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// Baby Shower Party 
// Story: Spike x Bloom: a New Life 
// by AngelShy24 
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(Its been a while once again, but here is the next continuing chapter!)



On this certain day, someone was suddenly having a really huge, sweet craving. Nope, surprisingly it wasn’t Apple Bloom… or anyone who might have been pregnant at that moment. It was Spike the Dragon who over the past few months had to deal with a pregnant Apple Bloom while supporting her anyway he could. 
He was real tuckered out one afternoon after volunteering himself to do Apple Bloom’s share of chores at Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack and Big Macintosh since the nurses at the hospital recently told Apple Bloom to start laying off from doing any kind of labor work; it was so she could relax and be healthy until the baby came. After helping out that morning, Spike was making his way to one of the best sweet shops in town; Sugarcube Corner. As he went through the front setting off the dangling door bell, Spike heard someone greet him.
“Hello, and welcome to Sugarcube Corner! What can I do for you today?!”
Spike looked up and saw Pinkie Pie waving at him from the counter, “Oh; hi, Pinkie. Where’s Mr. and Mrs. Cake?”
“They’re over at the Health Care Center,” Pinkie answered, “The Cake twins had a doctors appointment today around this time, so Mr. and Mrs Cake asked me to watch the place until they come back! I’m so responsible!”
Spike lightly chuckled just being in Pinkie’s presence and feeling a bit less dulled out. “Heh, yeah… so you are. Well since you’re the one in charge, I’ll have a couple of those special, delicious sapphire cupcakes that Mrs. Cake knows I love so much; 10 of them I guess.”
Pinkie flashed a little smirk at Spike seeing that he was asking for a lot. “Ooh, someone is a hungry dragon today. 10 delicious sapphire cupcakes coming right up!”
As Pinkie hopped to the back to get what Spike wanted, the Young dragon just stood there waiting patiently awaiting his order. But then, he caught something just at the corner of his eye. In the main room, he noticed some balloons floating around and some streamers hanging from the ceiling. Suddenly being curious, Spike went over to that room; and when he got there, he was quite baffled to see a lot of supplies and objects that were probably for some kind of party.
“What the… what’s all of this stuff for?” said Spike while scratching his head.
Suddenly, Pinkie popped up right beside Spike and happily asked, “Do you like it?!”
“Ahhhh!” Spike screamed as he jumped to his side away from Pinkie, “Why do you keep doing that?!”
Pinkie then held up a container that housed what Spike had ordered from before. “I got your cupcakes! Are they for here or to go?”
“For here I guess… for now.” The cupcakes did look delicious to Spike as he now holding them in his claws, but at the moment he was a bit more curious of all the party stuff in the room they were in. “From all of this, I’m guessing you’re holding some kind of party… as usual?”
“That’s right!” Pinkie shouted, “I’m holding a baby shower right here in the shop… with Mr. and Mrs. Cake’s permission of course. Surely Apple Bloom told you about it, right?”
“Oh yeah,” Spike admitted, “she might’ve mentioned something about a baby shower to me at some point.”
“But of course, Apple Bloom isn’t going to be the only young mare that will be celebrating their pregnancy; there are a few others who got pregnant too after getting busy with somepony. Isn’t mating season great?!”
Spike wasn’t quite sure if he could agree to that statement; not to say that there was a major upside to it.
“Um, yeah; it can be… mostly.”
“But anyway, as always, its just going to be just us females; being here with each other celebrating the creation of life! Even Mr. Cake is going somewhere with Pound so there will be no males around!”
“What’s wrong with males being at a baby shower?” Spike questioned.
Pinkie gave Spike a little noogie on his head while telling him,“Oh Spikey Spikey Spikey; what wrong with that is… well… technically there’s nothing wrong with it, but its just tradition! You understand, right?”
“Yeah, I get it” Spike chuckled, “No males allowed; gotcha.”
Spike then took one of his cupcakes and took a savory bite from it. His eyes lit up and looked back down at it and said, “Wow, these cupcakes are just as good as I remembered them. Mrs. Cake really knows how to satisfy a dragon’s stomach.”
As Spike ate the rest of his single cupcake, Pinkie placed her head on his shoulder and asked with a bright grin, “So… Spike, still have any of your sanity left?”
Spike looked at her weirdly and said, “Wh-what?” Then he realized what she meant, “O-oh, you mean… well…”
“I know it may be a bit nosy of me to ask,” Pinkie admitted, “but I just wanted to know since you’re here.”
