“So, will these books be enough?” Trixie was at Golden Oaks library. After the appointment with the gynecologist the day before, Trixie realized that she would need to learn everything she could about pregnancy.
“Yes. I have read all of these books and they are a big help. Don’t worry, I have them memorized. Fluttershy is currently in the phase explained in chapter three from this book.” Twilight said as she pointed one of the three books Trixie was holding.
“How is she holding up?”
“She says that her legs ache often. It’s completely normal and it confirms that everything’s fine. She’s determined and is showing me how strong she can be. She’s not letting the pregnancy to interfere much with her daily life.” Twilight was smiling widely. “When I first suggested to be the one to carry our foal, she refused. I feared that her body wouldn’t stand it, I know how the birth goes. Fluttershy didn’t care, she asked me to have confidence in her. It was impossible for me to say no. It’s rare of her to sound so sure of herself.” The lavender Unicorn looked out her window as she finished speaking.
“Twilight…” Trixie put a hoof on her best friend’s wither, making her to look at her. “She will be fine. Sure, her body might not be as strong as ours, or she often can’t argue back, but when she takes something seriously, she will do anything to accomplish her objective. Do you remember when she proposed to you?”
“Of course I do. Maybe it didn’t go as she planned, but when I saw that she was ready for the next step, then I could do it. To this day, that mare keeps surprising me.”
“If she thinks that she can handle the pregnancy, then she will. You must support her, Twilight. She has to be your priority.”
“Yes, of course! While I work here, Spike stays to look after her. If she needs me, Spike will come here to take me to the cottage.” The librarian sighed of happiness. “Thank you, Trixie.”
“Don’t mention it, Twilight.” The showmare happily said before putting the books on her saddlebag. “Now, if you excuse me, I have to go home to read these with Rarity.”
“Right! Those books will tell you what to do while you wait for the foal, what to do during birth and it will tell you the basics of how to look after the newborn. There’s another book, a smaller one, that goes into more details about how to raise a foal, but I’ll give it to you later, when the foal arrives.”
“Thank you, Twilight. I don’t know what would I do without you.” The mares hugged.
“You’re most welcome, Trixie. I’ll see you later!”
“Likewise.” Trixie left the library and trotted towards her home. The eleven months had just begun.
***
Three weeks had passed. Rarity would often wake up with nausea and she would gallop to the bathroom to throw up, which was good because it meant that their night of passion was a success. Trixie couldn’t thank Princess Luna enough, and neither could Rarity. Also, during the past three weeks, Fluttershy’s pregnancy was more noticeable, but everypony thought that she was just getting fat, with the exception of Trixie and Twilight, of course. The lavender Unicorn invited all of her friends to the cottage in the afternoon.
“Twilight rarely invites us all at once. Do you think that she has something to say?” Rarity asked to her wife as she washed her tea cup.
“I don’t know, sweetheart. ” Trixie was smiling, a smile Rarity couldn’t see since she was giving Trixie her back. The showmare was lying. Twilight told her that they were ready to tell everypony about Fluttershy’s pregnancy. “It’s the third time you ask me the same question today.”
“I know, but I’m curious. I can’t think in anything else.” Rarity put the tea cup aside and took Trixie’s coffee mug to wash it.
“I should be the one washing those.”
“Trixie-boo, I can still do basic work on my own. ”
“It’s not that. You washed the dishes after lunch.”
“Oh, don’t worry, my love.” Rarity said as she walked to Trixie. “I’ll let you was the dishes tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“The damage is already done; you have ruined our schedule by washing the dishes two times in a row!”
“You sound like Twilight, it’s not a big deal.” The fashionista stood in front of Trixie, who was sitting by the table, and looked at her with seriousness. “Trixie, you’re always doing this.”
“Doing what?” Trixie didn’t quite understand what Rarity meant.
“You always want to do everything for me, ever since our first date. Do you remember how much you insisted to pay?”
“But you didn’t let me. I asked you out, I should have paid.”
“Says who?”
“Isn’t that like a rule? If you invite somepony, you have to pay.”
“If you can.” Rarity recovered her smile. “Back then, you had no bits. Twilight lent you some. If you have used them, you would feel in debt with her, and it doesn’t feels nice to be in debt with a friend.” Trixie looked down, defeated, and Rarity kissed her on her cheek. “I still appreciate the gesture, my darling. You’re noble, but you can let me do things on my own if I’m fine with it. I won’t stop you when our foal gets bigger.”
