//------------------------------// // Mist's Big Surprise // Story: Cutie Mark Crusaders Royale // by Bluecatcinema //------------------------------// The Cutie Mark Crusaders quartet entered the Blazin' Blues tavern. In the daytime, it was a typical malt-shop of sorts, not as popular as it's night-time counterpart, but it was a good business. The Crusaders were covered in dirt stains. "Hey, kiddos." Blue smiled from behind the bar. He hadn't changed much over the three years since he started dating Mist, except he had a small beard growing on his chin. "Hello, Blue." Mist sighed dejectedly. "Hey, Mr. Blazes." Hurricane, Pureblood and Vito chorused in a depressed tone. "Another failed attempt at finding your Cutie Marks?" Blue asked sagely. "Yup." The Crusaders nodded. "Let me guess... Archaeology?" Blue guessed. "Gardening." Vito glared at Miracle. "Sunspot here thought that weeding the gardens would get us our Cutie Marks." "Hey, it was better than your idea of Cutie Mark Chess Players... honestly, chess is so dull." Miracle shot back. "How has it come to this?" Vito despaired. "We've been at this for three months, and already, we're grasping at straws." "I'm with my brother here." Pureblood agreed. "I mean, we tried a lot of things..." "Yeah, like baking, lacrosse, mountain climbing..." Hurricane listed. "Deep sea diving, macrame, pole vaulting..." " I'm starting to get a bit desperate here." Vito sighed. "Just yesterday, three of my classmates at school got their Cutie Marks." "...Yodelling, ziplining, parkour..." Hurricane continued. "Could you stop please? You're not helping." Vito growled. "Oh cheer up, V-man." Blue smiled. "A Cutie Mark will come when it's good and ready. How about a couple of drinks all around, on me?" Blue passed out shakes to them. "Gee, thanks, Mr. Blazes." Pureblood said gratefully. "Yeah." Vito took a sip. "It's a good thing that Aunt Misty is dating you. You know how to cheer a kid up." "I can attest to that." Pureblood agreed. "Me, too." Miracle added. "Mmm!" Hurricane nodded while sipping her shake. "Thanks, guys." Blue chuckled. As the four enjoyed their drinks, Miracle noticed Blue acting a bit nervous. "Is everything alright, Blue?" She asked. "Huh?" Blue glanced at Miracle. "Oh, yes. Everything's fine." "You're sure?" Miracle pressed. "You looked a little pale." "Just a little stressed." Blue shrugged. "Nothing you need to worry about." "Stressed, huh? Maybe we could help you." Vito suggested. "Cutie Mark Barhoppers, anyone?" "Oh no. I don't think your parents would be ecstatic about the idea." Blue declined. "Besides, it's a different kind of stress..." "Like what?" Hurricane asked. "Well..." Blue muttered. The door opened, and the four and Blue looked to see Mist coming in. She looked a bit out of it. "Hey, aunt Mist!" Miracle waved. "Huh?" Mist snapped out of her reverie. "Oh, hey, kids..." "Are you okay?" Miracle asked, confused. "Yeah, you're lookin' a little green..." Vito noted. "You're sure?" Pureblood squinted. "Because she's still light blue to me..." "Maybe turquoise?" Hurricane offered. "Everything's fine." Mist insisted, before turning to Blue. "Blue, can we talk for a bit... alone?" "Of course, babe." Blue left the counter. "I'll be back, kids. Make sure to not burn anything while I'm gone." Blue entered the back room with Mist. Miracle looked on with concern. "So... what do we do next?" Vito asked. "Well, maybe we could do something less tasking." Pureblood suggested. "How about yoga?" "Hmm, yogurt actually sounds good." Hurricane smiled. "Not yogurt, yoga... and that sounds rather boring." Vito frowned. "I wonder what's going on with Blue and Mist today..." Miracle mused. "Oh, I'm sure they're just antsy to be together and do all that lovey-dovey mush." Vito shrugged. "Yeah, just the other day, I found Aunt Constell and Mr. Luxury in a broom closet making out. I'm sure that's what they're doing right now." Pureblood agreed. "Heh, remember when we walked in on those two making out three years ago?" Hurricane snorted. "Do I ever." Vito grimaced. "We all thought it was gross and stuff... in fact, it's still gross." "Well, they're acting weird... even by their standards." Miracle declared, getting