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                Bookends 3 or Family Values                
                     -by Stormbringer-                     
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          CHAPTER ONE: Mood Swings And Odd Foods           
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CHAPTER ONE: Mood Swings And Odd Foods
CHAPTER ONE
Mood Swings And Odd Foods
Cheerilee walked into the library after a long day at school.  She was so looking forward to one of Twilight’s meals.   What she wasn’t ready for was the smell when she opened the door.  She was so glad to be past the queasy stomach part of the pregnancy.
But now she had to be very careful that the kids did not set off a ‘mood swing’.  She was still apologizing to Apple Bloom for when the filly had been hiccupping in class and Cheerilee thought that she was laughing at her behind her back.
Her increased size and weight was a sensitive point for the rose Earth Pony.  After her upbringing, being harangued into thinking because of her choice of lifestyle, she would never be attractive to anypony.  She worked hard on how she looked and tried just as hard to stay in shape so that she would be attractive to other ponies.  It was ironic that when she did find the right pony; Twilight was attracted mostly to her personality and intelligence.  But Twilight did admit that the beauty was a nice added touch.
As Cheerilee entered the library, the smell that greeted her was something that she had smelled on occasion as a food stuff that the ponies normally didn’t bother to eat.
“Twi honey!” said Cheerilee, “are you home?”
“In the kitchen,” came the reply.
Cheerilee walked to the kitchen where Twilight had a couple large black frying pans on the stove.  She was actively managing both at the same time with her magic.
“What’s that smell?” asked Cheerilee.
“Fish,” said Twilight nonchalantly.
“Fish?” asked Cheerilee, “you eat... meat?”
“No, not meat, fish.’ Said Twilight, “ponies have eaten fish since the dark times.  The protein is probably what kick-started the evolution of the equine brain and raised us above the lesser four footed beasts.  This is why equines are the dominant species on the Earth.  It is theorized that food sources were diminished in the cataclysm.  It is also theorized that because of some environmental factor, it caused the ponies to split into the three races or sub-species, Earth Ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi; the ones that we have today.”
“Wait,” said Cheerilee, being an academic she was trying to follow Twilight’s ‘lecture’, “I know that there are more than three types of ponies, what about Alicorns?”
“Actually, Alicorns are a special mixture of all of the first three.  But you have forgotten one other sub-sub-species, Changelings.  They are a mixture of the three as well, but it’s as if the Alicorns possess a positive energy and Changelings have a negative.”
“And that’s why Changelings are evil?”
“Not necessarily, energy, both positive and negative are just types of energy, they work pretty much the same,” said Twilight, “Nightmare Moon was evil and she was Princess Luna, an Alicorn, transformed.  So it could be conjectured that a Changeling could choose not to be aggressive and evil.
But as to what I was saying about fish; the larger herbivores pushed ponies to the edge of starvation.  When some populations discovered that they could survive on scavenging dead fish along rivers.
As the intelligence increased, some ponies discovered ways to catch the fish live.  Thus they had less chance of getting some sickness from the spoiled dead fish.  Later, learning to cook them improved the flavor and digestibility.
Although it’s not now a staple of the pony diet, there’re ponies that still consider fish to be a delicacy.  Rarity’s father is an avid fisherpony; I got these and the recipe from him.”
“I’ve never heard you mention that you eat fish before,” said Twilight’s rose colored wife.
“I haven’t,” said Twilight, “but after our last doctor’s visit, she told us to get more protein in our diet.  And fish is an excellent source of protein.  And for some odd reason, the thought of a fried fish dinner sounded so good!”
Cheerilee suddenly had an odd look come over, as if she was looking from a distance.  Twilight’s love’s eyes filled with tears, and then she ran up the stairs to their room.
Twilight was not ready for such a reaction; she levitated the skillets off the stove, turned it off and followed her wife.
Cheerilee was on the bed, her face buried in a pillow and crying uncontrollably.
“What’s the matter, Cheeri my love?” asked Twilight, siting beside her and stroking her mane.  Cheerilee raised her head enough to look at Twilight.
“(Sob)...(Sob)...I don’t..(Sob)...know!” said Cheerilee, crying.
“You don’t know?” said Twilight gently.
“I don’t know...(Sob)...I just know...(Sob)...that I’m...(Sob)...getting fat and...(Sob)...ugly!” said Cheerilee then shoving her face in the pillow again started to cry harder.
“The fish made you think you’re getting fat and ugly, how?”
“I don’t...(Sob)...know! (Sob)...I’m (Sob)...just fat and (Sob)...UGLY!”  Cheerilee started crying even harder.
“Fat and ugly?” said Twilight, “how is having our foal, a new life, one conceived by our mutual planning and agreement, growing inside you ‘fat and ugly’?  It’s the deepest expression of our love for each other!
I think it’s the most beautiful thing ever!”
“You do?” said Cheerilee looking back at her purple wife again, tears starting to slow.
“How couldn’t I?” said Twilight with a sly look, “You’re carrying a child that shares most of what makes up you and me!
Even if the ‘me’ part is borrowed.
I, on the other hoof, am carrying around some little cowpony!”
Twilight’s snicker showed that she was actually pleased with her ‘little cowpony’.
“I love your little cowpony,” Cheerilee said tenderly, reaching out and touching Twilight’s pregnant bulge.
“I’ve no doubt of that my sweet.  And you know that I totally adore the life growing in you.
But do you want to know what else?” asked Twilight.
“What?”
“I think it’s so very, very sexy!  Not to mention arousing,” said Twilight smiling, “it shows a female body in top perfect form.
It says to me;
‘Hey! Look at me! I know what it’s all about!  If you don’t believe me, then check it out for yourself’!”
Cheerilee looked at Twilight, the tears subsiding.  She slowly turned over onto her back and spread her hind legs.
“Please show me that I’m not ugly,” said Cheerilee, the most pleading look in her eyes, “please show me that you still want me.”
Twilight smiled, she had shown Cheerilee how much she was loved and desired just that previous night.  But Twilight found that when her rose colored wife got into one of these moods, it was best just to comply.
Plus any excuse to make love to Cheerilee.........
Twilight climbed on the bed, and instead of ‘going right to work’, she started to kiss on Cheerilee’s voluptuous and voluminous abdomen.
She then spoke gently to the fetus inside.
“Hello sweetie!  It’s me, your other mommy.  I love you so, so much because I love your mommy so, so much!
I know it’s early, but I want you to know that there are so many ponies that can’t wait to meet you, especially your sister inside me.”
At that moment the infant ‘kicked’ as if in understanding.  Then most remarkably, the infant inside Twilight ‘kicked’ as if in response.
“Oh! Your sister just said hello!”
Cheerilee giggled.
Twilight then continued kissing but started to work her way down.  She arrived at Cheerilee’s nipples; it was obvious that the breast tissues were starting to enlarge, getting ready to nourish the new life, just as Twilight’s were as well.  They were sensitive and tender, but with care they still could be stimulated for erotic ends.
Had somepony told Twilight Sparkle when she came to Ponyville that in only a few short years she would end up being in love with, married to and actively sought out sex with anypony, especially a mare, she would have suggested the name of a good psychiatrist.  Had the same pony added to the claim that she and her lover would be pregnant, Twilight would have teleported the pony there herself.
Twilight had given much reflection, with the help of Cheerilee, on what it meant to love.  How love is not something that could be defined in her beloved books.  How love is no respecter of age, race or gender for that matter, to love a pony was to love a pony.
Twilight was never a pony to label anypony about anything but now she was okay with considering herself a ‘mare-lover’.  She didn’t consider herself to be a born mare-lover, like her wife Cheerilee.  She accepted the designation after she and Cheerilee first shared their hopes and dreams and then a bed one cold, snowy late fall night, then sharing a most memorable kiss that next morning.
The love came first, the sex came later.
She had mused that she was not so much a mare-lover as a Cheerilee-lover!
And now there was no other way Twilight wanted sex, or with any other pony.  Before Cheerilee, she’d never even been curious about romance or intimacy.  She’d read all about it and thought that all that relationship stuff sounded too complicated.  And to be honest, kissing and sex sounded messy and unsanitary, with the exchange of saliva and other bodily fluids.
She had never had dreams, while a little filly, about some handsome stallion wining her heart and sweeping her off her hoofs like in the books Cadence would read to her.  While the subject appealed to Cadence, the subject of the cultural differences in a historical context was the only part of interest to Twilight.
Now she still considered sex with any other pony to be ridiculous.  Especially after Cheerilee’s father had beat, raped and nearly killed her for defending Cheerilee and her mother, Rain Shadow.  She knew that he didn’t represent how all stallions acted.  And she knew that most mares might find her being with a mare as not what they would prefer.
But she knew that if the situation ever occurred that she could willingly have sex with a stallion, she’d still decline.  She knew that she’d always carry the frightening memories of that day with her, she did whatever she could to avoid any excuse to bring that horror to mind.
But for Cheerilee, she would suffer it all over again.
Now Twilight was homing in on Cheerilee’s love organ.  She marveled at the physiological changes.  The pony genitalia had become, for the most part, well hidden over centuries of evolution.  The outer lips of the marehood were tight together and almost invisible in normal circumstances.   Although the pony did learn some control over the organ and was able to relax the lips slightly if they wanted to display it to an intended lover.
But now, with the body getting ready to deliver the new life inside, the mare’s anatomy changed slightly.  The enlarged uterus displaced organs and tissues in all directions, to include the opening of the vagina.  Thus the lips took on a puffy and slightly swollen aspect as it softened to get ready to stretch for delivery.
Cheerilee would often tease Twilight about her ‘poochie coochie’ before diving her tongue in.
Now her lover’s soft and puffy marehood was before her.  Cheerilee was in the middle of a mood swing and needed Twilight to confirm desire for her; Twilight had no problem with the request.  The sight of the swollen lips was a turn on to Twilight.
So with the skill of repeated practice, she was able to bring to climax her rose colored wife in a timely manner.  Not to quick and not so drawn out that the evening was gone.
After Cheerilee was satisfied, Twilight and Cheerilee kissed and then decided to go down stairs and figure what to do about dinner.  However, Cheerilee promised Twilight that she would not be forgotten this night.
Spike, who was assisting Applejack and Rarity with some remolding of Carousel Boutique, came home just as the two lovers came back downstairs.
“Twilight!  Cheerilee! Anypony home?” called out Spike.
“Sorry that dinner’s late,” said Twilight, entering the main part of the library, “we got........sidetracked.”
Spike had, by now, learned not to ask questions that he might not want to hear the answer.
Twilight heated up the fish and Cheerilee helped with a salad.  To the surprise of all, the fish was quite tasty.  And Spike was thankful, being a dragon and an omnivore, he truthfully wanted some kind of flesh once in a while.  Veggies and gems only go so far.
As they were finishing up, there was the sound of the bell at the front door.
“Twilight, Cheerilee, are y’all here?” asked a voice, obviously Applejack.
“In the kitchen,” called Cheerilee in reply.
As Rarity and Applejack entered the room, both ponies made strange faces.
“Twilight, Darling,” said Rarity, “was my father just here?”
“No, why?” asked Twilight.
“I smell that wretched odor of fish he so likes.”
Then they saw the dishes that they were finishing up.
“No, Magnum wasn’t here, but I did get some fish and a recipe from him,” answered Twilight.
“I was repelled by the smell at first,” said Cheerilee, “but strangely enough, it was quite good.”
“I remember when I did have it at home,” said Rarity, “once I got past the smell, it wasn’t that bad.  But I could never bring myself to cook it once I was on my own.  I was so afraid that the odor would linger on my haute couture in the shop.”
Applejack looked lost.  It didn’t go unnoticed.
“What’s wrong, Applejack?” asked Cheerilee.
“I’ve never been around ponies that ate fish,” replied the orange Earth Pony, “I’ve heard of it but didn’t think I knew anypony that did.”
“We’ve some left if you want to try it,” said Twilight, “but I’m guessing that our odd dinner wasn’t the reason for the visit.”
“That’s right,” said Rarity, “we came to deliver an invitation from Granny Smith.”
“An invitation?” asked Twilight, “to what?”
“The Apple Family Reunion,” said Rarity.
“But we aren’t Apples.” Said Cheerilee.
“We know that,” said Rarity with a smirk, “but in Granny’s mind. If you are carrying a foal that was conceived by an Apple, that makes you an Apple.
She especially wanted you to know that Braeburn will be there.”
“Did anypony tell her that the ‘conceived’ part was only a technicality.  Braeburn was no more involved than his marefriend or the doctor,” said Twilight.  “Braeburn is a nice pony, I’m forever grateful for the donation and he’ll always be acknowledged as the biological father.   He’ll always be free to visit the child.
But I’m not in anyway pining for him!”
“We know that, and so does she Darling,” said Rarity, “but tradition is something that the old pony stubbornly clings to.
You’re free to decline, but that’s up to you.  Even though Applejack and I aren’t ‘married’, she considers me an Apple as well.  I guess the only condition of becoming an Apple is to sleep with one!”
Applejack chuckled at that.  Rarity was becoming concerned that she was doing all the talking.  She looked over at Applejack in time to see her eating some of the fish.
“You know Darling, you will brush your teeth twice before you kiss me after eating that!” said Rarity to Applejack.
All the ponies laughed.

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                  CHAPTER TWO: Pinkie Pie                  
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CHAPTER TWO: Pinkie Pie
CHAPTER TWO
Pinkie Pie
Later in the week after the fish thing at Twilight’s, about midday on Saturday, Pinkie Pie was visiting Sweet Apple Acres.  Since Rainbow had married Big Mac, Pinkie was hanging out there more than she had in the past.  No pony thought much of it, after all, Pinkie had always been close to Rainbow even when Rainbow was actively evading her.  But now that Rainbow had toned down the ‘Dash’, she had found Pinkie to be a pleasant companion.  She even helped out around the farm with Rainbow’s chores without thought of any repayment, except for an occasional lunch or dinner.
Rainbow had come in the kitchen to see if Granny Smith needed any help with the dinner.  Pinkie was suppose to be helping, after all, Pinkie was one of the best bakers in Ponyville.
“Hey Granny,” said Rainbow, “I thought Pinkie was helping you.”
“She is,” said the old farm pony, “she went to get some fresh eggs.  Come to think of it, that was about an half an hour ago.”
“Knowing Pinkie,” said Rainbow, “she probably got lost between here and the henhouse!”
Both ponies laughed as Rainbow started to prep some carrots.  It was about fifteen minutes later when Granny noticed that she needed the eggs and Pinkie had not returned.
“Rainbow sweetie,” said the old pony, “could you get me some eggs, I really need them now.”
“Okay, Granny,” said Rainbow.  She went to the door and flew off in the direction of the henhouse.
Once there, she looked around but saw no sign of Pinkie.  She went into the henhouse to check the nests for eggs.  Rainbow had noticed that most of the hens were still not yet use to her and would scatter when she would show up.  However, this day there was a hen the was sticking close to her and even rubbing up against one of her hind legs affectionately.
Rainbow reached out with one of her wings and stroked the fellow winged creature.
“What a good chicken,” said Rainbow.
The hen appeared to be enjoying the contact.  Rainbow picked up the basket of eggs with her teeth and walked out of the henhouse and was about to fly back to the house when she heard a familiar voice.
“Dashie, what are you doing here?” asked the voice.
Rainbow turned and saw Pinkie.
“Pinkie!” exclaimed Rainbow, “where in Equestria have you been?  Granny was becoming concerned; you went to get eggs about an hour ago.”
“Has it been that long?” asked the pink pony, “I didn’t realize it.  I’ve been right here.”
Rainbow started to say something about not noticing her until she noticed that Pinkie looked as if she was having trouble keeping on her hoofs.
“What’s wrong Pinkie?” asked the blue Pegasus.
Just then Pinkie toppled over.
“PINKIE!” yelled Rainbow who dropped the basket of eggs and bolted over to her fallen friend.
Rainbow sat on her haunches and held Pinkie’s head in her forelegs while using one wing to block the sun from her face.
Pinkie appeared groggy, but she looked into Rainbow’s eyes and smiled.
“You still love me?” asked the pink pony.
“Of course I still love you,” said Rainbow, a tear running down her cheek, “you were the first friend I made when I was a filly and my family moved to Ponyville.”
Pinkie snuggled her head against Rainbow’s chest and closed her eyes, still smiling.
“I wish my wings were as pretty as yours,” said Pinkie cryptically then Rainbow could tell that Pinkie was out.
Apple Bloom had been feeding the pigs not far away and had heard Rainbow yelling.  The filly came galloping up.
“Apple Bloom!” said Rainbow, “go get Big Mac and tell my husband that I said to get his flanks over here now!  Then go get Twilight, I’m not sure what’s going on and I need the help of a smart pony!”