Trixie looked up to the blue eyes she loved. “Pinky Promise?”
“Pinky Promise.”
The magician pony stood up to hug her wife. “You can’t break a pinky promise, my lady.”
“Pinkie Pie would hunt me down if I did.” Rarity said after chuckling.
“You’re kidding, right?” Trixie asked once she moved her head to look at Rarity.
“I wish I was. You weren’t there when Applejack broke one.”
Trixie gulped, scared, and Rarity nuzzled her head against Trixie’s chest, making her blush and smile at her wife. “There’s nothing more I would rather do than cuddle with you all day. If only we didn’t have to go to Twilight and Fluttershy’s.”
“Then, why don’t we stay?” The fancy Unicorn said while she gave Trixie a seductive look.
Trixie did the impossible and resisted. “That wouldn’t be polite. We have already agreed to go. You said it yourself, Twilight rarely does this. What if she has something to say? We must be there.”
Rarity was disappointed and looked down, ashamed. “Yes, of course.”
Trixie looked at her wife suspiciously. Rarity wouldn’t suggest not to assist to a friend’s meeting to do something else, not even to spend more time with Trixie. “Speaking of which, we should get going.”
The fashionista nodded and followed Trixie outside, where they immediately intertwined their tails. “Is everything ready for your job tomorrow?” She tried to keep her embarrassment away by talking about other subjects.
“Oh, yes. I have checked my wagon this morning. I was surprised to find everything shining clean, though. I wonder how that happened.” Trixie said as she slowly looked at Rarity, who smiled.
“I took the liberty to clean all of your equipment yesterday while you were helping Pinkie Pie at Sugarcube Corner. I was bored and had nothing else to do after I closed the boutique.”
“I told you that you shouldn’t read all the pregnancy books so fast.” Trixie said after a giggle.
“I thought that you said it because of my eyes.”
“Well, yes, but also because it would help you to kill time, like I do it.”
“I’m still wondering why don’t you just ask me…?”
“I want to learn by myself, I enjoy the reading. It’s still a long time until our foal arrives.”
“Alright, I’ll let you read, then.” Rarity sounded a bit harsh, which Trixie noticed. She decided to ignore the sudden change of mood again. “Let’s increase our pace. I need to sit down. My legs are killing me.”
“Yes, of course.” The rest of the way was silent. Rarity didn’t seem in mood to talk. Her face didn’t show a specific expression. On top of that, she looked everywhere but Trixie, not letting the blue Unicorn to properly see her.
Eventually, they made it to Fluttershy and Twilight’s home. Trixie knocked on the front door and the door was answered almost immediately by Twilight.
“Rarity, Trixie! Good, we’re all here now!” Twilight cheerfully said.
“We’re the last ones?” Rarity said as she walked in, seeing that they were, indeed, the last ones. “Oh, goodness! I’m sorry!”
“Don’t worry, Rarity, it isn’t bad. You have arrived a couple of minutes after Pinkie Pie. She’s at the kitchen.” Fluttershy calmly said as she approached to the new comers.
“A couple of minutes! It’s worse than I thought!”
While Fluttershy and Twilight tried to calm Rarity down, Trixie went to the couch, where Rainbow Dash and Applejack were sitting.
“Hey, Trixie. Why is Rarity acting more dramatic than usual?” The cyan Pegasus said once Trixie was close enough.
“I’m not quite sure. Her mood has been changing all of the sudden lately.”
“Ah wonder why…” Applejack said.
“She has also been complaining about little things, like when she tells me that I’m putting slightly less tea on her cup than usual.”
“Sounds like Rainbow, over here.” Applejack jokingly said as she looked at her marefriend.
“Hey! I don’t do that!”
“You said, and ah quote: 'AJ, give me the orange juice, I can’t stand stretch my leg any further. It’s not like if I can stand up'.”
“Only the first sentence is true!”
“Girls…” Trixie said before Applejack spoke again. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but, could you make some room. Rarity’s hooves are hurting and she needs to sit down.”
“Oh, sure, sugarcube.”
“Thanks! I’ll bring her.” The showmare said before heading to where Rarity was.
Rainbow Dash looked at Applejack. “Why did you agree? Didn’t you hear her? Her mood is changing all of the sudden lately!”
“We’re her friends, Rainbow. We have to support her.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. It’s just…”
“Dashie, we’ll have our ‘alone’ time later.” The farmer pony said with a smile.
“When? If it’s not your family, our friends are nearby.” The Pegasus crossed her forelegs.
