//------------------------------//
// A Bit of... 
// Story: A Beauty with a Beast 
// by DeadlyPegasister 
//------------------------------//

	The sounds of moaning and retching reached Spike's ears even from the room farthest from the bathroom. Rarity had been getting sick almost every morning for the past few days.

After a few minutes of silence, Rarity came downstairs, saying, "Oh, Spike, I'm so sorry about everything... I didn't think I'd have morning sickness almost every morning."

Spike said, a smile in his eyes, "Well, not to worry, we've got to head to Zecora's today anyways. And you know, I'm just glad we'll finally be able to have our foals! Thank Celestia and Luna we've got Zecora living nearby."

"Sweetie Belle," Rarity called in a moan-like voice, "do you want to join us to Zecora's today?" A moaning "Nooooo...." called down the stairs, and Spike guessed Sweetie was having pregnancy problems too. "That's alright, I just wanted to know."





"Welcome back, Rarity and Spike. I hope everything is as you like?" Zecora asked, nodding towards Rarity's stomach. "I do expect to hear good news, but tell me any bad if you choose."

"Well, Rares has been definitely showing signs of pregnancy, so that's good," Spike said, "But..."

Rarity finished his sentence with, "Morning sickness. It's natural, Spike, but it's horrid. Otherwise, the day after I drank the potion, I took a pregnancy test, and there was one line!"

Zecora clapped her hooves together, saying, "I'm so happy for you, and soon we'll see if you have one... or two."

"Two?" Spike and Rarity said in unison, eyes wide. They looked at each other, saying, "Do you think we'll have twins?" The two smiled widely, and Spike took Rarity's hoof. "Zecora, if you don't mind, what did the potion do to allow our foals?" Rarity asked.

"I know you can tell, but the potion worked well. The womb of a dragoness is now what you posses," Zecora said, and Rarity's eyes widened. "The outcome won't be known, but in a few months we shall be shown."

"Wait, does that me-" Spike was cut short as Zecora's door burst open, Twilight in the opening. She was panting, as though she'd run the whole way.

"Rarity, Spike... We've... We've got to... get... to the... hospital," Twilight said between breaths. She took one deep breath and said, "Rainbow Dash went into labor."





Soarin and Fluttershy were in the delivery room with Rainbow Dash, her dad sitting near the door, his hoof in his mouth. He had asked if he could also be in the room, but the doctor said Dash had insisted on her husband and Flutters.

"Mr. Blaze? Don't worry, I'm certain Dash only asked for Fluttershy due to her birthing experiance. If Dash didn't already tell you, Fluttershy works with animals, and helps them give birth if necessary," Twilight said, laying a hoof over RD's father's shoulders. His wings drooped as he relaxed slightly.

Dash's dad sighed, saying, "I know, I realized that. But as a father, and now a grandfather, it's making me worrisome."

Rarity suddenly put a hoof to her mouth, and raced off towards the bathroom. Spike followed her to the door, waiting as she vomited. When she came out, she said, "This is one of the only things I hate about the pregnancy process... This, hormones, and cravings." She'd recently told Spike of her gem cravings, and he'd only laughed and told her that it should be normal since she was carrying dragon-pony foals.

Soarin came out of the delivery room, and said, "It's done. It'll be a few minutes while they clean Rapid up before friends can come in. But sir," Soarin said, looking to his father in-law, "You may come in now. They're allowing family."

"Soarin," Rainbow Blaze said, "Just call me 'Blaze' from now on." He smiled and followed his son in-law into the delivery room.

A few minutes later, Fluttershy came out to tell the others that they could go in to see Dash and Rapid. When they came in, everypony noticed the small, light pink blanket in Dash's arms. Rainbow Dash said, "Everypony, may I introduce to you to, Rapid Spectral Strike." Tucked in between Rapid's hooves was Rarity's doll she'd made.

"Awwwww," everypony said, and Spike said, "That's so precious..."





"Oooh, my goodness... SPIKE! What do I do if I'm having gem cravings?"

"I don't know! Crush one up and eat the dust? Maybe not... Just eat a big piece of Pinkie's rock candy! It's colorful enough to pass for a gem."

Rarity picked up a gem and set it on the table in front of her. She glared at it, then glanced at her ever growing stomach. She looked back to the gem, stuck out her tongue, and licked it. Her eyes popped open and she hummed to herself, then licked it again. "Spike, I figured it out!" Rarity called. "I'll lick them!"

Spike called back, "Make sure they're clean, first. I don't want you getting sick!" Rarity continued to lick the gem as though it were a lollipop. But it never ran out, and it never lost it's flavor, so it was more like an Jawbreaker. Rarity stopped and thought to herself, This has to be the weirdest thing I have ever done in my entire life. 

