had a back up teacher in mind."

I smiled "Yes If I do go through with this she might take the practical and I'll do the theory. That way when I do need to drop out for a bit she would already be known to the students. There would be no lag to catch on to the routine. Yes it would work if we do it that way because I will be slowing down closer to my due date and the practical is hard on the body. I will give you my answer on Monday."

He smiled "Alright this talk has calmed my nerves some so I will say good night." I led him to the door and waved from the porch.

Grandmother said "Alright he is gone, what is up with him?"

I smiled "I just got a job offer. He wants me to go for my GED this summer and keep teaching in the fall. Yes I told him about my being pregnant and I worked out a plan to take care of that. That is where you come in. I take the theory class and you take the practical that way we both work half days. When I can not work any more you slide in and cover until I am back on my feet. The students already know you and there is no catch up to slow down the class. I will ask Janis what the minim I should be off work is and take that off. Two weeks probly if there is no complications. When I can I slide back in and things go as before. If you want we switch in the winter quarter to me taking the practical to get back in shape. I told him I would give him my answer on Monday. What do you think?"

She asked "What will you do about your baby for this half day you would be working? And what if I say no?"

I shrugged "I would hire a wet nurse to work half days and if you so no I will probly turn him down. It is a lot of work for me to set all this up at a time I should be off my feet more."

She said "I will think about it. Do you really think you could do something like this? Have you thought it all through?"

I smiled "The school work is no problem. Most of the time the classes are too easy for me. I have been thinking about a GED before this came up. I do think I can do this. The only thing I will hate is leaving the little one for 4 half days and one full day of work. That will be hard. But I will do what I need to do. At least I know you will be here when I am gone in case something comes up."

Grandmother said "I will think on it I would like to observe your class tomorrow if You don't mind. I know your students are smart I would like to see how smart there teacher is. Then we will see if your plan will fly or not. Dinners waiting lets get to that first." So that is what we did.

Dinner went fine and we all settled into the living room. The little one was kicking up a storm. I decided to teach Sasha another potion. I would teach Alexis and Cryss at the same time. I would be a good bonding chance. I pulled out the potion book and looked for a good one to teach them. Grandmother said she knew what one to choose. She pointed at a potion that was meant to help in concentration. It was called the study potion. It is good for schoolgirls. So we four headed to the potion room. It was not a hard potion to make so three batches were made one by Sasha, one by Alexis and one by Cryss. We had all the herbs to make it. I got two blank spell books and had the girls copy the potion to their books. I knew it would be faster so I taught them a copy spell so we could get right to the brewing. I walked behind them checking every step they took and loving teaching them. It took an hour to brew most of that time was waiting. So they talked about magic and where they thought they were going with it. I did not add anything just listened and took it all in. I learned a lot about what they wanted out of life. Sasha was quiet most of the time. But finally she talked about her Aunt who was a herbalist. She had taught a scrawny kid the family secrets and helped her live through her mothers death. She wanted to make her proud of her by making something more of herself besides an maid. She looked apologetically to me but I shook my head. I said "All my maids become something else, something more after staying with me for a while. I see to it they have that chance. I help them as much as I can. It means I go through a lot of maids. I think you are going to make an fine potion maker." At last the potions was ready. All three looked right and smelled right. We bottled four potions each batch. I left them to clean up and wondered into the living room.

Grandmother said "Bond well with the girls?"

I smiled "Yes but it looks like I am loosing another maid to a different profession. I will have to go hire another from the trading post this weekend. People from there try harder. I need some more mage clerks anyway. I can do that at the same time."

She smiled "What post you going to hit. Whitewater might have what you need."

I said "That is where I was going to go. It is where I got the last three from.

Angel came over "You going to Whitewater. They have good maids there. Most of my maids come from there."

I asked "Do you want to be a good aunty and tuck Cryss in tonight. I am sure she would like that." She went over and held her hand out to Cryss. They went upstairs together. I smiled at the sight. Skya landed on my shoulder and pecked at the pocket I kept the crystal chips in. I chuckled and gave her one then scratched her between the wings. She was content with that.

Grandmother smiled "You know your kids know you love them. All of your kids. Even the ones that move on. That is why it is only the one's from outside that cause problems for you."

I looked at Grandmother "You know something that your not telling me. Is there something I am missing?"

She shook her head "You are doing all right just remember to watch your back more. You lead with your heart and it is bound to get hurt. This is getting maudlin so why don't you go cuddle with your husband for a bit." That sounded good so that is what I did.

The next morning I smiled and got everyone headed in the right direction. I was the last out the door. When I got to the class room with Grandmother there was 4 new faces in the class. all of them adults. I sighed and stepped over to them and asked "Is there something I can do for you? I am the teacher here."

A brute of an man stepped forward "We want to know why you would not take our daughters into your class!" Jeez this guy had bad breath.

I said "And you would be? And your Daughters name?"

He sneered "I am King Fredrick of Samtargo and My Daughter is Princess Tamara!

I said "I know exactly why she was not let into the class. First she did not sign up for the class, she just showed up and she did not have the Basic knowledge required for this class. I told her if she takes the basic class and passes I would take her in the class after that. This is a class for Advanced Magic! That is why she is not in this class."

He tried to crowd me and bumped off my shield. He bellowed "Who the hell are you to make such decisions you are just a commoner!"

Grandmother smiled "You think she is a commoner in that case some introductions are in order. We will start with the boys, First is Embers Husband Count Ben Starstone Captain of the Royal Guard of Sanctuary. Next is Ember's Big Brother Prince Samuel of Sanctuary. Now for the ladies We will go from youngest to oldest. First is Ember's daughter Princess Cryss of Sanctuary and Crystalis. Next is Ember's little sister Princess Alexis of Sanctuary and Crystalis. Next of course is Ember herself She is a Princess of Sanctuary and Crystalis too. Then Ember's Big sister Queen Angelica of Sanctuary and Princess of Crystalis. Then there is Ember's mother Queen Aslina of Crystalis. Then of course there is me the Archmage and Ember's Grandmother. So you can see we are not impressed by titles. You are looking at the Heart of the Royal Family of Sanctuary. Besides that she is the Grand Mage of Sanctuary. So if she says your Daughter does not have the skills she does not have the skills."
He looked me up and down "You don't look like no Princess"

I smiled at him I drew myself up and tapped the stone on my bracelet Going full Princess on him. I brought out my crystal staff and Skya flew in the window and landed on my shoulder. I spoke with a even tone "I am a Princess and more, test me and find out why I am the Grand Mage!" I know it was a little gaudy but I made my dress and staff glow brightly. He stepped back. He then rushed out of the room. I looked at the other Fathers and they all left. I turned off the light show. Tapped my bracelet and was back in my normal outfit. I took a deep breath to clear the irritation out my mind. I turned to the class shall we get started on a ability that you all may find fun. Shape Shifting.