> Big News
>  by not the real VAV
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Strange Case of...
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Mac nuzzled Fluttershy’s neck as he woke. The two were in an odd position: Mac’s head rested on her neck, one of his large legs covered her hind legs, and she was resting her head on his. Neither minded, though, they were a new married couple. They didn’t need to worry about anything…
Spoke too soon. The second Fluttershy awoke; she blinked a few times to try and damper the incredibly bright light above them. She had to squint to ignore it. The mare was also trying to get free of Mac. Something he certainly wasn’t used to. 
He got off of his wife and looked at her worried. Why was his snuggle bunny trying to get away from him? 
“Shy? Are you alright?” He asked. 
She arched her back and let out a yawn. It was still adorable as always but this time, she didn’t spin around to look at Mac. Fluttershy dropped her hooves in her lap and closed her eyes, her head pointing downwards. 
Mac shifted and inched closer to her. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he placed his head on her shoulder. She looked up at him and tried to smile. It wasn’t very convincing, though. 
“I…” She looked ready to tell him something. “I-It’s nothing.” She changed her mind. 
“It’s not nuthin’. You ain’t yerself.” Mac gave her a peck below the chin. His big green eyes were filled with concern. 
Fluttershy’s ears flattened against her head. “Sorry…I’m just…really not feeling well.” At this point, his wife almost looked in pain. That was something that Mac certainly didn’t like. Nothing was supposed to hurt Fluttershy, not ponies, not animals, not even him. 
“Ah’ll take care of ya,” he offered. “Ah could stay home and watch over ya.” 
Fluttershy smiled gratefully. “Thanks for the offer Mackie but I’ve been sick before. I’ll be fine.” 
Her husband felt good. She was smiling and not faking it. “Well if you’re positive, Ah’ll head out to the farm. If anything bad happens, you go to the doctor, okay?” 
Fluttershy nodded. “Of course.” She kissed him on the cheek. 


Things certainly had gone wrong. Fluttershy lacked the energy to do her everyday chores for the animals. At first, Angel seemed annoyed. But when he saw Fluttershy lying on the couch, looking like she was in pain, he filled up with concern. 
The white rabbit hopped over to his owner and rubbed her hoof. Fluttershy looked down at him and smiled. He gave her a look as if asking, “What’s wrong?” 
Fluttershy kept her smile. “Angel, I’m just not feeling well. It isn’t like the type of sick I’m used to. I-I might go to the hospital.” 
Angel’s eyes went wide. “No it’s okay Angel. I’m not hurt, I’m just concerned. The symptoms are just not adding up. Dizziness, sickness, fatigue-,” Fluttershy giggled lightly. “-it’s almost like I’m…” Her smile dropped and her eyes grew wide. 
Angel tilted his head in confusion as if to say, “It’s almost like what?” Fluttershy leapt of the couch and headed towards the door. Angel Bunny tried to keep pace behind her. The Pegasus stopped before the door and turned to him. 
“I’ll be home soon Angel. Watch the pets while I’m gone, please?” Before allowing him to respond, Fluttershy left. Angel sat down on his rump, confused. “I’ll never understand that mare.” 


Fluttershy sat down on the light blue chair and looked at the doctor. He was an earth pony wearing a lab coat which covered most of his body. He took a seat opposite of hers. 
“Now, what are your symptoms?” He asked, holding his pen and paper, ready to write. 
“Um…fatigue, sickness, sometimes I’m light headed and I feel dizzy.” She listed. 
The doctor smiled as he placed the paper and pen down. He looked up at Fluttershy curiously. “Do you have any ideas of what ‘illness’ you might have?” The young stallion asked. Fluttershy could notice the hint of humor in his question. 
"Y-yes…I think I know…”  Fluttershy nodded. 
“Huh…well…we can take a test to be sure. Are you ready?” He asked. 
The canary mare nodded. 

> ...a Foal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy trotted down her dirt path to her house. She had a big smile on her face as she pranced about. All the annoying “symptoms” she had been feeling vanished, all because of her elated joy. 
What made her smile more was that Mac would be home soon…
Fluttershy stopped in her tracks. Mac…how was she going to tell him? 
This was something big. Bigger than when Mac had proposed. 
This wasn’t some simple thing she wanted to tell Mac. She wasn’t telling him that she’d be busy the next week. She wasn’t telling him that she wanted him to stay over the night. She wasn’t even telling him what they were having for dinner than night. 
She’d be telling him that she was pregnant with his foal. 
Her prancing became slower walking as she got lost in deep thought. 


"Oh I knew it’d be a bad idea! Oh Fluttershy you silly filly. I should have just beaten it." 
She nodded at first, agreeing with herself. Then her ears flopped as she reconsidered. 
"I wouldn’t have been able to beat it. It isn’t as simple as dealing with my fear of heights or of dragons."
She shivered at the thought. 
"We did it…we enjoyed it," she thought with a blush. "And besides…a foal is a wonderful gift! Think about all the amazing things we can do as a family. It’ll be wonderful!" 

Fluttershy smiled, feeling her pep talk working. 
“Angel, I’m back.” She called as she walked inside her cottage. 
Angel hopped to her side, glad to see her back. He tilted his head, wondering why his Mamma had to leave him immediately. 
“Angel…um…remember how I was…in heat a few weeks ago?” She asked blushing. Fluttershy closed to door and took a seat on the couch. 
The bunny nodded. 
“Well…Mac and I…we…well…you know,” her face was a darker red now. Angel knew what she was talking about but just for the fun of it, he acted dumb. The rabbit raised an eyebrow. 
“When…when you know… ‘two lovers care for each other very much’,” She said, quoting the embarrassing line. Angel ended the act and nodded. 
“And um…well…I-I’m pregnant.” The Pegasus gestured to her belly with a nervous smile. Angel’s eyes went wide in surprise. He looked up to his Mamma with a shocked expression. 
“I don’t know how I didn’t notice. It was fairly obvious…” She said, blushing at her own cluelessness. “How am I going to tell Mac? He’s going to be home within the next half hour.” 
Angel tapped his chin like he was wondering. He shrugged and gave up, hopping off to fetch a carrot. Fluttershy smiled at her bunny and rested her head on the couch’s arm. 


“Sweetheart?” 
Fluttershy opened her eyes and yawned. She heard a chuckle and something sitting next to her. The mare turned to see Big Macintosh smiling at her. 
“Feelin’ better?” He asked. He snuck a kiss on her cheek. 
Fluttershy smiled and nodded. “Um…Mac?” 
“Yeah ‘Shy?” He asked. 
“I have to tell you something.” She took in a breath as she scooted closer to her husband. Fluttershy placed an arm around his back. He laid an arm on her shoulder. “I-I did go to the hospital today. I…don’t know how I didn’t pick up on it…” 
“Pick up on what? What is it, Shy?” Macintosh asked concerned. 
Fluttershy took an even deeper breath and looked into Mac’s big emerald eyes. 

“Mac…I’m pregnant.” 

	






	



> A...father?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Big Macintosh’s mouth was hanging open, his eyes bulging. Fluttershy’s ears were flat against her head, her eyes studying her husband nervously. Her worst fear right now would Mac being angry at her. 
But that didn’t happen. 
Instead, he tackled Fluttershy, covering her in kisses. 
“Mwah! Mwah! Mwah!” Fluttershy giggled madly as her husband kissed her. Big Macintosh wrapped his hooves around her and nuzzled into her neck. “Mhmm…” he hummed lovingly.
“I was so afraid you’d be angry or upset,” Fluttershy said, leaning up. Mac was getting off of her and scooted to the spot next to her. 
“Angry? Why would Ah be angry?”  
“Well…I mean…because of…my problem we both-,” 
“Are going to be parents?!” He finished with an unexpected excitement. 
Fluttershy giggled. “Y-yes…” Mac gave her a puzzled look, his eyebrow raised. 
“Ah still don’t get it. Why in Equestria do you think Ah wouldn’t be excited to have foals?” He asked. 
“Well…I thought…maybe you just…didn’t want to…be a…father…” She dragged out, her expression gloomy. Fluttershy refused to make eye contact with him. 
“Do…do you not want to be a…mother?” Mac asked nervously. 
Fluttershy jumped up, her face alert. “OF COURSE! YES! OF COURSE I DO!” She nodded vigorously, her head flying up and down. Her voice was louder than usual. 
“I’ve always wanted to be a mother! I really want to raise a foal and to feed them with a little spoon and to play with their little hooves-,” 
Fluttershy lifted her hooves up to her face and tapped them gently. 
“-and to let them explore the world and to take them to their first day of school-,” 
At this point, Mac was grinning at his wife with an amused expression.
“-and to see them grow up and to get their cutiemarks and-oh dear…” she went silent when she realized she was rambling. 
Mac burst out into laughter. Fluttershy soon joined him, though her giggles were a lot quieter than his booming chuckles. 
Big Mac slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. He gave her a small peck on the cheek, earning him a dazzling smile. 
“Ah love ya. Ah just wish you’d talk more, you have such an angelic voice. Ah could listen to it fer days. And you are just so gosh darn purdy’. It’d be nice if you’d stop shying away from the world.” He nuzzled her. 
Fluttershy blushed, not knowing her husband was such a sweet talker. 
“Aren’t you sweet?” She teased, kissing his nose. 

Angel Bunny watched all of this with a displeased look, sticking his paw in his mouth, gagging. 

The two sat in silence, holding each other in a loving embrace. They stared off into the distance, neither having a care in the world. And Mac was deep in thought. 
‘Ah’m going to be a father…Ah-Ah’m going to raise my own foal…’ He had a big goofy grin on his face. Though, the grin disappeared as a negative thought passed into his mind. 
‘Do Ah know how to raise a foal? Am Ah going to be a good dad? What if they don’t love me!? What if they wish they had a better father?! What if-,’ His damaging thought process ended as Fluttershy laid her head on his neck. She hummed tiredly, closing her eyes. 
He wondered if she had fallen asleep and it was a confirmed when he heard her very quiet, barely noticeable snoring. 
Mac smiled and kissed her forehead. 
“Goodnight, sugarpie.” 
And Mac didn’t need to worry about being a wrongful parent, he would always have Fluttershy there to help him. 

> Some Adorable Torture by Mister Bunny
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Angel eyed the duo, tossing a carrot in his hand. 
Fluttershy was lying on Mac’s large chest, snoring quietly. Mac had his hoof placed carefully but protectively on her belly. The other arm was draped around her shoulder. His head was resting on her soft, silky mane. 
Rarity would have probably jumped up and down giggling at their adorable snuggle session. 
Not Angel. ‘How disgusting.’ He gaged. 
He eyed the carrot and prepared to fire. He wasn’t sure of where to aim. He didn’t want to his Fluttershy’s belly: he wanted attention and food but he didn’t want his Mamma or his Mamma’s unborn foal to be hurt. Her forehead or Mac’s forehead would do. 
‘Hmm…’ He thought deviously. ‘Eenie Meenie Miney Mo…’ Angel made his decision. 

“Ow!” Mac yelped as a carrot hit his forehead. He raised a large hoof to rub the injured area. ‘Why does it hurt so much? It was just a carrot…wait…there’s only one animal who can throw that hard…’ Macintosh looked around the room with an evil glare. He spotted the devilish rabbit on the coffee table. 
Angel Bunny had his paws crossed, his grin wide and his eyebrows raised. He certainly wasn’t trying to hide the obvious evidence. 
“Why Ah outta-,” Mac started to get off the couch and raised his hoof in annoyance but lay back as his wife nestled closer. She had a peaceful smile on her muzzle. 
Mac sighed as he gave in to his wife’s unconscious tempts. He kept his tight, protective grip on her belly as he eyed the bunny for any scheming plots to end their sweet cuddle session. The rabbit intensified his glare and gave a little snarl. 
Big Mac had to give him credit. For a little fluff, he had a mean snarl. 
“Whaddya want?” Mac asked in his drawl. 
Angel Bunny didn’t respond. He eyes Fluttershy and looked back to Mac. 
“Nuh uh, she’s sleeping tranquilly, Ah ain’t waking her.” He refused. 
Angel didn’t seem to like this answer. He hopped off the table and closer to the couch. Mac raised an eyebrow curiously, unsure of what his lover’s beloved pet was up to. Angel hopped onto Mac’s lap and onto his chest. He placed his little nose on Mac’s large snout and looked deep into his emerald orbs. Mac’s eyebrows were now raised in curiosity and fear. He had learned not to underestimate this certain rabbit. 
Angel glanced at Fluttershy. 
“What?” Mac asked. 
Angel gestured over to the mare again. 
“What?” Mac asked, a little louder. 
Angel shrugged and hoped off Mac. He bounded over to Fluttershy’s head. The bunny landed gracefully on her forehead without waking her. Angel leaned forward and studied her face. He started off by tickling her nose, making Fluttershy wiggle her snout. 
This made Mac smile in amusement. 
Angel tapped his chin and blew on her ear. After nothing happened, he blew inside of the ear. Fluttershy gently shook her head; eyes still closed, and folded her ear a few times. 
Mac felt he should tell Angel to ‘bugger’ off, but decided against it, liking the teasing and his marefriend’s reactions to them. 
Angel leaned forward a little more and messed with her mouth. He dragged her mouth apart, making it look like she was smiling widely. 
Mac chortled quietly. 
Angel stopped when a little tongue poked out, ready to ward off the threat of invaders in her castle. 
The rabbit poked lightly above her eye, annoying the eyelid. Fluttershy gently shook her head again. Angel blew on her eyelid, getting her to shake her head a little rougher this time. Angel quickly bounced down to pluck a loose feather from her wing. He bounced back up to her forehead. 
Mac raised an eyebrow, confused. 
Angel tickled under Fluttershy’s nose. 
Mac smiled and nodded in agreement, seeing where this was going. 
The rabbit felt egged on as his tickled around the snout, getting the mare to scrunch her nose up in annoyance. He continued the adorable torture relentlessly. 
Finally, they got what they wanted it. 
“Aaaaacho!” The sneeze was small and quiet, just what one would have expected from her. Her eyes flittered open in surprise.  
“W-what happened?” The Pegasus asked. She looked to her husband. 
He was covering his face with his hooves, his massive body shaking with laughter. 
“Mac?” She asked confused. 
He lowered his hooves. His smile was wide as he kissed her forehead. Fluttershy rubbed the spot where the tender kiss was gently laid. “What is it? Why were you laughing?” Fluttershy asked. 
“Because you’re probly’ more adorable asleep than you are awake.” Angel nodded. 
The two boys stood up and walked off into the kitchen, Mac ready to feed the now liked rabbit. Fluttershy sat on the couch confused. Her eyebrow was raised and her muzzle was contorted. 
“Huh?” Was all she mumbled. 


