The sun shimmered off the water of the lake. It was hot for the end of spring, but school was still in session, so the area was mostly empty, which suited the nine occupants just fine. Pinkie Pie, yellow tube around her middle, swung from the sturdy vine and splashed into the center of the water. Rainbow Dash, who had been floating lazily, was capsized by the wave.
Twilight was in a heated debate with Starlight about a magical scroll they had found in the castle, while Spike and Trixie watched intently. Rarity had fallen asleep while sunbathing – Pinkie made a mental note to wake her up in seventeen minutes – while Fluttershy was writing on some parchment.
Rainbow’s head broke the surface just long enough to grab Pinkie, who gave a staged scream before being tugged under the water. Rainbow released her almost immediately, and they surfaced laughing. Then suddenly Pinkie’s face turned grim and she raced for the shore, running only a few steps before emptying her lunch onto the sand. She breathed for a moment and covered the sick with a thick layer of sand. Everyone stopped and looked toward the commotion.
“Whew,” Pinkie said. “My tummy isn’t feeling so good. I think I’m just going to walk home.”
The looks on the other ponies faces let Pinkie know that was not going to be what happened. Voices came at her all at once as her friends approached, and possibly for the first time in her life, she wished they didn’t care so much. She backed away a few paces, the grin still stretched across her face. “Honestly, girls, I’ve been a bit queasy all morning. Ask Mrs. Cake!”
Rarity stepped forward, pushing her purple mane to the side. “Are you certain, Pinkie? Perhaps one of us could go with you and –“
“Really, girls, I’m okay. I’ll just go take a nap and be better later. ” Though no one looked happy about the turn of events, the group relented.
Pinkie slowly walked down the path back to Ponyville. It was a short trip, but she had decided to take her time. She had paused on the path, holding a hoof to her stomach, when she heard flapping and a blue blur landed in front of her. Her strained smile was back in an instant. “Dashie! What are you doing here?”
Rainbow scowled. “Stop, Pinkie. There is something wrong, and I want to know what it is.”
A nervous giggle escaped Pinkie’s mouth. “You’re so silly, Dash—“
“Pinkie, I’m serious. You bailed on me after throwing up yesterday, too. I didn’t tell the others yet, but I want to know what’s wrong.”
Pinkie settled her expression, tears forming in her eyes. “I’m pregnant,” she said. “I’m going to have a foal.”
“WHAT?” Rainbow shouted, her wings pulling her into the air above Pinkie. “Are you sure?”
Pinkie just nodded. “I’m terrified.”
Rainbow flapped her wings, hovering just over Pinkie; neither pony knew what to say. With a deep sigh, Rainbow landed. “How did Tunderlane take the news that he’s a dad?”
Pinkie looked down and to the side. “He isn’t the dad. We’ve only been together a month, Dashie. I’m two months along.”
“Oh.” Rainbow pawed the ground, looking over at the trees. “Then who is it?”
Pinkie stood, starting toward town again. “I don’t know. It…It’s complicated.” A tear slipped down her cheek, and Rainbow stepped closer. “I’m so stupid and reckless. I can’t take care of a foal. Have you seen me with the Cake twins? I don’t know what I’m going to do!”
Rainbow, eyes wide, held up her hooves. “Okay, okay. Breathe. Okay. Who else knows?”
“Just you.” She shrugged. “How do I tell people? I want to have a party but…but is this…I just don’t know.”
“Hold off on the party.” Rainbow was silent for a moment. “I’m really not the person to talk to this about, Pinkie. I don’t know anything about this. I do know one thing, though.”
Pinkie looked up, hopeful. “What?”
“If there’s any way this will go right, it’ll be you who does it. Look at everything you’ve done! You do take care of the Cake twins by yourself, you brought Equestrian Friendship to the Yaks, you know so much about everyone in Ponyville because you want to make them happy. You aren’t going to let your foal down.”
“I’ve let everyone else down. I didn’t use the choosing stone for any of my partners, I’m letting Thunderlane down. And the Cakes! They really had high hopes for me, Dashie.” Again, her eyes were full of tears. “I’ve really messed up.”
“No you haven’t.” Ahead, Ponyville was starting to appear. “Everything is going to work out, Pinkie. You have me and the girls. The Cakes aren’t going to just abandon you.”
Pinkie nodded. “Yeah, that’s true.”
“Exactly. Your foal will have an awesome bunch of ponies around her. Now…about the dad, I have an idea.”
Her heart was beating rapidly. Dashie had a grin plastered to her face, and the others around the map table seemed equally as happy. For once, she wasn’t able to keep up with what was being said. Her ears were ringing a little. She felt her face muscles relax and a real smile split across her face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you girls sooner. I was so nervous.”
“I think it’s really great, Pinkie,” Fluttershy said. “You’ll make a wonderful mother.”
“Thunderlane is a catch, too,” Applejack said.
Pinkie’s smile fell and she pressed her ears to her head. “Well…Thundie isn’t really the father. It’s…complicated. I was pregnant before I started dating him.” The room quieted. “I don’t know who it is.”
Trixie’s face scrunched into confusion. “How can you not know who it is?”
Pinkie swallowed. “You see, I was dating Double Diamond but then we broke up. I was sad, and I ran into Cheese Sandwich, and he’s always ready for a good time, so…that happened. Like a month later, I started dating Thunderlane.”
“You’re certain it can’t be his?” Rarity asked.
Pinkie nodded. “Thundie wants to wait until after we’re married. He knows I haven’t, but he’s okay with that.”
“I know a spell that can tell you,” Twilight said. She sat in her throne, looking at the table. “It’s complicated, though. I’ll need a week to prepare.” She looked up, her eyes meeting Pinkie’s. “All I need from you is some fur or something with your DNA, and the two of theirs.”
“Oh, you know what this means, don’t you?” Rarity said, her eyes glittering as she looked around the room. “Foal shower!”
“Yeah,” Pinkie said, perking up. “Party!”
The room was a flurry of commotion after that, whispers of present ideas, of genders and names, loud talk of cupcakes and punch. Taking just a second apart from it all, Pinkie felt a warmth in her chest. Her friends were here. They would always be here.