off her stool. "And I'm going to find out what's going on..." Miracle approached the door to the backroom, putting her ear to the door. Pureblood and Hurricane soon joined her, as Vito remained at the bar, sipping his shake. On the other side, Mist turned to face Blue. "So, did you do it?" Blue asked. "Yes, I checked with the doctor..." Mist said. "And?" Blue asked nervously. Mist pulled out a piece of paper and shows it to Blue. "It's official..." She glanced at Blue with worry. "...I'm pregnant." Miracle, Pureblood, and Hurricane gaped in shock. "Pregnant?!" Hurricane gasped. Vito perked up. "Wait, did I hear that right?" he quickly trotted over. "She said 'pregnant'?" "Apparently so." Pureblood nodded. "My aunt is pregnant..." Miracle said quietly. "Let me listen in!" Vito pushed Miracle aside. Back in the room, Blue was slack-jawed, falling limp against a shelf. "P-pregnant?" He stuttered. "You're pregnant?" "Yes... I had the doctor ran the test three times to make sure..." Mist glanced at her belly. "I have an actual living foal growing in here..." "Oh Faust... this is... this is not good... this is not good..." Blue started to panic. "How do you think I feel?" Mist growled. "I'm studying under Twilight Sparkle in the art of magic. I'm too young to be having a foal!" "What about me?!" Blue retorted. "This bar has already taken up all my assets and time, I can't support a baby!" "Wow, this is better than those soap dramas mom and dad love to watch." Vito declared. "Vito, this is not TV, this is our aunt and this is a real problem!" Pureblood admonished him. "My aunt is pregnant..." Mist repeated. "Yeah, you already said that, Miracle." Hurricane pointed out. "Still doesn't make this any less unbelievable." Miracle stated. "You're worried about your bar?!" Mist glared at Blue. "You're the one who did this to me!" "Me?! You told me that spell you always cast before each time we..." Blue groaned. "...You know... would prevent this!" During her studies with Twilight, Mist had learned of ancient spells, ones that could be cast by anypony, simply by reading out an incantation. "It should have... oh, that spell must not be as effective when cast by Pegasi..." Mist sighed. "Well that would had been nice to know before I..." Blue groaned again. "Mated, Blue, we mated!" Mist blurted out. "And I didn't see you complaining at all the mornings after..." "Hello, I'm a stallion!" Blue pointed out. "Stallions all have a thing for liking..." He blushed heavily. "...To mate... "Well, now, because of your liking to mate, the next eleven months are going to be a living nightmare!" Mist clutched her mane. "I don't even know how I'm going to explain this to my brother!" "Your brother?!" Blue gasped. "Your brother is going to kill me! If not him, then your sister-in-law, princess Celestia, is going to send me to the moon!" "Well, it serves you right for getting me knocked up!" Mist sneered. "Hey, for your information, it was always you that initiated all the times we did the sideway hokey-pokey!" Blue pointed out. "Naw-huh, you were the one who was too friendly when cuddling!" Mist accused. "No way, it was totally you... the way you have your mane hanging over your shoulder..." Blue pointed. "The way you wrap your hooves around me and pull me close to your very warm body..." Mist recalled. "You and your mane smelling like grass after a rainy day..." Blue said, his anger beginning to dissipate. "Your tail resting on my backside, and giving me that grin..." Mist smiled, her anger dissipating as well. "Your gorgeous wings and viciously hot pair of flanks..." Blue grinned. "Your hunky build and the way you exert dominance like a dragon protecting his hoard... you magnificent beast..." Mist shuddered and blushed. The two's snouts were inches from each other, then they began to make out. "Aw, sick!" All the Crusaders save for Miracle gagged. "Hey, that's my aunt you're talking about!" Miracle growled. Back in the room, the couple realized what they were doing, and they quickly parted. "Oh man, that's what got us into this mess in the first place!" Blue frowned. "I'll admit, we have problems keeping hooves off each others, especially in the throes of love." Mist