As she reached her eight month of pregnancy, Mist found her increased weight was starting to get to here. It was getting so she could barely get to the castle by herself. But she did so anyway. As comforting as Blue's apartment was, the castle had been her home for many years, and she always enjoyed spending time with her family.
As she read in the study one day, Mist found her privacy interrupted by Constell, who suddenly rushed into the room, all dolled up in a slinky dress, her mane styled provocatively.
"Where is it, where is it..." Constell frowned, as she looked around the room frantically.
"What's up, Connie?" Mist asked.
"Have you seen that hoof bracelet of mine?" Constell asked. "The one shaped like a crescent moon? I'm sure I was in here when I wore it last..."
"Oh, you mean this?" Mist held up the bracelet.
"Yes, exactly!" Constell grinned. "Where did you find it?"
"Under the table." Mist declared. "I've been using it as a book mark."
"Thanks, Mist." Constell smiled. "This bracelet really throws this whole look together. Without it, I'm incomplete."
"Of course you are." Mist chuckled. "Let me guess: You're off on a date with Luxury? An important one, I'll bet..."
"Yeah." Constell grinned. "He's taking me to this new club his parents are endorsing. I want to look my absolute best."
"Well, mission accomplished." Mist declared. "You look stunning. Just wait until Luxury sees you. I wouldn't be surprised if his eyes popped right out of his head."
"Oh, go on." Constell chuckled. "I'd better get going. Luxury'll be waiting for me."
"Have a good night." Mist grinned.
"Oh, I will." Constell smirked, as she left the study.
Mist smiled as she returned to her book. Constell and Luxury seemed like the perfect match, almost as much as herself and Blue. Even though she had once held romantic feelings for Luxury, Mist couldn't be happier for Constell.
Meanwhile, Constell made her way to the foyer, where Luxury had just arrived.
"Hello, beautiful." Luxury grinned. "Wow, you look great."
"So glad you noticed." Constell said coquettishly. "Ready to go?"
"And just where are you going?" Gothic asked, as he walked by.
"Just to this new club in town." Constell smiled. "Lux is taking me."
"Oh, he is, is he?" Gothic frowned. "Maybe you should think about getting better company."
"Dad, please." Constell groaned. "This again?"
"Yes, this again." Gothic frowned. "I don't know why you're dating this guy when there are plenty of better candidates out there."
"Not to sound boastful, sir, but there are none better than I." Luxury declared. "Though I do appreciate your concern. A good father always thinks of the wellbeing of his offspring, after all, and you are-"
"Nopony likes a suck-up, kid." Gothic frowned, walking away.
"I think he's warming up to you." Constell joked.
"Oh, joy." Luxury sighed. "Now, shall we?"
"With pleasure." Constell smiled.
The two headed off to the club, where they danced and ate together. Afterwards, they made their way to their 'secret place'; A portion of the castle gardens unknown to any but the two of them.
"Well, that was quite a night." Luxury sighed, as they sat together in the gazebo.
"And it's not over yet." Constell purred, gently ruffling his mane.
"You know, you always look so beautiful in the moonlight." Luxury declared.
"Flattery will get you everywhere, mister." Constell started kissing Luxury all over his face.
"Ooh, Connie..." Luxury chuckled. "What's gotten into you?"
"Why you, of course." Constell grinned. "You're so handsome, so sweet... I couldn't ask for a better coltfriend."
"And I couldn't dream of a better marefriend than you." Luxury smiled.
Constell suddenly pounced on Luxury, pinning him on his back.
"Um... Connie?" Luxury gulped. "What are you-?"
"Shh." Consell put a hoof to his lips. "No more talking. Just action."
Constell started kissing Luxury again. As her soft lips pressed against his skin again and again, Luxury wrapped his hooves around her, and delivered some kisses of his own.
"Mmm..." Constell sighed, nuzzlling against him. "More...."
"Coming right up." Luxury whispered in her ear.
They embraced each other more tightly, and ramped up the kissing. Suddenly, Constell grabbed Luxury.
"Bed. Now." She ordered.
"Yes, m'lady." Luxury grinned.
The pair snuck back into the castle, entering Constell's bedroom. Luxury slowly slid onto the bed, then joined her. It turned out Constell was right. The night was far from over..
A week or so later, Mist was in the dining room, enjoying a late breakfast, when Constell came in, her face completely ashen. Mist was surprised. She had stayed over at Luxury's the night before, and she didn't usually come back looking like that.
