Our Inner Ponies 4: The Final Chapter

"Thank you, and come again!" Was what I heard the minute I stepped through the double doors of Sugarcube Corner. I sidestepped the customer who was exiting the small bakery and took a big breath of frosting, cinnamon, and dough. A second later, I heard a delighted shriek and was suddenly squished into a bear hug. The corner of my eye told me that the pony hugging me was Maya. I laughed once I was released.

"Hey, how are ya?" I asked, as if I hadn't just been attacked with a hug.

"Fine, fine!" Maya replied cheerfully. "Business has been pretty great these past few days, I'm mastering the art of being a unicorn, and now that you're here, my day just got better!" I tried to smile at my friend's eagerness, but something didn't seem right. My face must've looked weird, because Maya titled her head to one side.

"Z, you feeling alright?" she asked carefully. She stepped forward, and I stepped back. One: I didn't like people standing too, too close to me. Two: I didn't want her to notice my stomach. I gave Maya a grin.

"Yeah, I'm just tired, that's all," I replied. "You know, being married has a toll on life. Considering the fact that if this marriage were back home, I probably wouldn't be legible for it."

"Dude, it's been a few weeks and you're already missing it," Maya said.

"Missing what?"

"This new opportunity," Maya explained. "Look, call me crazy, but ever since we took that quiz, we didn't really take advantage of the fact that something new and unexpected happened to us that day."

"Yeah, but it could've happened to anyone else, Maya," I pointed out. "And they'd be just as freaked out."

"But it didn't happen to anyone else! It happened to us and only us," Maya argued gently. "And now that life has handed us these lemons, we've gotta make the lemonade its expecting us to make."

I rolled my eyes. "How'd I know you'd use that corny expression on me?" But did my friend have a point about the whole "taking advantage of something new and unexpected" speech?

"Just trying to stay optimistic," Maya said flatly. "Are you hungry, by any chance?"

"Do you miss your Mom?" The question flew out of my mouth so fast I couldn't stop it. I realized that that was why Maya noticed my being uncomfortable near her eagerness. She was acting so nonchalant about our new pony life that it gave me a headache. I mean, I get the whole "forgive and forget" statement, but this was ridiculous! Maya slowly frowned as she headed to the back of the counter.

"Yeah," she said slowly. "I miss her like heck. But if she knew where I was and that I've turned over a new leaf and that I was happy about it, she'd be happy for me." Sometimes I wish I could be as positive as my friend. In any situation, Maya could flip any negative vibe into a good one. "So, are you hungry?" she asked again.

"Depends," I said, grinning. "Do I get a discount if I know the owners?"

I spent the rest of my time with Maya feasting on cupcakes and pies while catching up on our whereabouts, asking questions like how have you been and what've you been up to. At some point Pinkie joined us—but not before giving me the tightest hug in history and asking the same questions Maya and I asked each other. I was just glad her hyperactive energy prevented her from noticing my sudden weight gain. I kept praying that everyone would keep being vague about my condition, but my luck ran out when Maya decided to take a break and walk with me into town. While we'd been walking, I kept noticing she was constantly looking past my wings, her eyes trying to look at my stomach, and no matter how hard I tried to distract her, we both ended up stopping in the middle of Town Square, ponies passing us by as I began to explain.

"So...can I be the godmother?" Maya half asked, half joked once I finished explaining.

"Not until I'm confirmed about this," I stated. I didn't want everyone getting all excited for nothing. That'd be jacked up.

"Well if you're really pregnant," Maya whispered, and I slightly winced at the word, "I think you should tell Lucky about it—"

"He already knows," I interrupted. "I technically told him this morning before he left. The only thing that confuses me is how this happened."

"Well, when did you find out? I mean, it's not like you found out this morning, right?" Silence. "Zaria?" More silence. "You found out just this morning, didn't you?" I nodded. Maya groaned and slapped her hoof against her forehead.

It's not like I was Nancy Drew! However, as we continued our walk in silence, the wheels in my mind began turning slowly but surely. I steered my brain toward the wedding. I remember it being a comfortable and warm night after the guests had gone home. The party continued at Pinkie Pie's—the pink pony claiming that we needed an after wedding party, even though I kept telling her that's what honeymoons were for—and I remembered distancing myself from Lucky a bit since I was still thinking about my new life. I remember stepping outside for some fresh air, not knowing that Lucky had followed me to ask if I was okay. And that's really what I remember. Lucky and I hadn't stuck super close to each other, but we didn't distance ourselves like I had during the early hours of the after party.

"I'm just as confused as you are," I said suddenly, making Maya jump slightly. Guess she wasn't used to me being quiet. "I wish I knew how this happened."

"Maybe we should ask a doctor?" Maya suggested. "Or maybe Twilight? She's the kind of pony who'd know some answers to your little predicament. Or maybe we should flat out ask Lucky." I shook my head at the last suggestion.

"He'll be just as confused. Besides, we don't know for sure if I'm—" I chewed on my lip before mumbling the word "pregnant." Maya and I kept walking until I could see the faint structures of cottages in the distance. We were nearing my neighborhood, which made me both sad and happy. Sad because I didn't want Maya to leave, and happy that I could get some rest from all the walking.

"So you're sure you'll be fine until Lucky gets back?" Maya asked as we made our way down the cobblestoned path.

"I guess," I said reluctantly. "I mean, I'm sure he didn't go too far, and I'm gonna end up taking a nap once I get inside. So by the time I wake up, he'll probably be back."

"Alright. Well, if you need me—" Maya gave me a soft hug—"you know where to find me." I watched as Maya made her way back to Sugarcube Corner, and immediately wished she could stay longer. As I walked the remaining steps back to the cottage, I realized that me and my BFFL have really bonded in the past half hour.

I mean, sure, back when we were humans we'd talk via the internet, arrange sleepovers, and chat in the lunchroom at school, but ever since the marriage, I feel like Maya and I have been seeing each other less and less. In her defense, she has to get up early in the mornings to help with the service at Sugarcube Corners so she can keep a roof over her head, but I'd appreciate it if she and I could spend more best-friend-together time. Why couldn't I take advantage of that?