After finishing his cupcake, Spike thought of what to said at first; and then he answered saying, “Well, I haven’t smashed my head through a wall yet; so that’s a good sign, right? But jokes aside though, after everything that I have gone through with Apple Bloom so far, I feel… content. Although, I think I’ve lost count of how many times I wanted to scream my head off from some of the things Apple Bloom had made me do for her. Heh, I can even admit that a few times… I kinda wanted to hit her out of stress.”
Hearing that made Pinkie gasp as she stepped away from Spike; pointing her hoof at him and said, “Spike, how dare you think of such a thing!”
“Hey, come on!” said Spike, “I’m a dragon, okay; we have rage. But thankfully, I controlled that rage. I couldn’t bring myself to doing such a thing.”
“Why?” questioned Pinkie suspiciously, “Because she is pregnant and you couldn’t hurt her because of it, or because you would get a treatment much worse from her siblings?”
Spike knew he wouldn’t forgive himself if he had ever struck his claw against Apple Bloom in the state she was in. But he knew how worse he would have it if Applejack and Big Macintosh faced him about it. He couldn’t decided which would be worse.
“Probably both; although I’m sure the second reason helped more. Earth ponies can really kick your ass when they want to.”
“Hee hee, you’re so funny, Spike!” Pinkie giggled, “I can’t wait to talk to her more on this subject at the shower tonight!”
“Well, okay; just… don’t tell her about me having the thought of hitting her. Please?” Spike begged.
“Well… okay;” said Pinkie flashing a smirk, “but I don’t know. My mouth is very chatty.” Spike suddenly stood there with his arms crossed giving Pinkie a light glare. Pinkie just chuckled in response as she patted Spike on his back and told him, “I’m just kidding; I won’t tell her anything of it. Pinkie promise!”
Spike just smiled at her as he was about to bite into another one of his cupcakes. But then he stopped as he placed it back in the container and said, “You know… I think I will take the rest of these cupcakes to go. Suddenly, I don’t feel so silly anymore.”
“Really? What got ya down in the first place?”
“It was a long morning;” Spike admitted, “but… it was all worth it.”
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When the sun started to set and the evening was upon the town of Ponyville, it was time for Pinkie’s Baby Shower party to begin! Many different mares and older foals with the exception of Pumpkin Cake were there and the party was going into full swing. But of course for Pinkie, there was one pony in particular in who she was waiting to arrive on the scene. But sure enough she saw the front door open up, and in the doorway were the crusaders; Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom. Pinkie ran to the door in excitement and greeted them as they came in.
“Apple Bloom, you finally made it!”
“Any party being sponsored and held by you, Pinkie…” Apple Bloom stated, “wouldn’t miss it fer the world.”
Pinkie looked around Apple Bloom and her friends and noticed that someone was missing. “Hey, where’s Applejack? Isn’t she coming?”
“Don’t you remember, Pinkie,” said Apple Bloom, “she and Big Mac were making a big delivery in the late afternoon and she said that they may not make it back until late tonight?”
“Oh yeah; hee hee. I totally forgot that Applejack told me that! Oh well, you’re here, and that’s all that matters!”
Scootaloo suddenly cleared her throat and said, “And we made it too.”
“That you have!” said Pinkie as she came to Scootaloo and gave her a strong noogie on her head, “Welcome to the 15th annual Ponyville baby shower bash! Hosted by yours truly.”
After letting go, Scootaloo’s mane was a scattered mess, and she glared at Sweetie Belle who was giggling under her breath.
“15th, huh?” said Scootaloo as she re-smoothed out her mane, “You held this kind of party for that long?”
“That’s right!” Pinkie answered, “And I came up with name myself if you didn’t already know! However, I did almost decided to give it the abbreviated title version, but then I just thought it sounded too silly.”
Pinkie held up a piece a paper that she wrote on; and Apple Bloom read as, “The annual PBS bash?”
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle lightly chuckled to each other hearing the abbreviation, BS it the title. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes and said to Pinkie, “Um… yeah; i-i-it does sound a bit silly. M-maybe it's a good thang that you stuck  with the original title.”
“If you say so!” Pinkie suddenly turned towards the other mares who were there and shouted, “Hey, everypony, the guest of honor has arrived!”
