Ever since her wedding, Twilight knew to expect the unexpected. But what happens if the unexpected was expecting?
Since the wedding of Princess Twilight Sparkle and Captain Flash Sentry, they have been anticipating anything unexpected. But what happens when they are caught off-guard by the unexpected?
What most ponies do as the night's moon flies through the sky is wonder what the the next day will bring. Some think that something extraordinary will come. But that something is usually solved before the day has ended and they go back on their usual business. But sometimes that extraordinary event will last a while and will not only cause the ponies affected to change what they are on the outside, but who they are inside. Flash Sentry lay in his bed as the sun's light crept through the drapes of the room he and his wife shared since their wedding. Soon enough, the light scrolled past his eyes. "Is this really what I get for marrying your faithful student?" Flash groaned as he rolled over, tossing the sheets over his eyes while aiming the comment to the mare who raised said sun.
He squinted his eyes to get some sleep but to no avail. With a defeated sigh, he sat up and stretched his aching body. It's been a few years since he married his wife, Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Element of Magic and the Princess of Friendship. He looked at his nightstand and smiled at the wedding picture of him and Twilight. A memory was surfacing as he looked at it. As it surfaced he looked over to the mare beside him, only to find turned over sheets and no pony there. "Where is she?" he quietly asked himself before looking around the room. "Twilight? Where are you?" A stomach-churning sound pierced the room.
"HUUUURRRGGGHHH!!!!!" Flash cringed and covered his ears as he heard the sound of solid chunks splashing in the direction of the bathroom. With a worried expression, he threw off what sheets he had and rushed to the bathroom. He put his ear up to the door and heard the sound of a toilet flushing followed by some low groaning. "Twilight? Are you alright?" he wondered.
"Does it sound like I'm okay...?" she shot back through a groan.
"Could you let me in?" he requested as he rattled a locked doorknob.
"No!" she shouted before blowing a few more chunks. "I don't want.....another pony......blowing chunks in here......" Flash sat down on his haunches and stared at the door, trying to hold back last night's dinner as he heard each puke loud and clear. With each one, his worry grew. After a few minutes, he heard the sound of a sink running and Twilight gargling something, probably mouth wash. He looked up and stood as the door swung open and Twilight trudged through.
Her features were a wreck. Her usually luscious lavender coat, now paled. Her mane, unkempt. Her eyes, bloodshot with bags, probably from being up so late and puking a lot. "Morning..." she weakly greeted with a weaker smile. "I think I got a stomach bug..."
"You look like got hit by a freight train." he commented. "How long have you been up?"
"Thanks a lot." she rolled her eyes. "About one, one-thirty?"
"Let's get you into the bed." he instructed as he helped her to the bed. Not even two steps away from the door and she trips over her own four hooves. If Flash didn't catch her with his wing, her face would be on the floor.
"Something tells me this is more than just a stomach bug." he noted as he helped Twilight under the covers.
"Could you get breakfast?" Twilight requested as she nuzzled her head into the pillow.
"Of course." he smiled as he kissed her cheek sweetly. He opened the door and looked at Twilight who started to smile as she slept. He gently closed the door as to not disturb her. Flash tried his best not to be worried about Twilight but he couldn't in a time like this. He looked back occasionally and couldn't help but think of what's happening to her. As he entered the kitchen, his eye caught the sight of Rarity, the Element of Generosity. "Morning, darling." she greeted after sipping some tea while looking over a dress diagram.
"Rarity? What are you doing here?" he wondered.
"Oh, Spike is helping Turquoise learn how to fly and Claire's in Canterlot with Illusion so I have a day off." Rarity explained.
"But why here?"
"I just wanted to see if Twilight wanted to hang out with me at the spa today." she told. "Is she up by any chance?"
"Yeah, but....." he sighed as he rubbed a leg.
"But what?" Rarity wondered with a raised eyebrow.
"I woke up and she was puking a storm." he explained as he looked down his previous path.
"Oh my." Rarity exclaimed with a hoof to her mouth.
"Not only that but she looked like trash as well." Flash finished as he put his head on the table. Now Rarity knew what was going on because she's been through this twice before. One painful labor for Claire, and an even more painful for Turquoise. For Flash, he didn't have the slightest clue of what was happening.
An idea popped into Flash's mind and both his spirits and ears perked up from the idea. "Could you do a favor, Rarity?" he started.
"What is it?" she replied.
"Could you watch over her while I get her some soup?" he requested.
"Of course." Rarity answered with a nod. As Flash began to gather Twilight's soup ingredients, Rarity strolled through the halls in the direction of Twilight's room. She ascended the stairs and halted at the door, her face flat. So you're going through it now, huh? she thought. "Twi, darling? You there?" Rarity called out.