confessed. "I'll say... but I still blame your hot flanks." Blue purred. "Get serious, Blue... what are we going to do?" Mist pressed on. "I mean, I already swore the doctor to not tell anypony... but in a few months time, the others are going to notice that I have a bump on my belly!" She sat down, tears coming to her eyes. "I'm scared, Blue... I don't know what they'll think of me or if I am even ready to be a mother..." "Oh, Mist, babe..." Blue wrapped his hooves and wings around her. "I'm scared too... but I'm sure we can figure this out." "How, Blue?" Mist wept. "What can we do?!" "Well, for starters, we're going to calm down... and secondly, we are going to keep this between us." Blue declared. "Then we'll figure out the rest from there..." "Okay..." Mist wiped her tears. "If you think it'll work..." "I'm sure... besides, what could happen?" Blue shrugged. He then heard something on the other side of the door. "It went quiet again..." Pureblood noted. "Ew, are they making out again?!" Vito grimaced. "Man, they must really love doing that..." Hurricane cringed. "Guys... how thick is this door?" Miracle asked. Quickly, Blue opened the door, and the four foals fell to the ground. "Kids?!" Mist gasped. "Um, hey again, auntie..." Miracle said awkwardly. "How much did you four hear?" Blue demanded. "Um, nothing, Mr. Blazes." Vito lied. "Absolutely nothing." Pureblood added nervously. "Yeah, we definitely didn't hear Mist call you hunky and a magnificent beast!" Hurricane smiled. The two brothers face-hooved. "So in other words, you heard anything." Mist realized. "This can't be happening..." "We won't tell anypony, I promise!" Miracle declared. "Right, guys?" "Right!" The other three promised. "Do you swear never to tell?" Blue eyed them. "We swear." The Crusaders chorused. "We can do a Pinkie Promise if you want." Hurricane added. "I dunno, I don't want to stick a cupcake in my eye." Vito shuddered. "And I most certainly don't want Pinkie Pie popping out of nowhere." Pureblood said, "That mare scares me a bit." "Well, at least you swore." Blue smiled. "Now, let's get you kids home before any pony starts missing you." Mist and Blue brought the Crusaders back up to the castle. The six were just out the entrance. "I'm not so sure about this, auntie... I mean, how long do you expect to keep this a secret?" Miracle inquired. "Dad is going to notice you having a bump..." "Look, I'll tell them eventually, Miracle... I just have to find the right way to break it to them without freaking everypony out." Mist declared. "Till then, not a word, please... "Okay..." Miracle said uneasily. "You can count on us." Pureblood smiled. "I wouldn't tell if I wanted to." Vito declared. "The whole thing disgusts me, to be honest..." "And me." Hurricane agreed. "Besides, I always keep my promises." "Good to know." Blue nodded. They entered the castle, only to be greeted by Shine. "Hey, everypony, where have the lot of you been all afternoon?" He asked. "Oh, I was just treating the kids to shakes." Blue turned to the kids. "Right?" "Yep!" Miracle nodded. "Sure have." Pureblood grinned. "What they said." Vito agreed. "Cinnamon toast!" Hurricane blurted out. "How nice of you, Blue... oh, Mist, there's somepony here to see you." Shine declared. "Who?" Mist asked. Big Red came in. "Hee-hee, howdy y'all!" He chuckled. Mist gaped in shock, as did Blue. "B-Big Red?" Mist stuttered. "What are you doing here?" "Well, Ah heard from Shine that you had a bit of stomach flu and couldn't make it to the ranch, so Ah decided to pay mah daughter a home visit!" Big Red smiled. "D-daughter?" Blue gasped. "You mean... you're her dad?" "And who might you be?" Big Red glared. "He's my coltfriend." Mist smiled. "Coltfriend?" Big Red gaped. "Blue Blazes." Blue reached out his hoof. "Pleased to meet you, sir." "When did you get a coltfriend?" Big Red ignored Blue. "Blue and I met three years back." Mist explained, "I meant to tell you, but it kept slipping my mind." "Wait, ya mean ya had a coltfriend for three years?!" Big Red gasped. "Yes, Red. I'm not a little filly anymore, you know." Mist said testily. "Ah know, Ah know." Big Red nodded. "Ah jest... can't believe it. Seems like jest yesterday