> Team Effort
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy rubbed her head and got up from the couch. She began to walk into the kitchen where Angel and Mac disappeared. She looked through to see Mac helping Angel. Fluttershy’s eyebrows rose in surprise. Since when did her husband like Angel Bunny? Enough to feed him? 
“Am I… missing something?” She asked as she walked inside. Mac was putting a salad together! Maybe it wasn’t Angel’s favorite, but it wasn’t just a carrot. 
After filling the bottom of the bowl, Mac looked to Angel who was on the counter next to him. Angel tapped his chin and hopped to get a tomato. He hopped back and handed it to Mac who started to chop it up. He slid the tomato slices into the salad and looked back to Angel for the next step.
“W-what?” Fluttershy asked. Neither rabbit nor stallion answered.
Fluttershy watched curiously as all of this went on. Finally, Angel hopped on Mac’s head and dropped a cherry. It landed perfectly on top. 
Mac looked with pride at the meal while Angel pulled it over to him. He began to wolf it down. “Angel…Ah think ya should slow down,” Mac informed. 
Angel looked up at him with a dirty glare and returned scarfing down the salad. 
Mac sighed while Fluttershy smiled. Even Mac couldn’t plead the rabbit to take it easy.
Big Macintosh trotted over to the cream colored Pegasus. “Um…what happened? What did I miss?” Fluttershy asked. 
“Angel and Ah had some fun while you were asleep.” He said with a chuckle. Fluttershy lifted her hooves to her face, panicked. She was feeling for any whipped cream or ink or some sort of prank. If they had had ‘fun’ while she was sleeping, they most likely meant they played around with her unconscious form. 
“W-what do you mean ‘fun’?” She asked nervously. 
Mac turned around and bopped her gently on the muzzle, making Fluttershy more confused than scared. The stallion chucked when she went cross-eyed to glance at her ‘booped’ nose. 
“We didn’t do anythin’ to ya,” he said. “If that’s what yer worried about. We only tried to wake ya.” 
Fluttershy looked over to Angel Bunny who took a brief second of eating to flash her and bright smile. Then he returned to finishing the meal. 
“Tried?” The Pegasus tilted her head. 
“Well…we kind of weren’t trying to wake ya…we just wanted to have some fun and see how you’d react.” Mac leaned forward and kissed her on the snout. “Worked pretty well.” 
Fluttershy didn’t feel like any of her questions had been answered but she ignored it. 
“Are you hungry? Ah think Ah’m getting better at making food. Ah’m willing to give it a try.” Mac offered. Fluttershy smiled and said, “And I know it’d be good because you made it. But no thank you sweet heart.” She gave him a peck. 
Mac smiled at his wife’s warm kiss. She began to walk away as Mac rubbed his cheek. He looked over to the mare of his dreams. To tease him, Fluttershy put a shake in her walk, swaying her tail and backside from side to side. The earth pony’s mouth dropped open and a tongue lolled out. 
Fluttershy glanced back to see Mac’s reaction and giggled at what she saw. Apparently her sexy teasing was working. She stopped waging her backside and walked off to the living room. 
Big Macintosh shook his head to clear his mind and trotted after his wife. 

> Off To See Twilight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

					Early Next Day

Mac tightened his grip around his snuggle bunny, nuzzling her soft comfy neck. He gave her a quick morning kiss on the- wait. 
His eyes opened in surprise as he saw himself kissing a pillow. Where did his wife go? He swore he had just seen here a- 
A muffled vomiting noise came from the bathroom. 
“Oh…” 
Big Mac started to walk down the hall towards the bathroom. To his disgust, the muffling started to disappear. 
“Fluttershy?” He asked standing in front of the door. “Are you alright?” 
After a few seconds of the gross sound, it stopped as Fluttershy snapped, “Do I sound alright?” 
Mac flinched and pulled back his hoof from the door. Fluttershy never yelled like that, even when she was annoyed or angry. 
“Do you want me to come in?” He asked. Mac heard the toilet flush and hoofsteps getting closer. First, he heard running water, then the water went off, and finally the door opened, revealing a tired Fluttershy with messy mane. She had made sure to clean herself up, though. 
“Um…are you okay?” Mac asked cautiously, preparing for a moody response. Luckily, it seemed the regular Fluttershy was back. 
“Yes…I had just…just felt a little…sick earlier today. That’s all.” She would have leant in for a kiss but both knew it was definitely not the right time for smooching. 
“Good,” Mac nodded. “Were you okay when Ah asked you that question, though?” 
Fluttershy blushed and looked down. “S-sorry about that…I-I guess a mood swing had just come early…” Mac used his hoof to push her head up to look at him. 
“That’s fine. Ah knew it wasn’t you. You don’t yell like that.” Fluttershy smiled. “Um…Ah was thinking…we should probly’ get a pregnancy book, huh?” He asked. 
Fluttershy nodded. “That would be a good idea. I do remember some…things…while in…school…” She looked back down at the floor, blushing. 
“But not all?” he finished. Fluttershy nodded, still looking at the ground. “It’s alright; we all had some embarrassin’ talks at that age.” He comforted by gently nuzzling her cheek. 
“I-I know…let’s get ready to visit Twilight.” Fluttershy raised her head and quickly changed the subject. She began to stroll of into the bedroom without waiting for Mac. He raised an eyebrow, confused. “Did Ah say somethin’ wrong?” He asked himself quietly. 


Fluttershy knocked on the Golden Oak Library’s door. She had cleaned herself up and brushed her mane. She had sent Mac to buy a few groceries for the week. Fluttershy preferred to be by herself this time. 
The wooden door opened and a purple baby dragon greeted her. “Hi Fluttershy!” Spike said, opening the door. He ushered her inside. “You need Twilight?” He asked. 
“Actually…yes.” She nodded. Spike closed the door behind her and called out to the studious alicorn. “Twilight! Fluttershy’s here to see you!” 
Said mare made her way down the stairs and towards the pregnant mare and young dragon. 
“Oh why hello Fluttershy. Is there something you need me for?” She asked as she approached her friend. Spike left the two and headed towards the kitchen. 
“Um…actually…yes.” Fluttershy took a deep breath. “I-I had gone to the hospital yesterday-,”
“What?! Are you okay?” Twilight questioned with an alarmed expression. 
“Y-yes! Actually I’m…I’m great.” She looked up at her friend with a large smile. “Mac and I found out that…I’m…pregnant.” Fluttershy felt good to have told somepony besides Mac the big news.  
“You’re p-pregnant?” The purple alicorn asked, eyeing her friend’s tummy. Twilight didn’t notice how uncomfortable the eyeballing was making Fluttershy. The Pegasus ducked behind her mane bashfully. 
“Y-yes…I’m pregnant. I-I need a book about pregnancy and foals.” She told her shocked friend. 
Twilight shook her head to regain her senses. “Sorry…it’s just a shock to hear one of your best friends is going to have a foal.” Twilight trotted towards a shelf to start her look. 
Fluttershy smiled and followed her. 


Fluttershy made her way into the market place looking for her husband. She was carrying the book between her left wing and side. She had scolded herself for forgetting to bring saddlebags. 
After a good five minutes of searching, Fluttershy found her beloved by a stand. The large red stallion stood out while talking to Thunderlane. The two were engaged in what seemed to be an intense conversation so Fluttershy patiently waited for the two to finish. Though the conversation ended abruptly as Thunderlane noticed the mare was waiting. 
He tapped Mac and motioned they had a guest. 
“Hey ‘Shy.” Mac said, looking at the Pegasus. Fluttershy smiled and readjusted her wing to get a better grip on the book. 
“Hi Mac,” She shyly turned to Thunderlane. She hadn’t spoken to him but had seen him flying with Rainbow Dash on her Weather Team. “H-Hi Thunderlane.” 
“Hello Mrs. Fluttershy,” he said gentle-coltly. Fluttershy was pretty sure that wasn’t a word. 
She giggled and blushed. “There’s no need for the formality. You can just call me Fluttershy.” She quietly corrected. 
Thunderlane rubbed the back of his head bashfully. He turned to Mac. “Well…I best get going. Rainbow Dash isn’t happy when her team members are late.” The Pegasus said as he took flight. “Cya’ Mac. Bye Fluttershy.” He nodded and flew off. 
Mac nodded at his friend as he flew away. He turned to his wife and walked closer. “Ah got all of ‘em. Everything you wanted me to get.” Fluttershy showed him the book in her wing and gestured to her cottage. 
“Are you ready to head home?” The canary mare asked. Mac nodded and followed his wife. 
“We can head home and start reading that, right?” Mac raised a hoof and pointed at the pregnancy book. 
Fluttershy nodded. “Soon, yes. Should I make us lunch first?” She turned to face him. Mac smiled and trotted up to her. He gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Ah said Ah’d help ya yesterday. Ah’ll still help ya.” Fluttershy smiled and nuzzled against him. “Mhmm…” she hummed. 
“Aww…yer so cute.” 

> Reactions #1- Rarity and Pinkie Pie
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The two made their way to Fluttershy’s cottage, the mare leaning on her beloved stallion. Mac could tell she was starting to get tired. Fluttershy stumbled and tripped over her hoof. Before she could put out her hooves to stop her fall, Mac’s large hoof kept her up. 
“Careful ‘Shy. Don’t want you or the foal to get hurt now do we?” He asked, lifting her onto her hooves. 
“Thanks sweetie. We certainly wouldn’t.” She stopped briefly to shake her head in an attempt to wake herself back up. 	Though it came as a fail as the mare yawned. Mac smiled at the adorable action. 
Big Mac back-trotted over to his wife to gently poke her with his muzzle. 
“Here. Let me carry ya.” Before she could argue, he swiped her off her feet and onto her back. Mac carefully cantered towards the cottage which was only a few feet away. 
“Mac…you don’t…have…to…” Big Mac heard his wife’s voice drag off as he felt a head rest on his shoulder. He chuckled as he carried his exhausted wife. 
Mac opened the cottage’s door, greeted by an unhappy rabbit. Angel’s arms were crossed as he eyed Mac, not seeing Fluttershy. 
“On my back,” he pointed to the passed out mare. Angel huffed in annoyance as he pointed to his stomach. “Oh really? Fluttershy fed you earlier.” He continued towards the couch. Angel hopped in front of him and pointed to the clock. “Ah’ll make all of us lunch, but can Ah set my Shy down first?”
Angel’s eye twitched when Mac mentioned Fluttershy being ‘his’. What was that supposed to mean? Fluttershy certainly wouldn’t be happy to hear that Mac thought he owned her. 
Though that was truly not Mac’s intention, just Angel misinterpreting his hint to leave them alone. 
Mac carefully placed Fluttershy on the couch, resting her head on a pillow and pulling up a blanket. “Mwah,” Mac kissed her cheek playfully. She was asleep though he noticed she seemed to pucker her lips, as if to kiss some pretend Macintosh. 
Mac chuckled as he walked into the kitchen. “Alright Angel, care to help?” He asked the unoccupied bunny. 
The fluff bounded over to the red earth pony, giving him an ignorant look. 

