//------------------------------//
// The Egg 
// Story: The Royal Canterlot Family 
// by CartoonNerd12 
//------------------------------//

The royal family was going about their day until trumpets sounded off and a herald called out, "Announcing the return of Princess Starling, Princess Apple Jewel, and their new husbands!"

Twilight gasped in excitement, "They're back!" She threw her paperwork up while poor Kibitz tried to catch it.

Spike had been snacking in the kitchen with his wife trying to keep his claws off the food when he and Applejack heard the herald. Like Twilight, they said in excitement, "They're back!"

As they rushed to the foyer, they collided with Twilight and tumbled to the newlyweds' hooves.

"Mom! Are you okay?" Star asked as she lent a hoof.

"And are you okay, Mom and Dad?" Apple Jewel asked in concern.

"We're fine, sugar cube." AJ replied as she got up.

Twilight said, "We were just so excited to see you that we didn't watch where we were going."

Spike stretched out and cracked his back, "Yeah, next time, we'll know better."

Flash rushed in, "Everypony okay? I saw the crash."

"We're okay, Flash," said Twilight and faced her daughter and new son-in-law. "Now that you're both back, I got lots of work for you to do."

Star groaned, "Do we have to, Mom?"

Pen motioned, "Now, honey, it is our honor and privilege to do our parts so your mother can do hers."

She sighed, "You're right as always, dear."

Flash suggested to the couples, "Why don't you go ahead, unpack, and settle in first before you do any work required?"

Pen bowed his head, "Certainly, Prince Flash Sentry."

"Why not call him Dad?" Spike questioned.

Asher started pointing, "Does that mean I can…?"

Spike quickly said, "Never mind."

Everyone around him laughed.




It was very late at night and Apple Jewel was in bed with her husband when suddenly, a pain overcame her. She groaned in her sleep until the pain became unbearable and she woke up screaming.

That startled half the castle awake, including Applejack and Spike.

"That was Jewel!" AJ yelled out.

Spike got out of bed and started running out with his wife right behind him.

They got to the room where they saw their daughter laying in bed and clutching her stomach in pain. Asher could only helplessly watch on the side, feeling at a loss about what was happening to his wife.

Applejack rushed to her daughter's side, "It's okay, sweetie. We're going to find out what's wrong!" She saw her sisters at the door with their husbands and Jewel's cousins who were here.

Twilight proclaimed, "I'll summon the doctor!"




In minutes, the doctor examined Jewel and faced the royals with a puzzling look, "Well, I don't know how to tell you this, but it seems she is in labor."

"WHAT?!" they cried out in shock.

"That's impossible! Why, my daughter didn't show any signs of pregnancy before she left on her honeymoon!" AJ shouted.

The doctor shrugged, "I'm sorry, but it seems that she is about to give birth at any moment."

Asher gave a brief hurtful look to his wife, who looked back with tears of pain and uttered, "I swear, there was no one else… You are the only one I will ever love…"

"I want to believe that… but how can I know for sure…?"

Applejack looked at her daughter, "Jewel, I have never questioned your honesty, but I want you to look straight into my eyes and tell me you never loved anyone but Asher."

Jewel did and stated, "I have never loved anyone but Asher."

Applejack faced her son-in-law, "She's not lying."

Asher gave a guilty look, "I'm sorry I ever doubted you for a moment."

"It's okay…" She winced in pain, "I would have felt the same way."

"But that still doesn't explain why you're suddenly giving birth…" he touched his chin.

Screw Ball came forward and whispered for only the couple to hear, "Did you two even…?"

They gave her a look that seemed say 'Duh'.

"Message received." she bashfully said and went to the back of the room with her parents.

The doctor said, "I would advise letting there be privacy, except for the husband and the princess's parents."

Twilight nodded, "I agree." She turned to the rest of the family watching, "We should leave. If what the doctor says is true, then we should give Jewel privacy."

They didn't disagree and left the room.

The family waited in another room and was worried they haven't heard anything yet.

Screwy asked in concern, "Do you think she's all right?"

Fluttershy wrapped her hoof around her daughter, "I'm sure she is…" But even she was uncertain if Jewel was.

Finally, the doctor and Spike came in the room and the family members rushed over and started asking questions. But the doctor raised his hoof and they became quiet. Spike just stood there looking dazed.

Twilight asked him, "What happened, Spike? Is Apple Jewel alright?"

"Um, uh…" It was all he could muster out.

The doctor stepped in for him, "What Prince Spike is trying to say is that… Princess Apple Jewel has laid an egg."

Mouths dropped on cue.




In her arms, Jewel held the blue egg with orange spots while Asher was beaming with pride. Applejack was happy, but flabbergasted at the same time.

Jewel looked at her husband with a smirk, "And to think you thought it wasn't your kid."

"I will never assume anything like that ever again." he vowed.

"And remember how worried you were about it not being your species? Well, here's proof that it is."

"Indeed, it does seem likely it'll be dragon since you managed to lay. I thought you would have to go through a pony pregnancy."

"Guess I am more dragon on the inside."

AJ uttered, "Sure looks like it, sugar cube."

Jewel pointed, "Though something tells me I would have gone through pregnancy if I had mated with another pony, but my dragon genes allowed me to lay an egg since I mated with a dragon."

Just then, the family rushed in to see the egg.

"Holey-moley!" Pinkie gasped, "It is true! Jewel laid an egg!"

"My goodness!" Rarity gaped.

Fluttershy gushed, "Aw, it looks just like Spike's egg when it came to the castle, only it has different coloring."

Twilight exclaimed, "This is truly amazing! I have to keep personal notes on this! A dragon hybrid can lay an egg!"