you were this sweet little filly, playin' with her dollies..." "Red..." Mist groaned. "I should get going." Blue said awkwardly. "Oh, no ya don't." Big Red grabbed Blue Blazes. "Ah wanna know jest what kinda stallion you are. You'll be joinin' us for dinner." "O-okay." Blue gulped. Half an hour later, everypony was sat at the dinner table. Big Red had made sure to sit opposite Blue, and was glaring at him. "So, what exactly do ya do fer a livin'?" Big Red asked. "Come on, Red, this is dinner, not an interrogation." Shine frowned. "I never saw you get like this when I was engaged to Celestia." "Three things, Shine... one, Blue ain't a mare. Two, he ain't a princess. Three, he's dating mah daughter." Big Red said succinctly, before turning back to Blue. "Now, Ah repeat, whattya do fer a livin'?" "I run a small tavern, sir." Blue said nervously, "Blazin' Blue's is the name." "Own yer own business, huh?" Big Red mused. "Self-made stallion, is ya? Ah like that." "Maybe Blue would be interested in stocking some of your cherry wine?" Mist offered, having been to sit next to Big Red. "Mebbe..." Big Red shrugged. "Now then, on ta the big stuff... Have you bin treatin' Mist right?" "Of course I have." Blue nodded. "He's a perfect gentlestallion." Mist assured him. "Really sweet and caring." "Good ta know." Big Red nodded. "Jest keep it that way, y'hear?" "Y-yes, sir." Blue gulped. "Relax, Red." Shine smiled. "Blue's a good guy." "Sure is." Mist nodded. "Yeah!" Pureblood and Vito agreed. "Purple!" Hurricane blurted out. "If ya say so..." Big Red shrugged. After dinner, Mist walked Blue out. "I think that went well." Mist smiled. "I think it was the most terrifying experience of my life." Blue declared. "And I used to be a professional stunt flyer!" "I think Big Red really likes you." Mist declared. "Besides, it's just a short visit." "Oh, by the way, Mist!" Big Red's voice called. "Ah'll be stayin' fer a couple a' weeks, to make up fer you not bein' able ta come ta the ranch!" "Or not." Mist sighed. "...No offense, Mist, but I think I'll be staying away from the castle for a while." Blue declared. "A wise choice." Mist deadpanned. Over the coming days, Mist and the Crusaders found keeping Mist's pregnancy a secret increasingly difficult. Mist began getting cravings. One morning, Mist was eating cherries covered in molasses, when Shine entered the kitchen. "Mist." Shine stared, nonplussed by her dining choice. "Shine." Mist said nonchalantly. And then there was the mood swings. One day, as she returned from throwing up in the bathroom, she ran into Caboose. "You okay, Mist?" Caboose asked. "You look terrible." "What?!" Mist started crying. "How could you say that, you... jerk!" She punched Caboose right in the face. "OW!" Caboose groaned as he grabbed his snout. "What did you do that for?!" "Because you're annoying!" Mist yelled. "And what is this 'fourth wall' you keep talking about?" "Um, the wall that separates us and the readers?" Caboose whimpered. "Well, stop it! It's getting old!" Mist snarled. Mist stomped away, leaving Caboose confused as he rubbed his snout. "What's with her?" He asked, as Hurricane arrived on the scene. "Mood swings, duh." Hurricane shrugged. "What'd'ya expect, with her being preg- Uh-oh." "Preg? What you mean by 'preg'?" Caboose questioned. "Um…nothing?" Hurricane nervously answered. "Hmm…preg…the only words I know that starts with preg is 'pregnenolone' (courtesy of Lars, of course) and…" Caboose's eyes widened in shock. "Pregnant!" Caboose gasped. "Mist is pregnant?!" "Please don't tell anyone, dad." Hurricane begged. "It's a secret!" "My lips are sealed." Caboose declared, "I'll have you know, I'm the best at keeping secrets." "Thanks, dad." Hurricane beamed. That evening, Caboose and Daring were getting ready for bed… "By the way, Mist's pregnant." He declared. "Whoa, really?" Daring gasped. "Yep." Caboose nodded. "And there's something else, something important... eh, it'll come to me." The next morning, Daring was enjoying coffee with Dusty… "Your uncle told me some news last night…" Daring explained. "About what? Did my dad and uncles rob the Bitalian national treasury again?" Dusty deadpanned. "No…apparently, Mist is