//------------------------------// // Four - Announcement Part Three // Story: Nidra's Road to Parenthood // by Killjoy_Writer //------------------------------// ----Announcement Part Three---- Claire, Identity, Nidra, and Oasis stood at the door that led to the Canterlot garden. Nidra and Claire stood with one of their hooves on each of the doors. "Are you ready, darling?" Claire wondered. "Am I ever!" Oasis exclaimed. "I've always wanted to see the garden!" "Then brace yourself." Nidra instructed. After a few silent seconds, Claire and Nidra slowly pushed the doors open. The sunlight tore into the room to Oasis who covered her eyes. Oasis let her eyes adjust to the sunlight and when they did, a wide smile pierced her lips and her eyes went wide with excitement. She took now hesitation in going into the luscious garden. The other three, on the other hoof, walked behind her as she went from plant to plant, animal to animal. Claire and Nidra couldn't help but to smile. To them, they can't remember a happier time ever since their friend Cotton Candy passed away. To Nidra, that was the day a little happiness died in her as well. A few minutes later, they finally reached their destination. Near a small pony-made pond sat a gazebo. The same gazebo where T slammed a hoof into a support and just about caused a cave-in. This time, however, there was a circular table in the center surrounded by four cushions. They put the various food items they brought on the table and took their spots. Over the course of what would be their lunch, they idly chattered about what's been going on and small gossip. Since they lived in separate towns, it's not that often that they get to hang out like this. "So, Aunt Nidra," Oasis began, "Do you have your bump yet?" "Bump? What bump?" Nidra pondered as she began to look over her body. "She means your baby bump, darling." Claire responded. "Oh how I dreaded that." "Why?" Oasis asked. "I was the size of a blimp!" Claire replied. "I am a mare who needs to keep her body in perfect physique!" "Oh." Nidra responded with a blush. She know that it's her turn to become a living blimp. "But Uncle Illusion didn't mind. Right?" Oasis wondered. "Oh no." she answered with a shake of the head and a smile. "He loved me being his living pillow." Oasis and Nidra chuckled lightly. They sat in silence for a few minutes before continuing the conversation. "But all in all, Nidra." Claire continued. "Pregnancy is worth it when you hold your child for the first time." "I bet it will be." Nidra smiled as she looked at her stomach. "Speaking of that, I'm going to give you heads up on what to expect." Claire resumed. "First is the morning sickness which blows over after a few weeks. Second is the abnormal food cravings. Third is the mood swings which cause be to become.....feral....for a few weeks. Then it's the unbearable pain of labor." "H-How is it 'unbearable'?" Nidra wondered as her eyes shrank. "Just imagine somepony punching you with a brass hoof repeatedly for a few HOURS." Claire reminisced. To this, Nidra gulped. Now she'll have to put up with that in a few months. Once the silence came back, it was only brief. Wind became heavy as a dragon landed outside of the gazebo where they sat. The dragon was Spike, Claire's father and Oasis's grandpa, er, grand-DRAGON. Off of it's back, another kirin dropped down. This one was a unicorn, despite his sister. This one was Apollo, brother to Oasis and son of Turquoise. "There you are!" Apollo called out. "We were wondering where you were!" "And you finally came." Oasis retorted. "I have to admit that I'm not as fast as I once was." Spike added as he lowered himself. "So what's this 'big news' I was informed about?" "Well," Nidra began as she looked at them, "I found out yesterday that I am pregnant." Spike and Apollo both looked at her with confusion. "You're pregnant!?" they both questioned in unison. "Yes she is." a pony replied from behind them. When they turned, they saw Turquoise standing there. "Way to go!" Spike smiled as he patted his son's back. "But what took you so long to get here?" he questioned. "Like I said to Oasis," Spike explained, "I'm not as fast as I once was." "But dad," Apollo spoke up, "Is Aunt Nidra really pregnant or are you just yanking our chains?" Turquoise and Nidra both responded the same way. With the ages-old Pinkie Pie Promise. Now Apollo knew that they weren't screwing around. After another well-needed conversation, the trio that arrived earlier in the day departed for Ponyville. Now it was just Claire, Idie, Nidra, and Turquoise alone in an awkward silence. All they did for the remainder of their get together was keep their mouths shut aside from the occasional sip of tea. All the while, Nidra couldn't help but to think of the possible things that will happen during her pregnancy. But she eventually pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, never to bother them again. As the moon started to kiss the horizon, the group decided to finally head inside. Once they said their 'goodbyes' and 'good-nights', Claire and Identity went off in one direction while T and Nidra headed in the opposite. After the retreat to separate rooms, T and Nidra sat in silence on the bed. "Hey, Nidra." he began softly. "Yeah?" she replied as she rested her head on his shoulder. "You know what we haven't done yet?" he asked. "What's that?" Nidra wondered. "Cuddling." he answered with a smile. "Um....well.....doesn't this count?" she asked while a blush formed. "A real cuddle is like this." he answered before moving. What he did caused Nidra to blush more. He placed his body so it covered her body and rested his head on her mane. "Much better..." he sighed with a smile. "Oh..." she spoke quietly. "Hey, Nidra." he spoke up. "Yeah, T?" "Where's your weak-spot?" he wondered. "W-Weak-spot??" she repeated with a bigger blush. "Yeah. Like how mine's behind the ears, Claire's is her spines, and Anthea's was, well, everywhere." he explained. "But where's yours?" Then Turquoise proceeded to poke her body in various places. "T-T! S-Stop that!" she protested. But her body suddenly tensed up then fell like hot butter on toast. "Right between the wings, huh?" he noted as he continued scratch there with a claw. Nidra ceased her protesting and smiled as T traced his claw to her abdomen. "You're going to be a great mother one day, Nidra." he noted quietly in her ear. After a few peaceful minutes, the two decided to finally call it a night.