Fluttershy opened her eyes gently. Her nap wasn’t long but some sleep still glazed her vision. She rose from the couch to look around the room. It was fairly quiet in the living room but she heard some conversation arousing from the kitchen. The young mare got to her hooves and walked over to the cooking station. 
Mac was doing as he said he would: making a meal for Fluttershy to enjoy. She smiled at his kindness and leaned on the door-less frame, admiring her husband from afar.
It looked like he was making some type of salad. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and a small container of dressing rested on the clean counter. The bowl he was placing the chopped ingredients inside wasn’t too large but based on a hunch, Macintosh planned on making the salad a meal for two.
“Could I order two small salads and have them in a big bowl?” Fluttershy giggled mentally. 
Angel Bunny had on an adorable chef hat, flipping through a cook book’s pages. Fluttershy knew she’d have to stay quiet and unnoticed if she wanted to have the bunny keep it on longer.
“How does that look?” She heard Mac asked. She couldn’t see his face; his back was facing towards her. 
Angel tapped his chin before pretending to have a light bulb. He hopped off to Fluttershy’s fruit basket and carried an apple to the farm pony. Mac chuckled and took the apple. 
“How’d Ah miss this? ‘Reckon Ah was thinking too much.” Mac started to cut the apple into slices. She noticed Angel gesture something rude as if trying to say her husband didn’t think too often.
Fluttershy decided it was time to make her presence known. “Ahem,” she said quietly and politely. 
Mac spun around surprised. Angel looked up, spotted his Mamma, and tossed off the chef’s hat. Big Mac tried to hide the vegetables and the meal but only succeeded in knocking a cabbage and a few carrots into the sink and two forks onto the floor. 
“Oops…Ah…Ah didn’t mean for that ta happen.” He said with a blush, reaching down to pick up the dropped silverware. Fluttershy scooped the vegetables out of the sink. She placed them carefully on the counter and pulled out a towel to try them off. While she was wiping the water off the leaves, Mac rubbed his neck as he placed the salad on the kitchen table. 
“Are ya mad?” he asked. Fluttershy looked up at him with a confused expression as if her husband had just announced he was truly a changeling in disguise. 
“Mad? Why would I be mad?” She asked.
“Because Ah caused a ruckus-,”
“But you were making us a lovely lunch. And I really appreciate the offer sweetie. It was nice of you wanting to keep it a surprise. But it’s fine. I’m fine with it. By the looks of it, you’re finished.” She explained. 
The salad did look done. It was large, larger than the one Mac made Angel.
“We can sit and enjoy our lunch, hm?” Mac nodded in agreement. 
………
“Hiya Fluttershy!”
“Hello darling.”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie were gathered at Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie jumping up and down, and Rarity watching her with a slight-displeased look.
“Hi girls.” Fluttershy approached the duo. Sugarcube Corner was fairly quiet for the exception of somepony’s hooves landing on the ground every few moments. 
Fluttershy had asked if the two could meet her somewhere more private like her cottage. Though Pinkie Pie had been persistent, saying she could ask the Cakes for a quick private talk there without any disturbances. And she had said she could make them ‘goodies’ while they chatted.
“Why did you want us to meet up, darling? Is something the matter?” Rarity asked.
“Yeah! Is somepony bothering you? ‘Cuz Dashie and I could totally take care of them!” Pinkie pretended to flex a muscle. Fluttershy gasped as Rarity raised an eyebrow.
“You wouldn’t hurt somepony, would you?” asked a horrified Fluttershy.
“Why of course not! You just throw them a big party like we tried to do for Gilda!” The mares giggled even though the Pegasus flinched at the name.
“So…is somepony giving you trouble?” Pinkie repeated. Rarity looked like she was expecting an answer as well.
“No. It’s actually something really…” Fluttershy took a deep breath, a smile creasing on her lips. She racked her brain for the right word. Pinkie cocked her head curiously. 
“Hugantic? Ginormous?” Pinkie asked. “Totally great? Fab-tabulous?” She whined, wanting to know. 
“I g-guess you could say that but I was thinking-,” Fluttershy was cut off.
“That it is the most-mmgrffphm…” Pinkie Pie’s rambling was cut short by a white hoof. Rarity was shaking her head disapprovingly. 
“Go on darling.” She said, facing Fluttershy and removing her hoof. 
“That I’m…well…I’m pregnant.” The yellow mare was surprised to find she was slightly nervous about telling her best friends the big news. Her meekness had returned and briefly took her voice. 
“What was that?” Pinkie asked.
“I-I’m pregnant.” She said, loud enough to reach her friends’ ears.  
“WHAT?!” Both earth pony and unicorn exclaimed. Fluttershy cringed at their volume. Before Fluttershy could do anything about it, she was quickly tackled to the floor. All she saw was a pink blur charging her down. 
“Oof!” She squealed as hooves wrapped around her, slightly making her fall less painful. 
Fluttershy opened her eyes to see Pinkie Pie with a huge smile, eye twinkling. “P-Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, her voice strained from a large hoof on her chest. 
“Oops! Sorry Fluttershy!” Pinkie quickly jumped off the yellow mare and helped her up.
As Fluttershy dusted herself off, she was almost tackled by another hug. This time by both Pinkie Pie and Rarity. 
Fluttershy blushed and smiled wildly as her friends hugged her tightly. She couldn’t see their faces but could tell by the hug that they were both happy. And despite Fluttershy’s fears of being a mother- of which she kept a secret- she couldn’t help but put them into the back of her mind. 

> Reactions #2 The Apple Family
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


“Howdy big bro! What brings you here? Ah gave you the day off.” Applejack spoke as if she was her brother’s boss. She wiped a roll of sweat of her forehead. The mare had finished her bucking for the day by the looks of it. 
“Hey sis. Fluttershy and Ah wanted to tell you something.” Big Macintosh explained.
Applejack peeked behind the red stallion, expecting to maybe see a hiding Fluttershy. Though her shy friend was there. 
“Um Mac?” 
“Yeah AJ?” 
“Where is Fluttershy? In case you didn’t notice, she ain’t behind ya.” Applejack said, stating the obvious. 
“Oh what? She ain’t?” Mac pretended to be surprised and looked behind him. He chuckled and looked back at Applejack who was rolling her eyes. 
“Is Granny inside? There’s something Ah want to tell y’all.” Big Mac trotted up to his sister and picked up a basket of apples with his mouth. He hauled it onto his back and followed his sister. She was carrying a basket as well. 
“What do ya want to tell us? Is somethin’ wrong?” Applejack asked. 
“Mnmm…shouldn’t tell ya without Shy here. Once she’s here, we can talk.” Mac said. He stretched his shoulder, readjusting the load of apples. He stopped before he tipped the basket over. 
The orange mare nodded nervously, pretending like everything was fine. Mac’s tone suggested everything was fine and dandy but she couldn’t help but feel something was wrong. Why have Fluttershy and Mac come to announce something to the family? The last time it was Mac and that was help for the proposal. 
She looked horrified as the thought of a divorce popped into her head. What if Mac didn’t really love Fluttershy? But what if she did? What if the poor filly was heartbroken? What if-
‘Stop it, AJ.’ She barked at herself. ‘Mac ain’t like that. They’re fine.’ 
“Do ya think she’ll be here soon?” Applejack asked as the farmhouse came into view. Mac nodded but kept silent. 
The siblings walked silently into the house, Applejack leading, Macintosh followed. “Granny Smith?” Applejack called. 
“Huh? AJ is that you?” they heard their granny call. 
“Yeah and Big Macintosh, too.” The mare said, spotting her grandma in a rocking chair. She had squinted to see her grandson. 
“Big Mac? It is you!” She exclaimed as if he had just returned from war. 
“Eeyup.” He assured with a nod. The stallion sat down onto the couch beside her sister. Granny Smith had woken up now and was inspecting Big Mac. He wasn’t exactly sure why but over his foalhood he learned to not question Granny, nor her methods. 
“Why are ya here, sonny?” her tone was curious though the wording seemed a bit harsh to Big Macintosh. 
“Ah wanted to tell ya somethin’ but Ah have to wait for Fluttershy to arrive.” Mac explained. 
Granny smiled at hearing her grand-daughter-in-law’s name. Mac had always felt good to know she approved of her fillyfriend back when they began dating. Since he had lost his parents at a young age, Granny had acted as a mother and father to Mac. Once he was old enough, he had taken the fatherly role and tried to support the family as best as he could.
Fluttershy was obviously Applejack’s friend and he had heard how she defended Apple Bloom and her friends against a cockatrice, so it was just Granny’s consent he had needed. She had given it and Fluttershy was ‘welcomed’ into the family. 
And Granny would certainly be glad to hear Fluttershy would be having a foal. Ever since the incident with Ms. Cheerilee and the love potion, Granny had gotten the idea of great grandfoals. She bugged Mac over and over again and when she found Fluttershy, she had almost embarrassed both of them by bringing it up. Almost. Almost… 
Mac heard the door open creek open and hoofsteps followed. The door closed and soon his wife came into view. She scanned the room, seeing her husband, one of her best friends, and a very nice but sometimes scary grand-mother-in-law. She smiled shyly as she sat next to Mac. All eyes had been glued to here before Applejack spoke up.
“What did you two want ta tell us?” She asked. It was time for the conversation to begin. 
Despite her ridiculous and incredibly unrealistic but still frightening scenarios, Fluttershy was jittery and excited to tell more people about her pregnancy. 
She wasn’t sure if Mac had the same vibe, though. 
“Well…um…I-I had found out…the other day that…I-I’m going to have a foal.” Fluttershy carefully expressed. She didn’t look up in fear of a negative response. 
“Ah’m going to be an auntie!” Applejack had her mouth open, ready to speak but was interrupted by a filly’s voice from upstairs. Everypony looked towards the stairs to see an excited Apple Bloom. 
“Eeyup.” Mac said simply. 
“Woohoo!” The filly jumped for joy. Everypony couldn’t help but smile at the contagious happiness. Apple Bloom came bounding down the stairs and hopped onto the couch. 
“Really?! Ah’m going to be an aunt?” She asked, looking at each of the older ponies for an answer. Fluttershy nodded as Applejack answered, “Ya are. So am Ah.” The older mare didn’t have the same enthusiasm as her sister but she still seemed excited. 
Apple Bloom ran up to Fluttershy with a big smile. She looked to her to her brother and back to Fluttershy. She put a light yellow hoof to her chin as she thought. Finally, with a raised eyebrow, she asked, “How exactly did that happen?” 
Fluttershy and Big Macintosh’s eyes went wide and a big red blush spread across their faces. They had forgotten she wasn’t at the age to know yet. The words caught up in their throats as they opened and closed their mouths wordlessly. Applejack was practically rolling on the ground, her body trembling with laughter. 
Granny Smith was chuckling lightly. She interrupted their humiliated mumbling to save their faces from becoming tomatoes, especially Fluttershy’s. 
“Apple Bloom, you’ll know soon enough. Now why don’t ya head upstairs?” 
Apple Bloom grumbled something incoherent as she trudged up the steps. They heard the door close shut. 
“So how did y’all find out?” Applejack asked, ending her laughter. Big Mac was glaring at her sister with mild annoyance. He huffed quietly.
“Um…I wasn’t feeling well a few days ago. I thought maybe it was a simple cold or fever. But I don’t know how I didn’t pick up on the symptoms at first. Though when I thought more about it, I had a little suspicion.” Fluttershy explained.  
They nodded, understanding. 

Four down. One to go.

> Reaction #3 Rainbow Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Almost everypony Fluttershy wanted to tell the news to had known. Everypony except Rainbow Dash.
She hoped it didn’t look like she had forgotten about her. Or that she didn’t want the cocky flier to know. That wasn’t the case at all. 
Things played out in an odd way: Fluttershy needed a pregnancy book – she told Twilight, she had run into Rarity at Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie Pie overheard them – she told them, and it was certainly important that Macintosh’s family knew.
So that left Rainbow Dash.
Fluttershy was three weeks and five days into the first trimester. Every few days she would have brief morning sickness and a mild craving for something thing. The mood swings hadn’t come yet, Mac was grateful, but they knew they would. 
The mare would have to exit briefly to – ah, as Rarity would put it – “powder her nose”. 
Fluttershy was on her way to meet up with her friend since fillyhood. She had gotten word to her to have them gather at the field where Rainbow usually practiced and Fluttershy cheered her on. 
The yellow mare could see the small field coming into view. Rainbow Dash was circling a large cloud to do who knows what with.
“Rainbow?” Fluttershy called, flying below the cloud. Rainbow had been ready to have the cloud rain but seeing her friend below it, she knew it’d be better if she didn’t. 
“Hey pal. What did you want to talk to me about?” Rainbow Dash asked, gliding down to the grassy ground. 
“Um…well…” Fluttershy twisted her mane in her hooves nervously. She thought she should have gotten over the anxiety of telling ponies the news, especially her best friends, but she hadn’t. 
“Yeah, ‘Shy?” Rainbow walked closer to Fluttershy, giving her a concerned look. 
“That I’m…I-I’m…Mac and I…we’re…we’re…” Fluttershy whispered the last inaudible squeak. 
“Flutters? Are you okay?” The cyan coated mare asked. Fluttershy now realized she was not only nervous but dizzy, feeling nauseous and light headed. She prayed to Celestia she wasn’t sick. If she became ill while carrying the foal, the filly or colt could become severely harmed and could possibly die.
The crème coated mare tried to reach out to Rainbow with her left hoof while holding her right hoof to her forehead. 
“Shy? Shy!” She heard Rainbow yell as the Pegasus blacked out. 
………
Fluttershy opened her eyes. She was in a very bright white room. She was lying on a rather uncomfortable bed with blue sheets. The Pegasus heard beeping of machines close by. The mare knew immediately that she was in a hospital. 
She remembered that morning. She remembered meeting up with Rainbow Dash. And she remembered not feeling well.
Then it ended. 

“Ah! Mrs. Apple!” She heard a stallion’s voice call. Not many called her ‘Mrs. Apple’ so she knew it had to be somepony formal, like a doctor. 
The unicorn came into view. He had a cyan coat and a dark blue mane. He had welcoming amber eyes and a stethoscope around his neck. Fluttershy had to squint though she could spot his cutiemark: a needle. 
“W-what happened?” she asked him. 
The doctor walked closer to her bed side. On his name tag it said: Dr. Saline. 
“You passed out and you were brought to the hospital.” Saline stated the obvious. 
“But what’s wrong? Why did I pass out? More importantly, is the foal okay?!” She asked loudly. 
The doctor nodded. “We think the reason why you passed out was a mix of things. You hadn’t eaten breakfast-,” Fluttershy blushed remembering her mistake. “-you were tired, and your friend said you looked nervous. Stress is never a good thing to have during pregnancy, Mrs. Apple.” He said softly but with a strict tone. 
Fluttershy nodded, embarrassed at her own foolishness. 
“C-could all have that really been what made me black out?” The pink-maned mare asked. Dr. Saline thought for a moment. 
He responded, “I think they’re might have been another factor.” 
At the mention of another – possible dangerous – cause Fluttershy’s previously folded ears because of shame flew up. 
She remained quiet as she waited for the doctor to respond.
“I’d like to tell you Mrs. Apple. I really would,” he began walking to the door, his back facing her. “But it’s only a theory and it’s too early in the pregnancy to confirm or deny.” And without another word, he left a flabbergasted Fluttershy. 