Apple Bloom took off in the direction of the orchard.  Rainbow sat there gently rocking Pinkie and speaking soothingly to her.  It was only a couple minutes before Rainbow heard the thundering hoofs of her husband and Applejack.  They saw Rainbow holding Pinkie and looked concerned.
“Honey, A.J.,” said Rainbow, “help me get Pinkie back to the house.  She collapsed and I don’t know what’s going on.”
Rainbow and Applejack, as gently as possible put Pinkie across Big Mac’s back and they walked her to the house carefully as not to jostle her too bad.  They got her to the front room and Rainbow had Pinkie placed on a sofa, her head in Rainbow’s lap.  Rainbow was holding Pinkie’s hoof.
It wasn’t too long before Apple Bloom came in with Twilight and Cheerilee Sparkle.  She also had Zecora with them.
“Thank Celestia you’re all here” said Rainbow.
“I found Zecora on the way and asked her to come as well,” said Apple Bloom.
“What’s wrong with Pinkie?” asked Twilight.
Rainbow related what Granny had told her about Pinkie taking so long to go get some eggs.  How she did not see Pinkie when she was collecting the eggs but she was there when she started to go.  She also related the conversation and Pinkie’s odd comments.
“What do you think?” asked Rainbow, “should we take her to the hospital?”
“Pinkie’s case is as strange as I've known;
Would you mind if I looked her over, alone?” asked Zecora.
Everypony agreed and left the zebra alone with Pinkie.
While waiting, Twilight decided to peek in on what was going on, she was concerned for her friend.  What she saw was almost amusing.  There was Zecora sitting on the sofa with Pinkie, just hugging her.  Pinkie eyes were closed as if contented; she had one of her large Pinkie Pie smiles from ear to ear.
Later Zecora came back to the rest of the ponies, Granny, Big Mac and Apple Bloom had went back to their chores, Applejack went to get Rarity to let her know what was going on.  That left Twilight, Cheerilee and Rainbow.
Zecora said that Pinkie’s only problem was that she hadn’t eaten properly for some time and would be better soon.  She also hinted that there might be more, but that was for Pinkie to disclose and it would not be a good idea to ask her about it.
Everypony thanked Zecora and the zebra left.
They came back into the front room and checked on their pink friend.  She was just sitting there almost uncharacteristically quiet.
“I’m sorry for the scare everypony,” said Pinky.  “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You should say something if you’re hungry,” said Rainbow, “Granny would feed you until you explode if you wanted!”
There was a strange look on her face.
“I’ll let you know in the future,” said Pinkie, “just don’t hate me for this!”
“Pinkie!” said Rainbow grabbing Pinkie in a large hug, Twilight and Cheerilee joined the hug, “why would we hate you?  You’re a special pony and I don’t know anypony that doesn’t love you!”
Pinkie got up and walked to the door, stopped and looked back.  It almost appeared that she was about to cry.
“I know that,” said the pink pony, “but there’s nopony that loves, loves me.”
Pinkie walked out the door.  Her friends just looked at each other, and then went to the door to find out what Pinkie meant.  But when they got there, she was gone.
“I wish I knew how she does that!” said Rainbow.
“I’m worried,” said Twilight after thinking for a moment.
“Why’s that?” asked Cheerilee.
“Rainbow,” said Twilight thoughtfully, “remember at your wedding, just before we went out.”
“The kiss Pinkie gave me?” said Rainbow, “I thought she was just foolin’ around.  You know Pinkie!  Is it possible that she was she serious?
Do you think that she was in love with me? or still is?  I mean Pinkie and I have hung out a lot.  We’ve even crashed in the same bed from time to time.
But we’ve never… we’ve never…... You know!  No offence girls but I don’t go in for mares.”
“That’s okay Rainbow, nopony’s perfect,” said Cheerilee.
That brought the first smile to the trio since the whole Pinkie thing started.
Granny Smith entered the room and saw that Twilight and Cheerilee were still there.
“Twilight, Cheerilee,” said the old pony, “ya looking forward to your first Apple Family Reunion?”
“We haven’t decided if we can make it,” said Twilight.
“Oh! But you need to be there, everypony will want to meet you,” said Granny, “and Braeburn will be there.”
“Thank you Granny,” said Twilight, “but you realize that Braeburn isn’t my husband, coltfriend or lover, I’m happily married to Cheerilee here.
Braeburn was involved only as a donor, his marefriend helped collect the sample, I wasn’t involved with that, nor did I want to be.
There was no love, passion or sex involved, at least with me.  Yes the foal is his biological child and always will be, I’ll never deny it.  He’ll be free to visit the child anytime practical.
But the child is Cheerilee’s and mine alone.”
“I know that silly,” said the old pony chuckling, “I’ve lived on a farm all my life.  I know what Artificial Insemination is, we’ve raised hogs for years.
But folk will want to meet you, yes you ain’t an actual Apple, and even if the child won’t be named Apple, it’ll still have Apple blood.  Because of that you now have ties with us and that makes you one of us.  You too Cheerilee, you’re married to Twilight and we would love to have you there.
Besides, it’s a lot of food and fun!”
“Granny,” said Cheerilee, “we’d be happy to attend.”
Twilight smiled and nodded her head.
“And the reason I mention that Braeburn will be there is,” said Granny, “he does understand the situation, but he’s probably as excited as you are about the foal.  It’s normal to want to know how you and the foal are doing.”

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             CHAPTER THREE: More Expectations              
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CHAPTER THREE: More Expectations
CHAPTER THREE
More Expectations
After the excitement with Pinkie, the rest of the day had been uneventful.  Pinkie stopped by the library to apologize to Twilight and Cheerilee again.  They all exchanged hugs and Pinkie assured them that she was okay and it was just a passing thing.
Pinkie did tell Twilight that she was going to be gone for a time.  She said that she needed to take some time to get herself together.  Twilight was use to Pinkie’s ‘vacations’.  They weren’t that often, but they weren’t unknown.  Twilight told Pinkie that she would let their friends know that Pinkie would be away.
Twilight and Cheerilee started the next day as normal.  Cheerilee still kidded her wife not to freak out because she was leaving for school.
Twilight had Spike assist her in getting the library ready for the day.  As the day wore on, Twilight was chiding Spike that despite his tastes, the gemology books went under Earth Science and not the Cooking section.
Sometimes she thought that Spike did things on purpose just to get a rise out of her, especially now that she was pregnant.  Luckily for him, Twilight was not experiencing the intense mood swings of her wife, but she could become quite sensitive and break down and cry.  But she was still eating things that made most ponies go, Ewww!  Like the skunkweed smoothie she was working on right now.
The work routine was interrupted by the front door bell ringing.  Twilight went to the main part of the library.  There stood two familiar Pegasus mares.
“Rain Shadow! Wind Walker!” exclaimed Twilight, “I didn’t know you were coming!  Cheeri and I would have prepared something for you.”
“That’s okay, Twilight,” said Rain Shadow, “Wind Walker was wanting to visit her niece here in Ponyville.  Unfortunately she was unable to attend her wedding.
But look at you! You look great.  Baby-belly looks good on you.”
“Thank you,” said Twilight, “but you should see your other daughter.  Nothing can make that mare look bad.”
They all laughed at that then Twilight shared hugs with her mother-in-law and her partner.
“Look,” said Twilight, “I was going to meet Cheeri for lunch at Sugarcube Corner.  Why don’t you come with me?  I know she will be happy to see you.”
“Okay Twilight,” said Rain Shadow, “but after that we have to find Windie’s niece.”
“Spike,” called Twilight, “I’m going out to meet Cheeri for lunch.  I will bring you back something.  By the way, where’s my smoothie?”
“I dumped it down the sink,” said Spike, “the smell of the skunkweed was pealing the paint.”
“Food cravings?” asked Wind Walker with a smile.
Twilight blushed and nodded her head.  All three mares laughed as they left.
Cheerilee had given the kids an extended lunch time so she could have her weekly lunch with Twilight.  As she was trotting off to Sugarcube Corner, she ran into Rainbow Apple who she invited to join her and Twilight for lunch (it didn’t take much convincing).
As they approached Sugarcube Corner, they saw Twilight sitting at an outdoor table with two mares.
Rainbow’s wings shot out in surprise.
“Aunt Windie!” called out Rainbow.
“You know my mother’s partner?” asked Cheerilee as they approached.
“Know her?  She was always my favorite aunt.” Said Rainbow she flew ahead forgetting that Cheerilee couldn’t keep up because of her condition.
“Aunt Windie!” called out a voice.
The three mares at the table looked in the direction and saw Rainbow and Cheerilee.
“Rainbow?” asked Wind Walker,  “Rainbow!”
Wind Walker stood as Rainbow came flying up.  The two hugged and kissed on the cheek.
“Rainbow Dash!” said Wind Walker, “you look great!  I see you’ve stopped wearing your mane like mine.”
“It wasn’t practical on the farm,”’ said Rainbow, “and actually, it’s now Rainbow Apple.  You’ve got to meet my husband and family!”
“A farm pony!” Wind Walker chuckled, “who would’ve believed it.  And I heard after all your wishing, pleading and praying, you turned down the Wonderbolts!”
“A husband, home and the possibility of a family sounded like a more exciting career,” said Rainbow.
“You made the right choice my sweet niece,” said Wind Walker with a genuine smile.
The two hugged warmly.
“Come on Aunt Windie,” said Rainbow, “let me take you to meet Big Mac.”
“Big Mac, eh?”
“Well they don’t call him that just because his name is Big McIntosh!” said Rainbow, nudging her aunt with an elbow.
All the ponies laughed at the innuendo.
“Hey guys!” said Rainbow, “ya mind if I take my aunt to meet the family?”
“Go ahead,” said Rain Shadow, “we’re going to be here a while.  Just come back to the library when you are done, Windie.”
Wind Walker gave Rain Shadow a quick kiss.  With that Rainbow and Wind Walker flew off in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres.
“You’re going to be here a while, mom?” asked Cheerilee.
“Yes,” said the older mare, “I finally finished up all the business back in Baltamare.  We sold the house and we decided to move away from that place that had so many bad memories.”
“Where are you going to move?” asked Twilight.
“We’re hoping Ponyville,” said Rain Shadow, looking sheepish, “that’s if you don’t mind too much.  I’d love to start having some good family memories.  And with a grandfoal… sorry Twilight, two grandfoals on the way, I was hoping that I could be part of that new family and life.”
“Mom,” said Twilight, “I think Cheeri and I would love to have you here.  But I don’t want to talk for my wife.”
“I would love to have my mother here to help us,” said Cheerilee. “I can at last have an enjoyable relationship with my parent.  And with Rainbow being a close friend, I doubt that you could get Wind Walker to leave anytime soon.”
Later back at the library, Twilight and Rain Shadow were sitting in the main library talking.  Cheerilee had went back to finish the school day.
“Have you decided what you’re going to do about a nursery?” asked Rain Shadow.
“Cheeri and I were going to have the foals in our room at first.  We plan on nursing them as long as possible.  But then we’re going to turn the storeroom next to our room into the foal’s room.  We thought of putting a door between our room and that room to make it easier,” said Twilight.
“How are you going to handle the nursing when Cheerilee is working?” asked the older mare.
“At first Cheeri is going to take ‘maternity leave’.  But after that, we’ve been talking,” said Twilight, “because of our situation, we want both foals to bond with us equally.  They are to be both our daughters, so we plan on nursing both foals.  I would nurse the foals while she’s away and she’ll handle it if I weren’t here.  And when we’re both together, we’ll nurse one foal on one side and switch foals to feed on the other side.”
“What a lovely idea,” said Rain Shadow. “But won’t that be a stretch having to nurse two foals with one mare when alone?”
“It might be at first,” said Twilight, “but a mare’s body adjust for situations like with twins, the body increases milk production to meet the extra demand.  Plus we talked to Zecora, the local herbal healer, and she has natural formulas of herbs that will help boost milk production at first until our bodies adjust.  It will also help whichever of us delivers last to be able to feed before our delivery ”
“That sounds good, if it’s safe.” Said Rain Shadow, “and you said daughters, you’ve had that checked?”
“The formula is safe,” said Twilight. “And we say that they’re fillies because of a dream Cheeri had when we first started being together.  I guess it stuck in our minds and we’re just assuming it until proven different.”
Rain Shadow just chuckled.
“Cheerilee and her dreams!” said the older mare.
“You don’t trust her dreams?” asked Twilight, “I realize that it isn’t very scientific, but she seems to put some faith in them.  She’s a very intelligent pony and not given to being superstitious.”
“Oh I know that,” said the older mare, looking a bit sad, “I’ve also found her dreams to be valid on many occasions.  In fact I wish I’d listened to many of them.  Perhaps if I had, many bad things would’ve been avoided, especially with him.”
Then she appeared to cheer up.
“But look at the ‘big picture’,” she continued.  “Had things turned out different, a lot of pain would’ve been avoided.  But then I wouldn’t be here expecting two of the greatest thrills of my life.  With two of the most special daughters a pony could ask for.”
The two ponies hugged, Twilight found herself loving this pony almost as much as she did her own mother.
“Twi!  I can’t leave you alone for one moment,” said a voice at the door, “but that I find you in the embrace of another mare, and my own mother!  Especially now that we know she’s a mare-lover!”
Twilight and Rain Shadow looked at the door and there was Cheerilee home from school.  They didn’t realize how long that they had been talking.
They all laughed.
Twilight started to fix dinner, Rain Shadow insisted on helping.  Unlike Cheerilee, the older mare was as good a cook as Twilight.  They had a savory vegetable soup and salad ready in no time.
Wind Walker came in as they were finishing up and suggested that some bread would go great with the meal, plus she had brought a fresh apple pie that was sent from Granny.  Twilight was about to send Spike to the bakery for a couple fresh loafs but Wind Walker offered to fly Spike there to save time.
Spike was thrilled, the truth was he was enjoying having two extra attractive mares there and he was almost starting to crush on Wind Walker.  After all, she was an athletically built mare like Rainbow and had the same roguish looks and personality.  It was obvious why Rain Shadow was attracted to this mare.
After dinner, they sat around the living area of the library, Spike had went to bed, he is a baby dragon after all.
Cheerilee noticed that Wind Walker’s and Rain Shadow’s saddle bags were packed and by the door.
“Have we run you off already?” asked Cheerilee. “I thought you might want to use our guest room.”
“Didn’t we tell you?” asked Rain Shadow, “Wendi’s niece Rainbow, told us that because she is married to an Earth Pony, she had no use for her cloud house.  So she offered us to use it as long as we want.
“Well, I guess we won’t be coming over for dinner anytime soon,” said Cheerilee with a laugh.
“Not necessarily,” said Twilight, “I know a spell that allows us non-Pegasus Ponies to walk on clouds.  And I can teleport us where we need to go.”
“Why would you need to do that for Cheerilee?” asked Wind Walker.
“She’s an Earth Pony,” said Twilight.
“She’s three quarters Pegasus, she only looks like an Earth Pony,” said Wind Walker, “she can walk on clouds now.”
“Are you sure?” said Rain Shadow.
Twilight and Cheerilee looked at Wind Walker with great interest.
“Yes,” said Wind Walker, “my brother has the same issue, a child that’s three quarter Pegasus and one quarter Unicorn.  He appears to be a Unicorn, but the child walks on clouds quite fine.  He does sink into the cloud just a little more than a Pegasus does, and he needs help to and from the house.  They’re having him trained to teleport, but that’ll depend on how good his magic talent will be.”
“We could’ve raised Cheerilee in the cloud house!” said Rain Shadow.  “So much could’ve been different!”
“I’m ashamed to say that I’m glad that it wasn’t different,” said Twilight, looking sheepish.  “It would’ve been less painful for all of us, but I wouldn’t have found love with the most wonderful of ponies!”
Cheerilee beamed at the sentiment.
“Twilight,” said Rain Shadow, “I am sure that things wouldn’t have been that different.  A pony is as a pony does.  I’m sure that he would’ve found ways to be disappointed with Cheerilee and myself.   I think he always resented that he was forced to marry a mare-lover and that my heart could never truly be for him.  It isn’t that I didn’t try to make the best of it, we did have a child after all.  But I think that always bothered him, and was the reason he was so hard on Cheerilee when she admitted that she liked mares.  I’m afraid he would have thrown her off the cloud house and injured or killed her when she did tell us.”
Rain Shadow had tears in her eyes, she hugged Twilight;
“I’m glad that things turned out the way they did also.  I wouldn’t have wanted to miss having you in my daughter’s life, as well as mine.  Not to mention now with two grandfoals on the way!  You’ve taught both of us about real love and real family.”
The other two mares joined the hug.