Everyone there smiled as they saw Apple Bloom who looked a bit shocked and embarrassed from Pinkie’s sudden outburst. “Pinkie, come on; A-Ah’m nothin’ of the sort. Ah’m just like any other normal pregnant pony that’s  here.”
“Of course you are;” said Pinkie, “but have you already forgotten the fact that you’re going to give birth to the very first pony/dragon hybrid known to all of Equestrian history?! That’s like a big deal! How could you not be so ecstatic?!”
“Ah know that, but… Ah try to not to make a big deal out of it now. Just treat me like an ordinary pregnant pony, okay? No special attention.”
Pinkie just stood there staring at Apple Bloom in shock. She was quite surprised of how serious the older filly was handling her situation, “Oh wow, really? I remember the time that you were so excited and so thrilled of what you and Spike accomplished that you wouldn’t stop talking about it!”
“I know, right?” Scootaloo chuckled, “Sweetie Belle and I were surprised too when Apple Bloom said that to us.”
Apple Bloom felt a little awkward of the way of what she was saying, but “Well… Ah guess after goin’ through everythang that Ah have, Ah started to think more maturely of mah situation. After all, this is a huge responsibility and Ah don’t want to mess it up.”
“Alright, Apple Bloom;” said Pinkie with a bright smile, “if that’s how you feel, then who am I to argue. I respect your mature decision.”
Suddenly, seconds after Pinkie’s words, the Cake Daughter, Pumpkin Cake came running up to them in a quick fashion. “Hey! Hey, Miss Apple Bloom; Miss Sweetie Belle; Miss Scootaloo! I’m happy to see you all here!”
Apple Bloom gave her a little hug being careful of her posture. “Hey, ya little scamp. Nice to see you too.”
“Man, it sure is weird being called Misses, isn’t?" said Scootaloo, "I feel so old.”
“We’re not that old, Scootaloo," said Sweetie Belle as she slightly glared at her pegasus friend.
Pumpkin then took out a little decorative card and held it up to Apple Bloom willingly, “Miss Apple Bloom, I know Pinkie said that we’re supposed to wait until near the end of the party to give out any presents, but… I wanted to go ahead and give you this. I hope you like it.”
Apple Bloom took the card and saw that on the front was a painted symbol of a fireball and an apple; and it said ‘Congrats, Miss Bloom!’ And on the inside were some glitter and some stickers around that read ‘Good Luck on being a good Mother.’ 
After reading it, she looked back at Pumpkin and said, “Aw, this is so sweet, Pumpkin; thank you.  So… you did this all by yerself?”
“Well… a-a-actually,” said Pumpkin smiling nervously, “it was me and Pound; we made this together… a-a-and Daddy wrote the words for us. Pound isn’t here right now, so I’m the one who's giving it to you!”
Apple Bloom chuckled and gave Pumpkin another hug as she told her, “Well when you see yer brother next time, tell him this gift is perfect. Ah love it!”
“You’re welcome!” said Pumpkin with a cheerful grin.
Pumpkin’s Mother, Mrs. Cake was looking around the shop for her; but when she saw her, she noticed that she was with Apple Bloom and her two main friends whom she didn’t know had shown up yet.
“Oh, hello, Apple Bloom and friends,” said Mrs. Cake as she approached, “Glad you could all make it.”
“Hey, Mrs. Cake,” said Apple Bloom, “Yer daughter here was just giving me an early baby shower present.” She then held it up to show her, “Doesn't it look great? Ah can tell that a lot of work went into making it.”
“Well you know children and their arts & crafts,” Mrs. Cake chuckled, “Their work are truly a marvel to behold.”
“You really mean that, Mommy?” Pumpkin questioned
“Of course I do, sweetheart. Now then, would you like come and help me out a bit in the kitchen.”
Pumpkin got excited to hear her Mother ask her that; and she knew what she had to ask herself. “Ooh, can I lick off the spoon again?!”
“Of course you can. Just don’t over do it this time. You don’t want to ruin your good night’s sleep… or mines.”
“Okay.”
After Pumpkin went off with her Mother, The crusaders suddenly noticed the music that was playing out loud in the building. Of course, it was Vinyl Scratch who laying out these beats to keep the room lively. The selected song playing at the moment was suddenly creating an excited vibe in Pinkie’s body.
“Ooh this is my jam!” she shouted as she was headed to the music source. Then she faced Apple Bloom and asked, “Care to tear it up on the dance floor with me?”