The door opened back up shortly after. 
Pinkie Pie came bouncing in followed by Applejack and Twilight. Rarity and Rainbow Dash were right behind them. Fluttershy didn’t see any sign of a worried husband yet. 
“Ooh Fluttershy! Are you okay?” Pinkie reached the side of the bed and stopped bouncing. “Dashie told us that you were going to tell her something and then you blacked out. Are you alright?” The pink earth pony was inspecting Fluttershy, lifting her hooves, studying her arms. Fluttershy blushed and discreetly shooed her away. 
“Y-yes…I’m fine.” Fluttershy said, sitting upright. 
“Is the foal okay?” Twilight asked. Everypony nodded and leaned in to see what Fluttershy would say. All save for Rainbow Dash who looked confused. 
“Foal?” She was ignored by the others. 
“The doctor said the foal wasn’t hurt but he said-,” Fluttershy continued, her small voice managing to shadow over Rainbow’s baffled voice. 
“Wait. Wait. Foal?” She tried again. 
“-that he think there was another factor. But he didn’t tell me what it was.” 
Rainbow looked at all of her friends who seemed to understand. Foal? What did they mean by foal? 
“That’s awfully strange.” Rarity chimed. 
“Yeah, why would the doc say somethin’ was wrong but not tell ya it?” added Applejack. 
“He said it was an ‘idea’ and that he wasn’t positive if he was correct.” Fluttershy said nervously. 
“I’m sure if it was something harmful to the foal, he’d tell you. He must have somewhat of a good reason even if we don’t see it.” Twilight reasoned. Everypony except Rainbow Dash nodded. 
“Whoa whoa whoa! What do all of you mean?” Rainbow finally got their attention. 
“What is it Dashie?” Pinkie Pie asked. “What do you mean what do we mean?” 
“About a foal? What about a foal?” Rainbow’s eyebrow was raised. 
“Oh…I-I guess after I passed out you didn’t hear the news.” Fluttershy said. 
“News?” 
“I’m pregnant.” 
The cyan pegasus’ mouth dropped open in surprise. Everypony started to chuckle at Rainbow’s perplexed expression. The news had come as quite the shocker. 
“Y-you’re preg-,” Rainbow was interrupt by a familiar stallion’s voice.
“Shy?” 
The mares’ attention was turned to the doorway where a muscular red earth pony stood. He looked to Fluttershy with a worried expression. 
“Come on girls, we should give them privacy.” Twilight led the others to the waiting room. 
“Flutters is gonna’ have a foal?” the couple heard Rainbow ask in the hallway. 
“Yup! I’ll explain it to you Dashie!” They heard Pinkie say. 
Fluttershy blushed as she remembered Rainbow’s cluelessness. 

“Fluttershy? Are you okay?” Mac walked over to Fluttershy’s bed. He placed a caring hoof on the edge. Fluttershy moved her hoof to lay her hoof on his. 
“Yes, I’m fine. I had gotten a little nervous when I was going to tell Rainbow Dash. I had also forgotten to eat breakfast today and that had bothered the little foal-,” Fluttershy looked down at her belly, hoping to see a little foal look up at her. But there was no avail. “-and I had passed out. The doctor told me the foal was okay.” 
Macintosh smiled as he kissed her forehead. “Ah’m glad yer okay and that the foal’s okay. Ah don’t know Ah’d do if somethin’ bad happened to either of ya.” Fluttershy smiled warmly. 
“Thanks for caring, sweetie. I-I really appreciate it.” 
The two had stared into each other’s eyes lovingly before Mac broke the silence. “Ah overheard you and the others while in the hallway. Somethin’ about the doctor refusing to tell ya something?” Mac asked, slightly offended. 
“I’m sure it’s nothing bad. He said he wanting to confirm his suspicion before telling me. I’d like to know but I’m sure we’ll know soon enough.” She kissed Mac on the cheek, making him blush a pink. 
“Hey…can you leave today? Or does he want you to stay?” Mac asked. Fluttershy looked around but shrugged. 
“I’m not sure. I’m sure somepony could ask him once they see him. I-,” Fluttershy’s stomach grumbled rather loudly. Fluttershy was reminded that she hadn’t eaten for the day and that the foal wanted food! 
She blushed at the loud noise. “Oops…” she sheepishly smiled. 
Mac chuckled and said, “Ah’ll get the nurse to get you some food. And Ah’ll ask the doctor, Shy.” He gave her a quick kiss before exiting. Fluttershy smiled and rested her head. She was hungry but awfully tired… 

> A Big Surprise
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				Fifteen Weeks into the Pregnancy 

Fluttershy took the quilt off from her yellow body, hurrying off to the bathroom. She traveled as fast as her small, yellow legs could carry her, rushing inside the bathroom. 
Mac was most likely still asleep. Sometimes Fluttershy incidents woke him which made her feel slightly bad. He worked so hard on the farm and helped her so much through this pregnancy that he needed sleep, too. 
She didn’t hear any hoofsteps which was good. Fluttershy flushed the toilet and washed her hooves. She rubbed her eyes and splashed water on her face to wake herself up. The mare gazed into the mirror to study her frayed self. 
She really was excited to be a mother. So very much, there was no doubt. And she didn’t even feel scared that something would go wrong. But she did feel tired of being hungry and sick and sleepy and weak. She hated when she snapped and there would be a mood swing. They didn’t happen too often, thank Celestia, but when she did it wasn’t pleasant. 
Being four months pregnant, at least seven remained. And today, she’d find out if it was a filly or a colt. 
Fluttershy walked out of the bathroom, switching the light off. She could go to bed so she might as well wait for Mac to return. 
………
With today being a big day, Fluttershy was anxious. She really wanted to see the foal but was scared she was doing something wrong. What if she was starving it? What if she was feeding it too much? What if that one time she really wanted chocolate cake – 
“Shy, calm down. This isn’t yer first checkup. They’ve seen how the foal’s doing. We’re just gonna’ see if it’s a he or a she. Yer a great mother.” Mac comforted. 
Fluttershy nodded but her nerves were still bothering her. 
“Let’s get going. We don’t wanna’ be late.” 


“Mrs. Apple?”
The hospital was fairly empty. Only a few ponies, a colt with a painful headache, a mare with a fever, and a stallion with a broken wing, were there. Of course said mare looked up nervously. The nurse beckoned her over. 
She looked over to Mac who nodded. 
It was time. 


“Well Mrs. Apple, everything is going well. You’re eating well, they’re eating well. Just keep doing what you’re doing and they’ll be fine.” Dr. Saline said while smiling. 
Fluttershy and Mac didn’t pick up on the odd pronoun the doctor said at first. 
Then, Fluttershy’s head popped up. 
“They? W-wait, you said t-they?” She asked with wide eyes. Mac’s eyes went wide in surprise, too. 
“Yes. The filly and colt are doing well.” 
“FILLY?” Mac asked his jaw dropping. 
“AND?” Both said in unison. 
“COLT?” Fluttershy finished, surprise written on her face. The medical stallion chuckled and nodded. “Ha! Why yes indeed! You are pregnant with fraternal twins, my dear! Congratulations!” 
Mac stared blankly at the doctor, his eyes wide and mouth open. Fluttershy, however, had a he smile as she studied her belly. She’d give birth to a filly and colt almost at the same time. Would they be alike in any way? They weren’t identical twins but they could still look similar, right? 
“Oh what a pleasure!” Fluttershy wrapped her hooves around Mac’s neck, hugging him tightly. “Twins! How exciting! Two bundles of joy at once!” She squeed, her smile somehow growing. 
“Uh…eeyup?” Mac faked a smile. Fluttershy was too anxious to notice her husband’s unsure tone. 
Fluttershy faced Dr. Saline and asked, “Back when I had fainted, a few weeks ago, is this what you suspected? What your ‘theory’ was?” 
The unicorn nodded. “It was, Mrs. Apple. You seemed to be going through a lot more trouble than a regular pregnant mare. I wasn’t positive if you truly were having two foals, an ultrasound would never be able to tell at three weeks. But it looks like I was correct.” 
The two continued to talk while Mac turned his head away. 
Twins? Two foals to care for at the same time? Mac’s early fear of doubt returned with vengeance. Ah could handle one with her help but two? What if only one likes me? What if neither of them likes me? What if-
“Mac?” his wife’s sweet voice called. 
“H-huh?” the farm horse looked up. 
“Are you okay? I was calling you for a bit. Are you ready to go home?” She asked. The doctor was looking at him as well. Mac nodded and got to his hooves. He held out a hoof to his wife for her to hold on to. She lowered herself down from the table and onto the floor. 
Dr.Saline nodded, took his papers, and led them out of the room. 


Fluttershy hadn’t said anything further on the matter until they were in a more secluded area. She looked about, scanning for any ear-witnesses. Once she was positive they were alone, she leaped onto Mac and nuzzled into his neck. 
“Twins, Mac! Twins! Mhmm…” she moved her head up on top of his, trying to look down into his emerald eyes. He had to move his head upwards and she had to reposition herself to have them finally look into each other’s eyes. 
Once Fluttershy saw he didn’t share her giddy smile, hers dropped. Her ears drooped, too. 
“What’s wrong, sugarcube?” Mac asked spotting the sad look he didn’t like on his lover. 
“You aren’t happy about this, are you?” Fluttershy asked looking distraught. She thought her husband would share in on her happiness but the look on her face told her he didn’t. 
“Ah am…Ah am…” he tried to reassure. Fluttershy kept her frown. Mac gave in. 
“Alright…Ah’m…Ah’m nervous. Ah’m scared. W-what if Ah’m a bad dad. Ah felt this way when ya first found out you were pregnant. But it went away. You’d be there to help me. But, now it’s back. One we could handle. Two…well…Ah don’t-,” Mac’s eye had been drooping in sadness but opened wide as he felt lips contact with his. 
Fluttershy was leaning over him, giving him an upside down kiss. He got a view of her neck which he was tempted to nip at. He knew better though, a nip would lead to a passionate kiss which would lead to a much more heated situation and Fluttershy was pregnant. 
She broke off, climbing off from his back. 
She stretched her body, flexing her wings. While closing her eyes, absorbing the sunlight, Mac lightly nipped the edge of her wing. Fluttershy’s eyes opened wide and she gasped. Against Fluttershy’s will her wings popped up from her back, making her face look as red as a ripe strawberry. 
Mac stopped from going any further, knowing any more immature attacks would get both of them excited. 
“Come on, let’s head back inside.” He nudged Fluttershy’s behind to get her walking. She started to trot, her head facing downwards, her wings still up. Mac held in his laughter, following after his wife. He made sure to distance himself from her, however. Fluttershy didn’t like being embarrassed in an “intimate” matter if she wasn’t ready and she’d be annoyed at him soon enough. 


> Starry Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

					
Later That Night
Fluttershy washed a ceramic plate. It was a beautiful white plate with dark blue flowers around the edges. She remembered that her grandmother had given it to her when she moved to PonyVille. 
She handed the plate to Big Macintosh who gently and carefully placed it inside the cabinet. 
Fluttershy shut the water off and wiped her hooves. Big Mac closed the cabinet and looked to Fluttershy.
“Hey sweets. Ya wanna...Ah don't know...watch the stars?” He asked hopefully. Fluttershy smiled brightly and gave him a peck on the nose. She giggled as he went cross eyed to look at his kissed snout. 
“Of course,” she tossed the rag onto the counter and gestured to the door. Big Mac smiled and started to trot out towards the door. 
The couple laid down a checkered blanket on the grass. It overlooked a free field with meadow flowers and lilies. They had a perfect view of the beautiful night sky. Big Mac took a seat in the middle and patted the spot next to him, an inviting smirk on his face. 
Fluttershy sat down and cuddled up to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and admired the stars. She felt a light pressure on the top of her head. When she looked up, Mac was relaxing his head on hers, his green orbs looking up at the big black sky. 
Big Mac looked down at her and looked at her eyes. The stars were reflecting like pools of water. As Fluttershy studied the atmosphere as Mac studied her eyes. Her speaking broke his trance. 
“It really is beautiful.” Fluttershy commented. 
Mac looked at her face: her eyes, nose, eyelashes, lips, ears, and mane. With a content smile he said, “Eeyup. Beautiful indeed.” 
Fluttershy didn’t realize she was being watched until she snuck a look at her husband. When she saw he was already at her, she blushed. Fluttershy turned to face Mac.
Mac took a quick glance towards the sky only to return his eyes to the Pegasus. “Oh, did ya mean the sky? Yeah, that’s purdy, too.” He teased. Fluttershy blushed and giggled. 


“Haha! Bet you can’t catch me!” The filly’s voice was sweet and youthful with a southern accent, her smile wide as she was chased around the yard playfully. 
“What makes ya think that?!” A stallion asked, chasing after the little filly. 
Fluttershy watched this from the porch. Sitting next to her was her son. He was a Pegasus, just like her. 
“What’s wrong Sun Crest?” 
Sun Crest had a cream colored coat matching his mother’s along with her teal eyes but with his father’s orange mane. It was longer, like Macintosh’s. 
“Why don’t you join them?” 
Sun Crest looked to the porch’s wood flooring, studying any nails or marks or different boards to keep from making eye contact with his mom. 
“I-I just want to spend time with you.” Sun Crest didn’t have their southern accent, he had Fluttershy’s. 
Fluttershy smiled and placed a hoof to her heart, touched. 
“I appreciate it Sun Crest. But what is bothering you? You can tell me dearie.” Fluttershy said her motherly side showing. 
Sun Crest sat in silence, tapping his hooves together. He looked up to see his dad and sister rolling on the ground. He regained his posture and looked to his mother. 
“Okay…I’ll tell you.” Fluttershy faced her son, ready to listen. 
“I-It’s just…there’s this filly in my class-,” Fluttershy’s eyes went wide briefly as she made sure she heard her son right. He looked at her with a slightly annoyed look. Fluttershy shook off the surprised look and motioned for him to continue. 
“-and she’s…she’s…she’s really pretty. She’s taller than almost everyone, about my size-,” Sun Crest was developing and had grown over the shorter ages of…well…pre-puberty. Autumn Harvest, Sun Crest’s twin sister, reminded Fluttershy of when she gained her cutiemark.
“-she has really pretty purple eyes. She’s a unicorn. She’s funny and sweet and smart.” He had a look in his eyes that Fluttershy knew. Young love is adorable. She thought. 
“She sounds wonderful dear.” Fluttershy said kindly. Sun Crest smiled. 
“S-she is.” His smile disappeared. Fluttershy’s ears flattened in concern. 
“Then what’s wrong sweetheart?” She asked, draping a wing over his young body. 
“…the school dance is coming up…” that statement was enough to spell out the situation. Fluttershy moved closer and pulled the young Pegasus into a hug. She rested her head on his, his head resting on her shoulder. 
“You’re a wonderful young colt, Sun Crest. You-,” she was interrupted by a hurt Sun Crest. 
“But the bullies. They said that I’m not a good Pegasus. I can’t fly. They said I live here in PonyVille because Cloudsdale wouldn’t except me!” He wailed into his mother’s shoulder. 
Fluttershy was powered by two things: anger and love. 
She hugged Sun Crest tighter. Nopony would dare hurt her son again! 
Once he calmed down, Fluttershy decided to speak. “Sun Crest?”
He looked up at his mom. “Yes mom?” He asked. 
“You know…at your age…I was bullied, too.” She said sadly. Sun Crest’s eyes flew open in surprise. 
“What?! Who would bully you?” He asked, fresh tears pricking in his eyes. 
Fluttershy laughed as she wiped away her tears, both in amusement and in pain. “I ask myself the same thing about you. 	But I wasn’t a good flier, either. It’s most likely genetic…I’m sorry about that. I wished I hadn’t given it to you.” 
Sun Crest hugged his mom, burying his head in her chest. His mom blushed as she nuzzles his head. 
“It isn’t your fault. I don’t blame you.” 
“T-thanks, Sun Crest. You don’t know how good it feels to hear that from you,” she said sincerely.  “I just want the best for you.” 
“Did people really make fun of you mom?” Sun asked concern on his young face. 
“I-I’m…well…yes. I couldn’t fly while everypony else younger than me could. I was very clumsy, too. They called me names like ‘Kluztershy’.” Fluttershy felt a pain in her heart, remembering memories she once tried to forget. 
“What happened? You can fly now.” 
“Well…then I met Rainbow Dash. She was such a good flier and she wanted to be my friend. I couldn’t believe it at the time but I’m grateful it happened. She gave me little practices and I seemed to make progress. Eventually, overtime it got better. I promise it will for you.” She kissed his forehead. 
“Thanks mom.” 
“Now why don’t you go join your dad and your sister? Tell them I’ll start making lunch.” She sent him on his way and walked inside the cottage. 


