The campfire crackled a delightful tune as marshmallows were being playfully roasted by fillies, colts, mares, and stallions alike. “Oh, don’t keep mine in too long, Twilight; you know I don’t like them burnt.” Rarity cautioned, nuzzling the newborn in her arms. The tiny, royal purple unicorn was much too preoccupied with the marshmallow she had been given to notice her mother’s loving embrace. “At least somepony is having fun. It’s much too cold out here for me, dear.”
“We do have a fire burning for a reason, sugarcube.” Applejack retorted. “I know you’re just bein’ careful is all, but it won’t hurt lil Amethyst one bit being in the warmth, I promise.”
Rarity showed even more concern. “She’s in two blankets, boots, a scarf, a winter dress, and a beanie. If she comes any closer to the fire, she’ll simply burn up!”
“Then take off one of the blankets and put it over yourself, silly!” said Pinkie Pie in a very matter-of-fact tone.
“Yeah, silly!” copied the bright pink colt sitting next to Pinkie, mouth full of S’mores. After taking his hoof through his chocolate brown mane, which is always kept in a mess that not even Rarity can fix, he asks, “Can I have another one, Mom?”
“You’ve gotta swallow that one first, Puddinghead!”
After swallowing very loudly and attempting to stifle his embarrassment, the colt replied, “I told you not to call me that, Mom!”
Pinkie simply giggled. “I told you I would anyway, silly! It’s a lot less boring than Gregory Puddington Pie, isn’t it?”
By this time, the pink colt’s cheeks were a furious crimson. “It’s also lot more embarrassing. I told you I wanted to be called Pudding Pie.”
“Oki-doki-Loki!” exclaimed Pinkie, sure the argument was over.
“No, not Loki, Pudding Pie!”
“S’more?” asked Pinkie, shoving the treat into her son’s mouth.
“MMM!” was the only sound he could manage to make in response.
“That settles it! I’m calling you S’more from now on!”
Pudding emitted a very audible gulp as yet another S’more entered his stomach. “MOM! Aunt Fluttershy, I wanna go home!”
“Oh my! Pudding, I’m sure your mother is just joking with you. That’s no reason to be up---”
“READY DAD? CATCH!” Before anypony knew where the second colt around the campfire’s cry had come from, molten marshmallow was heading straight for Big Mac’s muzzle. “EEYUP!” he cried back, and with a swift lean to the right, he caught the red hot projectile with his tongue and began chewing. A single tear ran down his cheek.
“Impressive, as always, but watch this! Hit me with one, Zap!” shouted Rainbow Dash, taking to the skies.
“Ok Mommy!” Nearly as fast as Rainbow was in the sky, Zap Apple ran to her brother, took a marshmallow out of the bag, and kicked it as high as she could towards the speedster pegasus. Aside from having her father’s bright green eyes, Zap Apple was a wingless mirror image of her mother, who was currently chewing victoriously and coming down for a midair hoofbump. “Awesome, as always, little filly.” Dash said as she sat back down next to Big Mac, who was still chewing the flaming marshmallow his son had tossed his way. “How does that taste, sweetie?”
The red stallion emptied his mouth before speaking. “I think I burnt my tongue. Why in tarnation would you throw me one that’s been in the fire, Brock?” Big Mac scolded. “You could have hurt somepony.”
“Sorry, dad.” The colt answered, his blonde mane in its usual middle part. Prince Charming was a very fitting nickname for the handsome little red devil, only a few years his sister’s senior.
“Don’t be so hard on him! That stunt made you look pretty cool to me.” the mother of two stated. “I mean, you didn’t even flinch!”
“Yeah daddy, that was mighty cool!” exclaimed the little blue filly. “I wish I could do that!”
“Well thank you kindly, but it was still very dangerous, Brock.”
“Oh stop criticizing him and let me kiss it better!” Rainbow Dash said lovingly, with a hoof on Big Mac’s cheek. He turned to face her and shared the affection the blue mare asked for. “Oh, you pansy!” she squealed as she went in for another, longer kiss.
“That’s it! Camping trip is over!” Applejack declared.
“But we haven’t even had story time yet!” Pinkie Pie whimpered.
“Oh, I love stories! Don’t you, Pudding Pie?” Fluttershy inquired calmly.
“Princess Twilight, how did you and Rarity have a filly?” Pudding Pie asked nonchalantly. Everypony stopped and stared at the couple, horrified and shocked at how easily the colt asked his unintentionally offensive query. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way, I promise. I know two mares can’t… I mean, biologically speaking—“
Twilight knew where this was going, and stopped the colt before he said something truly embarrassing. “I’ll stop you right there, Pudding Pie. I don’t think either of us really knows how it happened, but all I can guess is that our love was so powerful, she just… happened.” The mare turned to the newborn, still playing with the marshmallow rather than eating it. “I don’t think we’ll ever know.”
“I just wish you’d have been the one to receive our little gift. I feel so pudgy. My figure may never recover!” asserted Rarity, looking down at her flank. “And don’t even get me started on foalbirth!”
“OH COME ON!” uttered Rainbow Dash. “I’ve had twice as many as you, and you don’t see me complaining!”
“Ya know, that sounds like a great idea for a story.” blurted Applejack, completely ignoring the boasting nature of her pegasus sister-in-law. “I’ve always wondered how you two ended up together.”
“Yes, that is a great idea! I’d love to hear it. I’m a sucker for love stories.” Fluttershy agreed.
“Maybe it’ll help you figure out where Amethyst came from, Miss Rarity!” Zap Apple chimed in while giggling at the tiny foal, who had finally thought to put the white treat into her mouth, and was delighted at the result.
The white unicorn’s eyes began to tear up. She looked back down at the purple bundle she was holding, who was now trying to nibble on her mother’s coat. “Maybe you’re right, darling, maybe you’re right. Would you like to start, my love?”
“I’m not even sure where to start!” said the alicorn princess, lost in her memories.
“I think you know exactly where to start, dear.” Rarity hinted.
“I still don’t understand why you had to show up at my door so late that night…” The group of friends looked confused, and slightly shocked, unsure of exactly which night the two lovers were talking of. Twilight blushed. “Oh, I didn’t… Never mind. I’m talking about the night she told me she loved me!”
“OH!” exhaled the group with a huge sigh of relief.