Chapter 14: Midnight Activities
Trixie, Bright Shadow, and Screwball walked along side one another as they made their way to the Element of Generosity's home. The violet mare floating ahead of the group smiled nervously at the tension between the two mares behind her. For the first time in Screwball's life, she thought even haycakes could not solve the situation. They would probably just throw them at each other and waist a perfectly good haycake.
The awkward silence between the three mares apparently bothered the somepony else and Bright started to clear her throat. "Hehmm. So... Screwball. What exactly is your relationship with Star Well?"
Trixie perked up her ears, this was something she was also curious about. When she saw her with him at the bridge, she thought nothing of it. Trixie did however start taking notice when she saw that Noteworthy seemed to already accepted her into their family. She seemed too young to be his marefriend... perhaps a relative?
The floating earth pony was all too happy to end the silence. "I'm his assistant!" She declared proudly. "The best there ever was!"
"I know that. You told me that when I questioned you the first time. I mean what do you actually do for him?" groaned the pegasus.
The mare put her hoof to her mouth and looked up to help try and remember. "Let's see... I tidy up the apartment, then we go have some haycakes. I organize the book shelves, then eat some leftover haycakes. I answer the door and get the mail, then have some more haycakes. I go get tools and books he asks for and then I go make some haycakes. I make sure he doesn't forget to eat dinner and we have-"
Bright interjected "Let me guess. Haycakes"
"No silly. We usually have a salad. Then I go to bed and dream about haycakes. I always get up late at night to get a drink of water and to put Star to bed as he usually falls asleep working. Then we get up early to have haycakes and Star goes to work at the garage. Ohh, and sometimes we go grocery shopping so we can make some more haycakes."
Trixie then spoke up and joined the conversation. "Trixie wishes to know when you met her subordinate, Star Well."
Screwball joyfully answered, "About a year ago when I woke up on his bed."
Both Bright and Trixie stopped in their tracks. Bright was the first to speak, her initial shock turning to anger. "THAT SLIME BALL!!! Taking advantage of mentally handicapped teenager is unforgivable! Next time I see him I'm going to-!"
Trixie had started muttering to herself, still clearly in shock. "No worries, everything will be O.K. Trixie can forgive him. All Trixie has to do is fix him. Shock therapy sounds like a good plan..."
"Whoa, whoa. Nopony took advantage of anypony! If anything, I am taking advantage of him." Screwball shouted in panic. What had she said to cause Bright to shout out in anger?
Bright Shadow almost fainted at the swirl-eyed pony's words. "You take advantage of him? You are too young to be engaging in such... activity. And Star should know better even if you do... initiate the act."
Screwball became even more confused. "I'm too young to make haycakes?"
Bright Shadows eyes became wide at as a realization came to her. "Oh Celestia, kids are calling it 'making haycakes' now? What is Equestria coming to, young mares barely past puberty having no problem doing it. By Atlus, you should be pregnant for how many times you two 'make haycakes.'"
"Pregnant?" Wheels and gears turned in Screwball's head as she put the pieces together. As the full picture assembled in her mind, the mare started to turn bright red. "What, NOOOO!!!!! I didn't... I'd never... He's like a brother to me and MY BOSS!!! You two are sick!" The swirl-eyed mare almost started to barf but manage to keep the contents of her stomach from spilling.
Both mares stopped and also started to blush. "So you two aren't...?"
"BY CELESTIA AND LUNA, ATLUS NO!!!"
Both mares, now fully embarrassed, started to apologize profusely. "Trixie is sorry for jumping to conclusions."
"I kinda took this out of context"
The three mares continued forward, backed to square one on the scale of awkwardness. Nopony spoke for the longest time, each was too afraid to speak. Finally, Screwball could not take it and nervously tried to start another conversation.
"So Trixie... How do you know Star?"
Lance and Lyra reached the hospital ward in record time. The castle halls were mostly empty despite the huge influx of ponies that had recently made it their home and Lance knew some short cuts through the castle. As they entered the ward, Lance insisted he stay near, with his job and all to guard her and the other researchers.
The mint green mare was not exactly happy about that as she was beginning to realize that she was going to have to get used to having him around. It wasn't too bad, but it did put a damper on her personal life, kind of hard to hang out with friends with a guard watching them and your every move.
Lance poke up as they reached the makeshift front desk of the hospital. "Who exactly are you visiting?"