Twilight started to cry, she could be moved to tears easily by sorrow or joy.
“Oh Darling!” said Cheerilee.
“I love all of you so much!” said Twilight.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                CHAPTER FOUR: A Royal Visit                
//-------------------------------------------------------//
CHAPTER FOUR: A Royal Visit
CHAPTER FOUR
A Royal Visit
That following Friday afternoon, Twilight and Cheerilee decided to take Rain Shadow and Wind Walker to visit Canterlot.  Plus it had been a month or so since Twilight’s mother visited and she had heard that Shining Armor and Cadence were in Canterlot to meet with Princess Celesta.  And they had not seen Twilight or Cheerilee since the procedure.
As Twilight had found, most Pegasi didn’t enjoy train rides as being too slow.  So Twilight and Cheerilee talked the older mares into a nice ride with nice conversation, and a late lunch in the dinning coach.
Rain Shadow related how much she had relaxed since she was free to go home without fear.
Wind Walker had moved in with Rain Shadow right away.  She had been living in Cloudsdale and jumped at the chance to be reunited with her first and only love.  She said that she always knew that things would work out and she would be with Rain Shadow eventually.
Wind Walker was genuinely impressed with Twilight’s actions in standing up for Cheerilee and Rain Shadow against such overwhelming odds, and at such a high cost to herself.  Wind Walker said that she could see why Twilight was Rainbow’s best friend.
The two had to work hard to get all the legal issues cleared up with Rain Shadow’s liberation from her oppressive marriage.  She even joked that she was so relaxed now that she had to be careful because she was starting to put on weight.
At the station, there were several ponies waiting on them, Twilight’s father and mother; Night Light and Twilight Velvet along with Shining Armor and Cadence.  As soon as they disembarked the train, the family was all over them.  Wind Walker was introduced to everypony and all said how happy they were to have her there.
Twilight thought it kind of funny that even though they were as glad to see Twilight, Shining and Cadence were really focused on Cheerilee along with Night Light and Twilight Velvet.  The rest of the ponies thought it amusing as well.
But it could be forgiven, it was Shining’s biological child and the couples only claim at any child, even if it was technically to be a niece or nephew.  Twilight did half-seriously remind her mother and father that she was carrying a child also and that it was their grandfoal as well.
“I can understand their feelings,” said Wind Walker, “that’s why I was thrilled when I found out that the two of you decided to do this.  I feel in a way now that Rainy and I are together, they are going to be like my grandfoals too.”
“You’ll always be considered a grandmother to our foals,” said Twilight, “and like another mother to me.  It’s so special to have three mothers!”
Wind Walker hugged Twilight a very warm and loving hug, a tear rolled down both mare’s cheeks.
“Hey! Twilight!” said Cheerilee laughing, “I’m right here and you’re in the embrace of another mare…again!  And my mother’s partner this time!
Don’t you ever get enough at home? I said in the past, what a horny little mare I’m married to!”
“Yes,” laughed Rain Shadow, “I don’t know what to think of that!”
All the ponies assembled laughed.
“Well if Twilight can wait,” said Twilight Velvet laughing, “why don’t we take your things to our house and get you girls comfortable for the evening.  You can do some tours in the morning.”
“Luckily you have a princess and prince for a brother and sister-in-law,” said Cadence with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, “we have the use of one of aunt Celesta’s wagons and four of the Palace Guards to drag around pregnant mares.  We wouldn’t want them to have to walk or anything inconvenient like that, especially Twilight the Younger!”
Again the ponies laughed, Twilight hugged Cadence warmly, but whispered for her to hear only;
“And like I said before, bite me princess!”
“I’ll leave that for Cheerilee to do,” whispered Cadence back.
The hug was tightened as proof that it was only kidding that was going on and just how much the two loved each other.   Then Cadence gave a wicked chuckle;
“I warned you about that princess stuff Twilight!” said Cadence out loud, trying to sound stern, “now you will pay the price!”
Twilight knew that she was joking around, but that didn’t stop her from being concerned.
Cadence levitated her tiara and sent it in the direction of Twilight’s muzzle.  But it stopped short.
“You brother is married to a princess,” said Cadence, “that makes him a prince.  If your brother is a prince, then technically that makes YOU a princess!  So by my Royal Command, you are required to wear this tiara all the waking hours of your day until you depart for Ponyville!  Oh, and don’t worry about me, I’ve a spare back at the house.”
With that the tiara floated atop Twilight’s head.  All her companions broke out in riotous laughter at Twilight’s incredulous look on her face.  Cadence chuckled and said;
“Please ponies, please!  Show proper respect to Her Highness!”
Cadence then bowed to Twilight.  The rest of the extended family followed her example.  It was embarrassing enough for her family to do this in a public place, but there were a number of passing ponies who saw the group of ponies bowing to a pony wearing a tiara so they stopped and bowed as well.
They all rose up, helped Twilight and Cheerilee into the wagon, and they started off for Twilight’s parents home.
“Just wait until aunt Celesta and Luna see you,” said Cadence, winking at Twilight, “they’re going to have a ball!”
“That’s what I’m afraid of!” said Twilight.
Later at the Sparkle home the group settled in for the evening.  Cadence wouldn’t let Twilight take off the tiara and told her she was serious about her wearing it while she was in Canterlot.
There was a delicious evening meal accompanied by a fine crystal berry wine brought from the Crystal Empire which was technically over one thousand years old.  Cheerilee and Twilight were disappointed because they couldn’t have alcohol while with foal.  Cadence promised she would give them several bottles after the foals were born.
Afterward they sipped more wine and talked into the night.  Rain Shadow and Wind Walker, whom all were instructed to call Rainy and Windie (except Cheerilee, Rainy was still mom) were so happy to be accepted into this family of accepting and loving ponies.  Plus it was the first time that Windie had interacted with a princess.  She was surprised and pleased by the casual and warm personality of Cadence.
The only problem that came up in the evening was that Twilight’s bed, although comfortable for Twilight and Cheerilee prior, was now too small to accommodate two mares and their added baby girth.
Rainy and Windie said that they wouldn’t mind sleeping close in Twilight’s bed and letting Twilight and Cheerilee have the larger guest room bed.
“Just don’t be playing with Twilight’s toys,” said Twilight Velvet, “she gets upset when somepony gets them out of order!”
“Mom!” exclaimed Twilight.
The family could tell that Twilight was starting to become sensitive to all the teasing everypony had been dishing out since her arrival.
“Sorry honey,” said Twilight Velvet, “we tease you because we love you so much and are so happy to have you and Cheerilee here.  And you can’t blame the rest of us for being excited for the coming foals.”
The rest of the ponies apologized and promised that they would tone it down.  But Cadence told Twilight that she still had to wear the tiara.
The next morning there was a large breakfast for everypony.  Twilight Velvet asked Twilight and Cheerilee if it would be okay for her to show Rainy and Windie around Canterlot.  She wanted to get in some mother to mother time with them.  Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet had become quite good friends while Twilight was in a coma.
Night Light had to go to work and Shining Armor and Cadence had Crystal Empire business to attend to at the castle.  Plus Cadence told Twilight and Cheerilee that the princesses were expecting them to visit, and she didn’t think that it was a suggestion.  And she reminded Twilight that there were enough Palace Guards, both off duty and on, around the city that she would know if Twilight took off the tiara.
The pregnant mares found that there was a cart waiting to take them around.  They decided not to fight it but Cheerilee did get a good laugh when the Guards pulling the cart bowed to Twilight and would address her as princess.
They were taken to Canterlot Castle and were ushered to the throne room doors.  As Twilight approached she saw the guard bow.  A voice from an intersecting hall was heard;
“Gets old, doesn’t it?”
It was Cadence passing by.
The doors were opened for the two mares and they were told that they were expected.
As they entered the magnificent throne room, Cheerilee was still in awe.  There before them on the dais were the two princesses.  They looked at their guests, then at each other, and then back at Twilight and Cheerilee, mostly at Twilight.
Celestia was able to control her mirth for the most part but Luna almost fell off her throne.
“To what do we owe this honor, Princess Twilight?” asked Celestia, who couldn’t control it any longer.  It was the hardest Twilight had seen her teacher laugh before.
“Our niece told us what she had commanded you to do.” Said Luna, “but we didn’t think you would look so funny, especially with that look on your face.”
Twilight was on the verge of tears, she didn’t suffer the mood swings to the degree of Cheerilee but she could become quite sensitive quickly.
“Your Highnesses,” said Cheerilee gesturing at Twilight.  This was to make them look how Twilight was reacting.
The princesses descended the dais and rushed to hug Twilight.
“Oh darling, darling Twilight,” said Celestia, “we only laugh because we love you and Cheeri so much, we meant no harm.”
“Sweet Twilight, you know how we feel about you.” said Luna, referring to things said to Twilight when she was in the coma, “understand that we jest like this only with equals.  There are very few ponies, ever, that we would interact with like this.”
“I think it is time you took us up on our offer,” said Celestia.  “I think it would help to understand this better.”
“We are honored, your highness,” said Twilight, “but Cheeri and I are deeply committed to each other.”
Celestia smiled;
“As I had said earlier, you don’t understand yet what we are offering.  You’ve always trusted me, my most beloved Twilight, please trust me now.”
Cheerilee and Twilight looked at each other, they nodded and Twilight looked back at the princess.
“We’d be honored,” said Twilight.
“Guard!”called Luna.
The door opened slightly and a guard entered.
“No admittance until further notice,” said the Princess Of The Night.
“As you command,” replied the guard.
The doors closed and Luna, with her magic, secured the door on the inside.
Then three tiaras floated to the thrones.
“I will deal with my niece if she says anything,” said Celestia with a smile.
The four ponies walked to the wall behind the dais and opened the hidden door.  Then they entered the princesses inner sanctum.
The place was as Twilight and Cheerilee remembered it.  Tia and Lu led them to the large bedroom/living quarter.  They all lowered themselves to the cushion.  Twilight and Cheerilee were not too comfortable with their baby-bellies.
“Feel free to sit up or lay down,” said Tia, “there is no ceremony or custom here.   Be comfortable.”
The two pregnant mares sat on their haunches as their hosts snuggled close to each other.  Then Tia and Lu kissed a loving kiss then looked at Twilight and Cheerilee.
“I know you haven’t understood what it was we were offering,” said Tia, “we want you to experience love at the immortal level, like we do.  But now we would like to experience something that we never have, something we can never do ourselves.  And we need your permission to do so.”
“You want to experience our pregnancy,” said Cheerilee.
Lu and Tia smiled and nodded their heads.
“How would we do all this?” asked Twilight.
“We would use a spell that temporally switches minds between bodies,” said Lu, “you would experience our feelings, knowledge and power.  You can make love to each other as we do.  There is no way to explain the difference unless you experience it yourselves.”
“We, on the other hoof, would get to feel a new life inside ourselves.” Said Tia, “we would be able to feel things that you perhaps take for granted or don’t even notice out of it being use to it.  It is a curse of our immortality that we can never bear children.  But after all, we are mares and the desire to have children is part of the mare’s make up, despite us not being able to do it.”
“We have never been as close to ponies that we could offer this.  We understand if you say no.  And you would be able to back out at any time.” Said Lu, “but Tia and I decided to ask this of you because, even though we are immortal, we may never get the chance to have close friends who we could do this with.”
“We would be forever in your debt,” said Tia.  The emphasis on forever was noted and Twilight made a mental note to ask about it later.
The looks on both their faces showed that this was not something that they were asking lightly.  And they could tell that this was truly something their hearts desired.
Twilight was curious about what her teacher was hinting at, and Cheerilee was moved by their plea to experience the feeling of a new life inside them.  Twilight looked at her rose colored wife who nodded her head.
“Tia, Lu,” said Twilight, “we’d be honored to do this.”
Twilight had seen the princesses happy on many occasions, but she had never seen them like this.  They became as giddy as a couple of school fillies.
“What do we have to do?” said Cheerilee.
“Just make love,” said Tia, “don’t be embarrassed, we are about to become so familiar that such an act in front of us will be inconsequential.  We will feel the same; you don’t yet know or appreciate the level of familiarity that this will bring us.”
Tia and Lu started to kiss passionately, and then with a small amount of trepidation, Cheerilee and Twilight started to kiss as well.  At first they were self-conscious, but as the passion started to rise and the innate desire for each other kicked in, it became no problem at all even with the two Alicorns doing the same just a couple of feet from them.  In fact, the moaning that was coming from the two Alicorns was arousing.
Cheerilee’s hoof was at Twilight’s marehood, Twilight was starting to kiss down Cheerilee’s neck.  They worked themselves, lying on their sides, to have the other’s marehood in front of their muzzles.   As they were exploring each other with their tongues, there was a golden glow.  Suddenly Twilight felt a surge of her innate magic level.  She had had her eyes closed; she opened her eyes and saw that the marehood in front of her was surrounded by a white coat color!  Her own hoofs, which were holding open her lover, were a dark blue.  Cheerilee had discovered at the same time that she was now working on a dark blue marehood.  They raised their heads and looked at each other.  Twilight saw that it was Tia looking at her.
“Cheeri?” asked Twilight.
“Yes,” replied Tia/Cheerilee, “is that you Twi?”
“It’s me,” replied Lu/Twilight.
The two smiled and continued to make love.  Twilight noticed the difference in size of Celestia’s marehood, something she had never even thought about.  The taste was different as well, not unpleasant just the natural personal musky taste and smell of a mare’s clean private part.  Truthfully, it was more arousing than Twilight was expecting.  Her mind actually strayed to thinking what it would be like if Celestia was in the body.  The technique she was using was the same Twilight was use to from Cheerilee.  Cheerilee later confessed to the same thoughts about Luna.
As they got deeper into it they could start to feel the world around them as they never had.  Twilight could recognize the raw power that Luna commanded.  She could feel her memories, and desires.  She was surprised at just how much Luna was attracted to her.  But the level of love felt for her sister was unbelievable.
Truthfully, Twilight was a little disturbed when she found out that her teacher’s lover was her own sister.  But the explanation of how with them being immortal and could not count on any other lover for any length of time.  The only pony she could count on could only be her sister.  She also sensed that this arrangement might have to include Cadence in the future, after Shining Armor was gone.  There was a brief sense of sadness for her brother.
As they continued, she felt the orgasm build, it was nothing like she had ever experienced.  As it grew closer, the boundaries of mind and body dissolved along with the boundaries between her, her lover and the two princesses.  Their minds and bodies became one.  The physical world disappeared; they were suddenly one being with four minds.  The universe exploded into pure light, time did not exist.  It was an eternity of pure bliss.
‘I told you, my most beloved, that it would not be what you would expect.’ Twilight heard in her mind, it was Celestia.
‘You two now know us unlike any other pony ever, even Star Swirl the Bearded never achieved this,’ said the part of her mind that was Luna.
‘I am so overwhelmed,’ said the part of the mind that was Cheerilee.
‘You are experiencing something that no Earth pony has ever,’ thought Celestia.  ‘you feel the magic that is innate in Unicorns but Twilight can tell you that she, as powerful as she is, does not have this level of power.’
‘As overwhelmed as the two of you are,’ thought Luna, ‘exercise the power you now have and feel the level of awe that we now feel in your bodies.’
‘We weren’t ready for the fullness you two feel; after all you have had almost six months to ease into it.’ Thought Celestia, ‘but the most glorious thing is to feel the movement of another being inside of us, just to feel the heartbeat is the greatest feeling we have ever had experienced.’
Twilight could feel what Celestia and Luna were feeling.  They had never realized that if they tuned their awareness good enough that they could feel the heartbeat of their foal.
‘There is one more thing you should know,’ thought Celestia, ‘be still and see if you can feel it.’
All four minds went quiet.  Twilight and Cheerilee felt it almost at the same time.  There were two more minds in there with them!  Minds that were at perfect peace and happiness, minds that registered pure love for the being that was supporting them, the contentment of the womb.  There were no words, but what they were thinking was understood.
‘Wait!’ cautioned Celestia, ‘if you go deeper, you’ll know everything about them.  If you want the sex and race to be a surprise, then don’t go any further.’
‘My love,’ thought Cheerilee, ‘to have felt them, knowing that they are healthy and happy is enough for me.  I can wait another five months; we are over half way there.’
‘I agree, my darling,’ thought Twilight.  ‘But thank you for this gift…..’
‘I can feel your minds,’ thought Celestia, ‘you don’t know how to address us at this level.  In public it will be necessary to address us as you have.  But alone, and in casual circumstances, we will always be Tia and Lu.  We would like it if now you would consider us as sisters and lovers, but at a much deeper level.”
‘You won’t understand the depth of this now,’ thought Luna, ‘and it is our wish that you don’t fully understand this for a very long time, but our minds will forever be linked.  This will also have consequences for the near future however.  You’ll understand at the right time.’
