The preparations for Shining Armor and Cadance's arrival went smoothly, as everypony (sans the party ponies) followed Twilight's organizational skills and instructions on what to get and what to do. All the while, to Midnight's relief, Cheese Sandwich was keeping an eye on Pinkie Pie, who continued to carry out her deliveries with uncharacteristic focus and avoidance of social interaction.
A couple times, some of the others tried saying hello to Pinkie and/or Cheese, but both of them ignored their 'hello's and 'come hang out with us's.
At some point, Midnight managed to have a word with Cheese, "So how's it going?"
"Okay, but now Pinkie's gotta take care of some Pinkie Promises that she made yesterday, including the one where she promised Twilight she'd bring some cupcakes to the castle," Cheese reported before commenting, "Y'know, she's been getting liberal with those Pinkie Promises."
"Well, as long as she's kept busy and out of our manes," Midnight responded, "We all love Pinkie to pieces, but there are times we need to limit our doses of her."
Cheese Sandwich continued to watch over Pinkie, but making sure she didn't notice him, which was harder than one would expect. He barely avoided being inflated and twisted into a balloon sculpture, very nearly bumped into her at Town Hall, and dove under a crib on display at Wooden Legs' furniture store when Pinkie ran off screaming from yet another reminder of the secret she was dying to reveal.
And it seemed it wouldn't be far off, as the Council of Friendship were putting the finishing touches on preparing everything for their guests' arrival. Rarity and Blueblood set a lovely vase full of a glamorous bouquet of flowers at the center of the map, Applejack, Thunderlane, Big Mac, and Fluttershy were polishing or dusting, Rainbow Dash and Soarin were putting lavender bunches onto wall sconces, and Midnight and Twilight were going over the list, just to make sure they hadn't missed anything.
"...and the party ponies should be arriving with refre-" Twilight was saying when Midnight tapped her shoulder and pointed to the doorway, where they saw Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich, carrying platters of veggies with ranch dip, cheese n' crackers, fruit cups, and the Sugarcube Corner's patented Cupcake Sampler Platter.
"Wow! All of that looks lip-smacking good, you guys!" Midnight complimented the party ponies as he took the platters in his telekinetic aura, "Lemme take those off your hooves, huh?"
"But we'd better cover them up so they don't spoil," Twilight suggested, setting some cloches over the platters after Midnight set them on the map table.
"Why would they get spoiled?" Pinkie asked, "We're all gonna eat them super-soon!"
"Oh, sugarcube, din't Cheese tell ya? Shinin' Armor n' Cadance are held up," Applejack informed Pinkie, not noticing the anxious stink eye she was giving Cheese, who gave a nervous and apologetic smile in return.
"They might not arrive `til Saturday."
"WHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAT...?!??!!?!"
All eyes gazed up at Pinkie Pie as she hyperventilated in the chandelier above, looking increasingly distressed as she began gasping, "You mean" - GASP - "I have" - GASP - "to wait" - GASP - "another whole day?! Uhhh-I don't know if I can!!"
"Pinkie Pie, do you have something you need to say?" asked Twilight as she and everypony else looked up at Pinkie Pie in concern. "You seem like you've been keeping something in."
Pinkie hesitated and opened her mouth, only to gasp yet again as she shook her head. The desire to tell the good news warred with the Party Pony instinct against spoiling such an amazing surprise!
"We're here to listen," Fluttershy offered.
"NO!!!" Cheese Sandwich bounced his way up to Pinkie Pie, putting himself between her and their friends, "This is NOT for her to say!"
"But Cheese, lookit her!" Spike pointed out, "Whatever it is, she'll feel a lot better once she gets it off her chest!"
"Pinkie, I don't know what's going on with you, but-" Midnight tried to say.
"I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!!" Pinkie finally screamed before she took a deep breath and... "SHINING ARMOR AND CADANCE ARE GONNA HAVE-"
"An awesome weekend with the best little sister and brother-in-law in all of Equestria!"
All eyes turned back to the doorway and there stood Shining Armor and Cadance, their bags on the floor at their sides, as Cadance laughed, sharing a smile with her husband as she said, "Hi, everypony!"
The sight of them caused Pinkie to collapse in utter relief while Twilight cheered, "Shining Armor, Cadance! You're early!"
"I thought something came up," Midnight added, "Weren't you supposed to arrive tomorrow?"
"That's what we thought," Cadance answered, "Turned out we weren't needed in Maretonia until next week, and the summit we were supposed to attend today had to be rescheduled, so... we got here sooner than we planned."