"What's wrong, Connie?" Mist asked. "You look like you've just seen a ghost."
"Actually, I think it's the opposite." Constell, said, shell-shocked.
"What is it?" Mist asked.
"Mist... I..." Constell stuttered. "…I think I might be pregnant."
Silence ensued.
"…What?" Mist gaped. "You... you're...?! How can you be sure?"
"I'm not." Constell declared. "But I've got this weird feeling in my gut, a little like what you felt before you found out. That, and... other things."
“Other things?” Mist frowned.
"I just have this strange sensation." Constell frowned. "Well, that, and my... you-know-what is late this month."
"Oh..." Mist nodded in understanding. "So... what do you think?"
"I don't know what to think." Constell groaned. "I really don't!"
Mist put a hoof on Constell's shoulder, comforting her.
"Does Luxury know?" She asked.
"Yeah." Constell nodded. "I told him this morning."
"And what did he say?" Mist urged.
"Not much." Constell sighed. "He just... stood there. I think he's taking it harder than me."
Meanwhile, Blue and Vinny were tending bar at Blazin' Blues, when Luxury walked in. After becoming the co-owner of the bar, Vinny often dropped in to help Blue. At the moment, he was taking a break from the family business, and using it to tend to his new venture.
"Hey, Lux." Blue waved. "Mist told me Constell stayed over at your place. You two... had fun?"
"Yeah, I guess..." Luxury said numbly.
"I'll bet." Vinny smirked. "Not just anypony winds up getting flank calls with a Princess." He sighed deeply. "Some stallions have all the luck..."
"I'm not feeling all that lucky right now..." Luxury admitted.
"Whoa, what's up?" Blue asked, concerned. "Did you guys have a fight or something?"
"Not exactly." Luxury shook his head. "A fight wouldn't be so long-lasting…"
"'Long-lasting'?" Vinny frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Lux..." Blue urged, already having an inkling of what was wrong. "What's going on?"
"Well, Constell told me that she thinks..." Luxury swallowed. "...She thinks she might be... pregnant…"
"Whoa, really?" Vinny grinned. "Congrats!"
"It's not really something I want to be congratulated for." Luxury cringed.
“Pregnant?!” Blue gaped, “Seriously?"
"Probably." Blue nodded. "There's been a few... signs. It's not looking good."
"I thought me and Mist would be a reminder of to not get knocked up before marriage!" Blue groaned. "How could you be so careless?!"
"I don't know." Luxury shrugged. "I guess it started when we were in the hidden spot. She looked so beautiful. Yet... she had a wild side to her. Kinda like Mist."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Blue asked, unnerved.
"I mean..." Luxury began.
Luxury's words were drowned out by Vinny blending a margarita, but Blue and Vinny were able to hear enough. They listened in shock as Luxury expressed how awesome Constell was in bed, complete with hoof gestures. Finally, the blender whirred to a stop.
"...And that's if I had a swing." Luxury finished. He wiped his brow. "Whoo, just thinking about it gets me all hot and bothered. Excuse me..."
Luxury left the tavern a bit to get some fresh air.
"...I really need to get out more." Blue remarked.
"You and me both." Vinny said flatly.
Luxury returned a minute later.
"Okay, so what do you think I should do?" He asked Blue.
"Pretty much what I did." Blue shrugged. "Keep the foal, and get ready to be a dad."
"But it's not that simple." Luxury groaned. "You said it yourself, I got Constell pregnant before we were married! Just imagine the scandal! And my parents... Oh, they're going to be so disappointed in me!"
"You don't know that." Blue countered. “Your dad is practically the mellowest guy around.”
“Mellow? He lead an angry mob once!” Luxury snapped. “And all over some bad decisions one of the Princesses' assistants made!"
“Yeesh, rich ponies get mad over the stupidest things.” Vinny grunted, as he quietly muttered. “Glad I pillage their bank accounts for a hobby...”
"And don't even get me started on Connie's parents." Luxury cringed. "Her mom's always been good to me, but her dad's always hated me! You lucked out, Blue. You got with a mare who has understanding family members."
"I'm sorry, did you miss the part where Big Red threatened to break me in two?" Blue said drily.
"That was a misunderstanding." Luxury pointed out. "Plus, he came around quickly enough. I doubt I'll be so lucky with Gothic. When he finds out I got his little girl pregnant, he'll probably tear me limb from limb, then feed the pieces to a hydra."
"Now you're just exaggerating." Vinny shook his head. "...Where's he going to get a hydra from around here?"