Angel Bunny watched the two from afar. Fluttershy’s head was still rested on Big Macintosh’s shoulder and he was still resting his head on her soft mane. The only thing different this time: they were asleep. It was supposed to be warm that night so Angel decided to let the two rest. Outside. Without a comfy bed.
While Angel rested inside. On that very comfy bed.
Life was sweet. 

	
> Pancakes and Pillow Fights
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

				
The Next Morning

Fluttershy gently fluttered open her eyes, yawning deeply. She looked around to see she was on a grassy field, her cottage far behind them. 
Big Mac had shifted during their sleep, his head now resting on her front hooves. Fluttershy smiled as she thought of a sweet dog doing the same. 
Fluttershy noticed it was no longer night time. The sun was further into the sky, resting slightly above treetop canopies. The glow of the star sent rays of warmth through Fluttershy’s body. She may not have had a warm blanket last night but the heat emitting from her husband had kept her from becoming cold.
She was studying the sky when she heard a fairly loud masculine yawn. The Pegasus looked to Big Mac who was groggily rubbing his eyes. After he shook his head to regain his senses, he looked to his wife with a big smile. 
“Good morning sweetie.” Fluttershy cooed. 
“Good mornin’ sunshine.” He teased Fluttershy with a gentle morning kiss on the lips. 
“Sleep well?” She asked. Fluttershy started to get to her hooves. Once she had, she held out a hoof to help her husband up. 
Mac smiled and took her hoof. Considering how heavy the stallion made of muscle was, Fluttershy struggled a bit to stay from falling back down. He made sure to be gentle and careful with his mare, finally getting his back hooves to stay firm on the ground. His legs wobbled a bit, Big Mac annoyed that they were still asleep. Stupid, numb legs.
Once they were on their hooves, Mac answered his wife’s question.
“How could Ah not with you as mah blanket?” he asked, nuzzling her cheek. Fluttershy blushed lightly as she was rubbed by his red snout.
She kissed him on the cheek and trotted off towards the house. Mac gave his wife a disappointed look but that was soon replaced with a big goofy grin as he chased after her. It reminded him of a school colt with a silly crush. 
“Hey! Come back here Shy!” By the time he was crossing the bridge to her cottage, Fluttershy was inside the house. 
Big Mac shut the door behind him. He looked for his wife but she didn’t appear to be anywhere nearby. Mac was starting to give up when a pretty face popped out from behind a kitchen wall. She was smiling at him with a large chef hat. 
Macintosh chuckled and cantered off to her, excited to see what she was up to.
Fluttershy was grabbing a skillet and placing it on the oven. Mac wasn’t sure what she was planning to make but wanted to help. 
“Shy? What’cha makin’?” He asked with a curious look. He eyed the materials she had laid out: batter, chocolate chips, and strawberries. Mac had a hunch. 
“Pancakes.” 
Knew it.
“Ya want help?” Mac offered. 
Fluttershy stopped what she was doing to walk over to a closet on the other side of the kitchen. Mac raised an eyebrow. She reached down to grab something on a lower shelf. 
It was folded tightly but Mac could spot some type of pink and white lace. Fluttershy handed it to Mac with a big girlish smirk.
He kept his confused look as he unwrapped the odd package. 
His jaw dropped open and his pupils went wide. Why did Fluttershy give him this? She giggled at his expression and further explained her reasoning. 
“You want to help? You have to be a chef, too. You can wear it.” She tilted her head and gave an evil smile. Mac blushed profusely as he gave the outfit a look down.
It was a white apron with pink laces around the edges with butterflies stitched in the center. To keep the apron together, straps were on the straps, butterflies, too, on the end. 
“Do you need help, Mackie?” Fluttershy teased, stretching her hooves out to help. 
Mac gently refused her offer, pushing back her hooves. Though, with a heavy sigh, he did reluctantly try to place on the apron…try.
He started to struggle with the butterfly encrusted apron and its straps. Mac grunted as he tried to tie it around him, trying to ignore Fluttershy. She had her hoof to her chin, studying him with a raised eyebrow and a smile. 
He gave up, looking at floor. 
“Need help?” 
Mac nodded in shame. 
“Here.”   
Mac blushed as Fluttershy pressed herself against him, trying to tie the apron from the front. As she fiddled with the straps, her tongue out in annoyance, Mac help back his laugh. 
“Hmm…so…it ain’t so easy, is it?” He asked. 
Fluttershy furrowed her brow as she tried harder, determination taking over. She grunted and grumbled until she let out a sigh. She looked pretty annoyed.
“Having trouble sweetie?” Mac asked with a satisfied grin, head held high.
“I’m just having trouble from here. You aren’t getting off quite yet.” She walked behind him as she began to tie the straps. 
Fluttershy looked proud as she looked at her husband. She smiled and said, “Getting in touch with your feminine side? You still look haaaaandsome,” she said with a Canterlot accent. 
Mac chuckled at her wife’s exaggeration. 
“Just slightly…prettier.” Fluttershy rubbed his cheek and kissed his nose. 
“Are you ready to help me cook?” Fluttershy asked, readjusting her chef hat. 
“Eeyup!” Mac nodded. 



	The family gathered on the couch to watch a movie. Mac was holding the popcorn, Fluttershy behind him with the candy, and the twins carefully balanced drinks on their hooves. As the older ponies sat, Big Macintosh spotted Sun Crest trying to balance the glass on his snout. 
They made eye contact and Mac shook his head. Sun Crest frowned and carefully picked it up with his hooves. 
Autumn took the remote in her hooves. She looked to her parents and brother to see if they were ready. Fluttershy, who was sitting to her right, nodded. To her left, her brother was avoiding her dad who was to the left of him. 
“Ah ain’t mad Sun Crest. Just…don’t spill, okay?” Mac said gently. 
Sun Crest nodded and looked to the screen and then to his sister. Both stallions nodded and the filly began to run the movie. 
They were playing a classic, “The Lion King.” 
Sun Crest had always liked to be called a lion. He would fluff his mane to make it look like a lion’s mane. He would growl and hiss at everypony, claiming he was defending his territory. When Autumn would could prancing in, he would surprise her and pretend to attack. 
Though she wouldn’t be afraid. She grew to know it was just her silly brother. 
She once stated a lion needed a lioness and walked stoically away, feeling triumphant. Sun Crest’s face was priceless, his snout scrunched up, his eyebrows furrowed as he grumbled saying something about young fillies and how they could be annoying. 
The family would munch on their popcorn, eat some candy, have a sip of their drink, and relax back onto the couch. 
As the movie played, Big Macintosh and Fluttershy smiled at the twins as the argued. Sun Crest saying that Simba was a better leader and could have done fine without Nala. However, Autumn would get annoyed saying Simba was a jerk and that Nala was being a good friend. She said that she led the pack fine while Simba was gone. Before they could start fighting, Fluttershy and Big Mac ended the argument. 
“Autumn, sugarcube.”
“Sun Crest, sweetie.” 
Both foals looked to the parent would called them. Autumn saw her father’s stern but kind look. Sun Crest saw her mother’s firm but tender look. They looked down in shame and apologized to their parents. Fluttershy kissed his forehead, Mac doing the same with the filly. 
Eventually, the movie had ended, both filly and colt asleep on each other. Fluttershy clapped her hooves together quietly, smiling at their adorable snuggles. 
“D’aww…” she heard Mac say. 
“We should take them up to bed.” Fluttershy said. Mac nodded. Before Fluttershy could help, he slid both of the twins onto his back. He got off the couch. 
“Mac, do you need help?” She asked, concerned for both her husband and her kids. 
“Ah’m fine. They’ll be safe.” He reassured.
Fluttershy trusted him. She knew he wouldn’t let anything happen to them. 
As Mac placed the kids in their bed, Fluttershy cleaned up the glasses and the trash. She heard Mac coming down the stairs. She met him halfway in the living room. 
“They’re sound asleep. Quiet, for once.” He said. 
“Should we head to bed?” Fluttershy asked. 
“But moooooom! Ah don’t waaaanna!” Mac teased, pretending he was a greedy foal. Fluttershy giggled and kissed his cheek. 
“It isn’t too late. We can still do…things…” she bounced her eyebrows. 
Mac’s mouth dropped over and his eyes bulged. He had a blink a few times to think straight. “Shy…do you mean-,” 
Pomf! 
Mac felt the object fall from his face. He spat out feathers, looking down at the thing that hit his face. It was a pillow. He looked at Fluttershy, confused. 
She was trying to hide giggles by clamping down on her lips but it wasn’t working to well. 
She started to crack up. 
“I’m sorry Mac. I wanted to have fun so I-,” 
Pomf! 
Fluttershy staggered back as the soft object smacked into her face. 
Oh it was on!  



Mac flipped the pancake into the air, trying to impress his wife. He looked to her with a cocky grin, holding his spatula out to catch the wonderful goodness that is a pancake. 
Though, that isn’t what happened. 
Mac felt a warm pastry slap him in the face, right on his left eye. He frowned, not amused. Though Fluttershy started to crack up at her husband’s misfortune. 
As she rolled on the floor, holding her sides, Mac used his tongue to locate the pancake. He slid it down to grab a bite out of it. It was a little hot and burnt his tongue, but it was still good. The food would be good just as long as no pony tried to show off. 

	





> Spa Day Sins
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“What are you doing today?” Mac asked as he picked up a pancake. He waited for a response as he gobbled down the chocolate chip pancake. It tasted pretty good with chocolate chip. Something Mac had actually never had before. His family preferred apple pancakes. 
“Today’s the day I go to the spa with Rarity. Sorry, sweetie, we can have our fun later.” She said, taking a prim sip of her drink. Fluttershy finished the pancake on her plate and stood up to walk to the sink. 
“What time do you leave?” Big Mac asked, finished off his pancakes as well.
“Usually 10:30. Why? Do you want to come along?” Fluttershy teased with a big smile. 
Mac blushed and shook his head. “No Ah certainly don’t. Just wanna know how long Ah got with you.” Mac placed his plate into the sink and reached into a drawer to grab a rag. 
“Mmm…how sweet. I won’t be gone for long, I promise. I’ll just-,” Fluttershy stopped what she was doing and looked at Mac with surprise. 
“What’s wrong?” He asked concerned. 
“…I may have to cancel…” 
Mac loved Fluttershy that was for sure. And he wanted to spend every moment with her. But he knew how much she loved going to the spa with Miss Rarity. Mac knew he couldn’t take Fluttershy and keep him all to himself, she had friends and she wanted to spend time with them. 
“Why is that sugarcube?” 
“Certain perfumes tend to bother pregnant mares’ senses. It may seem like they’re allergic.” 
Mac smiled as he gave her a quick peck on the nose. This confused Fluttershy. 
“What?” 
“You sounded like Miss Twilight there, Shy.” 
Fluttershy blushed. 
“You’ll just have to play it by year. But we better hurry. Mah time with you is almost over,” he raised a hoof at the clock. 