"Surprise!" Shining Armor pulled Twilight and Midnight into a big hug, which they happily returned, nopony except Cheese noticing Pinkie biting her hoof with anxiety.
"It's so wonderful to see you again, Cady!" Blueblood welcomed his adoptive sister, as everypony crowded their guests, offering their welcomes, good-to-see-yous, but as the excited ponies talked...
*Sniff...! Sniff-sniff-sniff-sniiiiffff/"Hmmm..."*
Midnight smiled knowingly while Twilight said, "I'm so glad you're here, because Midnight and I have a big surprise for you!
"Oh yeah?" Shining Armor raised his brow with a smirk before throwing that look towards Pinkie, who got shifty-eyed, and they all followed Twilight down the hall.
Shining Armor paused to walk beside Pinkie and Cheese, whispering to them, "Lucky we came when we did, huh? I'm guessing you saw the message we sent Mr. & Mrs. Cake?"
"So that's how she found out! I'm surprised she's still keeping her nosy pie hole shut."
They looked to Midnight who was giving Shining Armor a knowing smirk, "So, when is Cadance due?"
"Uh- How did you...?!" Shining Armor gawked at Midnight.
"Have you not seen the way she's glowing?" Midnight responded cheekily, before confessing, "That... and she gives off a distinct scent this lunar pony nose of mine can detect quite easily."
Then Pinkie got up in Shining Armor's face, "So now that Midnight's figured it out, are you gonna tell Twilight now-"
Midnight and Cheese both quickly covered Pinkie's mouth while Shining Armor flinched and looked to see whether Twilight had heard. He sighed in relief as the others kept going down the hall, chattering excitedly.
"You're gonna have to wait just a little bit longer. We have something special planned," Shining Armor answered before assuring, "It'll be worth it. I promise! Midnight?"
"Right behind ya, bro," Midnight walked alongside Shining Armor, leaving a disappointed Pinkie to sulk.
"It had better be..." Pinkie muttered in a pouty way, Cheese chuckling in understanding as he put his hoof on her shoulder.
As they walked down the hall after the others, Midnight asked, "Since you're not coming right out to tell Twilight the big news... you wouldn't happen to be planning a little scavenger hunt like we used to do back when we were all foals!"
"You know me too well, Blaze," Shining Armor gave Midnight an eager smirk, "Cadance and I already have it all planned out and set up. That's actually what we were doing just before we arrived at the castle!"
"Well, I hope Pinkie enjoys squirming," Midnight chuckled shamelessly as he lit up his horn to cast a spell. Once that was done, he said, "C'mon, let's catch up with them. Twilight and I are really excited to show this to you!"
The decorations were coming along nicely, and Cadance checked off the streamers from her list, saying, "Thank you very much for your help in setting up this party, Midnight. But won't Twilight and the others be wondering why you didn't join them for the scavenger hunt?"
"No worries, Cade!" Midnight waved off Cadance's concerns, "As far as they know, I just got notice for some important business that couldn't wait, but that I'll be back before the day is over! And I wasn't technically lying, so AJ didn't call me out on it."
"I am still geeking out about that room you made for me in your castle!" chuckled Shining Armor as he brought out the punch bowl for the party's spread, "Where did you and Twily even get all that stuff?! Mint-condition comics, one of the original posters for Smash Fortune, and even my old Brutus Force plush?!"
"Let's just say, Twi and I have our ways," Midnight gave him a smarmy look before looking curious, "So just out of curiosity, where's this scavenger hunt taking Twilight?"
"We told Twilight to meet us in Town Square, where the big fountain is," Cadance started, "where the first clue is in the fountain statue."
"Then, it leads to the next clue at the Ponyville Schoolhouse where she'll find said clue in the Foal Free Press," Shining Armor added.
"After that, they'll go to Town Hall to look for the next clue behind Applejack's birth certificate," Cadance went on.
"And finally, the last clue is on a baby crib at the furniture store," Shining Armor wrapped it up, "which will lead them here to Sugarcube Corner."
"Ah...!" Midnight connected the dots, "And each clue leads Twilight to something relating to foals! Genius, as always, Shining Armor."
"Thank you!" Shining Armor nodded in satisfaction.
"Uh, Shining Armor?"
They all looked to see Carrot Cake, poking his head out through the doorway from the kitchen, "We have the cake ready, just as you and Cadance asked, down to the last detail!"
