Shipping is Magic

Prompt #1: Birth

Couple: RariJack

Ten wonderful years married, excellent careers, decent income, and two children in. They certainly couldn't want anything more. Rarity and Applejack most definitely had what many could label as a perfect life. Of course, nothing truly was flawless, but still - some things could come close to the definition of it. Sure, they had their issues, like any couple, and some nights ended up with one of them sleeping on the couch, but nonetheless, they were happy.

And now, they were only going to add to their joy.

With a seven year old daughter and a five year old son, another little one was on the way.

Magic number three.

Sometime after their first child was born, they had made a pact to have three children - not too many, but a decent amount. Rarity liked the idea of a small yet tight-knit family, and Applejack was always one for more than a few children. Somehow, they had met in the middle and chosen the odd number of three, so that was their plan.

...but sometimes, not everything can go according to plan.

"But Mama, I don't wanna clean out the attic."

Applejack let out a sigh, and rolled her eyes. "We ain't cleanin' it out, hon," she assured. "We're jus' gettin' some stuff outta there."

The little filly pouted, as she crossed her forehooves in an adorable protesting manner. "It's the same thang," she muttered, blowing navy bangs out of her vision. "I don't wanna do it."

"I don't mind," her younger brother piped up, with a wide smile. He bounded forward towards his mother, pushing his thin-framed glasses further his muzzle. "What do you need, Mama?"

"Now that's the kinda can-do attitude Ah'm lookin' for," Applejack replied, with a smile as she ruffled her son's choppy violet mane.

"You just wanna help 'cause you got magic!" the filly accused. "I betcha if you didn't have that fancy horn of yers, you wouldn't wanna do squat!"

However, this comment caused her mother to look down at her in a somewhat disapproving manner. "Sonya, what'd Ah tell ya b'fore?" she questioned.

The earth pony filly identified as Sonya let out a huff, and rolled her pretty seagreen eyes. "That just 'cause Alex has magic and I don't doesn't anything," she replied halfheartedly, only for her little brother to levitate over a pillow and smack her in the face with it. "Hey! Mama, ain't you gonna yell at him?"

"Alexandrite, be nice to yer sister," Applejack scolded, summoning the young colt to simply toss the pillow back to where he found it. "Now, c'mon, you two are gonna help me git some stuff outta the attic an' ya ain't gonna complain 'bout it, ya hear?"

Both letting out sighs and relenting with the demand, both foals followed their mother up the stairs and into the dusty old attic of their house - a place where long forgotten stuff had been put away for either safekeeping, memories or the fact that nopony knew what to do with some of the items, as noticed by the not-so-straightened out appearance of the room.

"So what're we even lookin' for?" Sonya whined as she sneezed at the musty odor of the attic. "I don't wanna be up here any longer than I have to." She caught her brother sticking his tongue out at her and shook her hoof at him, causing their mother to loudly clear her throat and the two siblings simply turned away from each other.

Letting out a light huff, the farmpony shook her head. "How're y'all supposed t' get along with yer new brother or sister if'n ya can't get along with each other?" she said simply.

"Is that what this is about?" Alexandrite questioned, his expression scrunching up in a very cute way. "Because when we get our new sibling, could we trade them for Sonya?"

"Hey!" the filly exclaimed. "I ain't that bad, am I?"

The colt took a moment to think, only before giving a nod. "Yes, yes, I'd say you are," he replied, with a sly and snarky grin.

His sister pouted once more and stomped her hoof, now giving him the cold shoulder. "I refuse to work with him, Mama," she muttered. "He's mean."

Applejack shook her head. One day, her children were the best of friends, and the next, they seemed like mortal enemies.

She removed a box from the mess of junk, pushing it over to her son. "Take that down, will ya, Alex?" she requested, as she took another box, motioning it towards her daughter. "An' Sonya, hon, try not to mess these up. Th' last thing Ah want is t' have yer mother make another new wardrobe."

Looking into the box she was given, Sonya pulled out a tiny pink and purple frilly dress, pretending to gag as she held it up. "How did you make me wear these?" she muttered in disbelief. "Ain't forcing your child to wear something this snooty a form of torture?"

