Ponyville Hospital.
Shortly after midnight. July 14. Wednesday. Six days before “Feeling Pinkie Keen”.
Giving birth to twins is not easy for a mare.
Treated with as many pain-relieving spells and medicines as was safe, Cup Cake finally delivered Pound and Pumpkin after several hours of agony.
Present at the birth were the doctor (Dr. Horse), the nurse (Nurse Redheart), and the birthing unicorn (Amethyst Star). Nopony else was permitted to witness the event, as was traditional for all pony births.
The newborns were cleaned and swaddled. The doctor and nurse left the delivery room. The birthing unicorn took her place beside the mother and waited until she was well enough for the birthing conversation.
As always, the mother, on being presented with the facts, decided to use the services of the birthing unicorn. And so Amethyst Star’s special purpose was called upon yet again.
She never really liked using it.
Only then was Carrot Cake permitted to see his new son and daughter.
(Pinkie Pie meanwhile had been cheering on the birth from the waiting room so enthusiastically that she had passed out.)
The streets of northern Ponyville.
Sunrise.
There had been a thunderstorm overnight, leaving the cobblestones slick with moisture. Lemon Peel made her way carefully down the road, looking for the café that Applejack had recommended to her as a good pony-watching spot. She passed a dozen other ponies setting up their businesses for the day.
“Monster! Help!”
The various ponies looked towards the source of the cry, wondering what to do. “Monster” meant to go southeast to the Bunker. The cry of “Help” came from the north, the direction of the hospital. Somepony should try to rescue that pony, but most monsters were far too powerful for any but the best-trained of ponies to tackle, and then only in a coordinated group.
Lemon Peel spent no time thinking. She just ran into danger. It was what she had been trained to do.
~ ~ ~
Rarity was the first of the Ponyville Rescue Team to arrive. She saw a giant snake attempting to swallow Amethyst Star, just off of her shift at Ponyville Hospital. “Giant” in this case was less threatening than usual: instead of being the expected five or ten times the height of a pony, the rearing snake was only twice a pony’s height. Atop the snake was a pony in a black and white outfit. Her rear legs were locked around the snake’s neck, stopping it from swallowing, and she was pummeling the creature with her forehooves.
Rarity was quite capable of handling any number of minor monsters by herself. A snake was not one of them. The best she could do was try and grip Amethyst with her magic, but the whipping head of the snake made that impossible.
A few seconds later Twilight Sparkle materialized. She looked the situation over, and then immediately cast a spell on the snake to make it sick. As usual for monsters, she had to use far more mana than should have been expected for a creature of its size. “Sorry for being late,” she explained to Rarity as she continued to cast. “Teleportation misfire.”
Rarity looked over her shoulder at the Golden Oaks library. “Try walking next time,” she said with considerable restraint.
There was a loud “poof!” and as Rarity turned her head back to the monster attack, she saw a small garter snake slink away.
“I’m here!” Rainbow Dash cried out as she landed. “Where’s…Did I miss it?”
“Yes,” said Fluttershy, who had also arrived at that moment. She went after the snake to see if it was badly injured.
Rarity smiled with satisfaction as she managed to catch Amethyst and lower her to the ground before she hit the pavement.
“So who takes credit for this one?” Rainbow asked. “Twilight? Rarity?”
“I’d say that this pony should get the lion’s share of the credit,” Rarity said, gesturing to Lemon Peel.
“Oh well, it was nothing,” Mrs. Peel said, smiling modestly. She gave a small regretful look down at her wardrobe.
“Oh! I simply must fix that!” Rarity exclaimed, taking her aside. “Free of charge, of course. We have to express our thanks.”
“I’d pay for it if you didn’t Rarity,” said Amethyst, limping their way. She was dripping with the contents of the former monster's mouth.
Rarity cast a spell on the unicorn, removing most of the serpent saliva.
“We’ll get you to the hospital, Amethyst,” Twilight said. “Can you walk?”
“Not really,” Amethyst said with a wince.
Twilight looked over at the two pegasi, who flew over to pick up Amethyst and carry her…
“…Back to the hospital,” Amethyst noted. “Oh joy.” I should have known better, she told herself. Using my special talent always leads to a monster attack.
Applejack arrived at that moment. She looked around her to see that there was nothing to do, then turned and returned to the stand she was setting up.
(Pinkie Pie was meanwhile still passed out at the hospital. She didn’t crash very often, but when she crashed, she crashed.)