Rainbow nudged Applejack, "Never thought you'd be the first of us to have a grandkid!"

AJ said dryly, "Well, thanks for that. Now I feel plain old."

Her sisters giggled.

Screwy, Dignity, Star, and Whirl Wind went up to their cousin.

"Wow, I didn't think you'd be the first of us to have a kid." said Whirl.

"What? You thought you would be?" Jewel countered with a smirk.

He scowled while his cousins laughed.

Jewel cuddled the egg to her face. "Honestly, we didn't plan to have children this soon, but who cares? I laid an egg that has my baby in it." Suddenly, she felt worried. "Uh-oh… I mean, it's one thing that I would able to keep a baby safe if it was part of me, but if it's an egg…" She carefully clutched onto it.

Spike then came up to her, "You're absolutely right, Jewel. Eggs need to be handled with extra care."

Asher said, "It's true. You know, Mr. Spike, you were quite lucky that your egg remained intact during that tornado."

"Don't I know it." Spike glanced at his wife and in-laws.

Jewel asked her husband, "How did your mother do it when she laid you?"

"She told me she kept me in a nest of hot coals and jewels. It took a whole two months for me to hatch."

"Two months?!" she looked down at the egg in worry.

"Don't worry, sweetheart." Spike held his daughter's head. "We'll make sure nothing happens to your egg."

"Darn tootin'." Applejack declared.

"We all promise that." said Twilight, and everyone around her agreed.




When the excitement finally wore down for the evening, Asher had his body wrapped around his mate and egg. It was traditional for a male dragon to wrap himself around his mate and their newly-laid egg. It showed that he was protective of his family and he would do anything to keep them safe.

He saw his wife was asleep and softly said, "My beautiful Jewel… Forgive me for worrying that you'd do such a horrible thing in the first place… But when we were apart, I didn't know if you had moved on or not. When you assured you didn't, I wasted no time in making us mates. But for that one moment, I was afraid I had lost you to someone else first. When our egg came, I was shocked but overjoyed knowing it truly was ours… Suddenly, I feel I love you a hundred times more." Then he stared at the egg, "And you have my promise that I will love you just much as your mother. Whatever you hatch as, I promise to be the best father I can be to you…" With that said, he laid his head and finally fell asleep.




"Do you have to go?" Jewel asked Asher the next morning after breakfast as they were outside the castle. "Couldn't we just send a note to your mother telling her the good news?"

"News like this must be said in person, but I will be back before you know it." He kissed her and then gently rubbed the egg she was holding. "Take care of our little one."

"You know I will."

He gave a final glance before taking off and flying out of sight.

Jewel went back inside and found the pony she needed. "Screwy, I need your help."

Moments later, Dignity, Whirl Wind, and Star gaped at the sight before them. The room was covered in plastic wrap while the egg sat on a soft pillow in the middle of a pedestal with a force field surrounding it.

Star addressed her cousin, "Jewel, don't you think this is a bit much?"

Whirl went up to the force field and touched it. Suddenly, a siren went off. They covered their ears as he shouted, "A force field and a siren?!"

Dignity yelled, "That's a little bit excessive!"

Screwball shouted back, "She wanted it!" She waved her hoof to shut it off.

"What in tarnation is all this?!" Applejack had rushed in, "I heard the siren and thought I should check it out."

"Maybe Aunt Applejack will talk some sense into you about this paranoia you're having," suggested Dignity.

Apple Jewel said, "Mom, I need to make sure my egg is well-protected."

Applejack agreed, "Of course you do, sugar cube, but…" She looked around, "This may be a bit much…"

"I told you." said Star.

"Why don't the rest of you go about your business? I need to have a word with my daughter."

The cousins went on and once mother and daughter were alone, AJ chuckled when looking at the plastic wrap.

"This brings back memories…"

"Memories?"

"I don't think we ever told you, but when you first started walking, I made sure the entire castle was covered in plastic wrap so I didn't have to worry about you getting hurt."

Jewel's eyes widened, "Really?"

"Yup."

"But… I never thought you would be the overprotective type. You always take risks. Dad, too."

"We took risks when they were necessary, not when we wanted to…"

"Like when Dad saved you from that Nightmare hurting you?"

"Right. It was either the bravest or stupidest thing he ever did… But I love him all the same… And as I recall, my sisters and I were protective of you and your cousins when it came to suitors. Then that whole alternative timeline happened to y'all and we realized we were overdoing things. We finally understood what your grandmother went through. We had to let you go down your own path. We will forever love our children, but it's important to let them go."

Jewel stared at her egg. It hadn't even hatched yet and already she was fretting about its safety and welfare.

"So this is what motherhood's like…" She faced her own mother, "I often wondered why you and the aunts worried so much about us, but now… I get it."

AJ smiled, "Yeah, you don't really get it until you're a parent yourself. It's a daily struggle making sure your children are safe and happy. There are times when you must enforce punishment because they did something wrong, but that doesn't mean you love them any less."

Jewel hugged her mom, which she happily returned.

"Might I make some suggestions to make sure that your egg is safe without overdoing it?"

"Sure."

"Well, we can get rid of the plastic wrap, and the siren should go, but let's keep the force field and pedestal."

"Anything else?"

"Your dad and I can take turns with shifts with you and your husband when checking in on the egg."

"That'd be great!"

"Before you know it, the two months will be up and we'll have to take new precautions."

"Really?" she looked on with concern.

"Sure thing, sugar cube. The worrying never ends."

Jewel sighed. "It won't be easy being a parent, will it?"

Her mom grinned, "It never is…"