“We’ll go somewhere else, then.”
“I like the sound of that.” Rainbow Dash and Applejack leaned to kiss, but they were interrupted when Rarity sat between them.
“Finally, a couch! My hooves are killing me!” The fashionista said, not realizing what she just did.
“Rarity…” Trixie said as she arrived to the scene. “Where are your lady modals? You could at least said ‘excuse me’.”
“It’s fine, sugarcube.” Applejack tried to relax Trixie, but the later noticed that both she and Rainbow Dash were sad for being interrupted.
“I have no time to be polite when my hooves are killing me.” Rarity said as she got more comfortable. She never sat so improperly before. “Trixie-boo, be a dear and bring me a cold drink.”
“Yes, sure.” Trixie walked to the kitchen while Rarity moved even more on the couch while Rainbow Dash and Applejack stared at her, confused.
“Hey, Trix!” Pinkie Pie received her friend as soon as she stepped in the kitchen. “I was wondering when would you come to see me!”
“Hey, Pinkie.” The Unicorn smiled at the party pony. “Sorry for not coming earlier. Rarity needs… more treating than usual. Is there any cold drink I can give her?”
“Yup! I have some drinks!” Pinkie Pie said before searching something in the fridge. “I have just finished making a jar of apple juice! Unless you want orange juice. Variety never killed anypony, right?!”
“I-I suppose not…” Trixie nervously said as she scratched the back of her head. “Give a glass of each. I’ll drink the orange juice.”
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie Pie served two glasses with the different beverages and Trixie magically took them.
“Thank you, Pinkie.”
“No prob! I’ll be with you, girls, in a second. I’m waiting for the ice to get solid enough to put them in the juices.
“Alright, then.” Trixie returned to the living room, only to find Rarity laying on the couch and Applejack and Rainbow Dash talking to Twilight and Fluttershy. The showmare sighed and walked to where her wife was. “I brought you apple juice, is that okay?” She said, trying to smile.
“Yes, my darling. Thank you.” Rarity didn’t look at Trixie. She took a sip of her drink and she spat it as soon as the juice touched her tongue.
“Puaj! This juice is horrible!”
“What do you mean? You always enjoyed it, but you don’t drink it often.”
“I don’t know. It tastes… strange.”
“Here, try mine. It’s orange juice. I’ll drink yours.” They swapped their drinks and both took as sip. Trixie didn’t find anything strange with the apple juice and Rarity drank all of the orange juice in a second.
“Much better, thank you, Trixie-boo.” The fashionista was satisfied. She gave her empty glass to Trixie and laid her head on the couch again.
“You’re welcome…” Trixie put both glasses on the table and trotted to where Twilight was. “Twilight, can I speak with you, in private?”
“Umm, sure?” The lavender Unicorn went upstairs with her best friend. “What’s wrong, Trixie.”
“I… where are Spike and Angel Bunny?”
“Oh, Spike asked me if he, Angel and Owlowiscious could go outside since they already know about the big news Fluttershy and I are going to give. I suppose that you didn’t want to ask me just that.”
“No. Twilight, I think that my wife is broken.”
“Broken? What do you mean?”
“Her mood has been changing all of the sudden and, just now, she didn’t like the glass of Apple Juice I brought her. She has also been acting rude.” A smile slowly appeared on Twilight face until a giggle escaped from her. “What’s so funny?”
“Trixie, there’s nothing wrong with Rarity.”
“No?”
“Of course not. Did you read the books I borrowed you?”
“I have read something, but not all of them. Why?”
“When a mare is pregnant, change of moods are normal. They also tend to be rude due to the pain on their body while they adapt to their ‘guest’. They can also find that the food and drinks they would normally like have a bad taste and they can try weird combinations to drink and eat.”
“Oh, that explains a lot.” Trixie said before facehoofing. “I should have known…”
“What intrigues me is that the pregnancy is affecting her so fast. It took Fluttershy more than a month to be affected, and she only fainted once.
“F-Fainted?”
The librarian nodded. “Fainting Spells are rare on pregnancies. I’m keeping a closer eye on her so she doesn’t get hurt. Other than that, she barely acts different. She’s so kind that she kind of rejects bad behaviors.”
“Yes, maybe that’s why she’s still herself. Oh no... I’m doomed!"
“Huh?” Twilight was confused again.
“If Fluttershy isn’t affected much by the pregnancy, that means that Rarity, with her personality…”
“Oh, I got what you mean.” Twilight said as she smiled again. “I wish you luck. I hope that you’re patient enough to stand her through these eleven months.”