“I didn’t do it on purpose dad! I swear!” 
Mac’s expression hardened slightly. What was his son talking about? Didn’t do what on purpose? 
“Sun Crest?” He asked sternly. 
The Pegasus colt looked up slightly. He had a nervous expression, his mouth into a pout, his eyebrows raised apologetically. 
The sight made Macintosh sigh as he felt a bit guilt with his tone. His expression softened.
“Ah’m sorry Sun Crest. Don’t be scared. Ah just wanna know what happened and what went wrong.” He lifted Sun Crest’s head with his large hoof, staring into his eyes. This seemed to comfort the little colt as his expression changed slightly. 
“Well…Autumn and I were playing inside the house. Mom said she wanted us to come down for dinner. Before we did…I…might have started to rough house,” he said, his head lowered in shame. “and I’m really sorry! I-I accidently…knocked off…a few things on…your shelf.” 
Mac lowered himself down to get eye level with Sun. “Sun Crest?” 
Small teal eyes met Mac’s. 
“What did you knock off?” 
The eyes went back to look at the ground. He heard a small mumble from his son. 
“What was that?” Mac asked. 
“…your…” he mumbled once again.
“Sun Crest, it’s alright. Just let me know what fell on the floor.” Mac made sure to reword his sentence, trying to make it look like the blame wasn’t on him. 
“…your box…” 
Mac pulled back in surprise. Did he mean…that box? 
“Sun Crest?” He raised his son’s head. “Was it the one with the flowers and apples? The one with the words written on the sides?” 
Sun Crest solemnly nodded. 
Mac frowned, his ears flopping down. Sun Crest looked up at his dad and grew concerned. 
“I’m really sorry dad! I really didn’t mean it! I swear!” He hugged his arm tightly, hoping he’d understand how sincere he truly was. 
“Ah’m not mad, Sun,” he rubbed his son’s head but his smile didn’t return. “Just a little…sad.”
He stood and began to walk his son back to their house. 
“Why?” 
“That box just had some sentimental items. Some things from my past.” 
Now Sun Crest looked guiltier, feeling pretty bad about breaking something important to his dad. 
“It’s fine Sun Crest. Really. Now why don’t you go help set the table?” Sun Crest nodded and cantered inside. Big Mac walked inside and headed upstairs. He opened his bedroom door to find the box’s remains placed on the bureau.
A few things were scattered about. Three urn, two pictures, a locket, a pin, and a newspaper article. Mac gently picked the items up to look at them. The pictures were in black and white and were dated from a long time ago. One was of two earth ponies together and the other was a young earth pony stallion. Mac recognized them as his parents and his grandpa. 
Big Mac opened the heart shaped locket to find it blank. The last time he checked there was a picture of a certain yellow mare. Now it was empty. Mac looked on the wood floor. Did it fall out-
“Looking for this?” 
Mac looked up to see Fluttershy holding a picture with a smile. She looked smug but embarrassed at the same time. 
Mac tried to snatch the photo out of her grab but she raised her hoof high. 
“Are there other photos I should now about?” Fluttershy asked, finally handing over the photo of herself. It happened to be a picture of her when the Flim Flam Fiasco took place. She was joking but her husband’s response shocked her.
Mac blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.
Fluttershy eyes went wide. 
“Is that a yes?!” 
Guilty! 
Mac nodded in shame. 
He trudged off to the closet and retrieved a hidden box. “Had that always been there?” he heard Fluttershy asked. 
“Eeyup.” Mac said as he opened the box. Fluttershy came over to look from behind his shoulder. Her face glowed red as her mouth dropped. Mac blushed and looked at the floor as he pushed the magazines over to his wife’s hooves. 
They were the magazines of her as a model when she worked for Photo Finish. Old memories came back and Fluttershy flinched. 
“D-d-did you have these…before we started dating?” She asked, looking a tomato.
Mac lowered his head and nodded. “E…e-eeyup…” 
“Why did you keep them from me?” 
“Well…Ah knew you didn’t like being a model…and um…well…Ah kept those pictures for a reason…” he said, ashamed of himself.  
Fluttershy handed him back the magazines and took the locket. She slipped the picture back inside when she felt two hooves grab her backside...as in flank.
“Mac? What are you-EEP!” 


“Darling! How are you?” Rarity greeted as she walked through the door. 
They exchanged a hug as they met. 
“I’m good. Um…Rarity?” She asked as Rarity began to sign in. Aloe and Lotus said something to each other before approaching Rarity. 
“The usual please!” 
Rarity turned to Fluttershy. “Yes Fluttershy?” 
“Do you think any of the scents will bother me? I know they usually-,” 
“Already got that covered darling! Made sure they have rid the spa of any type of specific scents like candles and salts.” Rarity said with a smile. 
“Oh but that seems a lot to do. They must have charged you. I couldn’t let you do that.” Fluttershy said, knowing Lotus and Aloe would have to remove all of the listed from the premises which would cost them customers and money. 	
“We wouldn’t want you to feel sick now would we?” Rarity asked as they began to walk down the hall. 
“Well…no…but-,” 
“No buts! I have got it covered.” Rarity turned and used a white hoof to cover Fluttershy’s mouth. 


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fluttershy ran and ran to get away from the timberwolves. Their howls were piercing, their wooden paws hammering the dark trail. 
The mare traveled at her fastest speeds. They couldn’t catch her. They wouldn’t catch her. She’d do anything to make sure her unborn foals would be okay. 
But the wolves had other plans. They growled as they nipped at her heels. 
Fluttershy knew she couldn’t fly away; her wings wouldn’t be able to carry her pregnant body. 
Fluttershy tried to make a quick turn into a bush when she twisted her ankle and fell. She slid across the ground, scratching her sides.
The mare tried to get to her hooves when she was tackled. 
The alpha wolf had her pinned down, disgusting saliva dripping from his mouth onto her neck. 
“HELP!” Fluttershy yelled. 
The alpha sniffed around her face, making her squirm. 
“HEL-,” she was cut off by his paw stepping on her throat. 
Big Macintosh jumped through the bush. The timberwolves looked to him and growled. 
“Get out of here!” He slammed his hoof down.
Though the wolves weren’t intimidated, instead started to move closer to him. “Mac!” Fluttershy gurgled. The alpha glanced to the red stallion. With a smug grin he attacked. 
“NO! SHY!”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
“NO! SHY!” Mac screamed. 
He jumped up in bed in a cold sweat. He was breathing heavy, terrified for his life…or their lives. 
Mac looked to his right. Fluttershy was alive and well. She rubbed her eyes and looked to her startled husband. 
“Are…,” yawn “…you okay?” She asked, looking for a clock. 3:47 in the morning.
“Sorry…Ah didn’t mean to wake ya but…” Before Fluttershy could respond, Mac tackled her. 
He kissed her all over her face and belly, hugging her waist tightly. Fluttershy’s limbs sprawled out, her body being held so firmly she was stiff. 
As his face rubbed against her coat she felt her belly becoming wet. 
She looked down curiously. Fluttershy became slightly shocked by what she saw. 
Mac was crying! 
“Mac?”
He looked up, sniffling. His eyes were, indeed, red and tears were streaming down his cheeks. 
Fluttershy wiped his face. She had never seen her husband so shaken up. “What happened? Are you okay?” Fluttershy asked.
Mac was glad he had Fluttershy. She would never judge him. She knew if a muscular stallion such as himself was crying, something was wrong. 
“N-nightmare…you-you and the foals…” he whimpered. 
Fluttershy rubbed his back, trying to relax him. “What about the foals and I, Mac?” 
He griped into her impregnated belly.
“You…you all…you all died!”
“Shh…shh…it’s alright. It’s alright.” She rubbed his cheek, kissing his forehead. She tried to be as comforting as possible. 
“B-but Ah lost you! And the foals!” he wailed. 
Fluttershy felt tears stinging at her eyes. She had never seen Mac so scared and so sad before. She laid several kissed on top of his head, nuzzling his mane. 
“No. No you didn’t Mac. I’m alive. So are the foals. Listen to them.” She gestured to her belly which Mac was using, gently, as a pillow. 
His ear twitched as he quieted down. 
“Hey! Hey! Ah hear somethin’!" 
Fluttershy giggled as his ear twitched continually, starting to tickle. His saddened expression was quickly replaced as he acted like a kid on Christmas Day. 
“See. We’re all fine.” Mac rose back up to his original position. Fluttershy kissed him on the nose before settling down with the pillow. Mac dragged the blankets up to them. He leaned over to her ear and whispered, “Well…just to be safe.” 
Mac placed a protective hoof on her belly, making sure nothing would hurt her again. In dreams or reality. 


	

> Showers
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Big Macintosh yawned and opened his eyes. The sun’s light was painfully bright, its rays passing through the window and hitting Mac in the eyes. 
He blinked and moved forward. He stretched and cracked his back, yawning even louder. Big Macintosh nuzzled her neck, seeing if this would wake her. She stirred in her sleep, shaking her head with her eyes closed tightly. She was sound asleep. 
Good. Mac thought. We hadn’t gone to bed immediately after the nightmare. 
Thinking of the dark dream made Mac tremble. It had been an awful nightmare. One he never wanted to experience ever again.
But because of it, Mac realized somehow he could possible lose Fluttershy. There was a way he’d never see her again. And the fact that she was pregnant with his foals made it unbearably worse. To never hug and snuggle and kiss and make love – Big Mac blushed – to his sweet, butter-yellow Pegasus with a bubblegum mane and teal eyes.
AND THE FOALS! He’d never have two itty-bitty, cutesy-wootsy foals to care for. What would they look like? Whose eyes would they have? Whose coat? Whose mane? Would they look similar? Would they be shy? Would they be brave? What would their special talents be?
Big Mac shook his head to clear his thoughts. He got to his hooves. 
Fluttershy was still sound asleep resting with her hooves out stretched. Once Mac had left, her brow furrowed as she searched for her big tough stallion to cuddle with. She murmured something in her sleep that sounded something like, “Phooey!” The adorable phrase made Mac smile. 
Fluttershy stopped looking for him and settled with spooning her pillow. 
Macintosh decided he should get a shower and trotted off to his wife’s bathroom. A nice, cooling shower would clear his thoughts of negativity from last night’s vision. 
He turned on the lights and walked into the shower…


Fluttershy yawned and rubbed her sleepy eyes. The teal orbs spotted a clock. 9:41 AM. It was awfully late. 
Why hadn’t Angel Bunny woken her? Surely he’d be hungry. And the other critters would, too. 
The Pegasus got to her hooves and quickly made the bed. Fluttershy hastily grabbed a brush and hair tie. Using Rarity’s fashion advice, she held in it a pony tail. It wasn’t often when Fluttershy styled her mane. 
The mare traveled down the stairs only to find all of her animal friends well fed. 
Fluttershy cocked her head and slowly walked down the wooden stairs. Completely forgetting she had a husband and ignoring the fact he wasn’t in bed, she looked around for an oddly kind and helpful burglar. 
The “apparently non-existent” husband appeared from the kitchen. He looked at Fluttershy who had yet to notice his presence. She was looking around the living room, expecting to see somepony. Maybe they’d be dressed in a black and white suit and a ski mask and a bag. 
Big Mac tip-toed deviously as he snuck up on his wife. She was facing the front door when Mac leapt on her and yelled, “Rahh!” 
“EEP!” Fluttershy squealed and covered her head as Mac landed on her. 
“Don’t hurt me!” 
Mac got up and rubbed his neck guiltily. 
“Uh…sorry, Shy. I-It’s just me.”  
Fluttershy recovered from her fainted goat position with a hoof on her heart. She looked to her husband who had a sheepish expression with his ears flat against his head. 
She wrapped her arms around his neck and bumped nose. Fluttershy looked into his emerald eyes and smiled. Mac was able to get the silent message and his ears regained their bounce. 


Autumn Harvest wasn’t happy. She rested her head in her hooves, her elbows on the windowsill. She glared outside, watching the many droplets splash in puddles. 
She hated the rain. 
It made her sad and tired and BORED! 
It wasn’t like the sunshine. 
She couldn’t play and goof about outside and chase her brother and practice flying. 
It wasn’t like the snow.
She couldn’t make a snowman and have a snowball fight and have hot cocoa and get school off. 
What was the point of it?! 
Of course, as a little filly, she didn’t understand that rain was important and it helped the crops. This was especially important to their family considering Big Macintosh was an apple farmer. 
Autumn huffed, a large splotch of condensation appearing. Her young eyes lit up at the sight of something different and brought a hoof up to the foggy window. Her tongue stuck out as she racked her brain looking for creativity. 
Her crème colored hoof began drawing silly doodles. She didn’t consider herself a natural artist but the filly certainly wasn’t an awful drawer. 
The first thing that came to mind was mom’s animals. Autumn concentrated as she drew a few turtles around a pond, adding a tree with a bird nest. A few weasels and ferrets and chipmunks and squirrels were added as well. 
Then a very grumpy and annoying bunny was added to the picture. 
To amuse herself, Autumn added horns, a mustache, and had him wield a pitchfork. She giggled at “Devil” Bunny.  
But her smile disappeared as the fog started to dissipate, the pictures she worked hard on soon going with it. The earth pony pouted and groaned quietly. 
It appeared this day would end happily…
“Autumn? I made some cookies and warm milk."
The “depressed” filly dashed down the steps with a big smile. 
“Coming mom!” 


“Are you better Mac? Recovered from your nightmare?” Fluttershy asked, generally concerned. 
Macintosh blushed but knew she meant no harm. 
“Eeyup. Are you guys okay?” Big Mac lifted a hoof and placed it gently on her belly. Fluttershy giggled, apparently sensitive. This intrigued him.
“Hmm. Is somebody ticklish?”  He lowered her head to her belly and nuzzled the middle, get Fluttershy to laugh harder. 
Huh.
He raised another hoof and wrapped them around her sides of her belly. Rubbing them gently up and down, Big Mac got the response he wanted. 
“S-stoooop! I-it tick-tickles!” She giggled madly, flailing her hooves. 
Macintosh nodded and gave her belly a quick peck. He left her impregnated womb alone, smiling in victory. She was still laughing as she met his eyes. Fluttershy had a huge open smile. The sight warmed Mac’s heart. 
“Ah have gotten the information Ah needed!” Big Mac quickly trotted out of the living room. 
“What?” There wasn’t a response. “Mackie?! What do you mean!? What do you plan on doing with me?!” She asked, surprised, chasing after her husband. 

> Camping (aka Sea Bear)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Big Macintosh flipped through the photo album with a smile, adoring their memories together. It showcased when they began dating, including a picture of Big Mac in a fancy get up. 
Some were of Fluttershy posing on a picnic blanket, near a river, in a park, or a few secret pictures of her sleeping on the couch. 
Some were of Mac in a stoic pose, in nice clothes, hugging her tightly, or him working on the farm. 
But they all shared one thing in common: all of them were fond memories. 
To think, in a few years, a photo album would be filled with foals. 
Mac smiled as he closed the photo album. They’d have such a wonderful time as a completed family. Sure the first week would be tough with them constantly crying. But they’d overcome that. One little mishap was nothing compared to playing outside, eating together, movie nights, and celebrating holidays like Hearths Warming and Nightmare Night together. 