"And even if I survive Gothic's wrath, the worst is yet to come." Luxury sighed. "I don't have it in me to be a father. I've never been any good with foals. Never."
"I'm sure you'll do okay." Blue encouraged him.
"Well, I'm not." Luxury shook his head. "I'm totally out of my depth here!”
"No, you're not." Blue countered.
"Yes, I am!" Luxury yelled. "I have no idea how to take care of a foal! I'm going to terrible father!"
"You don't know that." Blue countered.
"I'm pretty sure I do." Luxury shook his head.
"You won't know until you try." Blue pointed out.
“Either way, I hope Constell will be more ready for this than I am..." Luxury sighed.
Back at the castle, Constell was unleashing her woes on Mist.
"I'm not ready for this." She shook her head.
"What are you talking about?" Mist asked. "You're great with foals!"
"I'm great with playing with them." Constell corrected her. "But caring for them? Raising them? That's a little out of my comfort zone."
"I know it sounds hard." Mist declared. "Trust me, I'm a little apprehensive myself... But raising a foal won't be that hard."
"How can you be sure?" Constell asked. "Yours hasn't even popped out yet!"
"True." Mist nodded. "And I was a wee bit freaked out when I first found out... But this is a fact. All I can do is prepare for things as best I can."
"I wish I had your confidence." Constell sighed. "Boy, what are mom and dad gonna say? Dad never liked Luxury. If he finds out I'm carrying his foal, he'll probably blow his stack..."
"Isn't that always the way?" Mist smirked, recalling Big Red's outburst.
"And mom..." Constell frowned. "What will she say if she finds out I got myself pregnant like this?"
"She'll be okay with it." Mist assured her.
"Will she?" Constell frowned. "What if she thinks I've made a big mistake? What if she disowns me?"
"Now you're just talking crazy." Mist shook her head. “It’s not she’s going to go Nightmare Moon on you.”
"I can't help it!" Constell yelled. "This is all happening so fast!"
"Hold on." Mist urged. "You're not even sure if you're pregnant yet. Go and see a doctor, make sure."
"I've already made an appointment." Constell admitted. "It's in a couple of days."
"Well then, I guess we'll just have to wait and see." Mist declared.
"Yeah." Constell sighed. "...I need some air..."
Constell turned and left the room. Mist looked on with worry.
Back at the bar, Luxury was informing Blue and Vinny of the appointment.
"Two days..." He sighed. "Two days of hoof-biting torture."
"Hey, maybe it won't be as bad as all that." Vinny suggested.
"Vinny's right." Blue agreed. "Even if it turns out Constell's pregnant, it won't be the end of the world. I bet you guys'll be great parents."
"That remains to be seen." Luxury sighed. "It's just... too soon for us. Maybe in another few years, we'd be ready, but now..."
"Cheer up, pal." Vinny smiled. "How about a nice, stiff drink to calm those nerves?"
"No offense, but I don't think even one of your best cocktails can help right now." Luxury sighed. "I just... need to think on this more. Alone..."
Luxury walked out of the bar.
"Poor guy." Vinny sighed.
Blue reflected on Luxury's predicament, acknowledging that he had felt similar things not too long ago.
Back at the castle, Constell was sitting out in the gardens, frazzled by her possible pregnancy. Gothic walked by, and immediately registered the worried look on Constell's face.
"What's the matter, dear?" He asked.
"It's... nothing." Constell lied.
"Don't even try lying to me." Gothic smirked. "I can always tell with you, young filly. What's wrong?"
"You wouldn't understand." Constell insisted.
"Is it something to do with Luxury?" Gothic grimaced. "I never liked that punk. Spoiled, entitled, little rich kid, taking my daughter for a ride..."
"Oh, shut up, dad!" Constell yelled. "You're always doing that! Insulting Luxury! Why? What has he ever done to make you hate him so much?!"
"You want to know why?" Gothic growled. "That punk's only with you because he settled for you. I know he started out crushing on Mist, and when she chose Blue over him, he decided to go for you instead. Well, nopony makes my little girl his second choice."
"That's it?" Constell frowned. "That's the reason you don't like him? Because you think he 'settled' for me?"
"Isn't that what happened?" Gothic huffed.
"No, it wasn't." Constell snarled. "Luxury loves me, dad. And he loves me for me. Sure, we started dating after he stopped crushing on Mist, but that doesn't make a lick of difference. It doesn't to me, and it shouldn't to you!"
Gothic fell silent for a moment.
