The Little Curiosities

by Comma Typer

Expecting the Unexpected

Doctor Smart Apple has his attention occupied. A married couple are the recipients of such in his office. “… Plus, the extra two or three months should give you more time to prepare for the foal than you would have had before the Change.”

Orange Laser nods in meek understanding, her wings flapping in anxiety. A frantic Monolight, meanwhile, levitates the brochure before him in a gray glow: a guide to taking care of a pregnant mare and how to deal with one’s own foal.

“How normal would my birthing be?” She rubs her belly: no visible bigness yet, normal for being a week into the cycle. “Do I have to stand up like the old horses or do I have to lie down like a human?”

The doctor winces at the former idea. “We do it the latter way. It is strange to hear of horses giving birth like that: standing up and having the foal ready to run in a matter of hours. But that is then, this is now… well, and we also have the option to have a unicorn levitate the foal through the process, but it’s experimental back in Equestria and progress is rightfully slow because we can mistakes. You surely do not want your child to be a test subject, as do most mothers—which is why we only apply it to life-and-death situations. Things would hopefully not go so downhill for you.”

Laser’s ears flatten in fear. Grunts from Monolight come through, worried as he attempts memorization of the entire guide and be his own wife’s doctor if the real one’s away. “How different is it,” he asks, “taking care of a foal instead of a human baby?”

Smart Apple prepared for the question; it has been a common inquiry among humans. “Not that much different. Crawling and walking are not too different from each other, but that is all. Oh, and you may have to deal with surges depending on your foal’s tribe.”

The couple behold each other, discerning their significant other’s features—the horn on Monolight, the wings on Laser. In the stallion’s curiosity, “What are the chances of us having an Earth pony, doc? Both my parents turned into Earth ponies, but hers are all pegasi.”

A cluck of the tongue indicates the doctor’s thinking. “It’s mostly a fifty-fifty chance of unicorn or pegasus with a very slim chance of Earth pony. Though, if you remember your genetics lessons, he or she will have a greater chance of having Earth pony offspring later on: recessive traits, as you know. On the side, we historically would not be able to know what tribe your foal would be until Laser’s due, but we have been doing our best to adapt to your—what do they call it, hypersounds?—without the foal’s magic messing the technology.”

“Ultrasound,” the couple reply together.

The correction is acknowledged. “With that being said, you do have to prepare for your foal’s surges. Pegasi are a hoofful when they get their wings fully functional: easy to slip away from you, especially since only one of you is a pegasus. Unicorns? They’re going to have a period of swells when their body can’t control their growing magic levels: they could levitate things en masse, teleport here and there, and, in the worst cases, cause explosions and walk through walls. On the slim chance you get an Earth pony: they won’t know their strength which can lead to tearing half of your house down on accident or getting sensory overload while being in touch with the soil or while inside a forest—they can end up growing a lemon tree out of nowhere in a few seconds, if you did not know.

“And, of course, I expect you to read the guides on cutie marks, how to balance freedom and duty there, no matter how early or late they get their cutie mark and no matter what that cutie mark may be. Harmony can and will lead them in ways you cannot see.”

Monolight runs a hoof through his sweaty forehead, bumping his horn. “It sounds like our foal’s a criminal in a maximum-security prison.”

“I wouldn’t put it that way. But, knowing how baby humans sound much tamer from the stories I’ve heard, I understand your concern.”

A little smile lets out. “However, I think you do understand that you signed up for this. You were willing to go on, get married, and raise a family even after the Change and after you’ve heard truthfully that baby ponies are harder to take care of than human ones. The cost does not change because of your sincerity, but I do admire those who want to take it to the next level anyway.”

Something warm falls over Laser’s heart. “Human or not, we still want a family. A little bundle of joy or two, someone to send to the future with a big heart… especially, since you’ve got magic friendship and a literal Princess of Love.”

A chuckle comes from the Apple doctor. “I bet you can say that.”

Oblivious of Smart Apple’s comment, the couple smile in a daydream. Thoughts of their future foal come to mind: cuddling cuddles and nuzzles, showers of gifts and love, all under the rising sun. While waking up at night to coddle them from crying too much or changing diapers with their jaws taint the vision, the fantasy ends in the family playing around and laughing until the sun sets, maybe with a younger sibling, on an open grass field.

“Oh, what should we name them?!” Orange yells in excitement.

The doctor shakes his head. “I suggest you wait until after the foal’s born—“

“Toffee sounds good!” Monolight suggests. He rubs his rumbling stomach. “Chocolate Toffee, maybe?”

And Smart Apple allows them to wallow in their pre-parent thrill before taking a cup of apple tea. “I suppose Harmony always finds a way.”

Comments

[Ninjadeadbeard]

It would seem that life, ah, finds a way.

[FanOfMostEverything]

“Ultrasound,” the couple reply together.

I can't help but imagine batponies serving as living ultrasound equipment.
"EEEEEEEE. ... Congratulations, it's a pegasus."

But yeah, OB/GYN comes with a whole new set of complications after the change. And now you have me thinking about reproduction between different aspects in the Oversaturated World, especially between a pony and a nonpony...

This bears further thought. Thanks for the poke, Comma.

[Comma Typer]

10273196
10281453

Political reaction has to be in Earth's equivalent for the Changeling Hive in some form. At least Equestria Girls heavily implies that Canterlot City is in the local version of the USA which is a republic, whereas with the Hive, I'm flying blind and have taken the path of least resistance by saying it's a monarchy before Thorax came over.

In-universe, I wonder why Equestria's Chrysalis just doesn't play the long game and use deception to the max. Living for a very long time could be making her mad with power. Though, on the flip side, if Earth's Chrysalis becomes aware that she could live for a long time and that she can lay eggs from which more loyal subjects are born, then I bet that she'll be really invested in the long game (and making literal the adage that the king is father to his people).

10272893
10281456
When life keeps finding a way in Equestria, I can rest easy knowing this magic Earth will have its life finding ways. It's how it finds a way that's of enough note to get a scene here.

It's not just ponies though with OB/GYN modifications. Griffons, hippogriffs, dragons, and other such species are going to have eggs—which is a chapter idea I have in mind.

Also: You're welcome!

[Ninjadeadbeard]

10281456

I can't help but imagine batponies serving as living ultrasound equipment.
"EEEEEEEE. ... Congratulations, it's a pegasus."

Aaaaand, stolen. Thank you for your contribution...