Almost everypony Fluttershy wanted to tell the news to had known. Everypony except Rainbow Dash.
She hoped it didn’t look like she had forgotten about her. Or that she didn’t want the cocky flier to know. That wasn’t the case at all.
Things played out in an odd way: Fluttershy needed a pregnancy book – she told Twilight, she had run into Rarity at Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie Pie overheard them – she told them, and it was certainly important that Macintosh’s family knew.
So that left Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy was three weeks and five days into the first trimester. Every few days she would have brief morning sickness and a mild craving for something thing. The mood swings hadn’t come yet, Mac was grateful, but they knew they would.
The mare would have to exit briefly to – ah, as Rarity would put it – “powder her nose”.
Fluttershy was on her way to meet up with her friend since fillyhood. She had gotten word to her to have them gather at the field where Rainbow usually practiced and Fluttershy cheered her on.
The yellow mare could see the small field coming into view. Rainbow Dash was circling a large cloud to do who knows what with.
“Rainbow?” Fluttershy called, flying below the cloud. Rainbow had been ready to have the cloud rain but seeing her friend below it, she knew it’d be better if she didn’t.
“Hey pal. What did you want to talk to me about?” Rainbow Dash asked, gliding down to the grassy ground.
“Um…well…” Fluttershy twisted her mane in her hooves nervously. She thought she should have gotten over the anxiety of telling ponies the news, especially her best friends, but she hadn’t.
“Yeah, ‘Shy?” Rainbow walked closer to Fluttershy, giving her a concerned look.
“That I’m…I-I’m…Mac and I…we’re…we’re…” Fluttershy whispered the last inaudible squeak.
“Flutters? Are you okay?” The cyan coated mare asked. Fluttershy now realized she was not only nervous but dizzy, feeling nauseous and light headed. She prayed to Celestia she wasn’t sick. If she became ill while carrying the foal, the filly or colt could become severely harmed and could possibly die.
The crème coated mare tried to reach out to Rainbow with her left hoof while holding her right hoof to her forehead.
“Shy? Shy!” She heard Rainbow yell as the Pegasus blacked out.
………
Fluttershy opened her eyes. She was in a very bright white room. She was lying on a rather uncomfortable bed with blue sheets. The Pegasus heard beeping of machines close by. The mare knew immediately that she was in a hospital.
She remembered that morning. She remembered meeting up with Rainbow Dash. And she remembered not feeling well.
Then it ended.
“Ah! Mrs. Apple!” She heard a stallion’s voice call. Not many called her ‘Mrs. Apple’ so she knew it had to be somepony formal, like a doctor.
The unicorn came into view. He had a cyan coat and a dark blue mane. He had welcoming amber eyes and a stethoscope around his neck. Fluttershy had to squint though she could spot his cutiemark: a needle.
“W-what happened?” she asked him.
The doctor walked closer to her bed side. On his name tag it said: Dr. Saline.
“You passed out and you were brought to the hospital.” Saline stated the obvious.
“But what’s wrong? Why did I pass out? More importantly, is the foal okay?!” She asked loudly.
The doctor nodded. “We think the reason why you passed out was a mix of things. You hadn’t eaten breakfast-,” Fluttershy blushed remembering her mistake. “-you were tired, and your friend said you looked nervous. Stress is never a good thing to have during pregnancy, Mrs. Apple.” He said softly but with a strict tone.
Fluttershy nodded, embarrassed at her own foolishness.
“C-could all have that really been what made me black out?” The pink-maned mare asked. Dr. Saline thought for a moment.
He responded, “I think they’re might have been another factor.”
At the mention of another – possible dangerous – cause Fluttershy’s previously folded ears because of shame flew up.
She remained quiet as she waited for the doctor to respond.
“I’d like to tell you Mrs. Apple. I really would,” he began walking to the door, his back facing her. “But it’s only a theory and it’s too early in the pregnancy to confirm or deny.” And without another word, he left a flabbergasted Fluttershy.
The door opened back up shortly after.
Pinkie Pie came bouncing in followed by Applejack and Twilight. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were right behind them. Fluttershy didn’t see any sign of a worried husband yet.