Twilight and Cheerilee caught the very smallest of understanding of what they were being hinted.
‘As much as none of us will want to,’ thought Celestia, ‘we have to return to our bodies.  But I hope that after this, you’ll want to join us again.’
Twilight and Cheerilee both felt the other want to respond in the positive.
‘Your thoughts are understood,’ thought Celestia. ‘Now we return!’
Twilight opened her eyes as the last of the orgasm wash over her.  She was now pleasuring Cheerilee.  After catching their breath, all four mares sat up and looked at each other and smiled.
“Tia,” said Twilight “was there any particular reason that we entered the bodies we did?”
Celestia blushed brightly.
“It’s because my sister won,” said Luna, ever so slightly annoyed, “we both wanted you to experience what making love to us would feel like.  Please don’t be upset at us Cheeri, you now know from being linked to us the level of love we feel for both of you.   It’s silly really, but I did get to use your body to make love to Twilight’s.”
Cheerilee thought for a moment.  She knew in the past it might have hurt her feelings, but now she understood things at a much deeper level.
“It was my honor Lu,” said Cheerilee with a smile, “maybe next time Twi and I could be in on the decision making.”
The fact that Cheerilee had suggested that there would be a next time, thrilled both the princesses.  They had harbored fears that it would be Cheerilee that would resist.
Luna hugged Cheerilee and kissed her.  It was more than a ‘thank you’ kiss.  Cheerilee was surprised at first, but she felt that with the level of intimacy they had achieved, it really was alright, including the tongue in her mouth and the hoof at her marehood.  So Cheerilee returned the level of the kiss to Luna.  Cheerilee marveled at the pleasure she felt rubbing Luna’s love organ.
It was almost amusing, when they broke the kiss; they saw that Celestia and Twilight were finishing a similar actions.
“Good gracious!” said Cheerilee, still in the embrace of Luna, “I turn my attention away from you for one moment, and I find you making out with another mare.  And this time the ruler of Equestria!  Don’t you ever get enough?”
“Shall I send her to the dungeon?” asked Celestia slyly.  “Or just banish her to the Everfree Forest?”
“No Tia,” said Twilight, “I’m going to have to show her just how much I don’t get enough!”
They all laughed as they departed the inner chambers.  The final laugh was as they were leaving, Cadence’s tiara appeared on Twilight’s head.
“You mustn’t forget your dignity, your highness,” said Luna.
“I would reply, ‘bite me princess’,” said Twilight, ‘but I now know that it would only lead to something else and I’m kind of spent already.”
All the ponies laughed, Celestia and Luna were still laughing as the throne room doors closed behind them.
Later at Twilight’s parents’ home, they were asked how their visit with the princesses went.  They told everypony that there were no words to explain.  It did appear that Cadence knew what they were talking about and they remembered the hint of what was to come with her.
The rest of the weekend visit went joyfully for all.  Cadence and Shining still showed Cheerilee more attention.  They also explained that they planned to have Cheerilee and Twilight’s eleventh month free and they would be staying in Ponyville or Canterlot to be there for the birth.  This started a talk on who was going to be there for the birth itself.  Cadence, Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet all wanted to be there for Cheerilee, as well as for Twilight.
Twilight joked that there were so many ponies that wanted to be in the delivery room, that Cheerilee and she might have to wait outside!
Then it was mentioned that as soon as the foal was able to travel, that Cheerilee (and Twilight) would have to come to the Crystal Empire. There the crystal ponies were also expecting to be introduced to the princess and prince’s foal.
But when alone at night the couple started to feel that the demands on their pregnancy were starting to be more than they had planned.  They had originally wanted only their wife to be there for them, and maybe their mothers.  They didn’t think that there were so many other ponies that felt that they needed to be there too.
The only thing that helped hold them together under the building pressures was the memories of the minds they had felt when they were joined with Tia and Lu.  Especially the feeling of the minds of their darlings inside them.
As time went by they would find that this was only the beginning of expectations.

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            CHAPTER FIVE: Apple Family Reunion             
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CHAPTER FIVE: Apple Family Reunion
CHAPTER FIVE
Apple Family Reunion
Two months later, at the end of the summer, and eight months into the pregnancies, the Apple Family Reunion rolled around.  Twilight and Cheerilee were much larger by now.  They would not get a lot larger; there would be some but not too much more.
The now the foals were finishing their developing, heart and lungs getting ready to be on their own, the internal organs finishing their construction.
The minds, however, were fully developed and there was something that nopony could ever know, but after the visit with the princesses, the minds had become aware of other ponies that were ‘out there’.
There were minds of two very powerful ponies that they felt would be there to protect them always.
Then there were two minds of the special ponies that were carrying them and would love them always, ponies that they were part of in a real way.
But they became aware of another mind like their own, one not quite ready for the outside world but one that they could still feel.
It turned out to be one of the most unique family reunions any Apple could remember.  For the greater part, Apples were not raciest.  But as long as any pony could remember, Apples had always been Earth ponies.  Now with Big Mac’s new wife, Applejack’s marefriend and partner and the pony that was carrying a foal conceived with the help of Braeburn (if only indirectly) that there were now two Unicorns to be considered Apples, along with three Pegasi (Rain Shadow counted because she was Twilight’s wife’s mother.  Wind Walker also counted because she was both Rainbow Apple’s aunt and Rain Shadow’s partner).
For the mares present, any of the expectant mares at the reunion were always to be fussed over.  Twilight and Cheerilee found themselves herded with four other expectant Apple mares.  A pavilion had been set up to shade the mares along with cushions to comfort them.
Several of the younger fillies were always there, including Apple Bloom and Babs Seed, to run for fresh fritters or cool apple cider.
When lunch time came, they were served large portions of everything and they did get theirs first.
Granny Smith and her cousin Apple Rose along with several of the older mares including the venerated Auntie Applesauce made sure that the pregnant mares were treated well and not too overwhelmed by visitors and well wishers.
At first, all of the first time guests took a bit to get use to everypony addressing them as ‘cousin’.  But once the realization that they were truly being treated as family, it felt so nice, especially for Cheerilee and her mother for whom family had until recently had a negative connotation.
Apple Bloom was thrilled when she realized that her teacher and everypony’s favorite librarian and friend were now technically family!  Cheerilee told the filly that away from school it was okay if she wanted to call her Cousin Cheerilee (Cheerilee was so happy to have real family), but at school she still had to be Mrs. Sparkle.
It evident that the that the three mare with mare couples didn’t cause much concern.  However it did have to be addressed to some ponies from the very out-reaches of Equestria that the old term ’filly fooler’ was now considered offensive, whether the pony meant it that way or not.  That is because a filly is an underage female, it took on the connotation that the mare in question was a pedophile, molesting young girls.  Mare-lover was a more accurate description of the pony’s tastes.
Because of the openness of the Applejack/Rarity, Twilight/Cheerilee and Wind Walker/Rain Shadow, several mares in the gathering felt comfortable for the first time to admit to the family that the ‘guest’ that they had brought with them was actually a marefriend and partner.
There were games, music and hay rides.  Twilight and Cheerilee were glad that they agreed to come.
Windie and Rainy had fun mingling with the Apples, Rainbow did try to stay near her aunt because of the attention that the Pegasi were receiving, it was better to face it en mass.
Rarity had a similar situation being a Unicorn, but Applejack was a well know Apple so many ponies didn’t crowd them too much.
Unfortunately, Twilight was starting to feel like Cheerilee felt at first on their visit to Canterlot.  Almost every Apple from Appleloosa had to visit the mare having Braeburn’s foal.  It didn’t help that she was so recognized because of her help with the peace with the buffalo.
What bothered Twilight and Cheerilee was that after anypony would visit with her and invite her to visit with them when she moves to Appleloosa, they would go to Braeburn and congratulate him.  Some would actually ask Twilight when had Braeburn and Cactus Flower broken up and she had gotten together with Braeburn.
To his credit, it did appear that he was trying his best to make sure that the ponies understood that the foal was his on a technicality and that he would have no custody of the child.
Twilight finally got Applejack to bring Braeburn and Cactus Flower to meet her and Cheerilee in the Apple’s house.
In the house Braeburn sat with Cactus Flower while Applejack sat Rarity and Twilight sat with Cheerilee, Rainbow joined them as well.
“Braeburn,” started Twilight, “I know your family in Appleloosa is excited about the foal.  And I am sure that you and Cactus Flower are aware of the terms of the donation.  Please understand that Cheerilee and I are extremely grateful for the very personal gift.  I do believe that you have in no way encouraged the behavior of you fellow Appleloosans, but they appear to be under the belief that not only am I going to move to Appleloosa after the foal is born but that you and I are romantically involved.”
“Braeburn!” said Cactus Flower,  giving her coltfriend a love tap, “are you taking the train all the way to Ponyville just to fool around with this mare and then ride the train all the way back before I notice you ain’t in bed with me?”
Braeburn looked shocked but Cactus Flower burst out laughing.  Twilight was relieved; she half believed that Braeburn’s marefriend was serious.  But the rest of the ponies laughed as well.
“Twilight,” said Braeburn, “I won’t lie, Cactus Flower and I am so excited about your foal.  We plan on having children in the future, so this is kind of like a preview!”
“Twi and I are relieved to hear you say that,” said Cheerilee, “the way it is going with Twi’s side of the family, it appears that there is going to be a stampede wanting to be there in the delivery room for both of us, not to mention my mother.  The last thing we need is a half of Appleloosa wanting to be there.”
All the ponies laughed.
Rainbow then nudged Applejack;
“Tell her.”
“Twi,” said Applejack timidly, “that reminds me of something.”
“What’s that,” asked Twilight, unsure of what was coming.
“Granny Smith told me the other day that it was her responsibility to be there at the birth of any local Apple.”
Twilight went pale;
“Granny Smith too!”
“She didn’t say what she meant by ‘be there’.  She is reasonable enough to know that in the delivery room might be pushing it,” said Applejack.
“That’s a relief,” said Cheerilee.  “We were starting to be concerned that when we have our ‘blessed events’ that we would lose a lot of friends because their feelings got hurt.”
“We were so happy when we discovered we were with foal, but now there is starting to be a pall of concern to us.
We don’t want to have our children be the reason that we don’t have friends.”  Twilight’s increased sensitivity caused her to break down and cry. “We’ve so wanted our friends to be as happy for us as we are.”
“Twilight honey!” said Cheerilee, putting her forelegs around her crying wife, “I’m sure that it will all work out.”
The girls in the room came over to comfort Twilight.
“Twilight,” Cactus Flower said, “you won’t have to worry about us and the Appleloosan Apples.  We will total respect your privacy and Braeburn and I will make sure that our people know the real situation.  So don’t be concerned if you ever visit Appleloosa again, you won’t be misunderstood.”
Twilight was soon able to get control of her emotional breakdown.  She and Cheerilee went back out to the rest of the Apple Family gathering.  Braeburn and Cactus Flower must have worked hard because there were no more misunderstandings being spoken and even a couple of apologies from ones who had already misspoke themselves.  There were still a lot of invitations to visit Appleloosa, after all, a child with Apple blood would always be family.
After the initial shock, the rest of the reunion went happily.  Cheerilee, Twilight, Wind Walker and Rain Shadow never felt so welcome as they had there.  For Cheerilee and her mother, it was another confirmation that family was something to be cherished and not feared.

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                    STRANGE INTERLUDE 3                    
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STRANGE INTERLUDE 3
STRANGE INTERLUDE 3
It was about two weeks after the discovery of the body of the pony by Trixie.  Because of just not feeling right about the spot, they had avoided the West Field for now.
The Pies and Trixie had worked the day and were preparing to sit down to dinner when there was a knock at the door.
“Blinkie honey,” said Sue, “can you get that?”
Blinkie went to the door and opened it.
“Ma, pa,” she called out, “I think you need to come here.”
The rest of the Pies came in the room, followed by Trixie.  They saw that it was Dr. Bones.
“Doctor,” said Clyde, “what can we do for you?”
“Sorry to interrupt you at this hour, but I’ve some information for you and perhaps a question or two,” replied the Medical Examiner.
“Please have a seat doctor,” said Clyde.
The family all found seats on the couch and couple chairs while Trixie sat on a cushion.
“We’ve determined that the body of the pony found on your property was that of a filly.  She was between five and eight years old, her coat was pink in color with a mane and tail of a darker pink.  She either had no cutie mark or it had been obliterated with the trauma and time.  She’s been there for anywhere from fifteen to twenty years, roughly.
That’s pretty much the details,” said the doctor. “Although there was one odd thing, from the position of the body, it appeared as if either the pony was purposely jumping under the falling boulder, or…”
Sue Pie ran out of the room.  The other ponies watched her, only Trixie got up to follow.
“I’m sorry doctor,” said Clyde, “go on.”
“As I was saying, the pony was either purposely jumping under the falling boulder, or she was pushing something or somepony out of the way and was caught by the boulder,” said the doctor.
“You said you had a question,” said Clyde.
“Mrs. Pie…. Sue,” said Trixie coming up to the pony, Sue was crying hard. “Is there something I can do?”
“No,” said Sue, looking at Trixie.  Sue then put a foreleg around Trixie and her head against Trixie’s neck and started to cry harder.
“Sue,” said Trixie softly, her own tears starting to form out of empathy.  Trixie was stroking Sue’s mane, “you know something about this, don’t you.”
Sue looked into Trixie’s eyes.  Trixie could tell that there was something that Sue wanted to say.  But she was unsure if she tell her.
Trixie could see Sue’s lip trembling.
“Somehow, it is Pinkie,” said Trixie “isn’t it.”
All color drained from the older mare’s face.
“You said you had a question,” said Clyde.
“Yes,” said the doctor, “I’ve checked the missing pony reports from this area for the time period I mentioned. there’re no unsolved cases.  I extended the search ten years in either direction, with the same results.  Ponyville isn’t a hot bed of missing children.
Failing that, I checked the Equestria Census for the time period.  That’s when I found that the description and age matched your daughter Pinkamena Diane Pie.  But I also found that Pinkamena or ‘Pinkie’ lives in Ponyville at Sugarcube Corner and is one of the wielders of the Elements of Harmony, currently a quite famous pony along with the other wielders.”
“And your question, doctor?”
“Was there an unrecorded twin, or do you know something that could help us close this case,” said the doctor. “As I said originally, there’s no evidence of criminal activity, it’s officially an unfortunate accident.
No charges would be made if you have some information for me.  But it could be criminal if evidence was being purposely withheld.
Truthfully, I find it hard to believe that there’d been a filly of that age, killed and nopony noticed.”
Trixie and Sue at that moment returned to the room, Trixie was holding Sue’s hoof.  All eyes looked at them.
“Doctor,” said Trixie,” I believe Mrs. Pie has something she wants to tell you.”
The rest of the Pie’s looked concerned.

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              CHAPTER SIX: It Comes To A Head              
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CHAPTER SIX: It Comes To A Head
CHAPTER SIX
It Comes To A Head
Twilight and Cheerilee were ten months into their pregnancies.
Twilight was often having false labor contractions.  She complained that it wasn’t fair that that her rose colored wife wasn’t bedeviled by the uncomfortable and disconcerting condition.  The mare’s doctor had told Twilight that it was to be expected with some mares, and not in others.
Both mares were well into the ‘nesting’ phase and they had freely given themselves to the impulse to fix everything for the coming foals.  The nursery was wonderful and with help from Cheerilee’s mother and her partner along with frequent visits from Twilight’s mother, it was a baby’s dream.
Twilight and Cheerilee were on the bed, they were trying to catch their breath.  They still tried to make love as often as practical.  It was getting harder with their baby-bellies in the way, but they made due.  They were holding each other close and getting a thrill out of feeling their child ‘kicking’ against the other’s belly and feel the other baby ‘kicking’ back.  The activity was always greater after a good session of sex.
“I love you,” said Twilight, “I don’t know how I ever lived before you.”
“I feel the same,” said Cheerilee, “you and the life we share is more than I ever dreamed of.”
The two kissed deeply;
“Will we still feel the same after we have two foals running wild around the library?” asked Twilight.
“Of course not,” said Cheerilee, which made Twilight look at her rose colored wife in shock.
“Silly! We’ll love each other that much more!”
The two laughed and kissed some more.  They heard the bell downstairs.
“Twilight, Cheerilee,” called a voice, “are you two at it again?”
“It’s your mom,” said Twilight with a snicker
“Why mom,” shouted Cheerilee, “you wanting to join in?”
Rain Shadow walked to the top of the stair, looked in on the girls and laughed.
“Sorry you two,” said the older mare, “I wouldn’t want to damage you for life.”