"HUUUUURGGHHH!!!!!" was the only muffled response. Rarity sighed and opened the door. She looked around the room and saw Twilight sitting on her haunches in the bathroom. "Hey Rarity...." she groaned.
"My Celestia, you do look like trash." Rarity commented as she sat beside her.
"No, really?" Twilight groan sarcastically.
Twilight continued to blow chunks into the porcelain seat. Rarity couldn't help but to rub her "ailing" friend's back. At least it's the best option besides doing the Heimlich maneuver to help force the chunks out. With a final groan and a flush of the toilet, Twilight trudged to the sick and gargled mouthwash and started to head out. But she was caught off-guard when Rarity used her magic to shut and lock the door. "And where do you think you're going, Twilight?" Rarity nonchalantly asked.
"To my bed." Twilight sighed.
"Don't you dare think that you're going to get out of this conversation." Rarity warned. With a defeated sigh, Twilight moved towards Rarity and sat on her haunches. There was a silence for a while until Rarity spoke up. "How long?" she questioned.
"Almost a week." Twilight answered, not looking up. "It wasn't so bad when it started but now it's getting worse."
"I know, Twilight." Rarity sympathized as she lifted her friend's head. "But you're not alone."
"How so?" she wondered.
"You've got me and the others. You have Spike. You have Flash for Celestia's sake!" Rarity listed as she placed both hooves on her shoulders. "You aren't alone." Twilight smiled and pulled her friend into a hug. This was the first form of support she's received ever since the morning sickness started. Now she has to receive the second.
Flash walked through the hall with a tray of his and Twilight's breakfast balanced on his back. I just hope she feels better. he worried in his mind. He walked into the throne room and noticed Twilight and Rarity sitting around a table. "I just don't know what he'll say, Rarity." Twilight sighed.
"Say about what?" he interrupted. Both mares looked at Flash with surprise.
"Hey Flash." Rarity greeted.
"What's the matter?" he asked as he set the tray on the table and sat beside Twilight. She was silent for a few second to conjure up how she should say it.
"I....." she began. "I'm......"
"You're what?" Flash wondered.
"I'm......" Twilight spoke the last part in a softer tone.
"Twilight." Flash huffed. "What is it?"
"I'm pregnant." she announced loud and clear.
A silence graced the surroundings. Flash's jaw dropped. His mind was in a Rainboom-speed tailspin. His ears still registered the recent announcement as he tried to think of what to say. His silence didn't go unnoticed. "You're not happy, are you?" Twilight asked as she looked away.
"No, I am." he answered. "I'm just......surprised."
"Really?" she wondered as she looked into his eyes.
"Truly." he nodded. Then the full weight of what was said hit him like a runaway train. "Dear Celestia I'm going to be a father." he worried as his eyes shrank. His body fell backwards but was caught by Rarity's feinting couch.
Twilight paced near the closed doors that led to the dinning room of the castle. How could she tell them? Her friends? Her family? This will send them all for a whirl. Not to mention the father-of-two drake Spike. He was more worried about Twilight than Rarity at some points of their marriage. But how will the others react? Will they be happy? Shocked? Both? She needed to find out. But first, she needed to wait for her husband who was late for a very crucial meeting. Minutes later, Flash trotted up to her with heavy breaths escaping his mouth. "Sorry I'm late..." he spoke between pants, "We had some trouble in the guard quarters."
"But you're almost half an hour late!" Twilight informed with a gesture to a nearby clock.
"Is everypony here though?" he wondered, purposefully changing the topic.
"Yeah. They're in there." Twilight gave a nervous look down to her hooves. Flash took her chin in a hoof and gave a warm smile. "Don't worry Twi." he reassured. "I'll be right beside you." Before Twilight could speak, she felt the tender touch of his lips upon hers. Twilight knew it'd be rude to deny a kiss from her lover, so she smiled and kissed back. After their lips separated, Flash pushed the door open and gestured her in, noting the slight fatigue in her steps.
Inside around table were their guests: Spike and Rarity, accompanied by their younger child Turquoise Blitz, Princess Celestia and Discord, Rainbow Dash and Soarin, Applejack, joined by her only child Golden Delicious, Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie, who sat with her daughter Cotton Candy, who had a homemade cupcake in her hooves, Princess Luna, and finally Fluttershy. Most of them were caught in their own idle chatter while the others were enjoying the spread in front of them. With a small cough as she and Flash reached the table, Twilight caught the attention of everypony at the table. Before she could get a solid syllable out, Rarity spoke up. "By the state your face and mane are in, plus the small stumbling I just saw," she began, "You're pregnant, aren't you, Twilight dear?"
Twilight's jaw dropped. So much for a grand announcement.