“Are you sure about this Mac?” asked a nervous Fluttershy. 
“Of course, it’ll be fine. Ya sure ya don’t want to come?” Big Mac insisted. He even tried his own puppy eyes but they didn’t compare to his wife’s. 
"I’m sure sweetie. I’ve made my decision. Besides, and no offense to you or the twins, a few days alone is what I need.” Fluttershy said. Dark rings circled below her eyes and her natural beauty was shadowed by temporary wrinkles. 
And how come the stallions don’t seem to age until twenty years AFTER the mare? She thought, slightly annoyed.
“None taken, Shy.” 
Macintosh loaded the carriage. He turned to the door and looked at it, expecting the twins to be standing there. 
They weren’t. 
“Ah’m grateful, not to offend Mrs. Rarity, that Autumn ain’t too fussy about mud.” Big Mac said. 
Fluttershy giggled. 
“I love Rarity too but glad our daughter’s more like you-,” she gave him a peck on the cheek. “-and Applejack.” 
“Ya plan on doing much while we’re gone?” Mac asked curiously. 
“Hmm…let’s see…maybe throw a few parties, take some shots, have the time of my life-,” Fluttershy stopped when she saw the hurt in Mac’s eyes. 
The Pegasus patted his shoulders and kissed his nose. 
“I’m joking sweetheart. I couldn’t have fun without the twins…” she teased. 
Mac pouted. 
Fluttershy laughed and added, “And of course you.” 
“Very funny Shy. Well Ah better gather them. Should be headin’ off soon. Don’t want to be late.” 
“Have a good time.” She kissed below his left eye and pushed him gently towards the house. 
Sun Crest dashed out, Autumn Harvest tumbling after him. 
“We’re ready, Daddy!” Sun Crest raised a hoof to his forehead and saluted his father. 
Big Mac chuckled and rubbed Sun Crest’s head. His mane became a mangled tuff. 
“Good to know. Are you ready to battle the wilderness, cadets?” Macintosh asked with his best Drill Sargent tone. 
“Yes sir!” 
“Alright! Hut to! Hut to! Hut-,” as the twins marched off Big Mac ordered them to stop. “A good soldier always says his or hers goodbyes.”
Sun Crest and Autumn nodded. They trotted up to their mom and gave Fluttershy a big, warm hug. 
“Bye mom!” Autumn said. 
“See you soon!” Sun Crest added. 
The twins giggled as their mom gave their foreheads a peck. 
“I’ll be right here, waiting for you to get back.” She sent them on their ways. 
“Please be safe.” Fluttershy added before giving her husband a deep kiss. 
Big Mac licked his lips with a goofy grin. “Ah’m gonna miss those.” 
The cream colored mare blushed and said, “Well, you can have lots of them and more when you get back.” She made sure to sound seductive as she battered her eyelashes playfully. 
Mac blushed as his mouth opened up. He was under her spell. It always worked when she put herself in that mode. She could make him run a ten mile track twenty times. Or worse, go shopping to every store in existence. 
“Well, one for the road. I won’t keep you any longer.” 
Before Mac could shake out of his daze, Fluttershy gave him another passionate kiss on the lips. She ended it with a gentle but alluring tug of his lower lip. 
Mac gave a throaty growl of frustration. “Aww…why ya gotta’ tease me? Ya better be fired up when Ah get home.” Fluttershy giggled. 
“You’ll be gone only three days. I think we can both survive that sweetie.” 

> Mother's Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Five Months into the Pregnancy

“M-Mac?” 
“Yeah sugarcube?” 
“C-can I…well…”
“Yeah sweetums?” Big Mac asked as he walked up the stairs towards their room. 
“Can I have some…some salad..?” 
Macintosh stopped walking up the stairs and responded, “Of course. Anything else?” 
“Um…maybe some tea?” 
Mac nodded even though he knew she couldn’t see him. “Okay. Ah’ll be right back.” Big Mac started to walk down the steps towards the kitchen. 
“A-and Mac?!” 
“Yes?” 
“…a-a…a sandwich?” 	
“Anything else?” 
“N-no that’s it…” 


“Shh! Sun be quiet!” 
The young Pegasus stumbled over his hoof and grabbed onto his sister’s mane with his teeth to keep himself from falling. 
“Yowch! Sun!” 
Sun Crest blushed and rubbed his neck. “Sorry Aut.” 
Autumn scowled before nuzzling her brother’s cheek. “It’s fine but be quiet!” she placed her hoof over his mouth. “We don’t want to wake her.” 
He nodded and waited behind his sister. 
“Hey Aut?” 
Autumn kept looking through the creek in the door. Her ear flicked. She was listening. 
“Where’s dad at? I though he was awake?” 
“He is. Said he had to run out to get something. Now shh!” Autumn turned to her brother to see if he had the goods. 
“Oh!” Sun Crest said as Autumn gave him a stern look. He turned around to grab a platter. A plate with oats, pancakes, and toast and orange juice sat on the silver tray. 
Autumn nodded. 
“What about your part?” the colt asked. 
The cream colored filly grabbed a bouquet of flowers. It was a mix of roses, tulips, daises, and orchids. A single sun flower rested in the middle. Sun Crest reached forward and yanked out the yellow petal flower. 
Autumn Harvest frowned and eyed her brother angrily. 
“Why’d you do that-,” 
“Mom’s allergic to sunflowers, remember? That’s why she doesn’t have any in her gardens.” Sun Crest reminded, placing the flower to the side. 
Autumn blushed and stuttered, “Uh…um no…Ah g-guess Ah forgot…” she said sheepishly. 
“Look! She’s going to wake up. Hurry!” Sun Crest nudged her sister towards the door. Autumn nodded, gripped the flowers, and trotted quietly inside the bedroom. 
Their mom was still asleep but her hooves started to rise towards her head. The twins made it over to the bed and silently crawled on top of the bed. They made their way across the sheets and placed the platter gently on their mom’s belly. Autumn lifted up the flowers and Sun Crest retrieved something from his right wing. 
Fluttershy rubbed her eyes and let out an adorable yawn. 
The twins grinned at each other. 
The Pegasus with a bubblegum mane opened her teal eyes to see quite the surprise. 
Her two children had a breakfast displayed out for her, her daughter holding a bouquet and her son holding what looked like a piece of paper. 
She stretched and looked at her kids curiously. 
“Autumn? Sun Crest? Why are you two in here?” She asked. Fluttershy soon spotted the platter and gasped. She looked between the food and her smiling kids. 
“Y-you made this?” She asked in pure shock. 
The nodded with goofy smirks. “And here!” Autumn Harvest handed their mother the bouquet. Fluttershy’s face perked up even more as she took the flowers. She sniffed them with a blissful expression. 
“Oh thank you sweethearts!” She leaned forward to give the earth pony and younger Pegasus a peck on the forehead. The twins giggled with pink blushes. 
“Anything for the best mom in Equestria!” The cheered in unison. 
Fluttershy’s heart swelled as she placed her hoof on her heart, truly touched by what they said. She blushed and pulled them into the best hug she could manage. The embrace was short and awkward at best, especially with the platter in between them, but it still was full of love. 
“Here!” Sun Crest handed her the folded paper. It was a card! 
Fluttershy looked up at them and looked at her card. 
Their family was illustrated on the front, Fluttershy being the center. A large pink heart was drawn around them. Fluttershy raised a hoof to her mouth and gasped. This was the greatest gift anypony had ever given her. 
She opened up the card and read it. The mare felt tears cascading down her cheeks. 

Dear mom, 
You are the best mom ever! We love everything about you. When we’re scared, you protect us. When we’re sad, you comfort us. When we’re angry, you calm us down. When we’re tired, you sing us a lullaby. When we’ve caused trouble, you don’t get angry, instead you tell us everything is okay and that you love us. 
We couldn’t have asked for a better mom.
We love you and daddy so much! 
Love, 

~Sun Crest and Autumn~
~Autumn and Sun Crest~
~The Twins~

“Mom?” 
Fluttershy wiped her eyes and smiled up at her children. 
“Yes?” 
“Happy Mother’s Day!” 

Mac struggled with the dishes. He tried to balance two of the plates on his shoulders but almost dropped them. “Oh-oh-oh no!” 
Mac hit the floor with a thud. 
Life seemed to go in slow motion as the plates fell from the sky and onto the floor. The ceramic shattered into many tiny pieces as the food fell from it. 
Big Macintosh closed his eyes and covered his head as the dishes smashed on the ground. He knew it was over when the sound of something smashing ended. 
He opened his green eyes to look around. The damage was devastating. 
He sighed and inwardly groaned. “Ah’ll…Ah’ll have to clean that up.” He got to his hooves. 
“Where did the-,” 
SPLAT!
The red stallion used his tongue to taste the odd object. It was indeed…lettuce.
> Midnight Visitor(s), A Special Day, and Auntie Dash
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Fluttershy snuggled into Mac’s neck, humming blissfully. He sighed, content, and tightened his grip.
It haf been an exhausting day. Big Macintosh worked hard bucking tress, plowing the fields, and helping create the famous Apple Family Cider. Fluttershy had hauled some fairly heavy feed, ran herself around making sure the house was clean, and went to the market place (which had given her a great deal of anxiety). 
It felt good to be in each other’s embrace. It had been awhile since they could truly relax together. 
Big Mac gave her a peck on the forehead. It was dark in the room but he could've swore he saw her flush a pink. 
The Pegasus rubbed his barrel as his large hoof ran though her luscious pink mane. 
“I miss this…” Fluttershy whispered into his crimson coat. 
A teal eye opened up. 
“Of course I love the kids and I-,” 
“Ah know what you mean Shy. We just need our time.” 
Fluttershy nodded. “It-,” 
She stopped when the two heard slow hoofsteps down the hall. Big Mac and Fluttershy shot up, their heads looking towards the doorway. In the hallway the duo could see two shadows of ponies slowly making their way down the hall. 
Big Mac started to get up to investigate when the shadows traveled faster down the hall and into their room. 
Fluttershy’s heart started to beat once again when she saw it wasn’t an intruder. Instead it was the twins who looked quite frightened. 
She patted the bed as Mac rested back down, feeling better. 
Sun Crest and Autumn Harvest climbed into the bed. Fluttershy moved over and pointed in the middle. The two crawled so they were in between their mother and father. 
“Are you alright? Is everything okay? You nearly gave us a heart attack.” Fluttershy rubbed Autumn’s forehead with her yellow hoof. 
“S-sorry. Autumn and I got s-scared.” Sun Crest trembled. Big Mac pulled him into a hug, comforting the startled colt. 
Fluttershy nuzzled her daughter and followed Mac’s ministrations, pulling her into a hug. “What scared you?” She asked. 
“W-well we heard a n-noise outside and we…Ah got scared and woke Crest. We tried to fall back asleep an’ we’re sorry fer waking you.” The young filly apologized into her mom’s shoulder. 
“Oh it’s alright sweethearts. I used to get scared all the time when I was young.” 
“Really?” Autumn Harvest looked up at her mom, a sparkle in her teal eyes. 
“Yes. But I got over it,” she bopped the ginger-haired earth pony on the nose. “I learned their truly wasn’t anything to be afraid of. It’ll take time but you’ll pass the phase.” 
Autumn nodded against her mother’s coat. 
“Of course it helps to have a big, strong stallion at your bed side.” Fluttershy reached across to her husband. 
“Uh, Shy?” 
“Yes?” 
“Ahem, ‘big, strong stallion at your bedside’?” He said with a pink blush. 
“Oh! I-I-I hadn’t m-meant it like t-that I swear!” Fluttershy’s face lit up with color. Mac chuckled as the kids looked up to their parents in confusion. 
“Ah know though it did sound interesting.” 
The two looked down to see the twins cuddling into them. Fluttershy and Big Mac felt Autumn and Sun Crest’s soft, crème coats. 
“They look like you when you’re tired.” Mac pointed out. 
Fluttershy nodded in agreement. “Mhmm.” 
The mare’s pink tail teased its way over to the tip of Mac’s. He looked down to see it playing with his orange colored tail. 
“What are you doin’ Shy?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. 
She smiled. “We can’t have our fun since the twins are here in bed with us but that doesn’t mean we can’t be playful.” Pink intertwined with orange as Mac joined it. 
Fluttershy reached down and kissed Autumn on the forehead. 
Macintosh reached down and kissed Sun Crest on the forehead. 
“Good night sugarcube.” 
“Good night to you too, sweetie.” 

~  . ~
Sun Crest grabbed hold of the rope handle and took a break. 
“Three.” 
“Two.”
“One!” 
He yanked as hard as he could, straining his body, gritting his teeth and tasting the awful taste of the bonded fibers. It wasn’t too pleasant but sometimes a hero must face awful paths to- 
“You realize that narrating that while the rope is in yer mouth sounds like ‘he yhnked es herrrd es he chooould,’ so…y’know…not nearly as cool.” A filly stated with her hooves crossed. 
The Pegasus colt spat out the handle and looked to his sister, pouting. 
“I was trying to help dad, okay? He can’t do this work alone.” 
“Ah know. That’s why he has Aunt Applejack.” 
Sun Crest rolled his eyes and huffed. “You know what I meant, Aut. Mom’s gotten even further along and can barely move! Dad needs to be by her side.” 
The filly pouted and looked at the ground. 
“Ah wish we could be with mom. What if it happened and we’re not around?” 
Sun Crest shook his head. “It won’t happen. Even if it does they take a while to happen.” 
Her pout turned into a big smile as she pranced up to her brother. She squished his cheeks with a not-so-girlish squelch made with her tongue and lips. 
“Ain’t it exciting?” 
Sun smiled and nodded. “I-it kind of is.” 
Autumn Harvest frowned, noticing her brother looked nervous. 
“What’s wrong? Why are you anxious?”
Sun pushed away her crème hooves and shrugged. “I-I don’t know…” he began to scuff the ground with his hoof, a mannerism gained from his mother. “I’m just worried I’ll mess up.” 
Autumn raised an eyebrow in confusion. “Why? You aren’t going to be in charge of him until we grow a bit more.” 
“Well…I mean…what if I’m not good at the job? W-what if it doesn’t like me?” 
“Why did you say ‘it’? He isn’t some animal.” 
“Well we don’t know for sure what it will be. Why do you call it a ‘he’?” 
Autumn shrugged. “Ah dunno’. Guess Ah kinda want it to be a him.” 
“Why is that? That’ll be more-,” 
A taller yellow mare with red hair came running up to the twins. They looked at their other aunt in confusion. 
“What is it Aunt Applebloom?” They both asked in unison. 
“It’s time!” She squealed. 
The twins’ mouth dropped as they chased after their now bolting aunt. 
“We’re coming mom!”


