Claire was a mare who would try to find the bright side in almost everything. Sure there were times when it was hard, but she would always find that silver lining sometime down the way. But this time was different, this time Claire couldn’t find the bright side in this situation, no matter how much she tried. And Celestia knows that she had tried many times in the past, all of which was to no avail. If there was one thing that everypony knew about her, it was this:
“I hate hospitals…” within one the many rooms of the Canterlot hospital, Claire sat uneasily in her chair. It has been well over a month since she found out that she was pregnant, and now she has been scheduled an appointment with the obstetrician. “Why did you have to schedule one so early, I don’t even have a baby bump yet!” Claire asked Illusion who was sitting beside her.
“True, but you see there was one thing that was nagging me since we found out you were pregnant.” Said Illusion.
“What’s what?”
“Well, how will you be giving birth to it?” asked Illusion. Claire opened her mouth to respond but quickly closed it again. This was a question that she had asked herself in more than one occasion, being part dragon means that there is a possibility that she could lay an egg. To date there have only been two dracony mares in existence, the other being her niece Oasis. And neither of them have had the pleasure of giving birth just yet.
“See what I mean?” Illusion continued on “I just want to know what to expect is all, so that we can properly prepare.” he said placing his paw on Claire’s shoulder. Claire looked at Illusion for a moment before dropping her eyes in a sigh.
“Alright, I see your point.” She said “But I still hate hospitals.” She added right after.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be a simple ultrasound and we’ll be on our way.” He assured her. Claire nodded in agreement as the two went back into waiting for the doctor to enter the room. The wait went on for about five more minutes before finally the door opened.
“I apologize for the wait.” Said a male unicorn wearing a white doctor’s coat. “My name is High Frequency, and I’ll be your conducing your ultrasound today.” He said with a smile.
“Finally.” Claire said under her breath relieved that this would soon be over with. The doctor sat at his chair for a moment as he looked over Claire’s charts.
“Let’s see, a month into pregnancy I see?” he said to which Claire and Illusion nodded. “Very good, I see you’ve been having morning sickness, very normal, any mood swings or strange food craving?” he asked.
“No, no mood swings yet.” Said Claire.
“And define strange food cravings?” said Illusion which caused Claire to shoot him a glare. Illusion simple smiled in return.
“Ah, well, I’m sure you’ll know when you see them.” Said the doctor trying to hold back a small chuckle. “Now then Mrs. Claire, if you’ll sit back on the bed over there we’ll get you’re ultrasound under way in a jiff!” he said motioning Claire to the corner of the room. Getting up from her chair, Claire walked up to the bed and climbed on. Once she was comfortable she rested her head back and waited.
“Ready?” asked the doctor as he levitated a bottled of gel next to him. Claire nodded as she removed her claws away from her stomach. Once the doctor began to squeeze out the gel Claire gave a small jump. “Sorry, the gel can be a tad cold at times.” He said with a small chuckle. Once the gel was applied the doctor picked up the transducer and placed it on Claire’s stomach as he turned it on.
“So how does this work exactly?” asked Claire as the doctor moved the transducer across Claire’s stomach.
“Well you see the machine emits high frequency sound waves thought your body, and as it bounces back it creates an image for us to see.” The doctor continued to trace the transducer across Claire’s stomach for a few more seconds before he finally turned it off. “Alright, that should do it. Right now the image is being rendered in another room, it should be with us in a moment.”
“Great…” Claire groaned at the mention of more waiting.
“Don’t worry, it’ll be here before-“ the doctor couldn’t finish his sentence as there was a knock at the door. “Well now that was faster than usual!” he said as he walked up to the door. Once opened he was handed the rendered image “Thank you!” he said before closing the door.
“Now then, let’s see what has come up shall we?” said the doctor as he placed the image on the view box on the wall and turned on the light. Both Claire and Illusion looked over the doctor’s shoulder to see as well, but they weren’t sure what they were looking at.