Apple Bloom smiled as she shook her head and said, “No thanks, Pinkie, Ah’m good.”
“Okay, but you’re missing out on the fun!”
The three crusaders watched Pinkie as she got beside Vinyl and began dancing away as the Dj pony was cheering her on; and some of the other mares there were watching as well feeling entertained.
“Ah’m tellin’ ya, girls;” said Apple Bloom to her friends, “even when Pinkie turns 95 years old, she’ll still be able to dance crazier than anypony else without breakin’ her hip.”
“That is so true,” Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo agreed.
As the three older fillies looking around, Apple Bloom’s eyes suddenly caught the sight of the table that housed different kinds of treats and refreshment. She had a mischievous smile as she pointed out to her friends.
“Hold up a minute, girls; my stomach has a date with that food table.”
Sweetie Belle sighed as she shook her head telling Scootaloo, “Here we go again.”
The two older fillies followed their pregnant friend over to the food table and saw all that it laid before them. Sweetie Belle came up to Apple Bloom and was letting her know, “Careful how you do this , Apple Bloom. This food is for everypony here, not just you.”
“Hey,” said Apple Bloom smirking at her friends, “never get between a pregnant mare who is hungry and delicious food… n-n-not that Ah would try to hurt you two.”
“Well you certainly didn’t hesitate to hurt Spike, now did you?” said Sweetie Belle.
Remembering the moment that Sweetie mentioned, Scootaloo chuckled as she brought it up, “Yeah. Remember that one time when Spike thought that you had enough of those special sweet cakes that Mr. and Mrs. Cake were selling at a low price and thought he could stop you; but then you tackled him on the ground and threatened him that you would kick his sorry ass if he tried that again? You caused such a scene that day.”
“Yeah; its a good thing that I wasn’t with you at the time,” said Sweetie Belle, “I would have been so embarrassed. N-n-no offense.”
Apple Bloom slightly blushed from embarrassment, but smiled as she said, “Don’t worry about it.  You girls do have a point; even Ah’m surprised that Ah did that without thinking. Ah wonder if any of the pregnant mares here did something similar?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised;” said Scootaloo, “but do we really want to find that out?”
Everything was going pretty well at the baby shower with all of the mares sharing conversations and having fun. But now Apple Bloom and her friends were about to receive a little surprise as they heard someone speak to them from behind.
“Well well, I was wondering if you were going to be here; but I guess it was stupid of me to think that you were not.”
They all turned around and saw two fillies that they did not expect to see at that party.
“Tiara? Silver Spoon?” said Scootaloo.
Silver Spoon was smiling and waving at them with Tiara beside her with a nonchalant expression. “Hey, girls.”
“Well this is a surprise,” said Sweetie Belle, “What are you two doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious, you two;” said Apple Bloom, “they’re obviously here to show their support because they’re our friends. W-we are friends… right?”
The crusaders were waiting for a response out of Silver Spoon and Tiara; but Silver Spoon was just looking at Tiara who wasn’t saying anything at first. Her face seemed a bit flushed and nervous like she was hiding something.
“Are you going to like tell them or shall I?” Silver Spoon questioned her.
Tiara suddenly held up her hoof and shook her head a she looked back up to the crusaders and said, “Look, maybe we are here to like show a little support, but… th-that’s not the only reason that… we’re here.”
“But… wut other possible reason do ya possibly have to be here?” Apple Bloom asked. But at that moment, she suddenly looked down under Tiara and noticed that her stomach was a little plump, and not the kind of plump of eating a lot. Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide as she hesitantly said, “Wait… don’t tell me that you’re…”
Gathering all of her courage, she told them her reason. “Y-yeah. I too… am like… pregnant.”
Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle looked at each other with wide eyes and then looked back at Tiara in shock with their mouths hanging open. Then they both shouted, “W-w-w-what?! You’re pregnant too?!”
“I know, right?” said Silver Spoon with an amused smirk, “I had the same reaction when Tiara told me.”
“But… h-how can you be pregnant?” Apple Bloom exclaimed, “Ya told me that when you did the test that it was negative.”
“I know what I said, and it's was the truth!” Tiara scalded, “But it was about a few months after I told you that I was starting to feel weird… and was getting strange cravings. I knew I already tested myself, but I decided to try again; then suddenly… I saw the results, and it was positive! My Dad freaked out, and so did I for that matter.”
