//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1:  Pinkie's Secret 
// Story: Welcome to the Royal Family 
// by Darkblaze15 
//------------------------------//

	One day, Pinkie Pie is at Sugarcube Corner whisking away at some batter for a very special cake.  Today marks Twilight's birthday, and she and her friends were planning a surprise party to celebrate this auspicious occasion.  Twilight, however, was told that the party was to welcome Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, who were stopping by for a visit, so as to avoid any suspicion.  Pinkie, however, is humming to herself and not paying attention to what she is doing, and thus proceeds to get batter all over herself and Pound Cake, who squeals with delight.  When Mrs. Cake comes in carrying Pumpkin Cake on her back, she gasps at the sight and sets to work cleaning up Pinkie's mess while scolding her for not keeping a tidy workspace.
"But I can't possibly sit still today!" Pinkie explains, "Today is Twilight's birthday, and I want to make sure everything is going to be perfect!"
"Well, that's fine, but that certainly doesn't mean you can't take care of messes that you've caused," Mrs. Cake rebuttals.  "Now, could you please tidy up while I clean off my precious Pound Cake?"
"OK!" Pinkie says cheerfully and places her batter in the oven then cleans off her workspace.  As she does so, she uncovers an order form for a cake - from Princess Cadence and Shining Armor!  "Ooooohh, what's this?  An order for a double chocolate cake with yellow frosting, blue and pink carnations, and a baby carriage on top," Pinkie exclaims, "what could this be for?"  Suddenly, Mrs. Cake snatches the order form away from Pinkie's hooves.
"You weren't supposed to see that!" she shouts and tries to hide it from Pinkie, but she is insistent.
"Why do Princess Cadence and Shining Armor want a cake like that?  Huh, huh?  Why can't you tell me?  Is it a secret?  Tell me, tell meee!" Pinkie volleys at Mrs. Cake.  Realizing that there was no other way out of the situation, Mrs. Cake tells Pinkie about the form.
"Ok, I'll tell you, but you must promise not to tell anypony else," she says urgently, to which Pinkie makes her famous "Pinkie Promise" code of silence.  "Well, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor . . . are going to have a foal!" she says, not bothering to hide her excitement.
Pinkie Pie gasps and shoots into the air in a rain of confetti and streamers.  "Ohmygoshohmygoshomygoshohmygosh!!!!  They're having a foal?!?!  This is the best news ever, I can't wait to tell Twilight!" she screams as she scoops up Pound Cake and Gummy in exultation.
"Sssshhsh!" Mrs. Cake whispers, "They don't want anypony to know because they will reveal it at Twilight's party later today.  It's top secret, and you promised you won't tell, so don't, got it?"
Pinkie promised, but she still could not hide her excitement as she trotted out to Sweet Apple Acres to check on Applejack, who would be catering for the party.  As she arrived, she witnessed Big Macintosh, Applebloom, and Applejack piling all their goodies into a large wagon.  "Wow, Applejack, you look like you're all ready to go!"
"'Course we are, Pinkie.  Wouldn't want this shin-dig to be spoiled," Applejack says proudly.  "You, on the other hand, seem even more excited than usual; if I may, what else has your spirit higher than clown on stilts at the rodeo?"
"I just found out that Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are --" Pinkie blurts, but stops suddenly.
"Are what?" Applebloom asks.
"I can't tell you, it will ruin the surprise," Pinkie Pie says secretly.
"Aw, I'm sure its nothing we can't handle," Applejack says, to which Big Mac replies "Eeyup".
"Well, alright, but you have to Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony else, especially Twilight" she says ominously.  Once they take oath, Pinkie blurts "Princess Cadence and Shining Armor are going to have a foal!"  Everypony whoops and hollers with delight at the news.
"Wow, that's amazing!" Applebloom says, "I can't wait to congratulate them at the party."
"Me too!" Pinkie Pie replies, "Come on, let's go tell Twilight the good news!"
"Hold on, now," Applejack says, "I thought we were't supposed to tell Twilight?"
"Oh, that's right," Pinkie Pie says sadly, "But I'm just so happy, I want to tell anypony I see, and keeping secrets from Twilight makes me feel weird.  How am I going to survive until the party?!" she screams exasperatedly.
"Well, why don't you just avoid seeing her until then, if that's the case?" Applejack suggests.  Pinkie Pie considers, agrees, and carries on with checking on the rest of the preparations.
As the day wears on, however, Pinkie finds it increasingly hard to avoid telling Twilight, as she seems to pop up everywhere she goes - at Carousel Boutique, Pinkie has to hide quickly and keep quiet when Twilight trots right into Rarity's preparing the decorations for the party.  Then again at Ponyville Town Hall, where Pinkie runs for the hills when Twilight steps in on Mayor Mare's overseeing the set up for the reception.  As the time draws nearer and all the ponies gather in the town square to welcome the royal couple, Pinkie Pie is visibly having difficulties with keeping her end of the promise, practically squirming with excitement.  Soon, the Prince and Princess arrive and everypony cheers as they make their way up to the steps of the hall.