pregnant." Daring explained. "…Say what?" Dusty gaped. Later, Dusty ran into her husband walking down a hall. "Hello, dear. How's my lovely wife this fine morning?" Blueblood smiled. "Fine…but Daring told me something Caboose told her last night." Dusty explained. "What? Did Grimm and the brothers rob the Bitalian national treasury again?" Blueblood deadpanned. "No… Mist is pregnant." Dusty revealed. "Wait. Mist… Shine's young sister Mist?" Blueblood gasped. Even later, Blueblood walked out onto a balcony where Gothic was looking through a telescope…pointing downward. "Hello, Gothic… what are you doing?" Blueblood asked. "Keepin' a eye on my daughter and Luxury." Gothic explained, pointing down to the garden, where Constell and Luxury were cuddling. "I don't like being the paranoid father… but I do not want my daughter doing anything sordid." "I understand that, Goth… but speaking of daughter doing sordid things, I heard from my wife that Mist is… pregnant." Blueblood explained. "Whoa, are you serious?" Gothic said, shocked. "And here I was, worrying about my daughter-" He quickly glanced down to the garden, "HEY! KEEP HOOVES WHERE I CAN SEE THEM!" "Okay…" Blueblood slowly backed away. By noon, Gothic was having a small lunch on the terrace with his wife, Luna. "Say, you'll never believe what Blueblood told me…" Gothic brought up. "You weren't spying on our daughter again, were you?" Luna groaned, "She's an adult, Gothic." "And I'm her father." Gothic rolled his eyes, "That's beside the point. Luna, Mist is pregnant." "...Goodness." Luna gaped. Shortly after, Luna joined her sister Celestia in the throne room, whom was answering letters. "Trollestia?" Celestia frowned at the letter. "As if Molestia wasn't bad enough." She simply burnt the letter with her magic. "Sister, my husband had told me very big news…it seems our sister-in-law is now with foal." Luna explained. "Really?" Celestia gasped. "That's almost as surprising as Discord making ice-skating mongooses dance the bolero last year." "I know, right?" Luna nodded Soon, Celestia entered the sparring hall, where Shine was overseeing the training regime of the guards. "Oh, hi, cherryblossom. Come to see a bunch of us finest stallions work out?" Shine smirked. "Um, not exactly, dear." Celestia explained. "My sister told me something regarding your sister…" "So you noticed too?" Shine frowned. "I swear, Mist has been acting all sorts of weird lately. That stomach flu of hers is still around, sherazed through a tenth of our cherry stash, and she punched poor Caboose in the face…" "Well, dear, I believe there is a reason for that…" Celestia mused. "Like what?" Shine raised a brow. "Well…" Celestia began, then whispered into Shine's ear. Shine's face immediately went pale, and that was saying a lot, since Shine's coat was white. "My sister is what?!" Shine gasped. Clearing of throats ensued, as the guards were all now staring at Shine due to his outburst. "Um, proceed with your business as usual, men." Shine ordered nervously, trying to save face. The guards went back to their training as Shine and Celestia left the hall. "My sister… is pregnant?" Shine gaped. "Is the father-" "Blue Blazes?" Celestia finished for him, "I would assume so. You aren't going to freak out like Shining did when Twilight was pregnant, are you?" "No, of course not!" Shine stammered. "I mean…I know my sis and Blue are grown ponies… but… I really didn't expect this…" "Well, expected or not, dear, you should confront Mist about this…" Celestia urged. "I suppose so..." Shine sighed. The news also flowed through the servants, who had overheard the conversation between Shine and Celestia initially. By late afternoon, almost everypony in the castle knew that Mist was with foal. Iron Hooves was standing guard when Big Red walked by. "Congrats on the second grandkid, sir." Iron Hooves smiled. "Second grandkid?" Big Red repeated. "Celestia's pregnant again?" "No." Iron Hooves shook his head. "Miss Mist. I overheard from the princess that Mist is with foal." Big Red was speechless for a moment. "...Come again?" He asked quietly. "Mist is pregnant." Iron Hooves confirmed. "If I had to hinder a guess, it belongs to that Blue Blazes she's