Even as she got ready for Rapids 1 month old birthday party - planned by Pinkie, conceived by Pumpkin and Pound Cake's 1 month birthday party - she licked a gem.

And even as she sat at the small table in the party, stared at by a puzzled Apple Jack, she licked the gem. "Rarity," Apple Jack said, "I don't mean to, uh, rain on your parade or anythin', but you're licken' a gem..." Rarity hummed out a "Mm-hmm," continuing to lick the gem. "Um, why exactly are ya licken' a gem, Rares?"

"Cravings. I've been having gem cravings, and Spike says they're probably normal since I'm carrying dragon-pony hybrid foals. I can't eat them, so why not just lick them?"

Apple Jack said, "Ah... Ah don't think... Ah don't really believe that's a normal trait for pregnancy an' all. But... You aren't just pregnant in a normal sense, so... Ah don't know. Have you told Zecora about it yet?"

"No, actually, last time we saw her, she said that cravings were normal, but I didn't tell her about the gem cravings. I didn't want to worry her that something had gone wrong with the potion-"

"Wait, something went wrong with that potion Zecora made ya?" 

"No no no, I didn't want her to worry if it HAD gone wrong. If you can't tell, it's working just fine."

"Hey, everypony," Fluttershy's quiet voice said over the portable speaker system. "Look who's finally hatching!" She held up the small eagle egg she'd brought for Rapid Strike, tiny fractures spreading across its surface. The top separated from the bottom, and the baby eagle's head pushed it up, a sickly looking bird. Rarity gasped at how bad it looked, but Fluttershy said, "Don't worry, baby birds always look like that when they hatch. The little guy just needs to dry off his feathers."

There was a soft coo at Rarity's hooves, and she looked down to see Rapid, her Rainbow Dash doll in her hooves. "Oh, hey Rapid, how are you?" Rarity asked as she lifted Rapid onto her lap. She set the gem to the side, saying, "Let's leave that little thing alone while I give this little filly some attention." Rapid giggled as Rarity tickled her stomach. When she stopped, Rapid put her hoof on Rarity's stomach.

"Oh, Rapid, do you know what's in there?" Rarity asked. The filly turned her bright green eyes on Rarity, and blinked. "Babies, just like you. But they won't be here to soon. Just another month, okay? Then you'll have one, two, or even three little cousins to play with." Rapid giggled, and clapped her hooves together.

Rainbow Dash came over and said, "Hey, pretty filly, can mama pick you up?" Soarin was next to her, holding a small camera.

"Mama," Rapid said, holding her front hooves up as if saying, 'Hold me!'

Dash put her hooves to her mouth, and whispered, "Her first words... Oh, c'mere my sweet little mare!" She sat down and hoisted Rapid high above her head, the small blue and white filly laughing the whole time.

"Oh, ah do oh so love the sound of a filly's laughter. It just fills me with joy like a basket o' apples," Apple Jack said.





Rarity walked into her kitchen and said to Spike, "Well, I could go any day now, I was planned for tomorrow, but they might wait. You never know with foals." Spike nodded, stretching his wings out. It was raining today, a heavy rain that kept ponies inside their houses. Unless a mare allowed her foals to play in the rain, since there was no lightning planned. "Let's head to Twilight's, see what she's up to. But send a letter first, it'd be rude to just pop in unexpected."

Spike wrote the letter telling Twilight they'd stop by the castle in a few minutes. Rarity said, "Y'know Spikey, it'd be nice if we could just go to Canterlot, but thanks to worthless Blueblood, we can't." She remembered the day they'd gone, about three months ago.

Rarity walked through Canterlot, enjoying the scenery. Last time she'd been here was the previous Grand Galloping Gala, the first one Spike had asked her to be his date. That was where Spike had told her he loved her with all his heart. They'd danced throughout the night, holding the other close. 

That night had been perfect, far better than the first Gala she'd been to, with "Prince" Blueblood. He'd been rude, and plain awful the entire night. He'd never been as sweet as Spike was.

"Oh, what an adorable pet, Ms. Rarity. How'd you find the urchin, out of the pound? Ha ha ha!"

Rarity would never forget the sound of that voice. "Oh, Blueblood. How 'wonderful' to see you again. Well, this here is not a pet. This handsome young dragon is my husband, Spikey-Wikey. And I'll ask you only once to be nice to him."

Blueblood said, "Why would I ever be nice to a dragon? All they do is hoard gems and gold for themselves. Greedy creatures they are. Don't be surprised if he takes all your money and leaves."