“Ooh Fluttershy! Are you okay?” Pinkie reached the side of the bed and stopped bouncing. “Dashie told us that you were going to tell her something and then you blacked out. Are you alright?” The pink earth pony was inspecting Fluttershy, lifting her hooves, studying her arms. Fluttershy blushed and discreetly shooed her away.
“Y-yes…I’m fine.” Fluttershy said, sitting upright.
“Is the foal okay?” Twilight asked. Everypony nodded and leaned in to see what Fluttershy would say. All save for Rainbow Dash who looked confused.
“Foal?” She was ignored by the others.
“The doctor said the foal wasn’t hurt but he said-,” Fluttershy continued, her small voice managing to shadow over Rainbow’s baffled voice.
“Wait. Wait. Foal?” She tried again.
“-that he think there was another factor. But he didn’t tell me what it was.”
Rainbow looked at all of her friends who seemed to understand. Foal? What did they mean by foal?
“That’s awfully strange.” Rarity chimed.
“Yeah, why would the doc say somethin’ was wrong but not tell ya it?” added Applejack.
“He said it was an ‘idea’ and that he wasn’t positive if he was correct.” Fluttershy said nervously.
“I’m sure if it was something harmful to the foal, he’d tell you. He must have somewhat of a good reason even if we don’t see it.” Twilight reasoned. Everypony except Rainbow Dash nodded.
“Whoa whoa whoa! What do all of you mean?” Rainbow finally got their attention.
“What is it Dashie?” Pinkie Pie asked. “What do you mean what do we mean?”
“About a foal? What about a foal?” Rainbow’s eyebrow was raised.
“Oh…I-I guess after I passed out you didn’t hear the news.” Fluttershy said.
“News?”
“I’m pregnant.”
The cyan pegasus’ mouth dropped open in surprise. Everypony started to chuckle at Rainbow’s perplexed expression. The news had come as quite the shocker.
“Y-you’re preg-,” Rainbow was interrupt by a familiar stallion’s voice.
“Shy?”
The mares’ attention was turned to the doorway where a muscular red earth pony stood. He looked to Fluttershy with a worried expression.
“Come on girls, we should give them privacy.” Twilight led the others to the waiting room.
“Flutters is gonna’ have a foal?” the couple heard Rainbow ask in the hallway.
“Yup! I’ll explain it to you Dashie!” They heard Pinkie say.
Fluttershy blushed as she remembered Rainbow’s cluelessness.
“Fluttershy? Are you okay?” Mac walked over to Fluttershy’s bed. He placed a caring hoof on the edge. Fluttershy moved her hoof to lay her hoof on his.
“Yes, I’m fine. I had gotten a little nervous when I was going to tell Rainbow Dash. I had also forgotten to eat breakfast today and that had bothered the little foal-,” Fluttershy looked down at her belly, hoping to see a little foal look up at her. But there was no avail. “-and I had passed out. The doctor told me the foal was okay.”
Macintosh smiled as he kissed her forehead. “Ah’m glad yer okay and that the foal’s okay. Ah don’t know Ah’d do if somethin’ bad happened to either of ya.” Fluttershy smiled warmly.
“Thanks for caring, sweetie. I-I really appreciate it.”
The two had stared into each other’s eyes lovingly before Mac broke the silence. “Ah overheard you and the others while in the hallway. Somethin’ about the doctor refusing to tell ya something?” Mac asked, slightly offended.
“I’m sure it’s nothing bad. He said he wanting to confirm his suspicion before telling me. I’d like to know but I’m sure we’ll know soon enough.” She kissed Mac on the cheek, making him blush a pink.
“Hey…can you leave today? Or does he want you to stay?” Mac asked. Fluttershy looked around but shrugged.
“I’m not sure. I’m sure somepony could ask him once they see him. I-,” Fluttershy’s stomach grumbled rather loudly. Fluttershy was reminded that she hadn’t eaten for the day and that the foal wanted food!
She blushed at the loud noise. “Oops…” she sheepishly smiled.
Mac chuckled and said, “Ah’ll get the nurse to get you some food. And Ah’ll ask the doctor, Shy.” He gave her a quick kiss before exiting. Fluttershy smiled and rested her head. She was hungry but awfully tired…