//------------------------------// // Part 11 // Story: Aspects of Parenthood // by xd77 //------------------------------// Canterlot Hospital was just a typical medical center, but it was where Apple Bloom and Nate were nine months ago for their exam. But now it was different, for the time had come for their twins to be born, the receptionist was sitting in the welcome desk going through files of patients who had checked in or out for today, when she heard the sliding doors open up. She looked to see none other than two paramedic unicorns who pulled up and in from a medical carriage escorted by royal guards. The two uniformed paramedics were escorting a very frantic Apple Bloom, who was in a wheelchair, towards the info desk the receptionist was sitting in. They were soon followed in by royal guards, along with Princess Twilight and the others who were still in their Power Ponies costumes, yet were very concerned. The reception pony soon took notice that Apple Bloom was breathing properly and could tell she was in labor. So, she got up out of the desk and walked up to the crowd of frantic ponies. "What did I miss, a new Power Ponies comic in place?" she jokingly asked, only to get a look of seriousness from everypony. "I'm kidding, anyway, Ms. Cadenza, your reports show that you weren't due till next week. But, I guess we can try and squeeze you in somewhere huh?" "And how!" yelled Apple Bloom as Nathan held her hoof. "Look, we need to get a room ready and fast!" yelled Rainbow Dash. "Mah' sister is in dire needs right now!" exclaimed Applejack, the reception pony could now see what she had to do. "Okay, I'll go get a room ready right now!" she said taking off into the corridors of the hospital. "Oh please hurry!" said Apple Bloom as she clutched Nate's hoof hard, and boy did it hurt! "Ow, sug, watch mah' hoof!" said Nate as he loosened it out of her excruciating agony. "Sorry honey, Ah'm just in a lot of pain right now!" she whined. That's when the birthday costumed group took notice of the crowd of ponies turning their attention towards them. Some of them were quite astonished to see the Power Ponies, Humdrum, and the evil Mane-iac in person. Yet, they were also confused as to why they were dressed up like them and being inside a hospital. As Twilight looked at the crowds watching them and even giggling at them, she felt a hoof tap her leg, she looked down to see a colt and two fillies staring up at her in astonishment. Just like Cinnamon Swirl, these little ones were also huge Power Ponies fans, but never would they even see them in person. "Aren't you a bit tall for the Masked Matterhorn?" the unicorn colt asked. "Sorry kids, but I've got a mission to take care of here." said Twilight as she pointed to Apple Bloom, still breathing through contractions as Nate helped her. "Yeah, Masked Matterhorn is shorter in the comics." said one of the fillies. "Also, Mane-iac is a female." said the other filly. "Look, I'm not Masked Matterhorn, I'm actually...." Twilight took off her mask to reveal herself, the kids and the crowd were quickly mesmerized over seeing the princess in with them. "PRINCESS TWILIGHT!?!" the kids screamed in surprise, then they bowed. Twilight soon saw the rest of the crowds doing the same, Twilight made a posture for the crowds to resume their businesses and they did. Once the crowd was dispersed, the reception pony came back with not only a hospital bed, but also two nurses who were dressed and prepared for everything. "Are you ready Apple Bloom?" asked Nate. "Yes, get me in that bed." she answered, and Nathan helped her into the bed as the nurses tucked her in. As Nathan walked with Apple Bloom, Nate looked back to Cinnamon, who was saddened over everything that had just happened earlier. Nathan quickly walked back to her and picked her up in a comforting motion. "Don't worry Swirl, Bloomy and Ah' are gonna be fine." "I know Nathan." said Cinnamon, "I'm just scared for Apple Bloom." "Ah' understand sug, but ya' gotta be brave for her. Be tough, like the Power Ponies, be brave like ya' yer' gonna defeat me, the evil Mane-iac!" Cinnamon Swirl felt a touch of comfort and quickly hugged Nate, "I will." "Good gal." Nathan then put her back to the ground and caught up with his wife. Meanwhile, as Twilight and Spike watched in worry, they saw that some of the ponies were still staring at them. Some were even snickering at how the latter looked, Spike quickly saw that he was still in his Humdrum costume. "Um maybe we should go home and take off these costumes." said Pinkie Pie. "Yeah, good idea." said Applejack. "Twilight, Spike, are you all coming with us?" asked Fluttershy. "Oh um, we'll catch up with you all later, we're gonna stay here." "What, but I wanna....." Spike said before having his mouth covered with Twilight's hoof. "Yes, we will catch up with you all later." said Twilight being nervous, she had a small embarrassing secret. "Uh....okay, we'll see you all later." said Rainbow as she and the other four left. Once they did, she took her hoof off Spike's mouth. "Why did you silence me?" he asked in an annoyed tone. "Spike, I would love to take this costume off, but I can't." "And why not?" Twilight sighed, "I did not want to have to say this in front of everypony but........my costume is stuck!" "What?!" Spike asked in shock. Twilight proved this by trying to remove the sleeves, but somehow, they were attached. To make matters worse, she had to clip her wings just so it could fit good. "Spike, let's back to the castle and help get this off of me!" she said feeling nervous since it was stuck on her. "Okay, got it!" and they both left. Meanwhile Nate and Apple Bloom had managed to enter the delivery room area. The doctors and practitioners were all hooked up with the tools needed to give birth. Apple Bloom held a position up as she kept breathing through her contractions, Nathan stood right beside her as he held her hoof in comfort. "Now listen to me Bloomy, Ah'm not leavin' yer side, so hold mah' hoof when your next pain round comes." But it had came shorter than expected as she quickly felt another contraction, this time, they were really ready! Apple Bloom screamed in agony, this signaled for the doctors to get ready for delivering the babies. "Okay Apple Bloom, I need you push NOW!" said one doctor. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Apple Bloom screamed in pain as she felt them coming! "COME ON SUG, YA' CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!" Nate screamed. Apple Bloom kept pushing and screaming in pain at the same time. "COME ON YOU'RE DOING GREAT, I CAN SEE A HEAD COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!" screamed one of the doctors.