//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Fluttershy and Big Mac's children // by Paintbrush235 //------------------------------// A blue jay flew it's way through the tangles of tree branches under the rays of Celestia's sun. It landed on the branch of a massive sycamore that extended over a small dirt country lane, a lane that the bird recognized. He remembered it led to the tree cottage of the most kind and friendly little yellow pegasus that he knew. As he remembered this, he spotted the very pegasus making her way towards the cottage down the lane. However, the blue jay noticed that something was different about the pegasus mare. She seemed to have gained a good deal of weight since the last time he had seen her, which had been when he had hurt his wing in a wind storm. Also, she was being accompanied by a tall red earth pony with a scruffy orange mane. This however was not what perplexed the blue jay the most, for he knew the young pegasus was very good at making friends when she wanted to. What confused the bird the most as he watched them pass on by, was that they appeared to be nuzzling each other. Fluttershy giggled to herself as Big Macintosh ran his snout through her mane. "Oh Big Mac, you know how funny that feels." Big Mac looked down at the love of his life with the most gentle and loving smile Fluttershy loved to see. "Ah can't help it darlin'." He said, "Ah just love you too much." "Oh you're too sweet" Fluttershy giggled. She and her husband had much to be happy about this day. It had been about eight months ago that she had told Big Mac that he was going to be a father. It had been a moment filled with many tears of joy and kisses. Up until now, they had refrained from having an ultrasound or any procedure done that would tell them what kind of child they would be having, or as Fluttershy had asked, "Could we...um.....maybe keep it.....um.....a surprise. If that's......um....okay with you." However curiosity and much unnecessary fear for the health of the child got the better of them and Fluttershy submitted to it. Today had been the day of the ultrasound and they had gotten quite the joyous surprise. Fluttershy was not pregnant with one child, but two! A colt pegasus and an earth pony filly. The doctor and nurse in the room had to have their hearing checked due to the high levels of squees emitted from Fluttershy. Big Mac had not been able to stop smiling and had not stopped since they had left the hospital. "When we get home, would you like me tah make you some tea dearest?" He asked as he leaned in to resume nuzzling his wife's mane. "Well aren't you just the sweetest." Fluttershy giggled, "That actually sounds nice. Would you like to share it with me?" "That sounds great." Soon they were back at the cottage and sitting on the couch, sipping on the tea Big Mac had promised. Fluttershy however was just looking at the floor as she drank her tea uneasily. "So what do you....um....think we should...um...you know..." She paused to take a sip from her cup. "Should what?" Big Mac asked. "You know....what do you think we should.....name our children?" Big Mac paused mid sip when at this question. For a while he was silent, trying to come up with a decent answer. Fluttershy began to get worried from his silence. "Dear, what's wrong?" Big Mac snapped back in. "What? Oh, nuthin's wrong honey." He replied, "Ah guess ah just hadn't thought about that. Ah had always assumed that we would decide that when they came." "Oh." Fluttershy said, "Well I guess that.....um...makes sense." She looked shyly away as she took another sip of her tea, slightly disappointed with his answer. Big Mac saw this and immediately put his hoof under her chin and raised her head up to face him. "Aww, now look here mah darlin', ah just thought that y'all was th' better choice to decide on that matter." He soothed. Fluttershy blushed at the comment. "Oh Mac, you are such a sweetheart." She cooed. "Not as much as y'all are mah sweetie pie." Big Mac cooed back, giving her a nose a boop with his hoof. They both shared a chuckle as the nuzzled each other. Both knew that no matter what, they would choose the right names and be the best parents they could be. The silence of the hospital waiting room was deafening. Only the sounds of the wall clock and Big Macintosh's antsy pacing punctured the quiet. He was biting his lower lip as sweat ran down his face and neck. His sisters, Applejack and Applebloom, along with all five of Applejack's friends were watching him from their seats along the wall. Applejack went over to her big brother to try to calm him down. Cause at this rate he might just snap from pressure. "Big Mac, she's gonna be fine. Y'all need to just settle down, sit down and take it easy alright?" She