Applejack ran through town towards her home after her and Rarity had been given the news. To onlookers, she simply looked to be in a rush. Because of her speed living up to the name of 'Most Athletic', ponies could not see the tears running down her face. She would not have cared either way. Her only goal at the moment was to get home, to be inside her room and to be alone.
The event at the hospital replayed in her mind, torturing her and not letting the tears stop.
"Well there is no way to put this delicately, so here it is. Rarity is pregnant."
Rarity is pregnant? Oh my gosh! She's gona be a mom... wait a minute!! Applejack's joy for her partner lasted a mere second before it was replaced with confusion and anger.
"Pregnant?! Doc I think your testing machines are a bit outdated. Ain't no way Rarity is pregnant." How dare he. How dare he say that. I would have never thought Dr.Price would have such a cruel sense of humor.
"I'm sorry Applejack, we even ran the test twice and checked the results three times. She is indeed pregnant."
Hang on a minute there AJ. You've been coming to this here hospital all your life. You and your family have trusted this place, and Dr.Price in particular, for years. Applejack saw his face. It didn't have the annoying grin of a jokester, but rather the concerned face of a friend.
Rarity is pregnant. With child. The tears began to trickle out of her eyes. Sadness engulfed her mind, Why Rarity? Why would ya do this? , and finally, the feeling of betrayal began to dominate. "How could yah do this to me Rarity?"
"I would never do that to you Applejack."
Applejack saw the look of worry and concern that she had expected, but it did not matter. The proof was there. It was right there, "Oh yeah?! Tell that to the foal growin in your stomach!"
I can't be here right now. Not with her. I.... I.... I have to go. I have to get out of here. Her legs obeyed and she left the room and the hospital altogether heading for home.
Applejack's home was coming into view and she was closing in fast. Mac saw her running towards the house, "Applejack?"
Applejack didn't hear him.
She opened the front door and slammed it shut, without realizing she did so, when she got inside.
"Applejack Apple! What in tarnation are yah slammin' doors fer?", yelled Granny Smith, her nap having been interrupted by the homecoming of her eldest granddaughter.
Applejack didn't hear her as she went upstairs.
"Applejack?" ,Granny asked, her voice becoming softer when she saw the tears on Applejack's face.
Applejack ran into her room, shut the door and threw herself onto the bed. She grabbed a pillow and screamed into it as loud as she could, still crying.
Mac ran into the house, What's wrong with AJ?"
Granny answered, her face long with worry, "Ah don't know. Can't be good though. Ah ain't seen Applejack cry like that since... well... since ah lost my children and yall lost your parents." She got up out of her chair and moved towards the kitchen.
Mac looked down for a moment, remembering how the loss of their parents had been harsh for him and his sister. Applebloom had barely been over a month old when it happened. AJ shut herself up for two weeks and didn't talk to anypony during that time.
"I'm gona go and check up on her."
"You go do that, Mac. Ah'll... just start up dinner then. I guess."
Mac couldn't help but feel bad for his granny. She had been with them from that start and raised them since their parents passed. He knew that she wanted to be by Applejack's side right now more than anyone. Sadly she couldn't really climb the stairs anymore. Her body wouldn't allow it, but Mac knew she would have been the first one up there if she could.
As Mac approached Applejack's room, he began to hear her quiet sobs. The sound forced him to slow down his pace a bit, but still made it to the door, "AJ, what's wrong?"
"Leave me alone Mac", Applejack's voice barely audible through the sobs.
"AJ, please."
"Go away", her voice becoming firmer and more raspy.
"Applejack, we're worried about you."
"Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to anypony right now!"
Mac decided not to push it any further. With much sorrow, he restrained himself and went back downstairs to help Granny.
Maybe there's still a chance. Wha-what if the doc's tests were wrong after all?
C'mon AJ. I think you know that the chances of that are very low.