"Great! Thanks a lot, Mr. Cake," Shining Armor followed Carrot Cake into the kitchen... and levitated the cake out, a triple stack cake with pastel yellow, blue, and pink icing, decorated with candy pieces shaped like a baby bottle, rattles, bows, and a topper piece shaped like a baby carriage. The Cakes, with the twins on their backs, followed Shining Armor out of the kitchen as everypony marveled up at the cake.
"It's perfect, Mr. & Mrs. Cake!" Cadance gushed warmly, "Thank you both so very much for helping us set all this up!"
"Oh, it's our pleasure, dearie!" Cup Cake replied warmly, "It's always cause for celebration when you're expecting your very first foal!"
"Twilight is gonna be sooo surprised!" Midnight smiled so happily, before smirking, "And I bet Pinkie will be so relieved when Twilight finally hears the good news."
"I just hope she manages to keep it to herself," Cadance commented with concern, "From what you both said, it sounds like she's becoming really anxious for Twilight to find out."
"Oh, don't worry about that," Midnight waved it off, "she won't spoil the surprise. I am absolutely certain of it."
"Well, if you have faith in her ability to keep it on the down low, Midnight, then I guess there's nothing to worry about," Shining Armor said as he gave Cadance a hug with his wing.
"Something like that..." Midnight said quietly with a guilty smirk, before asking, "So, I didn't hear before, but when are you due? How far along are you?"
"Almost an entire month, so there's still ten more months to go," Cadance answered, "I have to admit though, this wasn't exactly planned."
"No plans ever survive contact with fate," Mrs. Cake said as she cleaned a nearby table. "Take it from someone who's seen it happen to friends of the family."
Cadence nodded. Mrs. Cake seemed to be wise beyond her years. In truth, Mrs. Cake was more of a real world practical thinker, using what she's seen before to help with situations in the present. Midnight's bewilderment was saved by Mr. Cake bringing them some pastries to nibble on while he waited to present the cake. Seeing the subtle look of awe on the sapphire blue alicorn's face, Carrot whispered to him, "Y'know, sometimes the missus seems to have more advice in her than the princesses do."
"I'll take your word for it," Midnight whispered back when they heard a 'Uh-oh!'
They looked towards Shining Armor who was peering out the window, "They're almost here! Places everyone!"
Shining Armor and Cadance stood in front of the cake, the Cakes stood to one side of the room, Midnight the other. They waited eagerly before the door opened, ringing the bell as the rest of the Harmonic Twelve entered, and Shining Armor welcomed them with a "Surprise!"
He and Cadance shared a smile before he stepped forward to ruffle his sister's mane, "Twily! Did you like the scavenger hunt?"
"It was perfect! Just like old times," Twilight nodded happily before adding, "Except even better because this time I got to share it with my friends!"
Everypony smiled, even when Pinkie forced her way through with a hopeful look on her face. Then Twilight noticed, "Midnight? Already done with that important business?"
"This was the important business," Midnight replied with a chuckle, "I volunteered to help set up this party for after the scavenger hunt."
"Speaking of..." Twilight looked Shining Armor over, "There's seems to be missing something."
"What's that?" asked Shining.
"The book prize at the end!" Twilight replied with a remind-y tone and smile.
"Heh-heh, there is a prize," Shining Armor assured as he backed up to stand next to Cadance, "but it's a little different this time."
"Oh... I don't understand," Twilight looked confused-
"Hee-hee-hee!!"/"AHEM," Cheese cleared his throat to cover up Pinkie's laughter.
"All the places we sent you today had something in common," Cadance hinted as she, Shining Armor, and Midnight all shared a knowing smile.
"First we went to the schoolhouse..." Pinkie began shaking with increasing anticipation, "and then we read the Foal Free Press." Pinkie opened her mouth, only for Cheese to whip his tail into it, "After that, we found Applejack's birth certificate..." Pinkie spat Cheese's tail out and growled in annoyance, "and then the last clue was under a crib." Pinkie held up the Cake Twins, trying to get Twilight's attention, only for Cheese to bar her way, the twins giggling while Twilight hmmm'd, "School, foal, birth certificate, and crib..."
Everypony (except Twilight) grimaced at the look on Pinkie's face, the poor party pony looking to be on the verge of eruption-
*GASP!!!!*/"Can it be?! Are you two...?!"
Shining Armor and Cadance both smiled so big as they showed off the cake and proudly announced, "We're having a baby!!!"
Pinkie grimaced and twitched and winked until finally she exploded with glee, "A BABY, TWILIGHT! It's a baby!! WOO-HOO!!!"