There was a knock at the front door. Macintosh finished scraping off what remained of the eaten salad. He placed down the plate and fork on the counter and approached the cottage’s door. Mac tilted his head, trying to see through a window. 
A glimpse of a prismatic mane told him it was Ms. Dash. Err…no. Applejack and Fluttershy’s friends liked it better when they didn’t add Ms. 
Even if Granny Smith had told him it was gentlecolty. 
He trotted towards the wooden door and turned the knob. Mac opened the door to see Rainbow Dash floating above him. 
She grinned and said, “Ah. Figured it wasn’t Flutters since the door opened completely…without hesitation…and, y’know, without secrecy. Keeping herself hidden…in the shadows…like a ninja.” Both stallion and mare cracked up at the thought of a ninja Fluttershy. 
“Y’all here to see Shy?” Mac asked. 
Rainbow Dash raised her eyebrows with her mouth open. 
“I, Rainbow Dash, can’t drop by to see you dear Macintosh Apple?” She faked while batting her eyelashes innocently. 
Macintosh did not seem too terribly amused and his expression reminded the cyan Pegasus of his sister. 
“I’ll take that as no. Well, I am. After the bombshell-wait!” 
Rainbow Dash held out her hooves, one hitting Mac on the snout. He flinched and moved back, giving the mare a confused look. 
“Uh-?” 
“Shh! Wait…” 
She looked like she was deep in focus. Rainbow Dash sighed and said, “Nope. I tried to think up a clever pun or something sarcastic but I got nothing.” 
Mac chuckled. 
“Anyway, after the bombshell was dropped I figured I should drop by to say hello to Preggers herself.” Rainbow Dash shrugged like the nickname was nothing. 
Mac mouth opened like he would say something but he didn’t. He wasn’t quite sure how to react after hearing his wife being dubbed ‘Preggers’. Though he knew it was in good fun, Dash would never intentionally insult Fluttershy. 
“Well…okay,” Mac moved to the side, allowing Rainbow Dash to enter. He closed the door behind the mare. “She’s upstairs.” 
Rainbow Dash nodded and flew upstairs to their bedroom. 
The door was open, revealing a rather tired Fluttershy resting on the bed on top of the covers. Her eyes weren’t closed but they were glazed with sleep. 
She let out a trademark yawn, its very essence oozing adorableness. 
Rainbow Dash chuckled silently, touching down on the wood floor. She trotted up to Fluttershy with a giddy smile. 
“Hey Flutters,” she whispered. If he friend was beat, she didn't want to keep her from her needed sleep. As soon as the foals were born, they’d be keeping their parents awake for a few weeks at least. 
“Hi Rainbow. It’s a surprise to see you here.” Fluttershy smiled. 
“Decided I’d visit you, considering I’d be an aunt.” Rainbow arched her eyebrows playfully. 
Fluttershy giggled and lightly punched her best friend in the arm. “Of course I consider you a sister, Rainbow. Mwah!” A yellowed hoof touched her lips and she waved it off. 
Rainbow Dash chuckled. The yellow Pegasus patted the spot next to her and the cyan mare complied, crawling on top of the sheets, next to her best friend. 
“So how are you? You holding out okay?” Dash asked. 
Fluttershy nodded while blushing lightly. “I-I’m okay. I mean, I do feel a little sick once and while. M-mild cravings, too. But nothing bad, I haven’t gotten sick sick.” 
“The difference?” Rainbow asked, giggling. 
The pink-maned mare blushed deeper and replied, “Well I may have puked but I haven’t gotten a fever or cold or the flu. Those are never good things to have during a pregnancy.” 
The blue Pegasus smiled and nodded, now understanding what she had meant. Her magenta eyes looked towards the mare’s belly. It had grown in size considering Fluttershy was now beginning her second trimester. 
Rainbow Dash blushed when she realized may have been staring. She shook her head and opened her mouth to apologize when Fluttershy cut in. 
“It has gotten rather large, hasn’t it?” her blush was no longer pink, but crimson. “D-do you want to feel for them?” 
Dash blushed and eyed her friend. “R-really? Are you sure?” 
Fluttershy nodded. 
“O-okay.” 
She extended her hoof, the cold surface touched Fluttershy’s warm and soft coat. Said mare had to bite her lip to keep from giggling. After the discovery with Mac, she was extremely ticklish if somepony else touched her impregnated womb. 
As if the foals knew Rainbow Dash was there they decided to make their presence known. 
Her hoof felt them kicking and the mare couldn’t help but get excited. “Did you feel that?” Rainbow Dash almost face hoofed, realizing that if she felt it, certainly Fluttershy would have. 
“Ignore that, it was a stupid question.” 
Fluttershy giggled. 


 “Alright rookie! Are you ready to train with a world-famous Wonderbolt?” Rainbow Dash formed a strong, confident stance and looked deep into the younger pegasus’ eyes. 
“Sir, yes, sir!” Sun Crest raised a hoof to his forehead. 
“Now I can’t go to extreme with this, Fluttershy would whip my flank if she found out I pushed her son too hard so let’s begin with some easier, beginning moves. You ready?” 
“Sir, yes, sir!” Sun Crest shouted. 
“Good! Fifteen wing-ups on the double!” Rainbow Dash leapt to the ground to see Sun Crest do as told. The colt listened and jumped to the ground, flaring his wings. 
“Down! One!” 
“Down! Two!” 
“Down! Three!” 
“Down! Four!” 
“Down! Five!” 
The colt was still doing well for his young age. 
“Down! Six!” 
“Down! Seven!” 
“Down! Eight!” 
“Down! Nine!”
“Down! Ten!” 
Rainbow Dash nodded, feeling proud of her “nephew”. 
“Down! Eleven!”
“Down! Twelve!”
“Down! Thirteen!”
“Down! Fourteen!”
Now Sun Crest was starting to feel a bit of strain and lowered himself down to the ground for the fourteenth time. 
“Down! Fifteen!” 
Sun Crest raised himself up and down, finally down. He wiped his brow with his hoof. 
“Whew!” 
Rainbow Dash applauded him, giving him an approving grin. 
“Impressive! Well done, Sun Crest.” She gently punched him on the shoulder. Said young Pegasus blushed and smiled. 
“Thanks Aunt Dash.” 
Rainbow Dash preformed a confident stance with a cocky smile. “The one and only!” 
She patted him on his head and said, “If you ask me, I’d say you did just as well maybe even better than your mom on Tornado Day years back.” 
She leaned in and added, “Why don’t we find that certain slowpoke?” 
“I heard that!” a farther away voice called.  

 Just needed to do it. 
> Cutie Mark Crusaders Sleepover
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	After Rainbow Dash had visited, Rarity had made sure to stop by with Pinkie Pie who had brought Fluttershy was treats. Neither Fluttershy nor the foals could deny that some sweets were a bad thing. Sure, they may not have been the healthiest thing to eat for lunch but they were good nonetheless.
Applejack stopped by later in the week to visit her brother, sister-in-law, and soon-to-be nephew and niece.
Twilight had visited, too, giving Fluttershy a pregnancy book the mother has asked for.
Today, six months, one week, and two days into the pregnancy, Fluttershy planned to sit back, relax, and read her book. Maybe Big Mac could read it afterwards, too. He hadn’t been a father before, surely it’d be helpful.
Fluttershy was about to start the first chapter of Foals Come First when she heard a knock at her door. The Pegasus placed the book down on the arm of the couch and trotted towards the door. She opened it up to find the Cutie Mark Crusaders.
“Oh hello girls,” she greeted, smiling sweetly at the three fillies.
“Hi Fluttershy!” the trio said excitedly.
“Is there something you need?”
Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at the orange Pegasus filly.
Scootaloo rubbed her neck and faced Fluttershy. “Hey…um…could you have us over for a sleepover? Like you did that one time?”
“Girls, I-;”
Big puppy-dog eyes, quivering lips, and flattened ears were what Fluttershy saw as she began to deny the Cutie Mark Crusaders of a sleepover.
She bit her lip, feeling guilty, and finally gave in. “A-alright girls, I’ll let you have a sleepover here.”
“YAY!!!” The three fillies jumped for joy.
“But...” Fluttershy lifted a hoof. Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom leaned in hopefully.
“I need you to please, please, please behave and not start trouble. If you run off I can’t come after you. I can’t put the foals in danger.” She gestured to her belly. “Mac won’t be here. He needs to help your sister on the farm,” she told to Apple Bloom.
The yellow coated filly nodded.
“Can you promise me that, girls?”
“We promise!”
Fluttershy smiled. “Does Applejack know you’re here? I-I don’t want her to think somepony foalnapped you. Especially if they think I did.” She was serious about telling Applejack, but she was joking about her being a foalnapper.
They giggled.
………
Fluttershy placed the daisy sandwiches on the table. Scootaloo had wanted her crust cut off which was no problem.
The fillies began to eat their sandwiches as Fluttershy made herself a salad.
“Are you excited?”
Fluttershy didn’t turn around, but her ear flicked. "Hm? For what Sweetie Belle?”
“To be a mother.”
Fluttershy smiled and turned around. “Of course I am," answered the mare, dreamily. "Raising the twins will be some of the greatest moments of my life.”
“Are you excited to be an aunt?” Scootaloo asked Apple Bloom.
The cutie mark-less earth pony nodded with a big smile. “Of course Ah am! Ah can finally prove to Applejack that Ah can handle mahself!”
Fluttershy giggled. “I’m sure your sister knows how mature you are. She just wishes you’d stop growing up.”
Apple Bloom folded her hooves and mumbled something.
“Well alright girls, if you want to head out to do some-,”
“Crusading?”
She giggled. “Yes, crusading... You can do that, but please be safe. I need to help some of the critters. Some of them are hurt. Can I trust you,” she added while looking at the fillies pleadingly, “to stay far from the Everfree Forest? We wouldn’t want to repeat of last time?”
The Cutie Mark Crusaders shivered at the thought of a repeat of last time but nodded.
“Good. Be safe,” Fluttershy said as they stood up and started to run out. “Don’t get hurt!”
They were already out the door.
“Oh dear.”
………
“S-Sun Crest? D-dearie? Where are you?”
There wasn’t a response.
“Your mother doesn’t like s-scary things…” There was no response once again, only silence. Fluttershy gulped and looked at the frightening scene.
The carnival was deserted and, based on cobwebs and vines growing, seemed to be for quite some time.
Many booths were overturned with popcorn or tickets spilling out like ponies ran into it in a hurry. Fluttershy shrank at the though. Why would they be running so carelessly?
“A-are you here?" asked Fluttershy. "Sun Crest? Your father and sister are at home. Wouldn’t you like to be?” She walked at a cautious pace down the dirt trail, eying everything she passed. “Your mother certainly would like to be.”
The brush rustled behind her.
Fluttershy shrieked and darted inside an overturned booth. It was fairly dark inside and the ground was sticky. When Fluttershy sniffed lightly, she caught whiff of something sugary.
Maybe caramel?
Fluttershy frowned. Caramel belonged on delicious, juicy ripe apples...like the one on her spouse’s flank…not on a fluffy, cute yellow coated Pegasus.
There was a noise outside as something stomped past, making Fluttershy hide further into the ground. It passed her stall but not before giving the air a good sniff. When “it” did this, she made sure to coat herself in as much caramel as possible to make sure it didn’t notice her.
Hopefully Sun Crest would be-
Fluttershy shot up, her eyes wide. Sun Crest! He could be in danger! Whatever was out there would not lay a hoof or claw or talon on her colt!
She growled, furrowed her brow, unfurled her wings, and narrowed her eyes.
The worried mom leaped out of the booth and ran towards a large dark figure. She charged and tackled the thing.
“Aah!” She heard a deep voice bellow as they hit the ground.
………
A familiar deep voice.
A ray of moonlight revealed the possible attacker to be none other than… Big Macintosh. Her husband. Sun Crest’ father.
“Shy?” he asked, his heart visibly beating out of his chest. She felt it calm down as she nodded.
“Y-yes. I-I thought you were a monster coming to attack Sun Crest.”
Big Mac chuckled before sniffing the air once again. “Is that… caramel?”
Fluttershy blushed. “U-um… well… I had hidden in a booth… and I think it originally sold caramel apples…” She tried to get up, but found that she couldn’t.
“Umm, Big Mac?”
“Eeyup?”
“I can’t get off of you… I’m stuck.”
Big Mac frowned. “Oh.”
They stayed in position, Fluttershy sitting on a lying Macintosh’s chest, for a few minutes. Eventually, Big Mac decided to do something.
Fluttershy felt a warm object touch her sticky coat.
It was Big Mac’s tongue! He was licking her soft, caramel-coated fur. She giggled and blushed madly.
He took a brief break to look at her, smile, and say, “Mm… You taste yummy.”


The Cutie Mark Crusaders yawned in bed as Fluttershy came to tuck them in. She smiled brightly as they struggled to stay awake, their eyelids started to close on them.
Would this be what motherhood would be like? Waking up to find adorable foals that loved her and needed her to survive.
With a few more months to remain, she’d have to wait and see.