"Mist, I..." He started. "I was just-"
"Save it, dad." Constell got up and left the garden. "I don't need this right now."
"I'm sorry..." Gothic sighed.
Meanwhile, Luxury returned home, joining his parents for dinner.
"Everything all right, son?" Fancypants asked. "You haven't touched your food."
"It's... nothing, dad." Luxury sighed. "Just a private matter."
"Really, Luxy?" Fleur frowned. "We're your parents. It's our job to help you."
"It's just... you guys are proud of me, right?" Luxury asked. "No matter what?"
"Of course." Fancypants nodded.
"Even if I make... mistakes?" Luxury continued.
"We all make mistakes, son." Fleur smiled. "It's how we learn."
"But some lessons are harder than others..." Luxury sighed, as he picked at his food.
"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" Fancypants asked.
"Yeah, I'm sure." Luxury nodded. "...May I be excused?"
"Okay, if you want to." Fleur nodded.
Luxury left the table, and went up to his room. He laid on his bed, burying his head in a pillow.
"What a mess..." He groaned.
That evening, Blue returned to the apartment, where Mist was waiting.
"Hey." Blue nodded.
"Hey." Mist said flatly.
"I heard something crazy today." Blue declared.
"Me too." Mist returned.
“Constell might be pregnant!” Mist and Blue said at the same time. The two stepped back in shock.
"Luxury told you, right?" Mist asked.
"Yep." Blue nodded. "He's a little torn up about it."
"So's Constell." Mist declared. "They're taking things worse than we did."
"We've gotta help 'em." Blue declared. "We need to snap them out of this funk."
"And I think I know just how to do it..." Mist smiled.
"Ooh, I love it when you smile like that." Blue chuckled. "Means that big brain of yours has got an idea."
"Oh, yeah." Mist grinned.
The next afternoon, Constell came into the study, having been called there by Mist.
"No offense, but this had better be important." Constell frowned. "I've got a major problem of my own to deal with, you know..."
"Oh, it's important, all right." Mist nodded.
Seconds later, Luxury entered the room, escorted by Blue. Luxury froze as he saw Constell.
"Oh." He gulped. "...Hi."
"Hey." Constell said awkwardly. "Mist, what's going on?"
"I'm curious about that, myself." Luxury frowned. "Blue knocked on my door and told me to come with him. He never said why..."
"Here's why." Blue declared. "Mist and I are here to help you two clear your heads."
"Really?" Constell remarked.
"Yes, really." Mist nodded. "We know this possible pregnancy thing has hit you hard, and we're giving you some much-needed support."
"What kind of support?" Constell asked.
"The experienced kind." Blue retorted. "Don't forget, we've been where you are."
"It wasn't so long ago that we were surprised by a sudden new arrival." Mist recalled. "And yes, while it was hard at first, we managed to pull things together."
"Yippee for you." Luxury said sourly.
"Look, we know you're feeling a little shocked and scared." Blue continued. "And that you're feeling like you might not be the best parents. That stuff's perfectly normal."
"Great pep talk, guys." Constell frowned.
"But trust us when we say a foal will only make your lives better." Mist smiled. "It'll give you another pony to love, and strengthen the love between you both. You do both love each other, don't you?"
Constell and Luxury looked at each other, and smiled.
"Yeah." Constell declared.
"With all my heart." Luxury admitted.
"And isn't a foal nothing more than an expression of that love?" Blue asked. "A living example of how much you two adore each other."
"And you'll be able to share that love with the foal, as you raise and care for it." Mist grinned. "That doesn't sound so terrible, does it?"
"No, it doesn't." Constell smiled.
"I bet you'd make a great mother." Luxury told Constell.
"And you'd be one heck of a father." Constell grinned.
"I guess we were so focused on the implications, we never stopped to consider the good side of having a foal." Luxury admitted.
"I guess it wouldn't be the end of the world if I turned out to be pregnant." Constell mused.
"And your dad probably wouldn't be that angry." Luxury reflected. "Or at least, not so angry that he wouldn't rip me in half..."
"That remains to be seen..." Constell joked.
"So, you guys feel better?" Blue smiled.
"Much." Luxury nodded.
"Thanks, guys." Constell beamed. "We really needed this."
"Any time." Mist smiled.
"And if that trip to the doctors ends up with you guys in the 'upcoming parents' category, I say welcome to the club." Blue grinned. "Hey, maybe our foals could play together!"
"That does sound great." Luxury admitted. "You know, if Constell turns out to be pregnant."
