//------------------------------// // Day 7 // Story: The Clock Is Ticking // by PresentPerfect //------------------------------// The Clock Is Ticking by Present Perfect Day 7 "Congratulations, Pinkie Pie," Twilight said, straightening as the magic faded from her horn, "you're pregnant!" Cheers thundered off the library walls. Applejack, Rarity, Twilight and Fluttershy hugged Pinkie or slapped her on the back. Rainbow Dash, Blitz no longer, lifted her up and spiralled around, kissing her passionately. "Congratulations, Pinkie!" Applejack said, grinning from ear to ear. "Y'all're gonna be the first of us to have foals, and I plum couldn't be happier for ya!" "Well said, Applejack!" Rarity said, hopping in place. "Ohh, this is so exciting! I have baby clothes to design!" "I can't wait to see its little face!" Pinkie squealed, hugging Dash tightly. "You'll get to see it, in eleven months," Fluttershy said, smiling. Dash frowned. "Wait, eleven months? Really? That's like... forever!" "All good things come in time," Twilight said with a chuckle. "Some of 'em just take a little more time 'n others," Applejack said, jabbing Rainbow in the ribs. "Ow! Lay off, AJ, we had..." Rainbow searched for the right word. "Complications." Applejack snickered and stepped back. "Yeah, yeah, I won't tease ya no more. Much." Twilight cleared her throat. "While we're apologizing, I just want to say..." She let out a breath. "Rainbow, I'm sorry for the way I acted two days ago. You came to me for help and, well, I wasn't a very good friend." "Me too," said Fluttershy, stepping forward and hanging her head. "I treated you awfully. And I want to apologize to you as well, Pinkie. I didn't mean to do anything that jeopardized your relationship with Rainbow Dash." "We're sorry," they said together. "I forgive you guys," Dash said a moment later, smiling nonchalantly. "Me too!" Pinkie said, bouncing up and hugging Fluttershy. "I know you girls didn't mean anything by it." She elbowed Twilight in the side, winking conspiratorially. "After all, Dash makes a pretty hot stallion, am I right?" Dash cleared her throat, cheeks burning. "Pinkie!" There was a round of laughter. "I'm so glad everything turned out for the best," Rarity said, grinning. "Have either of you thought about names yet? Oh, Twilight, do you know if it's going to be a filly or a colt?" Twilight shook her head. "It's really too early to say. Buuuut..." Pinkie and Dash looked at each other, then at Twilight. "Buuuut?" Twilight twiddled her hooves. "Ha ha, well, you know, what with all the congratulating and apologizing and everything, I kiiiinda didn't have a chance to mention..." "What is it Twilight?" Pinkie asked, jumping forward and pressing her nose against Twilight's. "Is there something wrong?" Dash asked, adding her face to Pinkie's severe encroachment on Twilight's personal space. "It's twins!" Twilight blurted. There was a lengthy pause. Pinkie's jaw dropped. Rainbow Dash fainted. "Yeah," said Twilight, rubbing the back of her neck, "I probably should've mentioned that sooner." "This is so awesome!" Pinkie shouted, falling over onto her back. "Two metaphorical buns in my metaphorical oven? We're gonna need two names, and two cribs, and two times the parties, and two times the baby clothes, and there's gonna be twice the foal to love this is the best day of my life!" Applejack hefted Rainbow Dash to her hooves, and Rainbow wobbled around as she came to. "Ya all right there, RD?" Applejack asked, dusting her off. "Sounds like you just got a whole heapin' helpin' o' responsibility!" Rainbow Dash looked stricken. She brought her hooves slowly up to her face. Then she started to wail. "I'm gonna be a terrible father!" "Sorry, Dashie," Pinkie said, hopping over and giving her a hug. "After all, it was my idea to go a second round." Rainbow looked at her as though she'd grown a second head. Then she started bawling even louder as her friends laughed. "Don't worry, Rainbow," Twilight said with a wink. "You'll always have your friends here to help you when things get hard."