Apple Bloom and her friends were quite surprised and felt a bit awkward seeing Tiara like this. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo remembered their friend, Apple Bloom telling them about her run in with Silver Spoon and Tiara and of how Tiara didn’t get pregnant like she did.
“Wow, Ah… Ah don’t know what to say;” said Apple Bloom, “this really is a surprise. But wait… if ya had already found out that you were pregnant, why didn’t we hear anything about it all this time?”
“Well, its not like I just wanted to seek you out and say ‘Hey, Apple Bloom, like guess what? I’m pregnant just like you!’ I felt too embarrassed to tell anypony about it except Silver Spoon and my Dad… and the family doctor.”
“If you feel ashamed and so embarrassed,” said Scootaloo, “then why did you come here anyway?”
“Silver Spoon talked me into it,” Tiara groaned, “I don’t know why I even listened to her; this is stupid.”
Apple Bloom suddenly felt a little sorry for TIara. She understood of how she was probably feeling, except it seemed that she was taking it a bit harder than she had
“Come on, Tiara, there’s nothin’ to be ashamed of. After all, Ah didn’t expect mahself to be pregnant either, but Ah am. So welcome to the club.”
But Tiara didn’t feel the same way. “You don’t get it, do you?! I wasn’t planning to be a parent yet; I’m not ready! I-I-I’ll like crack under the pressure; my life is going to blow up big time! I totally regret my decision of ever letting Lickity Split get between my legs!” Tiara suddenly gasped as she suddenly covered her mouth. She didn’t mean for them to hear that, “Oh damnit.”
“Lickety Split? It was Lickety Split whom you had sex with?” said Apple Bloom.
“Wow, not too bad of a choice, Tiara;” said Sweetie Belle, “He is kinda cute.”
“Plus, he’s a pretty good athlete,” said Scootaloo, “I agree, you chose good.”
Silver Spoon looked at Tiara and tried to see if any of Tiara’s stress had went down. “See, Tiara, I told you there was nothing to be ashamed of.”
But it hadn’t.
“That isn’t the point I’m trying to make, Silver Spoon! I… I-I-I just want this to be just a nightmare that will blow over soon. I-I’m… sorta scared.”
Apple Bloom just smiled as she went over to Tiara and placed her hoof over her shoulder. Tiara was crying a bit and it was making the other crusaders feel a bit uncomfortable, but Apple Bloom understood and was surprisingly trying to lift Tiara up.
“Look, Tiara, Ah know this may seem scary; and trust me, Ah know. But… instead of lookin’ at the negative side of things, think of the possible good side of things; that’s wut Ah did. And don’t think you’ll be alone in all of this. If ya need help and comfort, you have yer Dad, you have yer best friend, and you have Lickety Split who should embrace his new responsibility too. If he’s not, maybe Ah an get mah Sister to talk sense into him; heh. Also, if you want… we’ll be there fer you too.”
Tiara was looking up at Apple Bloom in slight shock that she was talking to her like this. But she then turned away pretending to not feel affected at all while saying, “Why the hell are you like being so nice and supportive of me? Does becoming a Mother really make you that much more of a softie?”
“Come on, Tiara; what happened between us is all in the past. We’re older and more mature now; and we don’t have to look back at what was… just what is now. Plus, its not too late to make friends, even with the ones that you had picked on constantly. We forgive you. Right, girls?”
Sweetie Belle smiled and nodded, “Yeah, we do.”
Not being fully truthful, Scootaloo said, “Perhaps I do.” But then Sweetie kneed her in her side to set her straight, “Ow, okay, I forgive you too.”
Tiara felt a little better after her surprising pep talk with Apple Bloom, bt she was still trying to be cool about it. “Alright, fine; thanks, I guess. But don’t think that I’m suddenly going to get all mushy or anything.”
Apple Bloom just smiled and shrugged. “Works fer us.” 
“See, Tiara,” said Silver Spoon with a smile, “I told you that there was nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about this. Everything is going to be just fine!”
“Hmph, says the pony who is not pregnant.”
After that, Apple Bloom decided to have a few sweets at the food table before going around with her friends to conversate with the other mares and older fillies there; including Fluttershy who couldn’t resist to come and enjoy herself. Apple Bloom shared some neat advice and opinions with the very few that were pregnant like her. But of course she was the highlight of it; all because of what she was carrying in her belly.
After a good bit of time passed, the time came for when Pinkie got everyone’s attention on her for the moment most of them were waiting for.