"Don't blame me," the Element of Honesty chuckled. "It wasn't mah idea."

Shoving the dress back into the box, the little filly began pushing the box out of the small room, only for a thick mattress to whap her right in the side, knocking her over.

"Mama, do you have to bring this downstairs too?" Alexandrite asked, as he levitated the mattress out of the crib that sat in the corner.

"Eeyup," Applejack replied, with a proud smile at her son's will to help. "Don't strain yer magic, though, if'n ya cain't handle it."

"I got it," the little unicorn smiled as he paraded out of the room.

Mumbling about her younger brother was nothing but a show-off, Sonya continued to shove the cardboard box along the floor, however, within seconds, right after Alexandrite had left the room, a sudden thump was heard, followed by a loud "WHEE!" and finally, a crash.

And then a voice called from down below, "I can see somepony has been very productive today."

Wincing, Applejack exited the attic with her daughter in tow, trotting all the way down to the living room, to see Rarity standing there, with Alexandrite splayed out on the floor, and the mattress meant for the crib crashed straight into the couch.

"Alex, what in the hay didja jus' do?" Applejack groaned.

"Mattress surfing," the young colt laughed, as he magically fused his broken glasses back together. "I did it at the castle with Aunt Dashie and Auntie Twi a while back, and I really wanted to try it on my own."

With a huff, the earth pony mare held back swearing under her breath. "Then remind me t' nev'r let 'em foalsit you again," she declared. "Now both of ya, go put th' boxes Ah gave ya up in the nursery."

Whining and moaning to themselves, the two foals went back upstairs to do what they were assigned, leaving their mothers in peace.

"Hey, Rares," Applejack said, with a smitten smile as she leaned forward to nuzzle her wife. "Yer home from work early."

"Well, I figured that this was worth coming home early to," Rarity chuckled, placing a quick kiss on the farmer's cheek. "And, I have some news."

Raising an eyebrow, Applejack gave a nod, as a beckon for the unicorn to continue.

Trying not to hesitate and show a bit of confidence, the fashionista levitated an envelope out of her saddlebags. "These were sent to me in the mail from the doctor," she said simply. "It's about the foal."

Taking it from her wife, the orange mare looked to the pamphlet, and then back to Rarity. "Is everythang ok?" she asked in concern.

"Oh, yes, it's just..." the dressmaker stopped, taking a moment to choose her words as she felt slight movement in her abdomen, which caused her to give a hopeful smile. "surprising. That's all."

"What, is the 'lil one gonna be an alicorn?" Applejack remarked, with a smirk, as she opened the top of the folder, taking out the paper and reading over it.

Status: Healthy

Sex: M

Race: Earth

Status: Healthy

Sex: F

Race: Unicorn

With her eyebrows knit and expression confused, the farmpony looked up to her wife. "Rares, ya wanna explain t' me why there's two reports on this here paper?" she inquired, only before she noticed Rarity's face - which was a mixture of hope and worry. "Wait, hold up, y'all don't mean-"

"Yes," the unicorn replied. "We're having twins."

A moment of silence passed, only before the dressmaker spoke up.

"Darling?" she murmured. "Are you alright?"

"Course Ah am," Applejack replied. "Jus'... shocked, Ah guess. Four kids. Geez."

Giving a small smile, Rarity held her wife's hoof and smiled. "We've made it this far with two, and we've faced many other challenges even before we were married," she released a chuckle. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm sure that we'll be able to handle it."

Applejack returned the grin. "Yeah, Rares," she agreed. "Yer right."

After months of waiting, weeks of worrying, days of anticipation and hours of death threats, finally, the both of them were blessed with two more lovely children.

Jade Gala, born first, a beautiful unicorn filly, and Jasper Adam, born five minutes later, a dashing earth pony colt, were identical twins - save for the fact of their species and genders. They had light russet brown coats, curly platinum blonde manes and brilliant sapphire eyes.

And while they were content, Rarity and Applejack both very well knew that the birth of the new foals was just another small step in the adventurous thrill ride of a life that they shared.

~la fin~