"...And that's why, after much careful consideration, I've decided to accept your offer to be a surrogate." On the surface Diamond seemed absolutely sure of her decision, but the Breezies fluttering around her stomach would tend to disagree.
"R-Really?" Apple Bloom quickly deposited the china teacup she held down on the table, as her jittery hooves put it in serious danger of being shattered. "I-I mean, I know I asked you an' all, and my request was genuine. B-But I never expected you to say..."
"I won't lie, it hasn't been an easy decision at all. It'll certainly affect my future career as mayor, as well as cause a lot of tension in my personal life." Diamond frowned to herself, thinking how true that statement was after events the previous day. "If it was anypony else, I'd probably decline. But I know how much this means to you and Pipsqueak, and after everything you've done for me after our, uh, 'shaky' start together in school, I figured this is a perfect way to show you my gratitude. Plus, I'm sure you agree, after the procedure is over it'll make us even."
Diamond had meant the last part of her sentence there as a joke, but Apple Bloom was obviously too dense or overcome with emotion to pick up on it. "Y-Yes! O-Of c-course!! I'll never ask yer for anythin' else ever again! Thank yer! Thank yer so much! Wait til' Pip hears the good news! He's always complainin' about working hard on the farm, but I told him: if we're gonna get hitched someday, yer have to learn to graft like an Apple! Wait there a sec, while I go and get him. Patches darlin', could you come here for a sec? I have some good news for yer, or rather, us."
Diamond observed without comment Apple Bloom yell loudly out of the window of her lounge, where both mares were currently situated. The new mayor's keen ears picked up what sounded like a mild profanity in the far distance, but by the time the alleged culprit had made his way into the farmhouse, all signs of potential grumpiness had miraculously been dispelled from his sunny demeanour.
"What is it, my little Apple Dumpling? I told you, I'll make a start on collecting the bucked fruit from under the trees as soon as I've finished mucking out the... o-oh, hello there, Diamond. I-I didn't realise the mayor was paying us a visit. Congratulations on your landslide victory, by the way. S-sorry you had to hear that, it's just a term of endearment I use sometimes..." Pipsqueak, otherwise known as 'Patches', seemed somewhat embarrassed at displaying his more tender side so publicly.
"That's totally fine Pip, you ought to hear some of the pet names Daddy used to invent for me! I dare say, if Snips and Snails had been aware of them, they might just have stood a chance in the election! Is it possible to cringe your opponent into conceding, I wonder?" Diamond chuckled good-naturedly at the thought, before returning to business. "Anyway, I think your marefriend has something she wants to tell you. Perhaps you better sit down for this..."
"She agreed! I can't believe it! I'm gonna be a Mummy!!" Diamond had apparently forgotten that Apple Bloom was not one for keeping a tight lip, as the farm pony blurted out the information at the earliest opportunity. " I'm so happy! I'm so overjoyed! I... wait, did yer forget to wipe yer hooves before comin' in again?!"
"E-Erm, well..." Pipsqueak blushed slightly as all three ponies glanced down to where the diminutive stallion had left a nice trail of small hoof prints from the front door. "It's only dirt from the pig sty, that's all! It'll only take me a jiffy to clean it up! In the meantime, what was that you just said about..."
"Honestly Pip, yer as bad at trackin' in mud as Winona was after her 'walkies'!" Apple Bloom took a moment to acknowledge the faithful canine who, in her own special way, was missed almost as much as Granny Smith. "What's Applejack gonna say when she comes home later, and discovers pig mess all over her floor?! She'll blow a gasket, that's what! I took the fall for the time yer overfed the chickens, and almost 'milked' a bull instead of a cow. But now, yer on yer own. Hope you don't mind explainin' the situation later..."
"Y-Yes, yes, whatever you say, dear." A frantic Pipsqueak seemed desperate to confirm if he'd heard correctly as he came in. "Now, about what I think you told me when I entered. Something about 'being a Mummy'?"
"Huh? Oh, that's right! How could I forget the great news so fast!" Apple Bloom slapped her head with annoyance, before she affectionately grabbed an unsuspecting Diamond nearby. "Meet our new surrogate! And yer thought she'd turn us down! Didn't I say 'yer never know, 'til yer ask'? Well, I did, and she said yes! How d'ya like them apples... what the... what in tarnation do yer think yer doin', Pipsqueak?!"
'Turning the place into a shambles' apparently, for as soon as Apple Bloom had finished her big announcement, a massive change came over the usually mild-mannered spotted stallion. First he became as bug-eyed as any Changeling, then a gawkish, goofy grin decorated his face.... and that was even before the dancing began.
Furniture and flecks of mud were sent flying everywhere as the ecstatic Pip performed his impromptu unrehearsed routine, to the self-penned lyrics of "I'm gonna be a Daddy! A father! A papa! YAHOO!!" in a rapturous display that made Apple Bloom's earlier celebrations seem sedate by comparison.
The farm pony and Diamond looked at each other nonplussed for a moment, before the former apologetically stuttered. "E-Er, I don't quite know what to say. I've never seen him act like this before, even on Nightmare Night, his favourite day of the year. But knockin' on doors and pretendin' to be a jolly pirate is one thing, tearin' the place apart and tossin' dirt everywhere is another. I'm sure once he's settled down a bit we can discuss this like sensible ponies, and tidyin' up 'round here by himself after the show is over should see to that. Why don't yer..."
"Say no more, Apple Bloom. I'll pop back later, when hopefully the two of you will have had more time to digest everything. When I return, we have to decide how we're going to go about doing this, and so forth. In the meantime, I have a couple more ponies to tell next."
"Who, Di? Silver Spoon? Your mothe... I mean, Spoiled Rich?"
"Nice save there, Apple Bloom. And in answer to your question, no. In fact, those are the only other ones who know about my plans so far. Until the papers get hold of the story of course, which if I know Spoiled as well as I do, should be very quickly indeed."
"I-I'm kinda guessin' she found out by 'accident' then, that nosy little... still, I'm sure Silv was much more supportive! Who are yer tellin' next, then?"
"Right on both counts, Apple Bloom. And in answer to your question, I think Daddy deserves to find out his daughter is about to be carrying another mare's foal, don't you? And of course Rarity has to hear about it too, considering how close we've been getting these days. Wish me luck then... I'm going in."