“Alright, everypony, I’m sure we’ve all been enjoying ourselves tonight hanging out with each other having mare time; but we all know the real reason why we’re here! Am I right, Carrot Top?! She knows what I’m talking about!”
Carrot Top was nearby giving Pinkie a low-eyed look. “Lets not dwell on that; okay, Pinkie?”
“Heh heh… a-a-anyway, this season we have a new ‘no pregnancy’ record with only 5 of us mares being impregnated!” Silver Spoon then walked up to Pinkie and whispered something in her ear as she pointed at her friend, Diamond Tiara. “Whoops, my bad; make that 6 of us! Now I don’t know exactly what’s it's like to be a Mother, but I do help take care of two twin foals; so… I guess that kinda counts. Right?”
“You’re not our Mommy,” Pumpkin giggled, “you’re our Auntie!”
“Oh yeah! Well, never mind then. Continue to enjoy the sweet jam, and stuffing yourselves silly at the food table… but not too much! However, its time for what many of us were waiting for… baby shower gifts! Open up those suckers and see what your friends or family… or both have given you to start off your Motherhood right; unless you’re already a Mom, then its no big deal.”
And thus the exchanging of gifts had began. For Apple Bloom, she had already received a couple of necessities from her two siblings a couple of weeks ago; like a little crib, and a few toys to play with. But she was given a few more gifts at the shower party like every other pregnant pony there; the common gift being diapers. You couldn't go wrong with diapers. However, Apple Bloom's two main friends did something a little different. Scootaloo gave her earrings, and Sweetie Belle gave her a blanket that her big sister helped her make. Each gift were custom made and had their crusader emblem on them. Apple Bloom was quite impressed.
“Aw, you two shouldn’t have,” she said hugging her two friends, “These are so cool!”
“Well, you’re our best friend,” said Scootaloo, “I mean what, did you think that we wouldn’t give you anything?”
“They may not be helpful for… taking care of your baby,” said Sweetie Belle, “but I hope you like them. We had them custom-made after all.”
Apple Bloom just chuckled and said, “Of course, Sweetie Belle; Ah love them very much.” Suddenly, she felt her baby kick her from within her womb, and it caught she suddenly gasped, “Oh! See, the baby likes them too.”
The three of them started laughing mainly being amused of the said comment. But then Pinkie came up to Apple Bloom vigorously shaking another present in front of her. “Ooh, Apple Bloom, open my present next! You’re going to love it!”
Apple Bloom took it and opened it up. When she did, it was revealed to be… “Oh wow… diapers. Ah guess you can’t have too many of these things, huh.”
But there was more to it than that.
“But they’re not just any diapers,” Pinkie exclaimed, “they’re fire retardant diapers! See, says it right there on the label!”
When Apple Bloom looked at the package, she saw in bright, bold fonts; ‘Fire-retardant diapers! This item is hot… literally!’ Apple Bloom arched her eyebrow at the statement and looked up at Pinkie and said, “Oh... that they are. But why?”
“Well duh, silly! Your baby is going to be part dragon, remember? Its better to be safe than sorry you know.”
“Wow, diapers that are immune to fire;” said Scootaloo feeling impressed, “awesome idea.”
“I know, right?!” said Sweetie Belle, “Ponies are coming up with neat inventions all the time!”
Apple Bloom was taking another look at the diapers and had a good chuckle. Then she hugged Pinkie and told her, “Well… thanks, Pinkie. These will definitely come in handy.”
The party wasn’t over yet, but it was definitely getting into its last hour. Pinkie was planning to make this party last as she always does. But then, a late entrant suddenly came in and walked up to Apple Bloom and the others and spoke up. 
“Sorry that I’m a little late to the party. Do you mind I come into this little gathering?”
They all turned around and were astonished of who it was.
“T-Twilight! Y-yer here!” said Apple Bloom.
“Yeah, I am. I tried to get here earlier, but… you know me and how I can get wrapped in my studies and stuff.”
“Typical Twilight;” Pinkie chuckled, “always getting her head stuck in books and papers and spells and… a-and other stuff!”
Twilight looked down at Apple Bloom’s belly that was a bit bigger than she remembered seeing it and said, “So, how is the little apple-bun in the oven?”
“Oh, I get it,” said Sweetie Belle, “That’s a cute joke, Twilight.”
“I know.”