Pinkie pinball'd around the room in exhilaration as Twilight stood there, stupefied, before Midnight walked over to her, giving her a big smooch and hug, "We're gonna be an aunt and uncle, Twily!"
"Me? An aunt?" Twilight said in soft excitement, her eyes drifting to the cake in all its baby-themed glory, "This... is the best prize EVER!!!"
Midnight, Shining Armor, and Cadance all laughed at their Twilight's happiness as she pulled the four of them into a big hug, "Oh I love you all!"
"And we can't wait to meet your little foal," Midnight added.
"Neither can we," Shining Armor agreed, and everypony began to chatter, offering their congratulations to the expecting parents.
Blueblood was just as happy and excited as Twilight was, Rarity offered to make baby clothes for the foal when it came, Applejack and Big Mac promised to make their family recipe of apple sauce for the baby, Fluttershy offered to knit a baby blanket for them, and of course Cheese offered his and Pinkie's service in throwing a proper baby shower for Shining Armor and Cadance in the future.
As everyone was preoccupied with all the excitement and merriment, Pinkie cheered, "I did it, I did it, I DID IT!!"
Then, in mid-hop, she collapsed into pieces, sighing, "Go Pinkie..." and then pulled herself back together, with the help of Cheese when Cadance came over with a piece of cake.
"You did it, Pinkie Pie! You kept it a surprise. Thank you," Cadance gave Pinkie a hug before offering her the cake, "Was it much trouble?"
"Piece of cake," Pinkie responded before she mouthed 'no' to Cheese while shaking her head, causing him to laugh.
"Well, I hope it will be a piece of cake the next time you have to keep a surprise that's not yours to divulge, Pinkamena Diane Pie."
Pinkie and Cheese looked to see Midnight leaning against the counter while giving the former a smarmy look.
"Uh... hopefully there won't be a next time, Midnight," Pinkie Pie responded before taking a bite of her cake, "Today has been exhausting...! I can't tell you how many times I just wanted to scream out the surprise!"
"Eh, you couldn't have blabbed the surprise no matter how much you'd have wanted to," Midnight shrugged, "My spell would have made sure of that."
"Wha- Spell?!" Pinkie zipped up, pressing her snoot to Midnight's as she gave him an incredulous look, "You cast a spell on me to make sure I wouldn't have spoiled the surprise?!"
"The zip-it spell to be precise," Midnight nodded while gently pushing Pinkie out of his personal space. "If you'd deliberately tried to spoil the surprise, the spell would've gone into effect and your mouth would have been zipped shut."
"Why didn't you TELL ME?!" Pinkie whined.
"One, because it was funny," Midnight said while holding up one of his primary feathers.
"True," Cheese agreed before Midnight held up a second primary feather.
"Two, to teach you a lesson about reading mail that wasn't yours to read," Midnight added with a raise of his brow, "Even if you hadn't done it on purpose, I say it served you right to have had to endure this whole day the way you did."
Sighing, Pinkie dropped her face onto the table, muttering, "You're right... If I hadn't read Shining Armor's message to the Cakes, I could have avoided all of this!"
"Well, you didn't spoil the surprise and you learned your lesson, so... no harm, no foul," Midnight shrugged before apologizing, "I'm sorry if I added to your stress, Pinkie."
"It's okay, Midnight," Pinkie gave him a hug, which he kindly returned, "No hard feelings."
"Same here," Cheese held up his hoof to Midnight and he happily bro-hoof'd him as Cheese said, "Now c'mon, this is a party ain't it?!"
Cheese bounced off to go entertain the Cake Twins, Pinkie went to go talk to Twilight, and Midnight decided to take a break and sit down next to Fluttershy and Big Mac, who'd done the same thing.
He looked on, seeing his Twily happy, his brother and sister in law even happier, and their friends all so happy and excited.
And to think I only caught on because I took a sniff around Cadance. Sounds a tad dirty when I think about it, Midnight thought with a light chuckle as he took a sniff. Wait... Is that..!
Midnight's eyes lingered towards Fluttershy and Big Mac. He sniffed again to be sure before smiling as he stood up and said, "Congrats and best of luck, Mac n' Shy!"
"Huh?" Big Mac uttered in confusion while Fluttershy blinked, not understanding Midnight's words as he went over to go talk with Shining Armor.
"Don't ask," Shining said to Big Mac. "Leave him to his own devices."
"Ah'll....do that," Big Mac said.
Cadence gave Midnight a scolding look.
"Don't go scaring your friends," she scolded. "It's not becoming of a prince."
Midnight shrugged, as he thought, Things are certainly gonna get more busy around here!