“Oooooo.....” said Twilight, “that sounds like a challenge.  But I think it would be weird with our mother!”
They all laughed.
“Well,” said Rain Shadow, “if you two ‘beached whales’ can manage to get your tongues out of each other’s marehood, we’ve somewhere to be.”
“Where’s that mom,” said Cheerilee.
“Now if I told you,” said the motherly pony, “it wouldn’t be a surprise.  Now go clean up and get your flanks downstairs!”
The two got up, took a quick shower and went down stairs.  There, Rainy and Windie were waiting on the girls.  Spike was left in charge.  Which because it was late afternoon, he would take a nap on one of the sofas.  The older mares led them to Bon-Bon’s candy store.  When they entered, there was a thunderous;
SURPRISE!
All of Twilight and Cheerilee’s friends who were mares were there, also Twilight Velvet, princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence.
There were decorations on the walls and tables.  All done up in baby bottles, pink streamers, dippers, rattles and other foal paraphernalia.
“A foal shower?” said Twilight, becoming misty eyed.
“What’s the matter Twi, my love,” said Cheerilee.
“I wish Pinkie could’ve been here,” said Twilight.  “It’s been almost five months since she came by to tell us she’d be away.  I miss the manic mare!”
“I know,” said Rainbow Apple, “we were having trouble getting it together when Rare asked Fluttershy for some ideas.  She suggested to have the party here instead of Sugarcube Corner.  It would be too suspicious.  Then she went on with idea after idea.  Who knew that she would have a ‘freaky’ knowledge of how to organize a party.”
Fluttershy was blushing.
“I guess I’ve hung out with Pinkie Pie too much!” said the shy Pegasus.
All the ponies laughed.
There were games like changing diapers on a foal doll while blindfolded.  Because of Cheerilee being an Earth Pony, there was no magic allowed.  Ponies thought it hilarious that Princess Luna and Celestia were totally inept at it, but the two princesses took the laughter well.  Even though Princess Luna told everypony that she was making a list of who she was going to be exiling to the Everfree Forest.
Twilight was not surprised that Cadence won.  After all, she may have been a ruler of an empire, but she was also an expert and excellent foal sitter.
Rain Shadow and Twilight Velvet had put out a list of needs the two mares still were lacking for the nursery.  They made sure that everything matched the decor of the nursery.
There were some non-object presents, such as the one from Princess Celestia.  It was two full scholarships to Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns.  Because the princess was the final say in what pony would be admitted, they were assured that whatever race the foals would be, they would be permitted to attend.
Also, Granny Smith gave a promise of a hoof-made quilt for each foal.  She was waiting to find out what type and color each foal would be.
Eventually it turned into just sitting around talking and eating snacks.  Several of the ponies would be off at one part of the room, looking at the gifts, others were talking among themselves in small groups.
That is when it started.
Twilight had just returned from the ‘little filly’s room’ when she was stopped by Rainbow Apple.
“Hey Twi,” said Rainbow, “I got a question for ya.”
“Anything Rainbow.”
“I was wondering if you would consider letting me be in the delivery room with you.  You’re my best friend and I want to be there for you.” Said the blue Pegasus.
“I’ll have to think it over and talk to Cheeri about it.  We’d talked about just having each other and our mothers in there.” Said Twilight, “but I don’t see why there couldn’t be room for one more.  But I can’t promise anything until I see what Cheeri says.”
“That’s all I ask,” said Rainbow, giving Twilight a hug.
In another part of the room, Cheerilee is getting some punch when Cadence approached her.
“Umm, Cheerilee,” stammered Cadence, Cheerilee could see a tear on her cheek, “I know that this is asking a lot, but I wanted to know if you’d allow me to be with you when you have your foal?  I’ll never have the chance to do it myself and I know that the foal is yours and Twilight’s.  But I also can’t help but see it as also Shining’s and mine by extension as well.”
“I understand Cadence,” said Cheerilee, moved by this princess’ plea, “I wouldn’t have any problem.  But obviously Twi and my mother would be there, but if Twi didn’t have any objections, I don’t think it would be a problem.”
Cadence grabbed the rose Earth Pony and hugged her tight.
“Oh thank you,” said the princess, fighting back the tears, “you can’t possibly understand what this means to me.”
These two requests were not the only ones that the two mares received at the party.  Unfortunately, most of their friends had come up with some reason that they wanted to ‘be there for them’.
Noticeably absent was any request from Celestia and Luna.  Twilight was uncertain about them, they could pretty much do as they wanted without anypony’s permission.  They weren’t the rulers of Equestria for nothing.  But she was sure with the level of intimacy and relationship that she and Cheerilee had reached with Tia and Lu, they’d respect them enough to ask before commanding.
The two mares tried not to let the requests put a damper on the party but on their way home, Wind Walker and Rain Shadow noticed the concern on the two’s pregnant mares faces’.
Big Mac had met the group at the end of the party and had hauled all the presents to the library, he was good enough to take the items up to the nursery.  Then after he was finished and had left, the group went into the kitchen to have some tea and talk.
“Okay,” said Wind Walker, “what gives?  Didn’t you get enough presents?”
“Windie,” said Cheerilee, “it’s nothing like that.  I was bombarded by ponies who felt that they had good reasons to ask to be in the delivery room with me.”
“I was as well,” said Twilight, “everypony was good enough not to ask for a decision right then, but it was evident that they thought that they had good enough reason to be there.”
“To tell the truth,” said Cheerilee, “I don’t know how comfortable I’d be, all spread out on the delivery table with my ‘goodies’ on display.  I’ve no issue with Twi and you mom, and oddly enough I wouldn’t have a problem with Celestia or Luna, but they didn’t ask me.”
“Ouch!” said Rain Shadow, “I can see why you’re so glum.  At least I didn’t have any issues like that.  Your father, Cheerilee, was out with the stallions leaving me to go through it alone, my own mother hadn’t spoken with me for several years so she wasn’t there either.  Luckily, Windie did show up and was there for me.”
Rain Shadow, looked lovingly at her partner, took her hoof and gave her a passionate kiss.
Cheerilee looked at Wind Walker and smiled;
“I didn’t know that you were there when I was born.”
“Honey,” said Wind Walker, “I held you even before your mother did.  But I do want you to know my opinion.  And that’s the only ponies that you should have in the delivery room is your partner and your mother.  Friends are nice but this is such a personal and intense thing, it doesn’t need to be a public spectacle.  It would even be out of place for me to be there.  I may be a mare-lover, but I’ve no desire to see your ‘goodies’!
Plus with all the ponies that want to be there, you are either going to have to say yes to all or no to all.  Picking and choosing will only hurt feelings more.  And if they are really your friends they will respect your decision.”
That evening, Twilight and Cheerilee held each other as close as possible.  Both were worried, once again, that their foals would bring them great joy but could be the reason for losing some or maybe all of their friends.

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         CHAPTER SEVEN: More Troubles With Pinkie          
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CHAPTER SEVEN: More Troubles With Pinkie
CHAPTER SEVEN
More Troubles With Pinkie
Pinkie had gone to the Cake’s after her incident at Sweet Apple Acres.  She let them know that she needed to take a leave of absence because of personal reasons.  If they needed her she would be staying at her parent’s rock farm.
It was not the first time Pinkie just disappeared for weeks on end.  However, nopony had now seen Pinkie for months.  Trixie saw lights from the old silo on some evenings, but when mentioned to the family, they said that it was nothing
It was into the eleventh month of Twilight and Cheerilee’s pregnancy.
One evening, Pinkie knocked at the door, even though it was her home.  Blinkie met her at the door.
“Sis!” she said excitedly, “come on in, we’re about to eat.”
Pinkie hugged her sister and then Blinkie led her into the dining room, the family was sitting around the table, Pinkie noticed Trixie sitting with the family.  She had known that Trixie was still working there but was unsure how Trixie would react to her after past interactions.
Trixie saw Pinkie and something chimed in her head.  With the body of the pony that she had found what had puzzled her became clear.  The coloration of the hair was just like Pinkie’s.
‘But how was the possible?’ Trixie thought.
“Hello family,” said Pinkie, “hello Trixie.  I hope it isn’t an inconvenience, but I was needing to see you, I haven’t been doing well lately.”
There was a look on her face that the family understood, but left Trixie wondering.
“Honey, you don’t have to ask,” said Sue Pie, “this is always your home.”
“Mom,” said Blinkie, “Trixie is using Pinkie’s room, remember?”
Trixie looked concerned, she was sure that she was going to be displaced.
“It’s okay,” said Pinkie with a smile, “I don’t mind using my getaway in the silo.  In fact, I’ve been using it for a while. I prefer it for the privacy.  I just need some family time right now.”
“Pinkie,” said Clyde, “whatever you need you know we’ll help with.  Why don’t you sit and join us?”
“I will,” said Pinkie, “with Trixie’s permission, I know we haven’t been on the best of terms in the past and I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.  After all, she’s living here now.”
Trixie was shocked, she didn’t know what to think of Pinkie being so concerned with her feelings.
“Why would I mind,” said Trixie, “as they said, it’s your home.  I’m just staying here.  And I think you’ll find that the Trixie you were use to isn’t the Trixie that’s working here now.”
Pinkie looked at her in an odd but pleasant way.
“I can tell that,” said Pinkie.
Pinkie pulled up a cushion and sat with the family.  She only asked for some water but the family appeared to be more warm and smiling with Pinkie there.  Pinkie actually started to look a little more chipper.
They had talked about the farm and other little issues which on the outside would appear of no consequence, but Pinkie hung on every word.  Pinkie went as far as to ask Trixie how she was liking her work at the farm and how she’d been since the Alicorn Amulet incident.  Trixie had noticed that there was no resentment in Pinkie’s voice, especially after what she’d done to the pink mare during the time the amulet was twisting her actions.
After the family finished eating, Pinkie thanked them for letting her sit in with them and said she would turn in and would be glad to help out with the work at farm, if they wanted.
Sue told her that if she wasn’t feeling well, she’d prefer that Pinkie help out in the home if she wanted to do anything that way she could keep an eye on her.  Besides, with Pinkie’s talent for cooking and baking, it would be a pleasant change.
Pinkie excused herself after giving a hug to each family member, even a friendly one to Trixie.  Trixie was never much of a hugger, but there was something genuinely warm with Pinkie’s hug.  Then Pinkie went outside to go to the silo.
Later that evening, after the rest of the family had turned in, Trixie was feeling odd.  She couldn’t get the sight of the body of the poor little pony she found and the color similarity with Pinkie out of her head.  She decided to go outside for some night air and look at the stars to clear her head before turning in.  As she walked around the Pie home she saw something on the ground half way between the house and silo.  She walked in the direction and saw that it was Pinkie Pie.  And she could tell that Pinkie didn’t simply fall asleep on the way to the silo.  Trixie was going to run back to the house to get help but she decided that she needed to check to see if Pinkie was still breathing or if she was injured.
She approached the mare and felt her.  She was warm and she was breathing slowly.  Trixie tried to rouse her but all she got as an unintelligible mumble.
Trixie sprinted to the house and called for the family, they all rushed to Pinkie.  After checking her over, they asked Trixie if she could help them by levitating Pinkie to the house.  Once inside it was suggested by Blinkie that they put her in bed with her and she’d take care of her.  Trixie was a little confused by this but she did as asked.  Once Pinkie was put into Blinkie’s bed, Blinkie crawled in beside Pinkie.  Put a foreleg over her and started talking soothingly to her.  As Trixie left the room she heard Blinkie saying;
“Hold on sis, you know we love you and I’m here for you.”
“Thank you sis,” Trixie heard Pinkie mumble, “I so love all of you too.”
The door closed and she could not hear anything else.
Trixie went back to her room and thought about all the night’s interactions with Pinkie.  Was there some illness that the family was keeping from her because she is an outsider?  Was Pinkie really so sick and they didn’t want anypony to know?
There was something about how Pinkie was acting that just didn’t fit.  She knew that Pinkie was the most open of all of Twilight Sparkle’s friends.  And a fun-loving happy-go-lucky pony.  But Trixie didn’t expect the subdued actions she saw as Pinkie came in tonight.
And the way that Pinkie was concerned about her own feelings and comfort wasn’t something she’d expected.  Pinkie was truly a sensitive pony, despite her outgoing and crazy reputation.
Plus something didn’t feel right.  There was more going on here than what she could see.  Perhaps it was because of her sensitivity to magic, which all Unicorns had, was telling her something.  Most Unicorns had a little sensitivity because which coincided with the depth of their powers.  But Trixie commanded more magic than most Unicorns, not as much as Twilight Sparkle but she was no lightweight when it came to talent.  And now something was telling her that she should keep her eyes and ears open.  These thoughts floated around in her head as she drifted off to sleep.
That next morning Trixie awoke to a knocking at her door.  Trixie was now an early riser due to working on a farm, but this was early.
“Who is it?” called out Trixie.
“It’s Pinkie Pie, can we talk?”
Trixie was stunned, what did Pinkie have to say to her?
“Come in,” replied Trixie.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” said Pinkie, entering the room and closing the door behind her.
Pinkie walked close to the bed and sat back on her haunches, Trixie had sat up on the bed curious why the pink pony was there.
“What can I do for you?” asked Trixie.
“I just wanted to thank you for not letting me lay outside all night,” said Pinkie, “I know that we haven’t interacted under the best of circumstances in the past.  Mom, dad and Blinkie tell me that you’ve been a hard and honest worker and that they trust you completely.  I’m so glad to hear that.  Understand, I hold nothing of the past against you and I truly hope we can be friends.
I just wanted to let you know that if I’m acting strange it is because I’m not doing so good.  Several things in my life have changed and I’m not sure how it’ll all work out.  So please forgive me if I act odd in the near future.”
“Thank you for letting me know that,” said Trixie, “and I do hope we can get along.”
Trixie paused to wonder if she should ask Pinkie about the pony she found;
“Pinkie, I need to ask something.”
“About the body of the pony you found?”
“Yes,” said Trixie, “I couldn’t help but notice that the hair that was left was just like yours.  Is there something I should know?”
“Trixie,” said Pinkie meekly looking at the floor, “there is something.  But I think that mom and dad should explain it, just to be safe.  I’ll let them know that it’s okay with me.”
“Are you afraid of what I might say or do?”
“No Trixie,” said Pinkie, more serious that Trixie had ever seen her, “I’m afraid for my life at this time.”
Trixie was shocked, she didn’t realize it might be that serious!
Pinkie lowered her head and a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Oh Pinkie!” exclaimed Trixie who jumped up and hugged Pinkie. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t want to upset you!”
Trixie stood there for a moment hugging Pinkie.  Pinkie didn’t resist, in fact she put a leg around Trixie and rested her head against her and started to cry.
Trixie didn’t understand the feelings she was having.  She never cared that much for Pinkie or crying mares for that matter.  But there was something honest about Pinkie’s actions, Pinkie trusting her with very personal information.  And ponies that completely trusted her were unheard of, maybe that’s because she never really trusted anypony herself.
Trixie could somehow feel that Pinkie was actually being comforted.  Maybe she felt it because she’d never cared enough to comfort anypony in the past, nor had anypony cared to comfort her.
Pinkie pulled back and looked into Trixie’s eyes.  There was something heart melting in those big blue eyes. But more than that, Trixie could see a soul that was full of friends and yet at a very deep level, as empty as her own.  Somepony that really did understand her pain of loneliness.
It didn’t matter who had kissed whom, or how long it was held, nor did they care.  Trixie had kissed before, but not at this level.  The thrill of her tongue exploring Pinkie’s was beyond belief.  It was nothing she had ever expected to feel in kissing anypony.  Never had any kiss made Trixie short of breath.
Both pulled away at the same time.  Pinkie looked so grateful but also as confused as Trixie was feeling.
“I’m sorry Trixie,” said Pinkie getting up and darting out the room.
Trixie wanted to tell Pinkie that there was nothing to be sorry for.  Trixie tried to follow Pinkie, but she couldn’t be found in the house.  And Trixie wasn’t yet enough comfortable to go to the silo apartment to confront Pinkie.
Trixie didn’t see Pinkie the rest of the day.  That evening just before the meal, there was a knock at the door.  It was the medical examiner from Canterlot for more questions about the body Trixie had found.  He had said something about the position of the body looking as if it had jumped under the falling rock or was pushing something or somepony out of the way.  At that Sue got up in tears and left the room.  Trixie followed her into the kitchen.
“Mrs. Pie…. Sue,” said Trixie coming up to the pony, Sue was crying hard. “Is there something I can do?”
“No,” said Sue, looking at Trixie.  Sue then put a foreleg around Trixie and her head against Trixie’s neck and started to cry harder.
“Sue,” said Trixie softly, her own tears starting to form out of empathy.  Trixie was stroking Sue’s mane, “you know something about this, don’t you.”
