Chapter 10: A Mare's Love
Eight Months Later...
It was just another average work day at the Ponyville library as customers came in for checking in and checking out. Only this time, the tree was temporarily under new management.
"Thanks ever so much for lending me this birdwatcher's guide." Fluttershy said. "You're doing a really great job running the library, Applejack."
"It sure is easier than I thought." Applejack replied. "Just give ponies books and a smile; certainly easier than pullin' apple carts. I guess this is how Twilight finds the time to study magic."
"She certainly is lucky to have you. Best of luck to you two and your baby!"
"Thanks, Fluttershy. See ya later now!"
Applejack continued to help customers with finding the right book until closing time was just minutes away. She then decided to head into the nearby bedroom which she had traded with Spike for the upstairs one. She poked inside and called softly.
"Twilight, you decent?"
"Come in, Applejack," replied Twilight resting on the bed her wife had moved down.
Applejack entered to check on the mother of her child. For the past three months, Twilight had been spending most of her time bedridden, as her baby had grown quite charge. She had become slowed down by the later stages of maternity, enough to make her unable to work, let alone leave her house. So, Applejack offered to take over the library while her pregnant wife lied in bed stroking her engorged belly; Twilight would even hum sweetly to introduce the baby to its mother's soothing voice.
"How ya doin', sugarcube?" asked Applejack approaching the bed. "Or should I say 'sugarlump'."
"Har de har har." Twilight mocked. "You know me, I got the little scamp keeping me busy. I swear, it feels like it's going to burst out of my stomach."
"Eugh!" Applejack cringed at the thought. "Maybe you just need some more water."
"No I'll be fine. How's business going?"
"Oh it's such back breakin' work!" she replied with sarcasm. "I don't know how ya do it!"
"Did you remember to separate the biographies?"
"...Uh...yeah, yeah definitely...I remembered." She lied. "You sure you don't need anything, darlin'?"
"I'm okay, Applejack," smiled Twilight, rubbing her belly. She then stretched her neck to kiss her love. "You just take care of the library; it's almost closing time anyway."
"Whatever ya say, Twi." Applejack kissed her back and returned outside, leaving her in peace. A few minutes before closing, she took care of the last customer.
"And here's your dress gallery book, Rarity." She said.
"Thank you, Applejack." Rarity replied. "You're doing just as well as Twilight."
"Well, somepony's gotta do it, since she's bedridden."
"The poor dear; she is so lucky to have you taking care of her. It looks like she's also gotten quite...heavy. Will she be due soon?"
"Any day now; but I'll be ready for it."
"Oh I do wish you two the best of luck! Well I don't want to keep you up; goodnight, Applejack!"
"Goodnight Rarity, thanks again!"
With that, the library was finally empty as Applejack closed shop. The work may have been easy but it was still tiring. She decided to retire to her temporary bedroom with her expecting wife. But when she entered to check on her again, she saw that rest and relaxation was still far away.
"Twilight! Are you alright?!"
Applejack gawked as Twilight was writhing and heaving on the bed with a pained grimace on her face. "Applejack!" she cried between quickened breaths. "It's...it's time!"
"Sweet Celestia, we gotta get movin'!"
The hour had finally come. In a mad dash, Applejack managed to lift Twilight and her increased weight all the way outside to a cart which had been readied for this exact moment. Twilight lied in the hay as she continued to writhe in pain.
"AH! Hurry!" she gaped.
"Hang on, Twi," said Applejack from the front. "I'll get you to the hospital faster than Big Mac runs from a spider!"
It became a race against time as Applejack hightailed it to the Ponyville hospital. She did not even move aside for faster traffic, because she was already the fastest one on the road. But all the while, she kept her beloved Twilight safe within the cart. At long last, they reached the hospital where doctors were ready and waiting outside.
"Don't worry, Twilight," said Applejack as she came around. "Yer gonna be just fine."
But Twilight was already weakening. "Applejack...I...I can't..." she tried to speak as she began to drift off.
"What is it, sweetie? What's wrong?"
"I...I can't make it...I can't..."
"Oh no! Oh no, please, no!" Applejack tried to stir her wife back awake, but Twilight had already fainted from exhaustion. "Doctor!" she cried for help as she feared the worst.
...
It wasn't long before the drama had finally settled. Applejack found herself later that night pressing her face against a window and watching doctors treating her wife. Twilight, now completely unconscious, had been laid out on a bed and hooked up to life support to keep both her and her precious cargo alive. It was a dismal sight for Applejack, not knowing what would become of her. It reminded her of that fateful night when she rescued her from drowning. But the tension was soon broken when the chief nurse on call entered.
"Nurse Redheart!" Applejack greeted anxiously. "Please tell me, is she gonna be alright?"
"She's stable for now," replied the nurse calmly. "It seems when she went into labor, the load was just too much for her. But she just might make it."
"Oh, my poor Twilight." Applejack looked back through the window, having never felt so helpless. "I don't know how she's gonna survive the birth."
"There's nothing to worry about, Applejack," smiled Redheart. "I've seen worse cases; she'll be just fine. It was the Impregnation Spell, wasn't it?"
"Uh...yeah." She answered a bit shocked by the question. "How did ya know?"
"Well, I figured somepony like Twilight would do something like that. Although I will admit, this is the first time I've ever heard of a mare couple doing it. I heard a while ago that you two married."
Applejack sighed. "You must think we're complete foals, tryin' something like that gosh darn spell."
"Not at all, Applejack," retorted Redheart, stepping closer. "You two decided to have a baby and you went through with it. There's nothing foalish about that...and I think my wife would agree with me."
"...Wait...you mean you're a...a-"
"Yes, I'm a filly fooler." She nodded without shame.
This was complete news to Applejack. "But...but with who?!"
"Why who else do you think? Colgate! Haven't you ever seen us together?"
Applejack only gawked. "...I knew it!"
"That's right, and I love her with all my heart. But even Colgate and I haven't even considered having children yet. The fact that you and Twilight took your relationship to a that level is certainly inspiring; and that you agreed with her to use that spell is even more admirable." Redheart lent a comforting hoof to Applejack's shoulder. "My point is, Applejack, if you love Twilight enough to go through so much with her, then I don't see how she won't survive with your love."
"You really think so?"
"I know so. Applejack, you're a mare, and a mare's love is stronger than that of any other creature. Trust me, I know."
With those words of wisdom, Applejack now looked at her pregnant wife with hope. She knew she had been through so much with her, and that they were both survivors. She looked back at the nurse with pride. "Thanks, Nurse Redheart, I'll be by her side the whole time."
"I'm glad to hear that. But you might want to get some rest. We need to operate quickly if we're going to save her and the babies."
"I understand, thanks for all the......did you say...babies?"
"That's right, Applejack," said Redheart with a wink. "She's carrying twins."