dating." "Blue Blazes?" Big Red asked, completely passive. "Yup." Iron smiled. "Though I find it weird... I haven't seen hide or tail of him since the dinner a few weeks back... I hope things have been going well between them." "...Uh-huh... Mr. Hooves, where can Ah find that feller's bar again?" Big Red asked pleasantly. "Go into turn, take a left at Goldstable avenue, right at Horseshoe boulevard, you can't miss it." Iron instructed. "Good... say, Iron, think you could hook me up with one of them high-powered crossbows you guards get to use?" Big Red asked. "Um, sorry, Mr. Red, it's royal guard-issued only... why?" Iron frowned. "No reason... now if'n you'll excuse me, Ah am going for a drink..." Big Red walked out. "Okay..." Iron said, confused. Meanwhile, Miracle was walking by a few maids when she overheard them talking. "Did you hear?" "Oh yes. I can't believe the prince's young sister is pregnant!" Miracle gaped in horror, as she quickly ran to the study. As she did so, she was joined by Pureblood and Vito. "I take it you overheard the same thing we did?" Pureblood asked. "Yes. How did they figure it out?" Miracle stammered. "I think one of us spilled the beans… and I think I know who…" Vito growled. They soon arrived at the study, where they ran into Mist. "Lemme guess…Hurricane told somepony, didn't she?" Mist frowned. The three nodded. "Oh, dang it all…" Mist groaned. The four entered the study, where they found Hurricane currently reading her mother's first book, "The Sapphire Stone". "Geez, my mom got beat up a lot in the past…" Hurricane mused, as she looked up to see Mist and her friends glaring at her. "Um… why are you guys lookin' at me like that?" "Hurricane, one of the maids just congratulated me on my foal." Mist glared, "Now tell me, how did she know I was with foal?" "What?!" Hurricane gasped, before groaning, "Oh…dangit, dad!" "You told Uncle 'Boose?!" Pureblood gaped. "How could you, Hurri?!" Miracle growled. "Sorry!" Hurricane apologized. "It just slipped. But it's dad's fault, too! He promised not to tell!" "Like father, like daughter." Vito snorted. "You knew full well that Caboose can't keep a secret to save his life!" "Lay off my dad!" Hurricane yelled. "Make me!" Vito growled. "V, quit it!" Pureblood declared. "This isn't helping!" Miracle groaned. "Look, guys, there's no point in blaming each other now..." Mist sighed. "The secret isn't a secret anymore." Shine suddenly entered the room. "Celestia told me everything… is it true, Mist?" He asked. "Are you...?" Mist nodded sadly. "Sorry..." She whispered. "Don't be." Shine smiled. "Having a foal is a wonderful thing. I couldn't be happier for you." "Really?" Mist smiled. "Yeah." Shine grinned. "I'll admit, I was shocked, but now… my baby sister is having a baby of her own… and I get to be an uncle…" "You think Big Red knows by now?" Pureblood wondered. "Well, I bet once he finds out, he'll be overjoyed." Shine chuckled. "Where is grampa, anyway?" Miracle wondered. "Oh, I saw him leave a while ago." Iron declared from the open doorway. "He said he was going to see that coltfriend of yours, Mist." Silence ensued… "Um, Mist, you don't think our dad thinks that Blue is…" Shine asked nervously. "...Oh, no." Mist gulped. Meanwhile... Blue was busy wiping a mug in his bar... when suddenly, an angry Big Red stepped in. Blue dropped the mug in shock. "Gah! Oh, it's you, Big Red… can I help you?" He said awkwardly. "You... you..." Big Red growled, pointing his hoof at him. "Um, is everything alright, big guy?" Blue asked. "You... got... my... baby girl... PREGNANT!" Big Red roared. Blue's eyes widened in horror. "Oh... so you heard about that…look, I don't know who told you-" Blue started. "QUIET!" Big Red bellowed. "It's bad enough that ya..." He shuddered. "...Popped her cherry... but if you think that you can get my baby knocked up and not take responsibility, you got another thing coming!" "Not take-hold on, I didn't say-" Blue spluttered. "Shut up!" Big Red advanced on him. "I am going to throttle you!" "Whoa, wait, can we find a peaceful resolution to this argument?" Blue quivered. "BIG WORDS ANGER ME!" Big Red let out a battle cry. Blue screamed in horror as Big Red