Sue looked into Trixie’s eyes.  Trixie could tell that there was something that Sue wanted to say.  But she was unsure if she tell her.
Trixie could see Sue’s lip trembling.
“Somehow, it is Pinkie,” said Trixie “isn’t it.”
All color drained from the older mare’s face.
“Pinkie came to me this morning and told me that she wasn’t well, and she was in fear for her life.  I asked if there was something going on I should know about.  She said yes, but I needed to talk to you about it.”
“Yes, she told me, and she told me about her kissing you,” said Sue.
“I’m sorry about that,” said Trixie, although she wasn’t really sorry about it.  She had thought about it all day, she really wanted more.
“Don’t be,” said Sue working up a smile, “Pinkie wasn’t.  It’s just that there’s so much that needs to be understood and I don’t know how much longer we can go on like this.”
“Sue, I want to understand, I want to help Pinkie,” said Trixie, “I’m not the Trixie you may have heard of from Pinkie in the past.  And to tell you the truth, I’m not sorry for the kiss either.  Pinkie touched something in me that I’ve not ever felt before.  So I want to help, but I need to understand.”
“Trixie, Pinkie told me almost the same thing.  You have to understand how much that means.”
“Then tell me, I’ll help, I want to help!” pleaded Trixie, “I don’t know what it is but I really, really, really want to help Pinkie.  I want her to be happy! I’ve never thought about another pony’s happiness before without considering what’s in it for me.  This is different, I can’t let a pony like her suffer, not a pony that I found I might be starting to lo…” Trixie blushed brightly and paused;
“A pony that I feel something I’ve never felt for anypony before.”
Sue smiled a warm genuine smile.  Then she hugged Trixie and asked her to sit.
“It was about seventeen years ago……”
Trixie sat in shock, she’d never heard such a story before, maybe in story books when she was young.
“I can understand why nopony has said anything,” said Trixie. “But you have that medical examiner out there that needs to hear something.”
“But what?” asked Sue, “we don’t want to take the chance that they’ll take Pinkie away!”
Trixie thought, an odd smile slowly crept across her face;
“Tell them what you saw, tell them enough to give them something to think about.  But don’t tell them what they really don’t want to know.  It’s worked for me my whole life.”  Trixie said.
Sue nodded her head, she understood what Trixie was saying.
Trixie and Sue returned to the room, Trixie was holding Sue’s hoof.  All eyes looked at them.
“Doctor,” said Trixie,” I believe Mrs. Pie has something she wants to tell you.”
The rest of the Pie’s looked concerned as Sue related what she had seen on that day seventeen years ago.

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                   STRANGE INTERLUDE  4                    
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STRANGE INTERLUDE 4
STRANGE INTERLUDE  4
(  We now catch up with our story timeline.)
“Let me get this straight,” said Dr. Bones, “you may or may not have seen your daughter killed by a falling boulder?  How do you account for that?”
Sue was starting to tremble, she was sitting on the sofa with Trixie holding her hoof on one side, Clyde was holding the other hoof on the other.
“Doctor,” said Clyde, “Sue told me about this when she saw it happen.  We all assumed that she perhaps didn’t see it clearly.  She mentioned a strange looking pony that was with Pinkie.”
“So please tell me again what you saw, Mrs. Pie,” said the doctor.
“I was looking for my daughter to call her in for dinner.  She liked to wander in the outer fields where she could daydream or whatever it was that she did.  I saw her from a distance by the boulders in the West Field, where we found………”
Sue took a deep breath,  she was fighting off tears.
“She’d been warned over and over that the pile was unsteady and she should stay away from it, especially when she was by herself.
I saw her with an odd looking pony, it was black in color and looked like some type of Unicorn, I could’ve sworn it had wings but none like I‘d ever seen.
They appeared to be talking, there didn’t seem to be any threat involved, I think that Pinkie was laughing.
All of the sudden, a boulder started to fall; there was a lot of dust with it.  It was hard to see clearly.  It looked as if the two looked up; Pinkie jumped forward and appeared as if she was pushing the other pony out of the way.  I screamed in terror as the boulder smashed down.  I ran as fast as I could to them.  When I got close, the dust cleared and Pinkie was standing there, by herself.
I asked if she was alright and what happened to the other pony.  She told me that she didn’t see what happened to the other pony, she assumed that they ran off while obscured by the dust.”
“I know that this may sound strange,” said the doctor, “but with what has been found, did Pinkie act any different after that?  Even the slightest thing may be of help.”
“I can’t think of anything out of the way,” said Sue, “except…”
“What, Mrs. Pie.”
“I attributed it to the close brush with death, but from that day and on, Pinkie was noticeably more loving and clingy.  She worked hard to please and be friendly to every pony, especially to Clyde and myself and also to her sisters.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Pie,” said the doctor, “I know that this has been a strain on you.  If you think of anything, just contact the Ponyville Police Department, and they can get a hold of me.
There’s still the question of who the pony was, especially if it was Pinkie who survived.”
Clyde walked the doctor to the door and thanked him for his sensitivity and promised if they thought of anything, they would let him know.
Clyde then sat back down with Sue, Blinkie and Trixie.  Out of an adjoining room a pony walked in.
“You heard, sweetie?” said Sue.
“Yes mom,” answered Pinkie.  “I’m so sorry that I’ve put you, dad, Blinkie and you too Trixie, through so much.  And I want to thank you for all you’ve done for me.”
“That sounds kind of final,” said Trixie, “are you hinting at something?”
“I think with all of my friends in committed relationships, the love is not being spread around like before.  I’m weak and afraid that I’ll become weaker.  I‘ve lived among you all too long to go back to the old ways.  And I can never go back to them.  I want you all to know that I do truly love you.”
“Honey, we love you too,” said Sue, “you’ve been and always will be our daughter.  We may’ve at first resisted, but we understood that Pinkamena gave her life for you and you’ve basically given your life for her.”
“Sue has told me who and what you are,” said Trixie, “and I know that it wasn’t your fault.  But I don’t understand how you could’ve so completely taken her place?
You can ask your mom. I’ve promised to be silent about this.”
“Come outside where we can talk,” said Pinkie.  “The family understands, but I think it’s better if we had no distractions.  I promise that you’ll be safe.”
“Go on,” Sue said and smiled at Trixie , “it’ll be okay.  I think with all that has happened, especially now you need to know.”
They walked outside and to the old silo that stood on the farm from when it was a cattle farm.  They entered and there Trixie found it set up as a little apartment.  It was Pinkie’s getaway when she needed to be with her family, now that Trixie was using Pinkie’s old room.
Pinkie had Trixie sit on the little bed against the wall.
“Pinkie,” said Trixie, “if the family all knew about you.  Why bring the police in when I found the body?”
“You weren’t in on the details,” said Pinkie, “if they didn’t follow proper procedures and it turned out that you weren’t trustworthy, it could’ve been messy for all involved.  You can’t blame us at least after our past interactions, at least before this morning.”
Trixie nodded her head, she was truly ashamed of how she had interacted with Pinkie and her friends, not to mention Ponyville, in the past.  Especially after the affection Pinkie was ready to share earlier.
“However, I’m so glad that you have turned out to be a much better pony than I had first assumed, I hope you will consider me a friend, at least.”
“I thank you and all the Pie’s for giving me that chance to prove myself,” said Trixie having a kindly look in her eyes.  “I’m really trying not to be the pony I once was.”
Pinkie had such a pleasant look on her face that Trixie felt like there was the type of honest acceptance and affection that no other pony had ever given her.  They paused just looking into each other’s eyes.  Trixie saw something that she had only seen once in anypony’s eyes before, and it was this same pony this morning.  It was a look of forgiveness, and a true caring about her and her feelings, it felt so nice.  It was bringing strongly back the memory of the kiss that they has shared this morning.
Then Pinkie’s expression changed, and she took a deep breath.
“But to the reason we’re out here,” said Pinkie.
Pinkie then looked oddly at Trixie, there was a green flash that surrounded Pinkie almost like a curtain being raised.  Where stood Pinkie, a moment ago, there stood a Changeling.  Trixie had heard about them from what most ponies had heard from the attempted invasion that Pinkie and her friends had help stop.  The descriptions didn’t do justice.  But with what Trixie had just learned from the Pies, and seeing the way that this pony acted, she didn’t fear nor was she revolted.  She felt something for the pony that transcended the outside.  That in itself was a far departure from the way Trixie knew that she would have reacted in the past.
Then there was another green flash and there stood another Trixie.
Trixie gasped.
“Trixie,” said the Changeling, and in Trixie’s own voice, “in this form I could pass as you to your own mother.  That is until she asked personal questions about your earlier life.
We’re able to do a more complete change to include your memories and even personality if at the moment of change; we’re in physical contact with you.  That’s how we can take the place of a loved one so convincingly and fool their partner so we can steal the love.
When Pinkamena pushed me out of the way of the boulder, I was startled and as a defensive reflex reaction, I took her form along with her thoughts and memories up to that point.”
There was another green flash and Pinkie was now there.  She went over and sat close by Trixie.
“I was about to flee, hearing her mother approaching.  But then I could feel that the little filly was more concerned about my safety than her own.  I felt the memories of her family life, the love and caring for and by the family unit.  I knew that if they discovered that the little filly was killed, they’d be devastated.
I had to break it to them slowly, at first they were enraged and wanted to lash out at me.  When the realized that I could’ve ran off at any time but chose to stay, they started to rethink the situation.  Especially when they realized that memory for memory, thought for thought and with the full personality absorbed, I was every bit Pinkamena, as if she lived on in me.  In a real manner, she does.  I think that having me there made the loss actually easier, it still hurt, even me.
And to the Pie’s I’ve never ever tried to make believe that I was the real Pinkamena.  That’s why they started to call me ‘Pinkie’.
As mom said, Pinkamena gave her life for mine, so I decided that I needed to give my life for her.  Now I’ve been Pinkie longer that my previous self.  If thrown out by family and friends, I would still keep the form of Pinkie.  I am Pinkie and Pinkie is me.”
Trixie just looked at Pinkie; there were tears in Trixie’s eyes.  She knew how shallow her own life had been, nothing but a show off and a liar.  Now here sat a pony that had given up everything, people, family and even herself, in a gesture of total selflessness.  She was now ready to face the consequences of all her friend’s changes in life situations.  Trixie knew that Changelings existed on love and they could be parasitic by tricking the ponies around them.  But this one was loving and honest enough not to trick anypony.
Pinkie saw the look on Trixie’s face, and being a Changeling, she was attuned to other pony’s feelings.  She reached out and took Trixie’s hoof and held it.  To her delight, Trixie didn’t resist.
When Pinkie took her hoof, Trixie’s first reaction was to pull away.  After all, hoof holding, in this circumstance, was a juvenile courting ritual that she had never given any real thought to.  But there was something more to it in this context.  She could tell that Pinkie was reaching out to her in more than just a physical way.  She was trusting Trixie at a level nopony had ever done.  Pinkie was showing her that her feelings were appreciated, welcomed and trusted.
Something in Trixie was starting to move again in her heart, it was what she had first noticed earlier.
“If you exist on love,” said Trixie, “how is it that you’re becoming weak?  Your family still loves you, and your friends, I’m sure still love you.”
“The way we normally work is we take the place of a loved one and absorb the love directed at us while fooling the host.  But we can also survive with absorbing indirect love from a number of families and friends.  But as my close friends have now other ponies to give their intense love to, there is less and less for me to absorb.  I’ve discovered as time went by that I can handle food and it does help, but only so far.”
“Don’t you think your friends would understand if you were to tell them the truth?” asked Trixie.
“I want to believe that they’d accept me,” said Pinkie, “but there’s the chance that they might not, they might even hate me.  What you ponies probably don’t know is that as much as love gives us strength, hate, directed at us, weakens us.  It could kill me.”
The look on Pinkie’s face was if she was looking at everything from a far off;
“But I do believe that I finally need to let them know the truth.  They really are my friends and I owe it to them, even if it does end their friendship, especially after my weakness was discovered at Sweet Apple Acres.  They love me, and I do truly love them.”
Trixie could feel a slight tremble in Pinkie’s hoof.  She didn’t need to be a Changeling to feel the fear that Pinkie was feeling.
She truly was in fear for her life.
Trixie now understood what the conflict with Pinkie was.  Not only had this Changeling nobly given up everything for the Pie family, but now she was ready to face the possibility of the loss of her own life out of respect for her friends.
“Pinkie,” said Trixie, “I don’t believe I’ve met a more brave and noble pony ever.
If you want, I’ll go with you to support you when you do decide to tell your friends.  I won’t let you stand alone.”
The two just looked at each other; there was a warm and honest smile of gratitude on Pinkie’s face.
Trixie had never felt anything like this in the past, not at this level.  She put her forelegs around Pinkie, pulled Pinkie close and kissed her deeply, Pinkie’s fore legs wrapped around Trixie as well.  It was better than the time in Pinkie’s room.
After a few moments, Pinkie pushed Trixie back gently.
“You can’t begin to understand how much I appreciate what you’re offering, now and before,” said Pinkie, “but are you sure you want to do this, with me?  Now that you know what I really am?”
The green flash appeared and there in Trixie’s forelegs was the Changeling;
“This is the real me and always will be,” said the Changeling, there was sadness but also the smallest look of hope on her face.
“What do you feel from me right now?” asked Trixie looking into the Changeling’s large blank blue eyes.
The Changeling closed her eyes and felt what Trixie was sending.  It was warm and refreshing.  But most of all, she could feel that it was genuine and freely being given to her.  The emotion was more powerful than anything that she could have deceived out of another pony. It was the fledgling honest feelings of love.  Love for the real her.  A smile spread on her face.
Trixie drew the Changeling to her again and continued the kiss.  Then gently lay the Changeling back on the bed and continued to give her more love than Trixie had ever given anypony.
The Changeling broke the kiss, smiled and said;
“If you don’t mind…….”
She changed back to Pinkie;
“After all these years, I really am more comfortable like this.”
Trixie giggled, Pinkie joined the mirth, truly Pinkie style.
Then the two continued to kiss and eventually, made love all night.

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             CHAPTER EIGHT: Pinkie Comes Clean             
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CHAPTER EIGHT: Pinkie Comes Clean
CHAPTER EIGHT
Pinkie Comes Clean
Trixie awoke and first noticed that her marehood was tingling in a very pleasant way, and her nipples were tender from intimate stimulation.
Then she could feel some warm pony pressing up against her from behind with a foreleg draped over her and their hind legs intertwined, they were in the classic ‘spooning’ position.  She also felt that the pony in bed with her was awake and was gently kissing her neck and ear.  It was a very pleasant way to wake up.
But what she most felt was that her heart was lighter that it had ever been.  There was a joy at such a deep level, it was almost unbelievable.  She felt all this all in an instant.  At the same time, the memories of intense love making came pouring back to her.
In the past, Trixie had given herself to stallions and mares from time to time.  It had all been cases that she was using them for a good time and vice a versa.
Now this was so much better than the old waking up alone after a night of gratuitous and meaningless sex.  Or herself sneaking out in the early morning after getting her ‘jollies’ without any real attachment or commitment.  She had never realized just how alone she really felt, even when surrounded by other ponies.
But after last night she discovered that there really was a difference between having sex and making love.  She could tell from Pinkie’s reactions and technique that she’d never done this before.  Trixie marveled at how quick a learner Pinkie was, it must be the Changeling in her.
Trixie’s then considered something that she had never given any credence to in the past.  She remembered talks from her mother about purity as a gift to that special somepony.  Now Trixie regretted that she wasn’t able to have given Pinkie her chastity like Pinkie had just given to Trixie.  But with the absolute difference in what she had done in the past and what she had experienced last night, she was willing to concede that she may not have given Pinkie the virginity of her body, she’d given Pinkie the virginity of her heart.
Trixie turned over and looked tenderly at Pinkie.  They spontaneously kissed the other.
“Good morning, sweet Trixie,” said Pinkie holding Trixie tightly,  “I want you to know that I’ve known love all my life.  It’s been what has nourished and sustained me in a real way.
Then I learned about love between family and friends, which we don’t feel in the Changeling hive.  And that was something that I now never want to loose.
But until last night, I didn’t know what love was truly all about.
Your love nourished me in a way that I’d never known before.  But there was more, so very much more.  I’ve never felt in the act of absorbing love, the presence of the pony’s spirit, their very heart and soul.  I only wish you could feel how I perceive love.  That way you’d know that I was doing something that no member of the hive, from the queen on down, could ever understand.  I was returning the same love back to you.”
“I love you too,” said Trixie with a smile.  “And I don’t have to be a Changeling to feel the love you’re giving me, then and now.  I’m so lucky to have a marefriend that truly understands love.”