"Rarity!" Cadence spoke up with shock of her own, "Don't jump to conclusions!"
"Excuse me, Cadence." Rarity shot back. "Are you the pony in here who had two children? Two dragon children?" Cadence shut her mouth. There was no point in arguing after this. She turned her attention to Shining who was staring at Twilight with an identical look to hers.
"Twiley." he managed to speak. "Is it true?" Twilight's head shook to clear her mind to Rarity's supposed mind reading.
"Yes, Shining. I am pregnant." Twilight confirmed, earning a look of triumph from Rarity.
Spike's lowered jaw from Rarity's accusation and Twilight's confirmation was the main inhibitor to him getting out a single vowel. Celestia was the next to recover from the shock. "I-I'm surprised, Twilight." she admitted, trying to formulate a solid sentence. "But it would've been more shocking if it came from your own mouth."
"Yeah." Twilight agreed as she shot a small glare to Rarity.
"At least it wasn't a mix-up." Discord added as he bit into an eclair.
"Mix-up?"
"Well....." Discord began, "Tia was mad at me and to make it up I asked for a favor from Pinkie Pie." Pinkie shrank and tried to hide herself. She knew this story all too well. "I wanted a special cupcake but it ended up being a Poison Joke cupcake that made her..." He coughed lightly as he and Celestia shared a small blush, "...go 'in the mood'...."
Everypony around the table shared a blush at the story of how Illusion came to be. Twilight never thought of that. They sat in an unnerving silence for a little until Celestia spoke up. "But in the end, it was worth it." she added, trying to reassure the still-blushing Twilight.
"Yeah but you need to watch out for the mood swings, Twi." Rainbow Dash warned. "I wanted to throttle Soarin for making me grounded."
"Oh. Yeah." Soarin agreed as he remembered that she would yell at him over the smallest things.
"Pregnancy can be tough, Twilight." Pinkie added. "Pokey had to keep me from doing things that were deemed unsafe for Candy."
"That's right!" Dash agreed. "You would try to go crazy with a party and we had to hold you back."
"Thanks guys." Twilight smiled. "This is all very reassuring, but I'm still worried."
"It's only first-time mother jitters." Cadence informed. "They'll be gone in a few weeks along with the sicknesses."
"Thank goodness." Twilight sighed. "I don't think I can take anymore of that."
Flash began to rub Twilight's back. He couldn't help but to think about what she'll be like when the moods hit her. Angry? Crazy? Everything? He didn't know. The most he can do is prepare for what's to come later on. Flash noticed that one pony here hadn't spoken up at all this meeting: Fluttershy. "So how have you been lately, Fluttershy?" Flash wondered, causing Fluttershy to jump a little.
"Oh...it's been...fine." Fluttery answered in her usual manner.
"Anything else?" Cadence wondered.
"Well it's just that...all of you are married....and have children...and I'm....single...." she admitted.
"Well you don't need a husband to have a family." Dash added.
"I-I know...I just don't think being a single mother would be.....right...for me."
"Who are you and what have you done with Fluttershy?" Applejack spoke up. "You are the kindest pony I, no, any of us have known! Shoot, if I were an orphaned filly, I'd want you as a mother." Fluttershy blushed lightly and smiled.
"I guess I could give it a try..." Fluttershy admitted.
"I bet there are a lot of fillies and colts that would love for you to be their mother!" Pinkie added. Fluttershy nodded. Even though she doesn't have an actual job, she still liked being Ponyville's signature vet. A few hours passed and they finally split from their meeting.
Twilight lounged in her study, her muzzle buried in a book as usual. But this time, she was reading one of the books about pregnancy that she had. She had no use for these until now, but her friends and other ponies needed them for answers to any questions they had. She needed to know everything. Flash walked in with a tray on his back that had two cups, a tray of sugarcubes, and a kettle. "What are you reading now?" Flash wondered with a smile as he placed the tray down.
"A new book called "None of Your Business," Flash." Twilight joked.
"I hope those are just your hormones speaking." he joked back as he poured the tea.
"Fine." Twilight confessed. "It's one of my medical books on pregnancy."
Flash nodded and gave Twilight her cup and laid beside her. They sat in silence, only interrupted by the sound of one of them slurping their tea and Twilight using her magic to turn the page. Twilight jumped a little when she felt two hooves caress her back, a feeling she hadn't felt in a while. Her wings shuttered as Flash began to massage her tense back and shoulders. Flash braced himself when he pressed between her wings. Twilight smirked and playfully slapped him in the cheek with a wing. "I'm more used to it now, Flash." Twilight giggled.