"And at least we'll have both of you to help us along the way." Constell added.
"You know it, Connie." Mist nodded.
After spending a while with his possibly-pregnant Luxury prepared to leave. along the way, he walked into Gothic.
"Oh, hello, sir." He gulped.
"Ah, just the stallion I've been wanting to see." Gothic said curtly. "I'd like a word with you."
"W-what about?" Luxury quivered.
"I'd like to apologise, Luxury." Gothic declared. "I haven't been fair to you since you started dating Constell. I thought because you had designs on courting Mist first, that you saw my daughter as a second choice."
"Well, I would never-" Luxury started.
"I know that now." Gothic nodded. "But I had no right to think that way before. I was a fool. Will you accept my apology?"
"Of course, sir." Luxury smiled. "I understand completely."
"I was wrong about you." Gothic smiled. "You really are the best stallion for my daughter."
"With all due respect, I knew that already." Luxury joked.
"Just keep taking good care of her, okay?" Gothic asked.
"You can count on me, sir." Luxury nodded.
"Glad to hear it." Gothic smiled. "Come back soon."
"I will, sir." Luxury nodded.
As he headed home, Luxury couldn't quite understand what had just happened, but he was happy about it all the same. Finally having Gothic accepted made things even better for him.
'Maybe now, when I tell him about the foal, he'll only slightly wound me...' He mused.
The next morning, Constell went off to the doctor's for her appointment, Luxury opting to join her. Mist, unable to stand the uncertainty, joined Blue in his bar, discussing the upcoming results with her fiancée and Vinny.
"It won't be long now." Blue noted. "One way or other, we'll find out what's going on in Constell's belly."
"Whatever happens, we can at least be proud that we supported our friends in their time of need." Mist declared.
"Boy, the suspense is killing me." Vinny slugged back some cider. "How long is this gonna take, anyway?"
"As long as it needs to." Blue declared.
"It didn't take nearly as long for Sandy to find out that Grim got her pregnant..." Vinny muttered. "Happened in a flash..."
After a while, Constell and Luxury entered the bar. Their expressions were vague, impassive.
"So?" Mist asked. "What's the verdict?"
"Don't leave us hanging!" Blue added.
"Well, you see..." Luxury said hesitantly. "What happened was..."
"Come on, out with it!" Vinny urged.
"I'm... not pregnant." Constell announced.
"Aw, really?" Mist frowned.
"Yeah..." Constell sighed. "Turns out, it was just a stomach bug."
"Funny, I was hoping that was what Mist had when we were getting started." Blue smiled. "Good thing that wasn't the case, huh?"
"It sure was." Mist nuzzled Blue.
"Congrats on the non-foal." Vinny told Constell and Luxury. "Must be a weight off your minds, huh?"
"Yeah, sure..." Constell sighed.
"I guess..." Luxury muttered.
"What's with the long faces, guys?" Blue asked.
"Don't look so down." Mist added.
"You know, I was actually starting to look forward to being a parent." Luxury sighed.
"Me too." Constell nodded. "I was even starting to think up foal names..."
"Hey, cheer up." Mist smiled. "It's not like you're never going to have foals."
"Yeah." Blue nodded. "One day, when you're ready, I'll bet you'll have a beautiful, bouncing foal of your very own."
"Yeah." Constell smiled. "One day..."
"And what a day that would be." Luxury embraced Constell. "But for now, I say we enjoy our relationship as it is."
"Sounds good to me." Constell planted a kiss on Luxury. "We've got all the time in the world to have a foal. But right now, we can just sit back, and enjoy life."
"Speaking of enjoying life, how about a couple of Manehattans?" Vinny prepared some glasses.
"You read my mind." Luxury chuckled.
"Love those things." Constell proclaimed.
"I'll take one of those." Blue grinned.
"Just apple juice for me." Mist added.
"Comin' right up." Vinny declared.
After all their glasses had been filled, the friends raised their glasses in a toast.
"To the present." Mist smiled, before stroking her belly. "And the future..."
"Hear, hear!" Constell beamed.
They all downed their drinks. Both couples were blissfully happy with what they had. Blue and Mist felt particularly proud of themselves. Though Constell and Luxury weren't expecting any time soon, they had helped to guide their friends onto the path of acceptance, so they would be ready on the day Constell truly was with child. And all that talk they had made about how a foal would only strengthen a couple's love? They meant every word of it. Their own love was stronger than ever, and they were eagerly awaiting the day when the foal arrived, so they could share that love with it.