"Well, Blueblood, it's not like you did anything good for me! You used part of my dress as a cover for a spill you could've just as easily walked around, you made me pay for food you didn't even eat, and you used me as a shield for a flying cake! This dragon is far more of a colt than you will EVER BE!" Rarity yelled into Blueblood's face, and he flinched back. "You'll NEVER deserve a mare."

Blueblood had nothing more to say after that, and he took off to hide his embarrassment.

Rarity had loved that day, getting to shout at the colt - or at least one of them - that she despised the most.

A sudden pain flashed across her stomach, and there was a loud splash. She looked down to see liquid pooling all over the floor. "Spi-i-I-IKE!! My water just broke! We've got to get to the hospital!"

Spike hurried over to Rarity and said, "No time to run there, I'll just fly you! Hold on tight, Rares!" He hoisted Rarity into his arms, and she wrapped her own around his neck. A sharp pain - a contraction - flashed through her stomach, and she groaned loudly.

Spike ran out of the house, spread his wide wings, and took off, the rain pelting him and Rarity. They flew past Sugarcube Corner, Pumpkin and Pound Cake playing outside, seeing Spike's enormous shadow on the ground. They looked up to see him and especially Rarity, then ran into the sweets shop to get Pinkie Pie. She ran outside with Cheese Sandwich to catch Spike landing off in the distance at the hospital.

Spike hurried into the hospital as Rarity moaned heavily, having to bend over to fit, and said to Nurse Redheart, "My wife went into labor a few minutes ago! Can you take care of her?"

"We need a wheelchair in here, stat!" Redheart called, and a colt came in pushing a small wheelchair. Spike set her in it, and Nurse Redheart said, "You'll need to wait in the Delivery Waiting Room, sir. Check in with the nurse at the desk first, then head down the hall, down the first left."

Spike went and filled out the small sheet of information the nurse asked him to fill out, then he bounded on all fours down the hallway to the waiting room. He sat down on the floor in front of the delivery room door, slowly carving a circle into the floor. A nurse came outside and said, "Sir, your wife, Rarity, asked you be in the delivery room with her, and also a Ms. Fluttershy? Is she here right n-"

Pinkie ran down the hallway, with Twilight, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash, Sweetie, Button Mash, Cheese Sandwich, Soarin, Flash Sentry, Sweetie's daughter Pixel Heart, and Rapid Strike. Spike said, "Fluttershy, Rarity wants you and me in the delivery room with her, come on!" The two hurried down through the door, heading towards Room B2, where groans escaped through an open door.

Fluttershy said somewhat out of breath, "Don't worry, Rarity, we're right here. I'll help you through this, though to be honest I've never helped give birth to dragon-pony foals."

38 minutes later, Rarity gave one last scream to get out...

"An egg?! Everypony said in unison. It was light green with slightly darker green spots.

"Well," Spike said, "That explains why there were no back hooves... or tail..."

Rarity moaned and said, "No! We're not done yet! I think it's twins! Aagh!" She continued to have contractions for another 20 minutes, when the second egg came out. This one was light violet with slightly darker spots as well. Rarity seemed to stop having contractions, her stomach as flat as it could be after birth. 

"We'll clean up the eggs and bring them back in. Do you have any family here in the waiting room?" the nurse said. 

Spike nodded, "My sister in-law, Sweetie Belle, and her husband, Button Mash. A pregnant unicorn mare and a brown coated earth pony colt." The nurse nodded and left the room to get them. "Oh, Rarity, you did wonderful! I don't understand why it was eggs, but I assume it was because the potion gave you a dragonesses womb." Spike kissed Rarity's forehead.

Sweetie and Button came back in, and she said, "Oh, Rarity, what do they look like? Was it a filly and colt, two colts, or two fillies?"

"Well..." Spike said, rubbing the back of his head. "We... don't honestly... know. They weren't, uh... foals."

"What do you mean?" Button asked "How would you go to have foals and the outcome not be- Ooh..." Spike nodded as he realized Button understood. "They were eggs, weren't they?" Rarity nodded this time.

The nurse came back with the two eggs wrapped up in white blankets. "Here are your eggs... I will never understand why you had eggs, but okay. I'll go get your friends."

When everyone came in, they looked at the eggs strangely. Only Pinkie looked at them like they were the cutest foals in the universe. "Hi, little eggie's, I'm your Aunt Pinkie Pie! When you hatch, I'm going to have the most fun time foalsitting you!"

"Well... ah just don't understand. Why eggs?" Apple Jack asked. Spike explained how the potion worked, and when he got to the 'womb of a dragoness' part, they understood. "Now ah see. Cause dragons lay eggs."

Twilight said, "Congrats, you guys! They may not be actual foals, but I guess they'll be real foals when they hatch!"