“Well now, this is peculiar.” Said the doctor. This caused Claire and Illusion to worry slightly.
“What do you mean, is something wrong?” asked Claire.
“Not that I am aware, I am just very savvy on egg development.” He said trying to look closer at the image.
“Egg, I’m laying an egg?” asked Claire, a small smile on her own face from knowing how she would be giving birth.
“It would appear so, and they seem to be developing healthily.” He said.
“Oh that’s gre-“ Claire started only to pause “Wait…they?”
“There’s more than one?” Illusion added.
“It would appear so…” the doctor said, though there seemed to be some uncertainty in his voice by now.
“How many?”
“Well let’s see,” he said as he squinted his eyes “Three, four, seven…twelve…fifteen?” he finally said arching a brow. As he numbered the eggs Claire and Illusion both reacted in their own ways. Illusion’s jaw was literally touching the floor by this point, one eyes was twitching and it looked as though he would fall over at any moment.
Claire on the other hand had wrapped her forelegs around her stomach and held tightly while her pupils has shrunk. Hey whole body was stiff with horror at the idea of what would happen when those eggs finally came out.
“Hold on a moment…” said the doctor as he pulled the image out from the view box. “This isn’t your ultrasound…” the others hadn’t responded from what he had said, no doubt still too shocked to hear anything. “But if this isn’t yours then…oh my.” Without saying another word he ran out the door with the paper still in his magical grasp. Only a few seconds after the door slammed did Claire and Illusion finally move, both letting out a sigh of relief.
“Oh thank the maker…” said Illusion as he placed a hoof on his still rapidly beating heart. The two sat down in silence for a moment as they allowed themselves to calm down. Both were greatly relieved at the arrow that they had both just dodged.
But then Illusion chuckled “Could you imagine, having fifteen kids?” he said. Claire looked up for a moment as a small smile spread on her lips.
“Yeah, I’d go on record for having the most agonizing labor.” She said with a sarcastic chuckle.
“No doubt there, but I’m sure you’d bounce back.” Said Illusion.
“More like I’d have to,” said Claire “If I leave them to you, you’d go crazy in a week.” As she turned her head to look at Illusion she added a “Well, crazy-er” with a light laugh.
“Who are you kidding, we’d both go insane regardless.” Illusion said joining in on the laugh.
“True, but it’s not like we’d be going through it alone, we still have the rest of the family.” Said Claire.
“You’re right, but I still think it’d be a hoof full. But I guess it would get better with time. At least they’d always have someone to play with.” Said Illusion. “And fifteen kids give me more chances to embarrass them around their dates.” He said with a grin.
“Seriously, not even born yet and you’re already thinking of that?” asked Claire.
“Hey, embarrassing my kids is a right of passage to a father.” Said Illusion as he crossed his forelegs.
“Yeah, but being your kids I can imagine them getting together to prank you back,” said Claire “Me included.” She added with a sly smile.
“Wait, why?” asked Illusion.
“You think I’d just let it slide that your baby makers gave us fifteen kids?” said Claire “Oh no, I’d find a way to get you back sometime.” Soon both started laughing at the hypothetical, each sharing a story that they would have shared with their fifteen kids. It was only when the door opened again that it came to an end.
“Sorry about that, seems there was a mix in the ultrasound.” Said their doctor as he closed the door again. “Some poor soul was found stranded in the everfree and apparently came back with a souvenir.” He said with a slight shake of his head.
“So is that one mine then?” asked Claire.
“Yes, I made sure of it this time.” He assured. Using his magic he placed the paper on the view box and switched it on. Claire and Illusion watched as the doctor looked over the ultrasound for about a minute. Soon they noticed a smile grow across his face “Well now, while it’s far too early for me to tell you the gender, I can say this.” He said as he turned around to face the couple.
“You are growing a healthy embryo within you.” Both Claire and Illusion’s mouths opened in a wide smile. They finally got their answer, and in less than ten months from now, Claire would give birth to her foal like any other pony would.