charged at him. Mist and the others rushed to the bar as fast as they could. Once there, they saw Blue running around the bar, while Big Red smashed through everything. "Whoa, what is going here?!" Shine gasped. "Blue, what in Faust's name-" Mist started. Blue ran in a circle as Big Red continued to chase him, saying a word with each pass. "Mist! Your! Dad! Is! Mental!" "I! Show! You! Mental! You! Son! Of! A!" Big Red countered. "Grampa, stop this!" Miracle begged. "No! Can! Do! Little! One! Got! To! Skin! Pegasus!" Big Red yelled. "Okay, enough is enough..." Shine stepped between Blue and Red, putting up a hoof to push Red back. "Now... tell me why you are trying to kill Blue here, Red." "Shine!" Big Red snarled. "This no good varmint mated with mah daughter and put a bun in her oven!" "I know that! Celestia told me everything she heard from Luna, who then heard it from Gothic, who heard from Blueblood, then Dusty, then Daring… and finally Caboose." Shine listed. "Oh my gosh, can't anypony keep a secret in this town?!" Blue groaned. "Shaddup, you mare-chasing dirtbag!" Big Red spat, struggling against Shine's hoof. "Let me at him, Shine! He's need to pay!" "Red, calm down." Shine declared. "I do not want to have to prosecute my foster dad because he lost it and killed an innocent bartender." "But... this guy was going to 'dine and dash' on her-" Big Red countered. "What?!" Miracle spluttered. "Said who?!" "Well, Ah only figgered-" Big Red shrugged. "How can you say that, man?!" Blue said, appalled. " When Mist told me she was pregnant, I was scared, yeah, but I wasn't going to up and leave her! " "You're not?" Big Red asked. "...Oh." "Oh? Oh? OH?!" Mist tackled Big Red and began wailing on him. "You giant rock-for-brains doofus! How could you try and do this to my coltfriend?!" "Ah was only trying to help you-" Big Red muttered. "Help me?" Mist snorted. "What? By killing the father of my unborn foal?! And not even asking if he was going to stick around or not?!" "Okay, Ah guess Ah might have over-reacted a little." Big Red said quietly. "A little?!" Blue growled, regaining his courage. "My bar is wrecked!" "And Ah'm sorry." Big Red apologized. "Ah was just scared for mah kid, is all." "Oh, Red... I'm sorry..." Mist started getting teary again. "Me and Blue didn't meant for this to happen... it just... well, happened." "Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for." Big Red smiled. "Ah mean, you are carrying mah second grandfoal. I couldn't be happier." "And my niece or nephew." Shine added. "Look, you had nothing to be afraid or ashamed of." "Well, I thought you guys might think less of me..." Mist admitted. "Mist, we're your family!" Shine explained. "Sure, these are odd circumstances, but we won't stop loving you." "Yer darn right!" Big Red agreed. "And we'll be there to help ya, if need be." "Don't forget me, aunt Mist!" Miracle added. "Oh, you guys..." Mist hugged them all. "Aww…" Hurricane cooed, "I love these family moments." "And now this just became another soap drama our parents watch." Vito deadpanned. "Oh come off it, V." Pureblood elbowed him. Soon after the four broke from their hug, Blue Blazes spoke up. "Now that's all settled, there's something I gotta ask you. Mist." Blue declared. "And I want to do it before something even crazier happens..." Reaching behind the bar, Blue pulled out a small black box. "Is that what I think it is?" Big Red gaped. "Blue?" Mist whispered. "Now, Mist… I don't want you to think that I am doing this out of obligation for you and our child, but I love you… I can never tell you how grateful I am that you chose me that day that Changeling tried to take you away…" Blue Blazes explained. "What Changeling?!" Big Red stammered. "Did I miss something?" "You should probably read 'Growing Pains', Mr. Red." Hurricane suggested. "The past few weeks since you told me I was going to be a father, I've been doing a lot of thinking, and I realized that now, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, raising our foal together." He then kneeled and open the box, revealing a simple ring with a beautiful diamond on it. "Mist Monsoon Paladin… will you marry me?" He asked. "Oh, Blue…" Mist teared