"Hello everypony," Princess Cadence begins.  It's so nice to see such friendly faces on such a special occasion.  Now, if I may, can Twilight Sparkle come up here, please?"  Twilight makes her way through the crowd and asks what it is that Cadence needed her for.  Cadence and Shining Armor both tell her to turn around, and when she does, everypony in town screams and shouts, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TWILIGHT!!!!!"
Twilight Sparkle, with a shocked expression on her face, stammers"What's this about?"
"It's a surprise birthday party.  For you!!" Pinkie Pie shouts as she let off a volley of party cannons.
Twilight starts to tear up with heartfelt joy.  "And, were you two a part of this, as well?" she asks the royal couple, who both nodded in agreement.  "Thank you everypony," Twilight says, expressing her deep gratitude for their efforts.  "now, let's have a party!" and everypony files into the Town Hall.  Once inside, everypony partakes in and enjoys the festivities Pinkie and the rest of the Mane 5 put together; Pinkie, however, upon seeing Twilight with Cadence and Shining Armor, suddenly remembers the secret, and races over to them.
"Did you guys tell her yet?" Pinkie asks excitedly, to which she receives shocked expressions from the royal couple.
"Tell me what?" Twilight asks innocently.
"Oh, just, well, um," Pinkie Pie stumbles on her words, "Just, just how much work went into putting this together?  Tons of hard work from all your closest friends!" Pinkie Pie says, smiling nervously.
"Well, no, but I appreciate you telling me, Pinkie.  I couldn't have asked for a better birthday party, thank you," Twilight says and smiles, while Pinkie and the royal couple breath sighs of relief.  Suddenly, Twilight points something out, "Hey Cadence, you hungry or something?" she comments jokingly on the amount of food in front of the royal princess.  "I don't remember you eating this much even as a filly."
"Well, I guess I'm just hungry from the flight.  It's a long way from the Crystal Empire, after all," Cadence offers, donning a nervous smile as well.  Twilight thinks nothing more of it and goes off to talk to some other ponies.  Cadence suddenly whips around to face Pinkie, "You know?!" she asks.
"Well, yes," Pinkie Pie admits, "and I'm so happy for the both of you!"
"Thank you, Pinkie Pie," Shining Armor says, "but if it is alright, we would like to make the announcement ourselves.  We're not sure how Twilight would take it if she found out one of her closest friends was with-holding news from her - especially news as big as this."
"I will try," Pinkie says; upon receiving some stern looks from the couple, she corrects her statement "I mean, I definitely will.  Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye."
When it comes time to make the announcement, however, all the excitement and happiness inside Pinkie Pie reaches its breaking point, and she is trying her hardest to keep it together, but to little avail.
"Greetings everypony," Princess Cadence announces, "I just wanted to say that it has been an honor being able to put this together for my sister-in-law.  Happy birthday again, Twilight," to which she offers her thanks.  "Now, to add to all this happiness and good cheer, my husband and I have some very exciting news.  But before we--" suddenly, all of Pinkie's pent up energy explodes out of her; she fires off from the ground like a rocket, leaving a trail of confetti and streamers in her wake, and lands on the stage.
"When will you tell them that you're having a foal?" she screams to the couple without realizing that al eyes and ears were upon her.  Everypony gasps while Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom face-hoof themselves.  Cadence, Shining Armor, and Twilight, however, are frozen where they stand, too stunned to speak.  "Ooops, I'm very sorry, I just couldn't help myself anymore," Pinkie apologizes.
"Well, I guess the damage has been done," Shining Armor finally says as he and his wife trot over to Twilight, who is still frozen with shock.
"Twilight, are you alright?" Cadence asks, worried about her sister.  "We wanted to wait until we came to your party to tell you personally, but I guess Pinkie found out before we got the chance.  I hope you're not upset with us."
Twilight, however, remains unresponsive; finally, she asks "You're . . having . . a foal?"  Shining Armor and Cadence nod their heads in unison.  "I'm . . going to be . . an aunt?" she asks again, receiving another combined nod.  Suddenly, she breaks into the biggest smile she's ever made, "How could I be upset?  That's the most wonderful news I've ever heard!!!" and everypony cheers over Twilight's acceptance.
As the party continues, everypony takes turns congratulating the royal couple on their latest development while Twilight expresses her joy to Cadence as they talk about events like the baby shower.  Just then, Pinkie Pie trots up to the trio.
"Hi everypony.  I'm sorry I spoiled the surprise for you," she says solemnly.  "I hope you can forgive me one day."
"What are you talking about, Pinkie?" Twilight reassures her, "You didn't spoil anything for me.  I'm just as surprised as if Cadence and my brother had told me themselves!"
"Yeah, we were more worried about Twilight's reaction," Shining Armor says, "but, seeing as she's taking it well, I'd say everything's fine."
Pinkie Pie beams from ear to ear and races over to the microphone.  "Come on everypony, let's dance!" She shouts and jumps out on the dance floor as everypony else joins her.  Shining Armor embraces his wife with joy as they watch everypony dance and celebrate the creation of new and continuing life.

(To be continued)