The three mares sat across from one another, a heavy silence seeming to bar their tongues. After a quiet breakfast at Twilights castle, and a silent walk to the train station, the three of them were simply unable to press the issue that sprung up to them.
Finally, the Praetor cleared her throat. When both sets of eyes were on her, she asked, "So... you and... Applejack?"
"I mean, yeah", Rainbow Dash said.
Applejack put a hoof around RDs shoulder, causing the pegasus to smile and lean into it. Her gaze shifted to the Praetor, asking, "Why? That a problem?"
The Praetor simply shook her head. "No, it's not. Technically speaking, Pryha was ok with that kind of... relationship, before Equestria was." She rapped her talons against the table, carefully considering her words. "It's just... unexpected, considering what I know about myself."
"What does that mean?", Rainbow Dash asked.
The Praetor said, "Well, I'm straight as a fucking pike."
The two mares looked between one another, before looking back to the Praetor. "Really?", Applejack asked.
"Yeah", the Praetor said. "I mean, I experimented with Derpy a bit after moving to Ponyville and she broke up with Ponet and whatnot. Found out I'm not into mares." She smirked, flicking her braid. "Ironic, right?"
"Really?", Rainbow Dash asked. "I experimented with Thunderlane after I moved to Ponyville. Found out I liked mares."
The Praetor nodded. "Thunderlane, huh?"
"Could say the same thing 'bout Derpy", RD said.
Silence once again returned to the three of them. The Praetor leaned back on the seat, trying her best not to focus on the back of Princess Twilights' head. After trying to do that, and failing, she sighed and reached into her cloak. She grabbed a small booklet from it, before pulling it out and opening it.
Applejack noticed it, asking, "What'cha got there?"
"Imperial ID booklet", Praetor said. "I got a photo of my family in here. It's... I just hope they're alright."
"Oh yeah", RD asked. "How are my parents where you're from?"
"Fine", the Praetor said. "But they're not in this one, unfortunately. In this case, it's of my... personal family."
"Yer parents are yer personal family, ain't they?", Applejack asked.
The Praetor sighed. "No, I mean my husband and kids."
That caused Rainbow to pause. A look of seeming fear came over her face, while her eyes seemed on the verge of panic. "Wait. 'Kids'? As in... more than one?"
"Yep", the Praetor said. "Four, actually?"
"YOU HAVE FO-", Rainbow Dash began, before having Applejack's hoof remove itself from her shoulder to slam over her mouth in a split second.
"Ah'm sorry", Applejack said. "RD's just... insecure about kids."
Rainbow Dash forced Applejacks hoof down, fixing her with a quick glare before turning back to the Praetor. "Sorry. Yeah, I... the thought of actually having them... I'm..."
"You're scared", the Praetor said. She set the booklet down, before looking up at the two of them. Despite a strange look at AJ that Rainbow Dash couldn't interpret, the look that she gave RD was one of comfort; like she was a coach talking to a nervous player right before a big game. "You don't feel like you can handle it. Like, due to everything you do and your personality, you just aren't cut out for it. I got that right?"
"Y-yeah", RD said. "Ho-how'd you-"
"I'm you, remember?", the Praetor said, giving a slight smirk. "I went through the exact same motions. Granted, I had them thrust on me, rather than just choosing when and whatnot."
"What'd'ya mean?", Applejack asked.
The Praetor stopped, seeming to consider her words. "I don't want to go into detail, but let's just say that my firstborn was... unwanted and unexpected. But, after I held him for the first time, he was so fucking... perfect. I just couldn't help it." She picked up and opened the booklet, pulling out the photo. "My point is, you'll get it when the time comes."
"Yeah", RD said, a growing sense of confidence in her voice. "Yeah. I got this." She turned to Applejack, a big grin on her face. "AJ, you can call the guy you had in mind. We'll do it when we get home."
"Well, that's a one-eighty if ah've ever since. Even for you", Applejack said. They turned back to the Praetor, big smiles on their faces. "Anyhow... can we see?"
"Hm?", the Praetor asked, looking up from the picture. "Oh, you mean..."
"Yeah", RD said. "I mean, that cool?"
The Praetor hesitated for a few seconds, before she finally slid the picture over to Rainbow Dash. "Sure."
RD picked up the picture with her wing, holding it between the two feather tips, and wrapped one around Applejack, allowing both to look at it. It was a simple photo, showing six figures standing in front of a simple wall. The Praetor was easy enough to spot, dressed in a similar set of armor she wore now. Next to her on the right was a large cat-like creature, holding a small foal to his chest. In front of the two of them were a trio of other figures; one a tall pegasus stallion, a griffin-like creature with a scar over his eye, and another cat-like creature.
"Yer married to a cat?", Applejack said, peeking past her wife's wings.
The Praetor snorted. "A caragor, Applesm... Applejack", she said, catching herself. "His name is Castus, and I..." She looked off to the side a bit, a blush evident on her scarred cheeks. "I love him."
"Not judgin'", Applejack said. "Ah mean, Rarity's married to that Capper fella."
"Never heard of him", the Praetor said.
"He's an Abyssinian", RD said, looking over the picture. She seemed especially focused on the small foal that Castus held. "What... what are their names?"
"Well, I already told you about Castus", the Praetor said. "The stallion closest to me is Depressi, my firstborn. The Demigryph-the one who looks like a griffin-is DJ. The one in the middle is Catalia. And the foal is Ignis Tempestus; my youngest. Obviously, hehe."
"DJ?", RD asked. "That a nickname?"
"Technically, yes", the Praetor said. "But, due to a promise, I'm not at liberty to tell you his full name."
Applejack asked, "What kind of promise?"
"The kind you don't break", the Praetor said, a hard edge to her voice.
Before any of them could continue the conversation, the train ground to a halt. The Princess stood up, teleporting away a small notepad. "We're here", she said, gesturing to the door. The three mares joined Twilight and Luster as they headed for the door. As they did, though, the Praetor couldn't help but think that she was... forgetting something. The five of them exited the train, opening out onto a similar square to the train station that was in her Ponyville, if her recollection was right. Just as the crowd cleared and the five of them began to leave the platform, a loud skidding noise, followed by a burst of confetti.
"Oh", the Praetor said. "That's what it was."