up, covering her mouth, "Yes! Yes, I will!" Everypony in the building cheered as they embraced each other in a long kiss. Everypony except Vito and Pureblood. "Ugh, more sissy stuff." Vito groaned. "Even I find this in distaste." Pureblood grimaced. "I dunno… I think I find it romantic…" Hurricane sighed. "At least everything turned out okay." Miracle smiled with relief. "I'll say." Shine nodded in agreement, "Congrats, Mist." "Thanks, bro…" Mist nodded, wiping her tears as she broke away from Blue, slipping the ring onto her wing. "I hope you don't mind, Red." Blue said. "I really do care for her…" "Mind? Of course not! Any pony willin' to stallion up and marry a girl he knocked up is a winner in mah book." Big Red smiled. "In fact…" In one fell swoop, Big Red gave Blue a bear hug for the ages, "Lemme be the first ta say, 'Welcome to the family', Blue! " Big Red declared, almost crushing the poor Pegasus. "Gah, thanks..." Blue groaned. Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Spitfire and Soarin' flew in. "We came as soon as we heard." Spitfire declared. "What is this about our son getting Mist preg..." She stopped when she saw Big Red apparently hurting Blue in a crushing grip. "Blue! Get your hooves off my baby boy!" "What she said!" Soarin' added as they lunged at Big Red. "Uh-oh." Big Red and Blue both gulped. (Scenes missing due to graphic violence) Inside Canterlot hospital, Mist and Blue were in the midst of an apology. "I am so sorry about this." Mist sighed. "We didn't mean for anypony to get hurt." "Yeah." Blue nodded. "But if it's any consolation, I'm going to be there for Mist. Mood swings, food cravings, the works, I will be there for her and my kid. I can promise you that." Big Red suddenly popped up next to them. "And Ah am really sorry about me breaking both yer backs." He declared. "Ah was still calming down from almost killing your son for getting mah girl pregnant that Ah kinda reacted very... violently." Spitfire and Soarin' were in hospital beds, in full body casts. "Oh, it's fine, Mr. Red." Spitfire declared. "I must admit, you put up a good fight for a farmer pony. And I should be sorry for reacting the way I did." "Yeah, I was only following Spitfire's lead." Soarin' added. "Gee, thanks, dear." Spitfire rolled her eyes. "So... you guys aren't mad about this whole thing?" Blue asked. "Mad?" Spitfire smiled. "Oh no. We're thrilled that we're going to be grandparents." "We figured it would happen sooner or later... I mean, I did have that 'surprise package' back at the Nimbus a while back..." Soarin' smirked. "What does a drink have to do with this?" Blue frowned. "Long story." Soarin' shrugged. Afterwards, they returned to the castle, where Mist's pregnancy was properly celebrate. Twilight was also in attendance, having been informed by Celestia. "Congratulations!" Dusty smiled. "Well done, Mist." Twilight congratulated Mist. "I guess I won't be able to study much with you after I've had the baby." Mist declared. "That's okay." Twilight smiled. "I daresay you'll learn a lot more from being a mother than you can from me." "Way to go, pal!" Luxury slapped Blue on the back. "Didn't know you had it in you." Constell smiled. "Speaking of which..." Gothic glanced at his daughter. "You and Luxury haven't been doing anything questionable, right?" "What?!" Constell blushed. "No! Of course not!" "Yeah..." Luxury said with shifty eyes. "Of course not..." Blue leaned in. "Word of advice, don't rely on incantations." He whispered to Gothic. "They don't work all the time." Meanwhile, the Crusaders were reflecting on events. "Another new foal in the castle." Miracle smiled. "In other words, lots of crying and dirty diapers." Vito remarked sourly. "It won't be that bad." Pureblood declared. "And besides, when the kid's old enough, we can help him or her get their Cutie Mark!" Hurricane smiled. "We sure can." Miracle agreed. "Unless we still haven't got ours by then." Vito frowned. "Try and be positive, V." Pureblood tutted. "Yeah." Miracle smiled. "After all, you never know what tomorrow will bring." "Words to live by." Hurricane chuckled. "Well, that and 'ooga-booga'!" The other Crusaders rolled their eyes at Hurricane's oddness.