"Thanks for letting me know." Flash sighed as he continued his massage. Twilight closed her book and gave a light stretch and yawn. Flash took this as his cue to nudge her lightly up. "Come on. Let's get to bed." Flash offered. She didn't protest, she just yawned again and trudged to their room. She crawled into bed and flopped her head down. She jumped lightly when she felt Flash spoon her and rub her abdomen lightly. "We're going to have a wonderful family." Flash tiredly spoke into her ear.
"That we are, dear." Twilight agreed as they shared a small kiss and closed their eyes for a night's rest.
Twilight looked through a book and smiled. So many pictures of her and Flash starting from her coronation to their honeymoon. She was thankful to see blank pages.Now she knew that there was enough space for pictures of the family and their plus one. Speaking of her husband, Twilight looked around and found that Flash hadn't brought her choice of craving. "Flash! Where are you?" she called out.
Then she heard a clatter of plates and pots. She tried her best to force back a laugh but to no avail. She rolled onto her back and laughed uncontrollably as she saw Flash walk in with a pot on his head and a hoof while he balanced her food and a few pans on his wings. "Yeah yeah, laugh the baby out why don't you?" Flash sighed as he let Twilight calm down.
"Oh no!" Twilight jokingly cried out. "The evil Pot-Pony cyborg has come to terminate me!" She grabbed her craving of pickled hay fries covered in chocolate and a watermelon.
"Keep going or I'll kill my first pony." Flash joked back as he removed the last pan from his wings.
"Technically two." Twilight corrected as she bit into the watermelon. Flash shook his head and smiled. It's been a little over a month since Twilight's pregnancy started. Having to balance relaxation for motherhood reasons and her princess duties as put a lot of stress on her. But since Flash has practically never left her side and keeps massaging her, she has never felt more relaxed in all her life. Twilight smiled and looked past the watermelon in her hooves and at the small bump. It started to appear since her, rather interesting, eating habits rose.
She took another bite and smiled at Flash as she felt one of his hooves delicately rub the small bump. Rarity gave Twilight a rather long talk about how big the bump will get when nearing the end. It was typical of Rarity to worry as such and seeing Claire gain her "lady like" genetics makes it look like she and Spike basically duplicated her, minus the draconian appearance and characteristics.
She was going to miss their sessions on kirin study they used to have. She kept the book they put the data in and never touched it since Claire declared that things were starting to get a little more.....personal. Suddenly, Twilight's cutie mark lit up. "Well, the map calls." Twilight stated as she crawled out of the bed while carrying her unfinished food.
Rainbow Dash and Twilight sat looking at the map. Twilight's cutie mark floated above Cloudsdale this time. But when Twilight was going to say that she will do it, Rainbow Dash shot down that chance. "You know what it means when a pegasus is 'grounded'?" she wondered.
"I haven't got the slightest clue."
"It means they can't fly while pregnant." she flatly stated.
"B-But they can stay in Cloudsdale, right?"
"No." she denied. "The altitude will cause some problems with the foal. I'll handle this Twi. Just take it easy." Twilight grumbled and bit into the watermelon again. Grounded? Now she won't be able to perform her duties to spread friendship properly. Dash flew off and rocketed upwards in the direction of Cloudsdale while Twilight stayed at the table as the map vanished. Flash walked in and gave her a concerned look. "What's the matter, Twi?"
"Grounded..."
"Oh, Dash told you about pegasus grounding, didn't she?"
"Yeah...but I like flying..."
"I understand but you need to thing of the foal." Twilight looked at him and smiled. She knew he was right. She was going to be bringing new life into Equestria in a hoof-full of months. She needed to be cautious. But most importantly, she needed to brace herself for when she get a case of "The Swings," which is "mood swings" in Pinkie's terms.
A few days later...
Rainbow Dash flew down and entered the castle to find Twilight with her muzzle buried in a scroll. She landed and sat in her throne and waited for Twilight to finish. After a few silent minute, Rainbow Dash gave a cough meant for interrupting. Twilight's head snapped up and looked at Rainbow Dash, surprised. "When did you get in here?" she wondered.
"Like fifteen minutes ago, egghead." Dash replied. "I have my friendship report."
"Fire away."
"It was just Spitfire trying to train the Junior Speedsters. She felt like she was being to harsh, which she was, because she's used to yelling orders at older ones. She was struggling to get them ready for the big leagues."(*) Rainbow Dash explained.
"Oh. And was it successful?"
"Yep!" she smiled. "Now she's used to screaming at the Wonderbolts and calmly commanding the Speedsters!"
"Great job, Dash! I see motherhood came in handy!"
"Oh, don't get me started of Prism." Dash chuckled. "Remember when he was training for Weather Day?"(**)
"Boy, he sure was stubborn." They shared a small laugh. "Just come get me if your child gives you lip." Rainbow Dash winked before flying away.
