As the clock ticked away, the hands indicating 11:55am, I was sitting in the library's living room. I had just finished explaining to the others what I had learnt about John, and – as I expected – they were not happy about in the slightest. Hell, Rainbow Dash even went so far as threaten to knock some of his teeth out.
"I know what he's done is awful, but I still think that he has the opportunity to explain himself," I said. "Everyone deserves a second chance, after all, but whether we accept it or not is down to John, and how he presents himself when he—" There was a dull knock on the door. "Speak of the devil."
I went over to the door and yanked it open to find John standing there. He peered over my shoulder, noticing with concern the stern looks plastered on everyone's faces; even Fluttershy had one.
"You said noon, yet you started without me," he grumbled, pushing past me into the middle of the room. "What, you figured you'd turn them all against me first and then let me try to explain myself?"
"They had to know," I replied. "All I've told them is what I learned at my little meeting with your superiors."
John looked around at the occupants of the room. "I've thought long and hard about what I'm going to say," he said. "So... here goes." He took a deep breath. "I know that what I did is inexcusable, and I don't expect you all to forgive me immediately. At first, I was doing what I was doing because I was ordered to; as time passed by, though, I came to realise that I genuinely respected each and every one of you. Every one of you has done something which helped me realise my mistake, as I will explain."
We all watched him as he continued talking, none of us wanting to interrupt what was clearly a well-planned speech.
"Rainbow Dash, I respect you because, like me, you're loyal to the end," he continued. "I thought that serving my country made me loyal, but you showed me that friends matter just as much."
He looked at Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, I respect you because of your caring nature; I cared about only myself, yet seeing you in action with your animal friends – as well as your pony friends – has made me realise that I do have something else worth caring for: friends."
Fluttershy smiled as John addressed Rarity. "I never used to give a damn about being generous to others, because I only looked out for numero uno. However, in the short time I've been here, Rarity, I have seen you drop everything to help your friends; if that means putting your clients at the bottom of your list of priorities, so be it."
Rarity's expression softened, and John turned his attention towards Applejack. "Applejack, I respect you because of your honesty. Now, I know that means nothing coming from a lying snake like me, but it's true. You also helped me out when I first got here by giving me a job and a place to live, and you showed me that I don't need to lie any more. As such, I owe you a lot more than just my respect."
Applejack nodded as John moved on. "Pinkie Pie, I respect you because... well, you're you. You remind me of when I was a child: carefree and full of life, not giving two shits about what happens."
Pinkie developed a grin that threatened to split her face in half, as John looked at me. "Geo, I respect you because of what you've been through to find happiness. You may think our friendship is fake, but the memories I have are real, and I'll remember them forever. I don't know how I'll convince you of this, but I promise you that I will do something to make you trust me again."
I rolled my eyes; Twilight saw and nudged me as John spoke to her. "Twilight, I respect you because you're Geo's wife, and also because of your spirit and your determination. You have characteristics about you that would put some people to shame... people like me."
Twilight looked at me, and then back to John, before sighing. He didn't respond as he reached the last person in the room. "And you, Ace. I respect you because, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have come here in the first place. I know I was spying on you, trying to learn your secrets, but I thought I was doing so for the good of the country. Hell, I've got it all figured out now: the only secrets you have... are on how to be a good gamer."
Ace chuckled. "You got that right," he said smugly.
"Well, that's that." John let out a long breath. "I've said my peace, so I'll leave what happens next up to all of you; whatever you decide, I will go with it. No arguments."
I motioned for everyone to come together in a huddle, which they did. Turning away from John, we dropped our voices to a whisper.
"Do any of you buy what he's saying?" I asked.
"I watched him carefully while he was talking, fer any sign that he was lyin' again," Applejack said. "I couldn't see anything, but I still can't be sure; ya gotta admit, though, he sounded sincere."
"Sounding sincere and being sincere are two different things, AJ," Rainbow Dash replied. "Look, I say we give him a second chance, like Geo said. We'll forgive him, just this once; if he does something like this again... well, hopefully it won't come to that."
"Sounds good to me." Twilight nodded. "What about you, everypony, do you agree that we should give him another chance?"
"Yes." was the universal response, at which we broke off from the huddle and looked at John. Sweat was trickling down his brow, he was absent-mindedly chewing his fingernails, and the concerned look he had been wearing earlier was back.
"We've decided that we're ready to forgive you." John's face lit up, but I raised a finger. "But if you fuck up again, that's it. So I hope for your sake that everything you said was true."