“You would want me as your marefriend?” asked Pinkie, thrilled and mystified.
Trixie’s answer was another deep and passionate kiss.  Then she snuggled closer to the pink pony.
“Pinkie sweetie,” said Trixie stroking Pinkie’s mane, “I’ve never felt this way for anypony, ever.  You may be the Changeling, but I’m the pony that has transformed.  You’ve taught me what love really is as well.  Yes, I’d love it if you would allow me be your marefriend.  I want to be with you and whatever becomes of you, it’ll be my fate as well.”
“You don’t know how touched I am,” said Pinkie, a tear in her eye, “I have an adopted family who love me as a daughter and sister, that is beyond anything ever hoped for in the hive.  And I have friends who loved me as a friend, and that’s been so special.  But I was resigned to the idea that I could never have a pony to really love because of who and what I am.”
“Pinkie,” said Trixie, “who and what you are is a very special pony.  I only wish that there were more ponies like you, ones who, unlike how I’ve been in the past, think of others so far above themselves.  A pony that is willing to give all.  I’ve only met maybe one other pony like that.”
“Twilight Sparkle,” said Pinkie smiling.
“Yes, my love,” said Trixie sheepishly.
“What’s wrong?”
“I was so jealous of her and her power,” said Trixie, “I went overboard trying to ‘one up’ her.  So much so that I put my very soul in jeopardy.”
“The Alicorns Amulet,” said Pinkie with a chuckle.
“What’s so funny,” asked Trixie, not sure if she should be hurt.
“I was so surprised that nopony noticed that when you removed my muzzle, I didn’t suffocate.  You didn’t leave me any way to breathe.”
“I never thought of that!” exclaimed Trixie, “how did you?”
“Changeling, remember,” laughed Pinkie, “our bodies work different from yours!”
“Well, after last night,” said Trixie with a sly smile and reaching out to gently rub Pinkie’s marehood, “I’m glad some things are the same.”
“I am too,” said Pinkie trembling at the stimulation, then she gave Trixie another deep kiss, “and as much as I would really like to continue, I’ve something that needs to be done.”
“We’ve something that needs to be done,” said Trixie, “I need to tell the Pies that we’re going to take care of this.”
Trixie stopped, she had an odd look on her face;
“By the way, and I know it probably isn’t important, but if we’re to remain close, I want to know the real you.”
“What do you mean?”
“What’s your name?” asked Trixie, “your real name?”
Pinkie looked at Trixie slightly amused.  Not at the question but that she had been ‘Pinkie’ for so long, she almost forgot her name.
“You might think our names are funny,” said Pinkie blushing, “but my name is Phantasm.”
“I understand,” said Trixie, “like an apparition that somepony is not sure of the shape or form!”
Pinkie smiled, touched her fore hoof to the tip of her muzzle to show that Trixie was correct.  Then Pinkie kissed Trixie, and led her out of the silo to do what they needed to do.
Pinkie knew that her friends liked to meet for breakfast on Thursday mornings before the library opened.  She and Trixie headed straight to Ponyville after letting Clyde and Sue know that Trixie was going to be with her while she talked to her friends.  The Pies were thrilled to find out that Pinkie and Trixie were starting to be romantically involved.
As they got to the library, the closed sign was on the door, but they could hear voices inside.  Pinkie froze; a look of deep concern and even fear was on her otherwise pleasant face.
“I’m afraid,” said Pinkie, almost like the little filly was speaking from out of the past.
“I’m here with you no matter what,” said Trixie, giving Pinkie one more kiss.  “No matter their reaction and feelings, my love will sustain you, it always will!”
Pinkie opened the door, all eyes were on her and everypony smiled as she entered, it had been several months since they had seen their friend.  But then most faces changed to curious then to concern as Trixie followed her in.
“What’s Trixie doing here?” asked Rainbow Apple.
“I was sure that you wouldn’t mind if I brought my marefriend with me,” said Pinkie working up a smile as she thought of how much Trixie now meant to her.
Trixie smiled at the designation.
In the silence that followed, you could have knocked anypony of them over with a Pegasus feather.
But Twilight was the first to smile and approach.  She hugged Pinkie, and then to her shock, she hugged Trixie and congratulated them and told them how happy she was for her friends.  The rest of the ponies followed Twilights example and congratulated the two ponies.
“I am here for more than sharing my good news,” said Pinkie, her looks becoming concerned.  “Can we sit?”
The ponies looked at each other and found places to sit.  Trixie sat close to Pinkie and held her hoof, to the amusement of many.
“Over the last few months before I went away, many of you may have noticed that I’d been acting strangely, well stranger than I normally do.”
Ponies chuckled, Pinkie smiled.
“It started with Applejack and Rarity starting to become a couple over two years ago.  I did know about it as it happened, out of respect, I said nothing, being it was not my place to do so.  And how I knew you’ll understand in a moment.
Then it started to get harder for me when Twilight and Cheerilee became in love, followed by Fluttershy and Loki, finally, Rainbow and Big Mac.”
Pinkie paused, took another deep breath.
“Ponies have always wondered how I could get places faster than the fastest flyer in Ponyville…”
“Equestria,” interrupted Rainbow.
“Equestria,” conceded Pinkie, “how I’m able to show up in odd and unexpected places.  How I can hang upside in the air for several moments for no apparent reason.  Eat an entire cake in one bite.  Or be gone as soon as I walk out a door.”
Many ponies had wondered this but had always attributed it to ‘Pinkie Pie is just being Pinkie Pie’.
“I’m sure you’ve heard or read about the body of a pony found by Trixie on my parent’s rock farm.
Let me tell you a story;
All of us can never forget the attempt by the Changelings to take over Canterlot at Twilight’s Brother’s wedding.  Well, that was not a spur of the moment decision by Queen Chrysalis.
It started about seventeen years ago.  At that time there were scouts sent to find the best place to start an invasion of Equestria.
One such scout, a very young Changeling named Phantasm, was on her first mission away from the hive.   She had been sent to the outskirts of Ponyville because she was still very young and the leaders didn’t want to put her into too much danger.  While looking around, she was discovered by a little filly.  Phantasm was concerned because she was told that if discovered, she’d be captured, tortured and killed.
But the only thing the little filly, Pinkamena Diane Pie, wanted to do was to talk and play.  Play is something unknown to the Changeling hive.  Needless to say, Phantasm was intrigued.
As they were interacting, they wandered by a formation of rocks.  A large boulder at that moment came loose and started to fall.  Phantasm saw it and froze in fear, but Pinkamena, with no concern for her own safety, pushed Phantasm out of the way.  Phantasm was saved; the filly was caught under the rock.”
Pinkie’s tears started to fall, Trixie took Pinkie’s hoof in both her fore hoofs, there were tears in her eyes as well.
“When Pinkamena pushed Phantasm, it startled her.  As a defensive reaction by Changelings, when startled, they take the form of something or somepony in the area.  You may not know this but when a Changeling changes forms and is in contact with the pony, the Changeling absorbs the thought’s memories and even the personality of the pony being copied.
Phantasm heard Pinkamena’s mother approaching and was about to flee the area but she realized that the little filly really did really care about the safety of a total stranger, no, an alien.  Then Phantasm felt the love of the family, the love of friends.  She felt Pinkamena’s joy for life, most strongly, the recent appearance of her cutie mark when she had opened her family to joy.  She knew right then how devastated that her family would be when it would be discovered that the filly perished being someplace that she had been repeatedly warned not to be.
Out of love for life and her fellow pony, Pinkamena gave up everything including her life for the Changeling, so the Changeling decided right there that she needed to do the same.”
All the ponies looked confused and concerned, Fluttershy looked scared.
Pinkie looked at Trixie, Trixie nodded her head.  Pinkie let go of Trixie’s hoofs, stood up and walked into the center of everypony.  There were tears in her eyes which were falling to the floor and it wasn’t un-noticed.
“I’m sorry for deceiving you all these years, please know that everything, everything I’ve always done has been honest and the love for my friends has been real.”
“What are you saying Pinkie?” asked Twilight.
“When in the changing battle I told the Changeling who had taken my form that I’d seen better, it was no joke,” said Pinkie.
There was the now familiar green flash around Pinkie.  It cleared and there stood Phantasm.
“I saw it in the mirror every day.”
All the ponies gasped, they were only use to Changelings being aggressive and having evil motives.  But here stood one who just confessed to being their friend for years.
“I told you Rainbow,” said the Phantasm, “that I wished my wings were as pretty as yours.
Please, please don’t hate me everypony!”
Phantasm lowered her head, sat back on her haunches and started to weep hard.  Trixie got up rushed to Phantasm who buried her face against Trixie’s neck as Trixie held her tight.
“Trixie!” said Rainbow, “can’t you see what she is!”
“Yes Rainbow, I see very clearly!” said Trixie almost annoyed at Rainbow’s narrow-mindedness.  She also knew that it was sadly the same thing she would have thought before love for this pony opened her mind;
“I see a noble pony who gave up everything, everything for other ponies.  Ponies that she didn’t even know.
You can understand that Twilight, can’t you?” asked Trixie, Twilight understood what Trixie was asking.
“She came here knowing that her friends, whom she loves, may turn her away and even hate her.
Hate has the opposite effect as love on Changelings.  Your feelings could kill her!
Yet out of love and respect she came here to tell you why she had been acting the way she had.  Knowing that she could lose the ones she loves, even at the cost of her life.
As each of you became involved with another pony, your love was channeled to that pony and less to your friends.  Pinkie was starting to starve for love, literally.  She could have tricked somepony and stole love.  But she is Pinkie Pie!  She’s your friend and she decided that you deserved the truth with all that has happened.”
Trixie nuzzled Phantasm to comfort her.  Trixie’s tears flowed in sympathy of the pony she now loved.  None of the ponies gathered ever thought that they would see Trixie show true emotion for anypony other than herself;
“And because of her heart, I love her of my own free will.  I love Pinkie and I love Phantasm!”
“What of Pinkie’s parents?” asked Cheerilee.
“They’ve known from almost the very start.  They love her now as if she was their real daughter.  They know that she isn’t their Pinkamena, but she is their Pinkie.  You have to understand that so much of Pinkamena was absorbed, it’s as if the filly lives on in her.”
There was a silence, then;
“I don’t know what to say,” Said Rarity, “has it really been you all these years?”
Phantasm looked at the white Unicorn and tried to smile.
“Since before you put paste in my mane in first grade, thinking it would hold the mane style better,” said Phantasm.
Rarity gasped, there was no way that anypony could have known such a minor detail unless actually there.
“Pinkie Darling,” said Rarity, “it is you!”
Phantasm changed back to Pinkie.
“Yes Rarity,” said Pinkie.  “It’s always been me.”
“Wait!” said Rainbow, “I know that nopony other than the real Pinkie could answer this!  The first pony I ever kissed was in the third grade, what was the colt’s name?”
“Lilly Blossom wasn’t a colt,” said Pinkie with an odd smile, the tears stopping.
“A filly!” exclaimed Twilight, Cheerilee, Applejack and Rarity together looking at Rainbow.
“Oh Sweet Celestia!” exclaimed Rainbow blushing, “you really are Pinkie Pie!  I’ve never told anypony else.”
There was a rush to hug Pinkie and Trixie.  The fact that their hyper friend was a Changeling no longer mattered.  This was the same pony that they had always loved.  They were starting to feel guilty for not showing their ‘unattached’ friend more attention.  Especially now that they realized just how much Pinkie had depended on the love from her friends.
And with the genuine love and caring for Pinkie that Trixie was now showing, it was easy to look past her old actions as well.
Pinkie could feel more love aimed at her, but with the intense romantic love from Trixie, she knew that it would not be necessary, but it still felt good.
Trixie was ecstatic, love had freed her heart and now it had opened the door to acceptance with ponies that she had once been at odds with, it felt so nice.  In one day Trixie now had a pony to love and friends!
“Quite a pony ya’ve caught there Trixie,” said Applejack.
Suddenly Twilight and Cheerilee backed away from the group, looked at each other and cried out.
“OH!”
All the ponies looked at the two; as they sat on the floor, their forelegs across their abdomen.  Then it was noticed that they were sitting in an expanding puddle of fluid.
“Both at the same time?” said Fluttershy.
“Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!Ohmygosh!” exclaimed Rainbow, “the foals are coming!”
“Get spike to send the letter to Canterlot,” said Twilight.
“Somepony needs to get the ambulance,” said Cheerilee.
“I’ll go,” said Pinkie.
“No offence Pinkie,” said Rainbow, “but we need to be fast.”
Pinkie went to the door; changed back to the Phantasm, spread her wings and smiled.
“Just try and keep up Dashie!” taunted Phantasm.
Phantasm took off like a shot.
“Oh yeah!” exclaimed Rainbow, she grinned and flew off after her.
“Trixie, I think ya’ve started something,” laughed Applejack.
Several ponies went to the door in time to see a double sonic rainboom.
“That’s my girl,” Trixie snickered, the ponies with her looked at her and smiled at the level of affection that Trixie was showing.
“Let’s get Twilight and Cheerilee off the floor and make them comfortable,” said Trixie.
Twilight was amazed how gentle Trixie’s magic was in helping her to a sofa, Fluttershy had retrieved some towels to protect the furniture from the two leaking mares.
“I think this is what Tia meant by consequences of the linked minds,” said Cheerilee quietly to Twilight, “our pregnancies became somehow synchronized.”
Twilight just smiled and held Cheerilee’s hoof as the first contraction hit both mares at the same time.

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             CHAPTER NINE: The Foals Are Here!             
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CHAPTER NINE: The Foals Are Here!
CHAPTER NINE
The Foals Are Here!
As soon as the ambulance took Twilight and Cheerilee off to the hospital, the rest of the ponies went to let the rest of the families and friends know.
In front of the hospital, there appeared Princesses Celestia, Luna and Cadence along with Shining Armor, Twilight Velvet and Night Light.
Galloping faster that anypony thought possible came Applejack, Braeburn, Cactus Flower, Big Mac, Apple Bloom and most surprisingly at that speed, Granny Smith.
Rainbow Apple, Wind Walker and Rain Shadow swooped down to the gathering.
They all went inside where the rest of Twilight and Cheerilee’s friends were waiting.
The two mares insisted that they be in the same delivery room.  They started together, they wanted to end together.
The beds were side by side where Twilight and Cheerilee could hold hoofs.  They had to bring in two midwife ponies because the contractions of the two ponies were at the very same time.
Out in the waiting area there was almost a fight for who should go back with the two.  Then a nurse came out and said that the two were requesting their mothers.  And so that no other pony would get their feelings hurt, no other ponies would be admitted.
Ponies started to grumble but Princess Celestia called for their attention.
“Everypony, please,” said the princess, “we aren’t here for ourselves.  We’re here for Twilight and Cheerilee.  They would like to have their friends with them, but to choose on over somepony else, it would cause more hurt feeling than should be necessary.  And perhaps if they were delivering at separate times, there might have been room for more than their mothers.  Truthfully, I’d too would like to be there with them, and I could command the staff to allow my sister and I to go in.  But this is something very personal for them.  They are about to become mothers, so who better to be there with them than their own mothers.”
Celestia neglected to say that because Twilight and Cheerilee would forever be linked mentally to her and her sister, it was almost like she and Luna were in there with them now.
As the time wore on everypony was becoming concerned, especially Rainbow Apple.  As each minute went by she appeared more stressed as if she was afraid of something.
Most of the other ponies talked among themselves about how the dynamic of their group will change with two of their group being mothers and what possible role that they themselves would play in the lives of new foals.  Actually, almost all the mares were excited.
Pinkie tried to mingle and keep pony’s spirits up.  Trixie was uncomfortable being around ponies that she had not ever been on good terms with prior, especially three princesses!  She felt this way despite everypony of them accepting her now as a friend and Pinkie’s partner.  Plus the whole ‘having a foal’ thing was totally unfamiliar to her, having never been around anypony who had one.
Princesses Luna and Celestia had went off from the bulk of the group.  They had their eyes closed and were actually holding hoofs.  From time to time, anypony could see that it looked like they were in a deal of pain or discomfort.
Wind Walker also went from pony to pony to help keep their spirits up as well.  Especially her niece whom she was becoming concerned about her anxiety.
It had been several hours of hard labor.  Both mares were almost spent.
“Mom,” said Twilight, “does it always hurt like this?”
“Yes, my darling baby,” said Twilight Velvet, brushing back the bangs of her daughter’s mane, “but take my word.  Once the baby is here, you’ll forget all about this part.”
“Is that true mom?” asked Cheerilee.
“Most certainly, my sweet daughter, and it shouldn’t be long now,” said Rain Shadow.
