//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: A Chance Encounter // Story: A Reticent Motherhood // by Barbarity //------------------------------// The bedchambers were filled with a precarious atmosphere as Celestia stood in front of the foal lying on the bed. Philomena shot intermittent glances at Celestia from her perch before hiding her face back under her wing. Her talons were gouging into the wood from her stiff grip. One more. Celestia's eyes were set intently on the task in front of her as her tongue threatened to poke out the side of her mouth. A drop of sweat slid dangerously close to her eye before making its way to the floor. Getting there. Baby Sunset looked curiously at the funny faces her guardian was making above her. This went on for several minutes as Celestia made use of her magic, hooves, and, occasionally, teeth to manipulate the work-in-progress. "The rabbit goes under the tree and comes up the hole..." She felt her heartbeat pounding on her hooves. Click. "There!" Celestia announced. She beheld the mass of linen scraps and safety pins attached to the newborn and felt equal amounts of shame and pride. It definitely wasn't pretty, but it would do the job just fine. The homemade diaper continued to do its job just fine for all of ten seconds before sliding off Sunset when she rolled onto her belly. Celestia held her expression calm until she planted her forehead on the edge of the bed and gave an exasperated sigh. She hadn't eaten breakfast yet and she wasted the remainder of her morning trying to make cloth diapers for the baby filly. The first attempt was too small and the second was too large. The third was missing a hole for the pony's tail. When she corrected that mistake she rendered it useless after she cut the hole too low on the diaper. After she got a feel for their proper shape and they stopped disintegrating after light use, she learned the hard way that they weren't sufficiently absorbent. She'd lately been wanting to replace her rug anyway. Her inability to craft makeshift diapers wasn't the only aggravating issue in this situation. She'd been told by one of her maids that the palace didn't stock diapers because there was no nursery for foals of staff members. Apparently, the palace nursery that used to exist was closed sometime since the turn of the century. A golden aura enveloped the "diaper" before it was ejected toward an embarrassingly tall pile of linen scraps. Celestia was particularly troubled by the conduct of her staff. She had runners sent to fetch diapers at three separate times and none of them came back. They all seemingly decided to play hooky. How long has the palace been such a mess? Celestia contemplated starting another attempt when she suddenly let out a wail and was nearly knocked out by massive wave of electricity that emanated from her head toward the rest of her body. Her body jerked back two hoofsteps before she could register what was happening. After blinking away the smell of ozone in her vision and spitting out the stars swimming in her tongue, Celestia heard the cries of the baby foal and rushed to her aid. Powering through the pain in her horn, she cast a diagnostic spell that relayed that the filly was only startled. Relieved that Sunset was okay, Celestia took stock of herself. She used her hoof to delicately touch her tender horn and noted that it was partially soaked in a slimy, mostly-clear, whitish fluid. After a moment of confusion, she realized what had happened. Saliva. Twilight Velvet was browsing the baby clothes at the supermarket for the fourth time this week. She'd only been pregnant for less than a month but she couldn't help herself in her excitement. She was going to have a little pony of her own. She was going to be a mother. The good news couldn't have been more welcome. Twilight and Night had been trying for years to get pregnant. Twilight was starting to worry that there was something wrong with her body, despite assurances to the contrary from her physicians. Eventually, any small remark about foaling, nursing, or pregnancy reminded Twilight of her failure as a mare. Friends and relatives her age were having their own foals while she waited in silence. Her parents and in-laws would "suggest" that they start having foals. The mere memory of the interactions sent a spike of pain to her heart and tears to her eyes. "When are we going to have grandfoals?" "You should get on with it and make us grandparents." The worst offender was her mother-in-law, who asked her the most painful question. "Why aren't you trying to get pregnant?" They stopped visiting her in-laws for Hearth's Warming after that year. Twilight reminded herself that all of that was behind them now. She didn't have to avoid her married friends anymore. She didn't have to look away from the baby section of the store. The aisles she used to steer away from now gave her a sense of elation for the future to come. She would have a foal soon; she might even bear a second one later on, perhaps even a third. Warmth filled her body as she imagined her bundle of joy wearing the little red onesie in front of her. In her excitement, she started hopping about the aisle. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Y—oof." Twilight Velvet was brought back to Equestria from cloud nine when she tripped a unicorn mare she had unwittingly cornered with her prancing. The mare examined her hooves and her pinkish-white coat in a short bout of panic before sighing in relief. "I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Twilight asked as she felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. "Yes. I'm fine." "I'm really sorry about that. I've been a bit distracted lately. My name's Twilight Velvet." She reached out with a hoof to help her up. "Sunny Disposition." She replied as she got back up. Twilight noticed that this mare had a variety of foal-care items in her cart. "Nice to meet you Sunny. Soooo. Colt or filly?" She asked Sunny. "Pardon?" "Your baby. I don't suppose those diapers are for you." Twilight responded and pointed a hoof to Sunny's cart. "She's a filly." Sunny replied with a modest smile. "Oooh. Do you have a picture of her?" Twilight asked excitedly. "Um, no. I haven't taken any of her." Twilight was about to respond before she realized what Sunny said. She didn't say that she didn't have pictures on her. She said she'd never taken pictures of her filly. What kind of mother doesn't take pictures of her baby? "Is something wrong?" Sunny asked with nervousness creeping into her eyes. "You... haven't taken pictures of your own foal?" Twilight asked, unable to hide the shock in her voice. "I... haven't had the time?" Sunny replied to Twilight. Realizing that her answer was inadequate, she tried to elaborate. "She... I... I wasn't supposed to... It all happened so—oof" Sunny had the air forced out of her lungs by a hug from Twilight. "Shhh. It's okay, I understand. It's gonna be alright." Twilight said in a soothing tone. Twilight felt Sunny stiffen from the contact but didn't let go of her. She felt a potent warmth as Sunny's coat was enveloped by a full-body flush. Twilight could feel Sunny soften under her embrace and, soon enough, she could hear her fighting a sniffle. This poor mare. She thought, before mentally chastising herself for upsetting Sunny. After breaking the adequately long hug, Twilight looked up toward Sunny's eyes and froze in shock at the mare in front of her. "Oh my Celestia!" She said before fainting.