said. "It's easy fer y'all to say that Applejack." Big Mac wheeled around. "It ain't your wife that's givin' birth to your children today." Applejack's reassuring face quickly turned into an irritated frown. "First off, don't you talk to me in that tone of voice," she said sternly, which made Big Mac shrink back in fear, "secondly, there ain't no need to be nervous. Fluttershy is gonna be just fine. Dr. Moniter is the best doctor fer th' job and Fluttershy can be surprisingly strong fer a mare like herself." "Yeah! RememberthattimewhenshemetthatguyIronWillandstartedbeingallpushyandmeanandalsothattimeshestooduptoDiscordandtoldhimtoeithergetniceorgetlostandthattimethatwhenmmmpppphhhh!!!!" "Don't overload Pinkie." Twilight had put her hoof over the pink party pony's mouth before she short circuited everyone's brains with her endless rant. Twilight looked over to Big Mac. "I think we're all trying to say that." "Yeah." Rainbow Dash had hovered over. "Fluttershy can be pretty tough for.....well her." Rarity glanced at Rainbow, then back to Big Macintosh. "Yes, don't worry darling. The little dear will be just fine." At that moment, a magic aura surrounded the doors to the delivery ward and soon opened, revealing a calm and collected Dr. Moniter. Big Mac immediately ran over to him until his nose was only three inches away from the doctor's "How is she doc?!" He asked. "I assume you are mister Macintosh?" Big Mac nodded. "Eeyup." Dr. Moniter smiled. "Well your wife is doing just fine, and so are your new children. So you all may come in now as long as you are extra quiet." Turning around, he gestured for them to follow and, with Big Mac leading the way, all the friends and family of the new mother shuffled their way into the delivery room. When they finally got in, they were treated to a sight that would make anyponies heart melt. There on the bed was Fluttershy, her pink mane a little messy and her face adorned with the most motherly smile anyone had ever seen. Cradled left foreleg was a tiny mahogany coated pegasus colt with a light brown mane and tail. In her right foreleg was a little earth pony filly with an orange-yellow coat and bright maroon mane and tail. As Big Mac walked over to the bed, Fluttershy began to shed a few tears. Big Mac was startled by this and leaned in closer. "Sugar pie, what's wrong?" He whispered Fluttershy looked up at her husband, tears still bordering her eyes. "Oh nothing's wrong dear," she sniffed. "I'm just so happy." Everyone in the room let out a quiet "aww" in response. "That's just how I was when I had my little baby colt." Rarity sniffed as memories of her son's birth came rushing back. "Alright now," Dr. Monitor piped up "Everyone else will have to wait outside as I show the new parents how to feed their children." "Aw man," Pinkie Pie whined. "I wanted to help with the bottles!" "Sshhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!" Pinkie smiled sheepishly and followed the rest of the mane six and company out into the waiting area. "Now I'll be right back in a minute," Dr. Monitor made his way to the door. "I just have to check on some other patients." Soon, the happy parents found themselves alone. For a minute they remained silent until at last Big Mac asked the important question. "So have y'all given any thought to their names?" Fluttershy smile. "I was thinking of naming our little filly Sunflower." She said looking down at her new daughter. "Because her fur is as bright as the sun and her mane reminds me of the red roses that grow in our garden." Big Mac grinned at the sound of this name and it's context. "Ah think that's perfect." He whispered. "What about our little colt here?" Fluttershy suddenly began to look worried and sad. "I don't know." She whimpered. "I haven't been able to think of a good one." Big Mac put his hoof to her cheek reassuringly. He then looked down at his newborn son. Looking at him he was struck by how similar he looked to somepony he once knew. In fact, minus the tiny wings, he was that pony's spitting image. Realizing this, he became inspired. "How about Applewood?" He smiled. Fluttershy looked over to Big Mac with a big smile. "That'd a wonderful name. Where did you come up with that name?" Big Mac smiled. "It was mah Papa's name. I just think our son looks just like him." Big Mac's own big green eyes began to water with the tears of memories. Fluttershy began to tear up as well. "Oh Mac, that is the sweetest thing I have ever heard." She sniffed. Big Mac looked deep into his wife and fellow parent's eyes. "Then let's welcome our children, Applewood Jr. and Sunflower to the world." He whispered as he looked down at his children. Fluttershy squeezed them closer and nuzzled to tops of their heads. "Welcome to the world little ones."