The midwifes were instructing the two mares when to push and when to relax.  It was almost as if the midwifes were synchronized as well, they both were saying the same thing at the same time.
“I can see the head, now Push! Push! Push!”
Twilight held tight to Cheerilee’s hoof, they pushed with all that was in them.  There was a rush from their bottom.  Then the pressure was relieved.  Then at the same time, there was the cry of two new lives.
The two older mares looked and smiled.
“Two fillies!” said Twilight Velvet.
“You were right, baby,” said Rain Shadow.
Cheerilee looked at Twilight; they smiled the largest smile of their lives.  Their mothers gave their daughters a small hug and kiss on the lips.
Twilight and Cheerilee took a moment to catch their breath.  It took a few moments for the medical staff to take some measurements and clean up the infants.
Unobserved by all the other ponies in the waiting area, at the same moment that the foals were delivered, Celestia and Luna slumped down and were breathing hard.  They opened their eyes and looked at the other and smiled.  It was all they could do to not kiss each other.
The nurses brought the foals wrapped in blankets to the new mothers.
Twilight received a beautiful little filly; she was so purple she almost looked black.  When she opened her eyes, they were the color of Twilight’s.  She also had the same mane and tail coloration as her mother.
Cheerilee also received an equally beautiful filly; she was pure white with a pink mane and tail also the pale green eyes of her mother.
They noticed that neither filly had a horn.
“Earth Ponies?” asked Twilight.
“Yours is,” said the nurse but she folded back Cheerilee’s foal’s blanket enough to expose a little wing.
“A Pegasus!” said Cheerilee.
The two new mothers looked at each other and kissed.
“They’re perfect.” Said Rain Shadow.
“Have you thought of names?” asked Twilight Velvet.
“No but some just came to me,” said Twilight, “what do you think of……..”
Twilight and Cheerilee were given a double room, their beds were pushed together.  They were in heaven as they were nursing the infants.  True to their word, they nursed their infant on one side and then switched foals to feed the other on the other side.  They were finishing up when they allowed the first of the visitors to come in.  It was Princess Cadence and Shining Armor, Braeburn and Cactus Flower, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.  Also Granny smith was allowed to come in as well.
As the foals finished, Twilight took her foal from Cheerilee and gave her to Braeburn.
“Here’s your daughter, Braeburn,” said Twilight with a smile, “a strong healthy Earth Pony.
Braeburn, Cactus Flower and Granny Smith looked at the little foal in awe.
“And here’s your daughter, Shining Armor,” said Cheerilee, “a beautiful Pegasus.”
Cadence, Shining Armor, Princesses Celestia and Luna gazed on the little filly.
“What are their names?” asked Princess Celestia.
Twilight and Cheerilee both reached for their foals, then Cheerilee gave hers to Princess Celestia;
“We want you to meet,” said Cheerilee, “Celestia Cadence Sparkle.”
Twilight gave hers to Princess Luna;
“And meet,” said Twilight, “Luna Apple Sparkle.”
There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Next came Twilight and Cheerilee’s friends along with Rainbow’s aunt Windie.  You’ve never seen such a fuss over two foals.
Pinkie was beside herself wanting to play with them, even though they were way too young yet.  But she did sing a silly birthday song to them.  She related that only select Changelings watched over and cared for Changeling foals, so there was always a mystery involved with the young.  That’s the reason she was always eager to see and play with foals and young children.
Trixie didn’t know what to think, she’d never been around small foals, nor had she ever wanted to.  But now, they were giving her the greatest thrill of her life, next to finding love with Pinkie.  Her envy of Twilight in the past was a selfish one and was expressed in such a way that it drove ponies away.  But now she envied Twilight and Cheerilee in a good way.  It got her thinking of things that she had never even considered and she made a mental note to talk to Pinkie about it later.
Applejack and Rarity just held the two little fillies in awe.  They never expected for their friends to be mothers.  But now, it felt so right.  Applejack was understandably proud of Luna’s middle name.  And Rarity thought that with the beauty of the newborn foal, Celestia was a perfect choice for a name.
Fluttershy had brought Loki, he was in complete rapture just looking at the foals.  Fluttershy put a foreleg around him as he held first one then the other.  Neither Fluttershy or Twilight thought that they would ever see this being totally speechless.  Loki looked at Fluttershy, he had tears in his eyes.
Rainbow and Big Mac showed the most fuss.  Not just over the fillies but Twilight and Cheerilee as well.  After handing the foals back to their mothers, Rainbow started to ask a lot of questions.  She was very concerned about the delivery and how much discomfort and pain that her friends went through and what the procedure entailed.  Cheerilee could see that Rainbow looked more than just curious.
“What’s up Rainbow,” asked Cheerilee, “is there something wrong?”
All the friend’s eyes were on the blue Pegasus who started to blush.
Rainbow looked at her friends and then to Big Mac, then back to her friends.
“I was just curious about the whole birth-thing,” said Rainbow, “after all, it looks like I’ll be in here in about nine months to do the same.”
Unfortunately, the squeals of glee got the infants crying.  The loudest was from Wind Walker, who grabbed her niece and hugged her so hard, that it was hard for Rainbow to breath.  The other mares, not in bed, gathered around and hugged and kissed Rainbow as well.
It was truly a happy day.
Twilight and Cheerilee were able to bring the foals home after a couple days at the Hospital.  At check out, the couple found out the entire hospital stay and all expenses had been covered by Princesses Celestia and Luna personally.
At home in the library, there were a constant flow of visitors and well-wishers.  Spike relished his new role as big brother!  He doted on the foals as much as the mothers did and was constantly wanting to hold and play with them, one smile from a foal was enough to made his entire day.
The two mares delighted in their arrangement of nursing both foals.  The foals were bonding just as planned, both of the foals reacted the same to either mother.  There was never the thought of ‘my foal’ or ‘your foal’, only ‘our foals’.
One day, about a week after the foals had come home, Princesses Celestia and Luna came unexpected to the library.  Twilight and Cheerilee were also not expecting all their close friends to show up all at the same time.  The friends had received a message that they were needed at the library.  Otherwise, they were not sure why they had been asked to be there.
It was soon made evident when Pinkie and Trixie arrived wearing some nice dresses that they had Rarity make for them, no reason had been given.  They were accompanied by Clyde, Sue, Blinkie and Octavia Pie.
“I’ve asked for all of you to come here today for a reason,” said Pinkie, a huge smile on her pleasant face which was only matched by the one on Trixie’s face.  “I’ve asked Princess Celestia if she would do a favor for me.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                  FINAL STRANGE INTERLUE                   
//-------------------------------------------------------//
FINAL STRANGE INTERLUE
FINAL STRANGE INTERLUE
It was about a month after the simultaneous blessed events of the Twilight/Cheerilee foals and the announcement of Rainbow’s pregnancy.
Pinkie Pie had Dr. Bones over to the Pie’s rock farm.  She confessed everything on the condition that unless some great legal matter came up it would remain strictly confidential.  Dr. Bones was actually glad to learn why everything was as it was.  He didn’t have to continue to track down some missing pony mystery from seventeen years ago.
The Pie’s requested to have the body of Pinkamena returned to them for a proper burial.  It was decided that she would be placed on a secluded part of the farm and the same boulder placed over her, it was determined that she was under there because of a heroic sacrifice and that it was only proper to leave it as such.
Trixie used her magic to make an inscription on the rock as a memorial:
HERE LIES PINKAMENA DIANE PIE 
BELOVED DAUGHTER, SISTER AND FRIEND
A TRUE HERO EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE
HER LOVE AND SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
There had been a service for just the Pies including Pinkie’s new wife, Trixie.  It was basically the family saying goodbye to a special little filly that had taught them all to smile.
It was followed by a memorial service for all of Pinkie and Trixie’s friends and acquaintances.  Princesses Celestia and Luna attended the public service.  Princess Celestia confided to Pinkie  that she had always known the truth about her being a Changeling, but because of Pinkie’s heart and actions, she kept the knowledge to herself, only to reveal it if absolutely necessary, Pinkie wasn’t at all surprised.
It was kind of strange to have Pinkie speaking at what was almost tantamount to her own funereal.  By now most of the ponies close to Pinkie and her family knew the circumstances of this, but it was new to some.
To make it easier, Pinkie did her speaking as Phantasm, some ponies didn’t know how to react to the Changeling’s gruesome visage, with her large blank blue eyes, insectoid features and large fangs.  But when she spoke it was all Pinkie Pie and it was easy to look past the outside and see the heart of a kind and loving pony.  All were moved by the Changeling’s dedication to the Pie family and to her friends.
After the service, all but Trixie’s and Pinkie’s six close friends, their significant others and their foals stayed behind.  Not a lot was spoken there, it was not needed.  However, there were a lot of hugs and confirmation that they were very proud of Pinkie and Trixie and that their love for them wouldn’t change.
They didn’t care that Pinkie was a Changeling; in fact, it kind of confirmed what they already knew.  That Pinkie had always been a strange, unique and special pony, and everypony was okay with that.
And now, Rainbow had a new flying buddy!
All the other ponies had went home and left Pinkie and Trixie alone.  They sat on their haunches on the ground before the memorial just holding hoofs.  Trixie rested her head on Pinkie’s shoulder.  For a long time they sat in silence, finally;
“Sweetheart, do you think she’d be proud of what she has become through me?” asked Pinkie.
“My Darling,” said Trixie, “you can best answer that.  You are her, in a very real way.  Your friends are proud of you as am I.  And I do love you so much for the pony that you are.”
Pinkie smiled, kissed Trixie then they got up.
“Let’s go home, Mrs. Pie,” said Pinkie.
“I’ll follow you anywhere, Mrs. Pie,” said Trixie.
They walked back to their silo apartment.  Pinkie felt that with this episode of her life over, she could go back to the same Pinkie Pie she had always been.  Plus now it helped to now have a wife and mate whose love would always sustain her, both physically and emotionally.
Later that evening, Trixie lay in Pinkie forelegs, the afterglow of their love making still strong.  Pinkie was kissing at her neck, it sent shivers of thrill through Trixie’s body.  Spooning with Pinkie had become something so special to her, it was almost as if she had the senses of the Changeling, the love Pinkie was sending her was palpable.  Trixie considered how much her life had changed over the last few months.  How she had went from a pariah to being a farm pony, to being an accepted member of a family and circle of some very important friends.  But most especially, she was now married to the most wonderful, and yes, special pony in all Equestria.  Trixie turned over and looked into the big blue eyes of Pinkie and then kissed her with all her soul.  After the kiss was broken she held Pinkie closely.
“I love you so much, Trixie,” said Pinkie.
“And I love you just as much, Phantasm.” Replied Trixie, the joy in her heart over flowing.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                 EPILOGUE: To Be Continued                 
//-------------------------------------------------------//
EPILOGUE: To Be Continued
EPILOGUE
To Be Continued:
Life in Ponyville goes on as normal for the next couple of years.  The groups of friends are growing as close as ever.  With the inclusion of Pinkie’s wife Trixie, and the now accepted fact that Pinkie is a Changeling, there seems to be nothing the group couldn’t handle.  But with the responsibility of three growing and precocious foals, Celestia and Luna Sparkle and Zap Apple, Twilight, Cheerilee and Rainbow have their hoofs full.
Especially when a request from Princess Celestia comes to Twilight warning of another threat against Equestria.
If the safety of Equestria is to be maintained, a different view of harmony may have to be accepted.
This may even involve a much theorized, lost seventh Element of Harmony.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                PROLOGUE: Where We Left Off                
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PROLOGUE: Where We Left Off
PROLOGUE
Where We Left Off:
Twilight and Cheerilee must learn to manage their lives and pregnancies at the same time.
Through the entire time, Twilight and Cheerilee find that their love grows faster than their bellies.
It’s about four months since our last visit with Twilight and Cheerilee and the announcement of the joyous news.  About halfway through the eleven month gestational period of equines.
It’s amazing how family and friends can be a well of support.  But because of the circumstances, there can also be expectations that may not be apparent at first.  Family desires and traditions may be stronger than anticipated. The joyous arrival of foals may not lessen these.
Twilight and Cheerilee labored under the assumption and to an extent, had faith that Cheerilee’s original dream that two fillies would be the outcome.
Despite everything being spelled out in the donor’s contract, there are unspoken expectations that, out of respect, should be honored.  But where does a pony draw the line between donor and biological father?
Is the little family that Twilight and Cheerilee dreamed of just a dream?
Will feelings be hurt if the couple has to say no even to the closest family and friends?  After all, Twilight and Cheerilee are married and expect to be viewed as such.  Not extensions of other marriages, relationships and families
And through this all, why has Pinkie been acting so strange (at least stranger than normal)?
Also, pony from the past will play an important role in the pink pony’s life.

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                   STRANGE INTERLUDE  1                    
//-------------------------------------------------------//
STRANGE INTERLUDE 1
STRANGE INTERLUDE  1
Clyde Pie was working the West Field; it was an area that had not been worked in a while.  With a Unicorn working now for Clyde, it was easier to move large objects away from dangerous areas.
There was a very large outcropping of rock that had not been tended for some time, in it was an extremely large boulder with smaller ones on and around it.  The smaller ones despite being smaller than the one, were still of a prodigious size.  The stack was not very stable so it had been avoided in the past.  Clyde had forgot to tell Trixie to stay clear of the area because it was unstable.  Plus there was a history there that nopony liked to remember.
Trixie, who had at first resisted this as menial work, found her talent for explosions and levitation to be most helpful in dealing with large boulders.  She’d found acceptance and a purpose other than being a show-off.  She was now levitating one of the smaller boulders away from the larger one when she saw something odd.  She moved the large rock away and went to investigate.
Clyde was not too far from where his hired-hoof was working when he heard the blood curdling scream.  Trixie was running directly toward him.  She grabbed him and started to cry intensely.
“What’s wrong?” asked Clyde.
“A dead pony!” said Trixie crying hard, “a poor little dead pony!”
Sue and Blinkie had heard the scream and came running from the house to see what was up.
Sue took Trixie aside to comfort her and Clyde went to investigate, Blinkie followed.  When they came to the spot that Trixie was working, they saw the skeletal remains of a small pony, some hair and skin still attached.  It had been crushed under the boulder and it was apparent that the poor creature had been there for many, many years.
“Blinkie honey,” said Clyde, “go run and get the police.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    STRANGE INTERLUDE 2                    
//-------------------------------------------------------//
STRANGE INTERLUDE 2
STRANGE INTERLUDE 2
The police came in a very timely manner; mysterious dead ponies aren’t the norm for a community like Ponyville.  They had sent a message by Pegasus to Canterlot to request a medical examiner.  Except for a few accidents, Ponyville never needed one.
When the pony, Dr. Bones, arrived he took measurements, some hair samples and photographs.  Then he had his assistants to carefully and respectfully collect the remains for transfer to the lab back in Canterlot.  Afterward, he went to talk to the ponies that had discovered the remains.
“So you moved a large boulder and discovered the remains, is that correct Ms Trixie?” asked Dr. Bones.
“Remains is so cold,” said Trixie, “it was some pony’s baby!
And yes, I moved the boulder away from the large pile.  That’s when I saw something that didn’t look right.  I set the boulder down and went to look.  What I saw shocked, sickened and saddened me.”
“Did the moving of the boulder, disturb the rem… the pony?”
“No.”
“Did you touch or move the pony?”
“Celesta no!” exclaimed Trixie, “for what reason would I do that?”
“I’m not implying anything,” said Dr. Bones, “I’m just verifying that the position of the body was as it lay when uncovered.
Mr. Pie, I assume you or your daughter didn’t move the body as well?”
“No Sir,” said Clyde, “I made sure that nothing was disturbed until my daughter brought the police back.”
“I see,” said the medical examiner, “well, from what I can see, It appears to be a case of a pony being in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I don’t believe there were any criminal issues involved.”
“What can you say about the pony?” asked Trixie, she looked very concerned.
“It’s too early to say,” replied Dr. Bones, “I’ll have to do a further exam of the body and review the photos.  Plus the lab will have to test the hair and tissues before I’ll be comfortable to say anything.  There’s also research that’ll have to be done, once it’s determined how long the pony lay there, we’ll have to go through missing ponies reports.
It’ll take days, perhaps weeks.”
“Will you let us know what you find?” asked Sue.
“Being that the pony was found on your property,” said the doctor, “we’ll be in touch.  Will you be available to answer any other questions that may come up?
“Of course doctor,” said Clyde, “anything to help.”
After the police left, Clyde suggested that everypony take the rest of the day off to get over the shock.
Trixie lay in her room in the Pie house; she could not get the poor creature out of her mind.  The body was badly decayed and desiccated, but something about the remaining hair bothered her, as if she’d seen the pony before, and recently.