You're right He's a smart guy. He knows what he's doing. I think he knew how hard it would be when he told us. I could see in his face that he knew what it would imply that Rarity had done. Rarity........
Was it me? Could I not give her pleasure in..... that area? Maybe..... maybe she got too lonely when we were apart for a while. Maybe she got tired of being with a mare. Maybe she never actually wanted to be with one.
With that though, she glanced over towards the picture on the wall next to the scarf Rarity had made for her. It was a picture from their wedding. It was her and Rarity's family, their friends and of course the happy newlyweds. Rarity had insisted she need to clean up before the photo shoot. The tears from the ceremony and smeared her mascara. Although she had told Rarity it was good enough, she secretly was glad that Rarity had. Every mare wants to have their wedding photo be perfect.
She was definitely happy on that day. What happened? What changed?
She couldn't remember a happier memory, except for the one that stood on her nightstand. The one she would wake up to every morning and smile. She had made more copies of this one than even the wedding photos. It was her most treasured memory of Rarity.
The carnival had been in town. She had taken the Crusaders and Spike there once already but it had been a tiresome experience. Applejack shuddered, "Cotton candy." Even so, she thought it would be a great place to take Rarity for their second date. Although the first had not been complete bust, it had been extremely awkward. They were still getting used to the transition from being friends to being lovers.
Rarity had agreed to the carnival. Overall, the day had been a complete success. From roller coasters to arcade games with dirty carnies, from greasy foods to watered down drinks, it had been fun and Applejack loved to see Rarity smile and laugh. Well everything except the tea cup ride. Applejack got a bit to into spinning the cup and Rarity was queasy for almost and hour afterwards.
At last they came upon the ride Applejack had been planning for the whole day. She knew Rarity loved the cheesy romantic stuff, not that Applejack hated it. She had remembered a scene from one of the books, which Rarity had liked and loaned to her, a scene similar to this one. A stallion took his marefriend to the Ferris wheel and they watched the sun setting from the top of the ride. The sun was indeed beginning to retire for the day, so now was the perfect time. They held each other until the ride reached its peak. When the orange and pink horizon came into view, Rarity gave Applejack a quick peck on the cheek and grabbed her tighter. "This is the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Thank you Applejack."
"Anythin' for you Rares", Applejack responded as she grabbed her marefriend closer.
When the ride finished and they got off, Rarity suggested they pay a visit to the photo booth, "I want to make sure I never forget this day."
The first three were silly photos to let loose a bit. Applejack tickling Rarity, Applejack making funny faces as Rarity face-hoofed and Applejack putting her stetson on unsuspecting Rarity. The fourth was simple hug and smile at the camera. The fifth was the smooching. The sixth and final one was the one Applejack adored above all the others. It was Rarity kissing Applejack on the cheek.
Although the simple hugging one made her smile and the smooching one was more romantic, she kept this one closest to her heart because it let her remember not only her second date with the love of her life, but also what Rarity said once the pictures had finished being taken. The same words that Applejack had used in her vows for Rarity.
"Applejack I do not believe there is or will ever will be another mare or stallion that makes my heart flutter like this. When we embrace, it's as if we were molded perfectly for each other. Every time we kiss, the whole world becomes a much brighter place. I'm sorry that it took so long for us to find each other, but I thank Celestia for the day you asked me to be your special somepony. I love you Applejack."
What changed?
Maybe she wanted to have a family.
We had already planned to adopt.
Maybe she wanted a child from her own blood.
She knew that that was unfortunately not possible if she was with me.
Maybe that finally sunk in about a week ago.
No. No, she wouldn't do that to me.
How can you know for sure?
I've seen her over-dramatic face too many times to count, but that face she made when I told her "I love you" for the first time, the face when we first woke up in the same bed together as a couple, the face when I proposed to her and the face she made when I said "I do", they were all real. They were the face of someone who loved me. The face of my Rarity.
And yet here you are because she is pregnant.
I... I don't know.
Rarity...
"Rarity..."