“Things are goin' pretty well, Ah guess,” Apple Bloom responded, “Ah feel like mah stomach is getting bigger everyday; its very weird.”
“I think if that was the case, you wouldn’t be able to walk right now,” said Twilight with a nervous chuckle, “You’d have to be carried on a stretcher until you gave birth.”
There was an awkward silence after what Twilight said as they all looked at her in a funny. Even Pinkie was tilting her head a little with an arched eyebrow.
“S-s-sorry about that,” said Twilight nervously, “Sometimes I say things that may sound a little weird.”
“A little?” Scootaloo questioned. 
Twilight then quickly changed the subject by handing Apple Bloom a gift that she brought with her. “Um… a-a-at least I made it to the passing out of gifts part; so here you go, Apple Bloom.”
Apple Bloom thought it was nice that she had one more gift to open. But when she opened it and saw what was inside… she couldn’t believe it. She was almost at at loss for words. “Whoa… n-no way.”
Both Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo rushed up beside her and said, “What is it?!”
Apple Bloom slowly pulled out a shiny, delicate-looking necklace from the box. The main part attaching the two silver chains looked like a giant half of an apple core with detailed textures created from pure crystal substance. Apple Bloom held it up with her wide eyes shimmering and her mouth gaping open; and Twilight was looking at her smiling proudly.
“Hey,” said Sweetie Belle, “isn’t that that very expensive jewel-encrusted apple core necklace that you said that you would get one day even if it killed you?”
“By the way; that was a joke, right?” Scootaloo questioned.
Apple Bloom looked at Twilight in shock and told her, “Twilight, y-y-ya didn’t have to give this to me. A-Ah mean… Ah know you have plenty of money, but… how did you know of this?”
“Well… technically I didn’t buy this;” said Twilight with a sly smile, “Spike did.”
There was another slight pause of silence as she looked back down at the necklace; and then she said, “Spike? This is from him?”
“You bet. He kept going on about how much you were fawning over this piece of jewelry. So once he heard about the baby shower… or should I say remembered about it… which was today, he used some of his own gem stash to buy this. Looks like somepony… or in this case, some-dragon is truly looking after you.”
“I am so jealous right now,” said Scootaloo, “Spike doesn’t use up his personal stash of gems for just anypony.”
Sweetie Belle saw Apple Bloom’s lips begin to tremble a bit and her eyes forming a few tears. She asked her, “You’re not going to cry, are ya?”
Apple Bloom quickly wiped her tears away and smile while answering, “No… no, of course not. Ah’m just really grateful, that’s all.”
She placed the necklace around her neck and watched as it dangled in front of her shimmering in the light.
“Snazzy!” shouted Pinkie, “Looks great on you, Apple Bloom! I just know you’re going to give Spike your full thanks! But make sure that you don’t thank him too much; after all, that’s what got you in this situation! Am I right?”
Now it was Pinkie’s turn to be stared at by the others with weird looks. She shrugged her shoulders and asked, “What?!”
“Well, Twilight,” said Apple Bloom, “even though this is from Spike, thanks for bringing it to me. I love it so much, and I will never let it go.”
“You’re quite welcome,” Twilight responded.
“Well… since yer here, there still some food left… heh, surprisingly. Want some?”
“I would love to.”
As they went onward, Apple Bloom told Twilight, “Oh, and by the way... Fluttershy is here too. She’ll be happy to see ya.”
“Ah, so she was able to come here, huh? Lead the way.”
“Hey, wait for us too, Apple Bloom,” said Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo as they went after them.
“Jinx, you owe me a soda,” said Scootaloo to Sweetie Belle with a smirk.
Sweetie gave her a low-eyed look and said, “I’m not getting you anything.”
“Fine.”
Pinkie Pie was going to join them to; she felt that it would be great to catch up things with some of her friends before the party was over. She placed a little pep in her step as she bounced her way to the others.
“Hey, guys, wait up! You can’t ol’ Pinkie Pie out of this!”
Overall, the party went well, and it very successful as always. This was yet another moment that Apple Bloom enjoyed because of her pregnancy. And even though she was trying to be more serious of her situation, she still rather enjoyed the attention. However, she couldn’t wait to thank Spike for his surprise gift to her in the most un-sensual way that she could. That necklace to her would be a symbol of the true love and compassion that she now has with Spike; and this proved that Spike was becoming more and more loyal to her. 
But… perhaps there was another way that she could be sure of that.