//------------------------------// // The Big Announcement and a Hopeful Future // Story: Roses and Rainbows // by Brian Jacko //------------------------------// About a year later, Rainbow Dash and Soarin' continued to strive to keep their married life the best it could possibly be. They had their arguments and relationship issues, but they always patiently worked through each problem together. Rainbow Dash also made sure to spend time with her friends and keep them close. One day, she invited all of her friends out to a fancy restaurant to make a special announcement. For fun, every pony brought their some pony special with them. When they arrived at the restaurant, they decided to split into groups. The stallions went to one table, and the mares to another. Rainbow sat down with her friends and went through the menu. When the waiter came, he took all of their orders and he quickly returned with their appetizers. The waiter put their salads and drinks down on the table and walked away. They all began enjoying their salads and drinks, until Applejack got curious and asked a question. "Hey R.D., now that ya married and everythin', wanna tell me how the love life is?" Horrified at such a question, Rarity suddenly started choking on her drink. She managed to recover and said, "Applejack! How on earth could you ask such an inappropriate question like that? That's a private matter between the two of them. A true lady would never ask such a thing!" Pinkie Pie started giggling madly. Fluttershy nervously hid behind a veil of her own mane and said, "Um. I'm sorry, what was the question again?" Twilight Sparkle looked away from them all and face hoofed. "This is going to get awkward," she said. Rainbow Dash giggled a bit and said, "Well, he needs to learn that not everything in life is a race. I keep telling him that it's actually better in this case to finish in second place, but he never seems to do it. I guess after being a Wonderbolt for so long, he's kind of got the mentality that he has to finish first, no matter what!" Applejack turned her head away and drew her hoof across the table. "Aww shucks, sugar cube. Ya can't fault him for that! I reckon he can't control that. That's just the way his body is." Rainbow Dash giggled again and said, "Oh, I know A.J. I just tease him about it sometimes. Besides, later on, I usually make him do another round or two with me until I get to win first for once. I kind of have to tire him out first. Sometimes we like to play a little rough before we get into the action, nothing painful, just something to wake each other up. I also kind of like to control the action from above if you know what I mean." Rainbow gave a playful wink at her friend and continued, "But in all seriousness, he's a wonderful mate. He always makes sure that I'm completely satisfied before we stop." Applejack grinned and said, "Aww, what a good partner ya have there. I hope when I get married someday I can start explorin' things too. I'm so happy for ya. Put it there, sister." Applejack and Rainbow Dash banged their hoofs together. They both looked back at their friends. Rarity had fallen over and fainted. She had her hoof to her forehead. Pinkie Pie was still giggling madly. Fluttershy was hiding even more now behind her long pink mane, her face as bright red as a tomato, and Twilight was staring at the ground and shaking her head slowly in disbelief. "Aww, come on now. Ain't nothin' wrong with a lil' grown up talk once in a while. We're all big girls now. Ain't that right, Fluttershy?" Fluttershy slid her body down into the chair. Her face was still bright red and her two eyes were peeking just above the table. She tried to speak but all that was heard was a tiny squeak. Twilight gave her friends an awkward smile and said, "How about we discuss something that won't make Rarity faint?" Twilight shook Rarity and woke her up. They went back to eating and talking about their special some ponies. After they had dinner and dessert came, Rainbow looked over several tables to check on Soarin'. "I can't believe it," Rainbow Dash said. "I already baked him an apple pie earlier today and look at him going to town on another pie. I bet it's an apple pie too. If he keeps that up, he's going to start losing races against me. I can't believe how much he eats!" Applejack chuckled and said, "Well, as they say, Rainbow, the only way to a stallion’s heart is through his stomach." Rainbow rolled her eyes and said, "Tell me about it." A few moments later, they heard a clapping of hooves and saw their stallions clapping for Soarin'. "Oh, I guess I better let you girls know too," Rainbow said. "The news that I wanted to tell you is that....." There was total silence as Rainbow paused for a moment and watched her friend’s faces. "I'm pregnant!" Before Rainbow could even blink her eyes, Pinkie Pie jumped across the table and locked Rainbow Dash into a hug. "Oh! I'm so happy for you! This is so exciting. Oh! Oh! Is it going to be a colt or a filly? Do you need a foalsitter? I'd love to foalsit your foal! Can I also.." Applejack stuffed a big apple into Pinkie Pie's mouth and said "Easy there, Pinkie Pie." Applejack turned around and tipped her hat to all the ponies staring at their table. "Er. Sorry for all the commotion folks. Just havin' a lil' excessive celebration here." All the ponies around them went back to eating. Rainbow's friends smiled and started softly tapping their hooves on the table in celebration. "Pinkie Pie, you can let go of me now....please," Rainbow Dash begged. "Okie dokie lokie," Pinkie Pie said, as she hopped back to her seat. "My goodness! No need to make the foal come out early, Pinkie," said Rainbow Dash. Pinkie started giggling madly. All of the girls laughed with her. In due time, Rainbow Dash gave birth to both a colt and a filly. All of the rest of her friends ended up getting married and having foals too. They would all teach their foals what they had learned about the magic of friendship and hoped that they would carry on their legacy when it was time for them to pass on. The end.