"Cadence, an old friend of mine. Used to babysit me when I was younger."
Lance ears perked up with surprise. "Cadence, as in Princess Cadence?"
"The one and only. She's been in the hospital care since the day of the attack." Lance instantly put on a professional look and continued to follow. Lyra found the whole thing rather amusing and had to force herself not to laugh at the stallion's attempts. The two got directions from the desk for her room and headed down the hall. They reached the room at the end of the hall and opened it to find the pink princess lying comfortable.
Princess Cadence smiled in surprise. "Lyra?"
"Hey Cadence!" The two mares greeted each other with a hug.
"I haven't seen you in forever! And I see you brought a friend." Cadence’s smile faded as she saw the guardpony in the doorway. "Hello Lieutenant Lance."
The stallion gave a bow and returned her greeting. "Your highness."
"Would you mind waiting out in the hallway while we catch-up?" Cadence asked. The stallion gave a nod and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him.
"Wow Cadence, that was a little cold. He wasn't hurting anypony." Lyra teased.
The princess gave a sigh and smiled. "I know, I know. I don't know what is about that guy, he seems nice every time I meet him but he still gives me the hibby-jibbies."
"Hibby-jibbies?" Lyra tried to hold a laugh.
"What? There is nothing wrong with using the word 'hibby-jibbies'" Now Lyra had to really work hard to contain her laughter. Cadence ignored her friend and continued. "Anyway, I rather talk to you in private."
Lyra regained her composer, seriousness then spread across her face. "It's about your surges isn't it. It's why you’re still in the hospital."
"Yes... and no," The pink unicorn pegasus struggled with how she should tell her friend. "Yes, I am here because I had another surge. It was a small surge, but I still haven't had one like that for a long time so they did some tests to see if there was any cause for the sudden flare up."
"Well... did they find out anything?"
The mare continued to hesitate. "Yes... yes they did..."
"So tell me."
"The surges are flaring up because... I-I'm... pregnant."
Lyra's jaw dropped. "T-That's great news! Congratulations!"
Cadence just continued, worry showed on her face. "I don't think you understand. I technically should be able to get pregnant, everypony on case on file with this condition were infertile. The doctors are worried what this could mean and are worried what my surges could do to the foal. We are in unmapped territory here and frankly, I'm scared."
"Have you told Shining yet?"
"No not yet. I don't even know how I can explain this to him. How can I face him and tell him that I'm pregnant with his child and that because of me, might not even have a chance of a normal life if he or she makes it threw birth." Tears streamed down Cadence's face as Lyra hugged her and began to try and comfort the mare.
"Shhhh. None of this is your fault." Lyra then looked her straight in the eye. "Shining deserves to know. He won't blame this on anypony, least of all you. I think you should tell him as soon as you can. You aren't alone in all of this, I stand right by you to help you through this and I'm pretty sure your husband will to." The mint green unicorn winked, “After all, I wouldn't of let you marry him if I didn't check to see if he was an honorable pony, now would I?"
Cadence wiped the tears from her face and smiled, "Thanks Lyra. You’re the best friend a Princess could ask for."
Lyra laughed "And don't you forget it!"
....................
On the way out of the hospital, Lyra and Lance came across a strange sight. A white unicorn that Lyra recognized as Prince Blueblood from magazines was talking to the table clerk in a low voice. The mare seemed terrified of Blueblood as his expression was stone cold serious.
"-and if a word of this gets out, giant monster bugs will be the least of your worries, do you understand." The mare nodded furiously.
Lance approached the stallion and said "Threatening ponies to get your way now, are we. Last I checked, that was clearly against the law."
The prince gave obvious fake smile and stated, "I wasn't threatening anypony, just giving others some friendly advice. Isn't that right?" The mare gave another furious nod. "See no problem here. I'll just be on my way."
As the two watch the prince, the hospital clerk let out a sigh of relief and excused herself to get a fresh spot of coffee. "Weird, even though Blueblood is snide jerk, I never seen him threaten anypony before, something must be tying his tail into knots. I wonder what..."
Lyra just gave a shrug. "I don't know. All I can say is that he gives me the hibby-jibbies"
Lance raised an eyebrow. "Hibby-jibbies?" Lyra just laughed and continued forward, leaving the guardpony confused for the second time that day.