“Thank you, Twilight. I’ll need it.” Trixie said before looking at Twilight with seriousness. “I’m not leaving her. I just wish I have known all the changes the pregnancy would make on Rarity’s personality so I could have prepared. It doesn’t matter. I’ll keep my promise and I’ll stay by her side, no matter what. After all, I’m going to have a foal. Hopefully, I won’t have twins.”
The lavender Unicorn chuckled. “Every pony who is new at parenting wishes that, including me. Fluttershy and I know that we’re prepared to raise a foal, but two? We wouldn’t abandon any of them if we happen to have twins.”
“Yes, me neither, of course.” Trixie said with a smile but it faded quickly. “I will love my foals, no matter if they are born a Unicorn, Pegasus or Earth Pony. I won’t make the same mistake my parents did.”
Twilight hugged her best friend. “I’m proud of you, Trixie.”
“Trixie appreciates your guidance, Twilight Sparkle.” The showmare said as she hugged her back. They broke the hug and smiled at each other before returning downstairs, where Pinkie Pie was already giving everypony a drink.
“Trix, hey! This is your glass, right?” The pink pony said as she gave Trixie the juice she didn’t finish.
“Yes… thanks, Pinkie!” Pinkie Pie grinned and skipped to the couch where Rarity was.
“Everypony, may I have your attention?!” Twilight said as she walked next to Fluttershy, who blushed and looked at her wife. The yellow Pegasus wasn’t completely ready but Twilight winked an eye to her before addressing her friends again. Trixie stood close to the couch in which Rarity was laying and Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Pinkie Pie where by the table with the juice jars on it. “Fluttershy and I have some important news to give.”
“You’re getting married?” Rainbow Dash jokingly said, making Applejack laugh a little.
“They are married already, silly! They can’t marry twice! Right?” Pinkie Pie said.
“No, Rainbow Dash, that’s not what I want to announce.” Twilight said before taking a breath. “In around ten months, this cottage will have a new pony living in it.”
Nopony said a word for several seconds. Everypony, but Trixie, were confused. Applejack was the one to break the silence.
“Are you sayin’…”
“I-I’m pregnant…” Fluttershy spoke on her usual tone. A few moments later, Rainbow Dash fainted but Applejack caught her marefriend before she hit the floor. Pinkie Pie rushed to squeeze Fluttershy in a hug.
“Woo-hoo! That’s super duper fantastic! Congratulations!”
“Pinkie, please, the foal…” Fluttershy managed to say and the party pony released her.
“Oopsie! Sorry!”
“Darling…” Rarity trotted to where Fluttershy was and took hold of one of her forelegs with both of her own. “Why didn’t you tell me before? For how long?”
“Two months, almost three. I’m sorry, Rarity, but Twilight and I wanted to make sure that our foal is healthy before letting everypony know.”
“That’s fair, I suppose.” The fashionista said.
Trixie stood next to Rarity. “I would have told you, sweetheart, but they wanted to tell everypony else themselves.”
“You knew?!” Rarity glared at Trixie.
“Mind explainin’ tah us how this happened?” Applejack spoke as she fanned Rainbow Dash with her Stetson to try to wake her up.
“Let’s just say that Princess Luna possesses powerful magic.” Twilight said with a smile.
Applejack was about to ask more details, but she noticed that Rainbow Dash was waking up. “Dashie, you’re awake!”
“AJ?” Rainbow Dash said before noticing that everypony was looking at her. “I asked you not to call me that when we weren’t alone!” The cyan Pegasus said as she abruptly stood up.
Applejack huffed. “Yes, yer fine…” The cowgirl looked at Fluttershy. “Ah’m sorry, Fluttershy. Ah thought that you were getting fat.”
“It’s okay, Applejack, you didn’t know.” The timid Pegasus replied with a smile.
“Fluttershy.” Rarity said, looking at her best friend again. “You could have told me anyway so we could share pregnancy secrets! We can also discuss the best diaper option and look for the best cradles together! We’re definitely going to organize play dates for our foals!”
“Wait, Rarity, don’t tell me that…” Applejack began to say, but Trixie interrupted her.
“She’s pregnant too.” The magician pony said after a sigh. Rarity went too far and it was a matter of time before anypony put the pieces together. Rainbow Dash fainted again, but she was once again caught by Applejack.
“Not again!” Applejack said with annoyance as she fanned Rainbow Dash with her Stetson, again.