John nodded. "Every. Fucking. Word." he said sharply. "I promise you that I will redeem myself, one way or another."
He opened his arms for a hug; Pinkie Pie was first to accept his invitation, followed by the others, while Ace and I shook his hand. I noticed that Twilight was looking somewhat flustered, but I put it down to the stress we'd endured over the last twenty-four hours.
"Now then," Rarity said. "Let us never speak of this again."
We all nodded, as Pinkie Pie pulled out her Party Cannon. "John's our friend again, so it's party time!" she fired the cannon, sending a burst of confetti, balloons and streamers all over the library.
"That's a great idea, Pinkie." Twilight smiled politely. "Help yourselves to snacks, and I'll be right back; I need to use the little fillies room." With that, she beat a hasty retreat upstairs.
Pinkie pulled some punch from another unknown place and set them down on the table. It wasn't long before we were all chatting away, as if the events of the last few days had never happened.
Ten minutes later, I went into the kitchen to get some food, only to notice that Twilight hadn't returned yet. Shrugging, I grabbed a few ciders from the fridge and took them into the living room, where I placed them on the table and looked around in a futile attempt to spot her. Realising she must still be in the bathroom, I went upstairs to look for her. As I reached the top, I heard what sounded like faint sobbing coming from the bathroom. Wondering what was going on, I walked quietly to the door and pushed it open.
As the door swung open, Twilight gasped; she was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, her eyes red and puffy. She quickly hid something behind her back as I walked in.
"Twilight?" I asked, concerned. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, Geo," she replied, avoiding my gaze.
"Twilight, whenever I lie to someone, I also avoid looking at them." I folded my arms. "Now tell me what's wrong."
"I can't," she said. "Because you'll probably hate me."
"I could never hate you!" I was shocked that she could even suggest such a thing. "I'll love you no matter what happens!"
Twilight let out a small chuckle and raised her head, her lavender eyes connecting with my blue. "Are you sure about that?" I nodded. "Good. Because it turns out that..."
"That what?" I asked. "Come on, Twi, you can tell me."
Twilight sighed. "It turns out that I'm pretty good at baking, since... well, I've apparently got a bun in the oven."
She removed her hooves from behind her back to reveal what she had been hiding: a pregnancy test.
A positive pregnancy test.
A moment of silence followed, during which I slid weakly down the door frame onto to the floor. "So what do we do now?" I asked.
"I need to get a scan," Twilight replied. "I've been feeling the symptoms for a while now – at least a month – but I was only able to get a pregnancy test the other day, when a temporary assistant was working in the pharmacy." She gave me a small smile. "I didn't want somepony I knew to see me buying the test."
"That's understandable," I said. "We'll go to the hospital first thing in the morning to see Doctor Haywick, all right?"
"Okay." Twilight nodded. "But you do realise that me carrying a hybrid is a possibility we need to consider, right?"
"I do, but now is not the time for worrying about that." I walked over to Twilight and sat by her side, putting one arm around her shoulders, and the other across her stomach. "A life is a life." I said gently. "No matter what you're carrying, it is still my child, and I'll make damn sure to give it the best life I can."
She smiled, giving me a hug while I kissed the top of her head. We sat in silence for a few minutes before Pinkie Pie walked in.
"There you two are!" she said, somewhat sternly. "For a moment, I thought you two had walked out on my par—" She let out a gasp; I followed her gaze and saw that she was looking at the pregnancy test I was still holding in my hand. "You're with foal?!"
Twilight nodded. "Yes, Pinkie," she replied. "I'm pregnant."
Pinkie nearly exploded with delight as she shot forward and hugged both of us. "I'm going to be an auntie!" she squealed.
"What in tarnation is goin' on in here?" Applejack asked. I looked over Pinkie's shoulder to see the rest of the group at the bathroom door. "Has the party moved in here or something?"
"Twilight's pregnant!" Pinkie said. "Ooh, this calls for a huge party, which I am gonna plan right now! Bye!" She shot out of the room; the library door slammed shut a few seconds later.
"Wait a minute." Ace scratched his head. "I thought you said pony and human DNA was incompatible?"
Twilight smiled. "It turns out that I was wrong." she giggled.
"Well then," Ace said, beaming from ear to ear. "Let me be the first to offer you both my most sincere congratulations!"
Everyone filed into the bathroom; the ponies gave Twilight a hug, while the men slapped each other on the back and shook hands. Despite the celebrations, I only had one thing on my mind.
The future of my unborn child.