Equestrian Secrets

Apple Bloom's POV

Something is wronger than a penguin in a parka at this breakfast table. My sister has been givin Big Mac the evil eye since granny dished out the apple pancakes! Surely that molasses incident couldn't have been that terrible. I mean, a little sticky goo on the floor isn't cause for a sibling war as far as I'm concerned.

"Sooooo," I initiated. "You think you could help me get some old baby stuff together with me?" I suggested to my sister. Apple Jack didn't pay attention to me at first. I could see in her eyes an intense and burning frustration angled right for my brother. Meanwhile, he's just trying to slam down his breakfast and get out ASAP. I felt a little bad for him, but he had to have said something really wrong for Apple Jack to be mad at him, considering she was the one who spilled the bucket. Unless he caused her to spill the bucket. Ugh, who knows anypony? "Apple Jack?"

"Huh?" asked my completely off-to-sea sister. Finally, she finally took the fire off my brother's back and shined her eyes at me.

"I was just asking if you could help me get some of Little Mac's stuff together for Fluttershy. She's drowning in that palace, trying ta get everything fixed up for her baby."

"Don't she have a palace of ponies taking care of everything for her?" scoffed Big Macintosh. "What are they doing? Just watching while she gallops around putting pillows in cribs and-"

"I'll help ya and we'll take it today," Apple Jack snapped. The anger from her voice sprung from some kind of invisible tension I have literally no idea about. Seriously, this had to be bigger than a bucket of molasses.

"Thanks, Apple Jack! I'm sure she'd like ta see ya! She's been real lonely over there. Not any of the elements have been comin' ta see her and she don't have many other ponies-"

"I didn't say nothing about seeing her," Apple Jack corrected. "I said we'll drop off the stuff, but that's all we're adding to tha fire." Now I knew she was upset in general. For something to upset Apple Jack in general to the point she's mad at her pregnant ex best friend, there's some information I need to be getting right now.

"Ok," I groaned. "What is your deal this morning? Huh? You've been acting like a real ornery donkey or something." My little boy looked up from his mess of oatmeal he'd been sticking his hooves in to pay attention for the first time this morning. He even noticed this was a tense room.

"My deal? My deal is, I'm tired and I don't feel like upsetting my entire group of friends over going to see Fluttershy when it's obvious that Fluttershy will take the stuff and doesn't need me to do a whole meet-up-makeup. None of us know exactly how ta handle this situation, but me sending some stuff isn't going to spark a fire like me TAKING the stuff to her and telling her everything's gonna get better. Do I want to? Yeah! Of course I want to!" There's that honesty I knew she was supposed to have. Where was the rest of it though? "I want to, but I might say something I regret." Now that comment was directed right at Big Macintosh. By this time, Apple Jack, Little Mac, Granny and me were all looking his way. He didn't look up from his pancakes. He just polished his plate off in silence and stood up from the awkwardly quietened family meal. The silence was freaky, but not as disturbing as the fact Big Mac was keeping a Fluttershy secret.

"Eeyup," was spoken on the way out. That was his way of conforming what I thought I knew. Big Mac had a secret and Apple Jack wasn't happy about it.

"Tell me!" I caught myself talking way faster than I could think, and I regretted it just as fast. Apple Jack gave me the same glare back she'd been giving the top of our brother's head. She slammed her fork into the stack of pancakes that hadn't been touched all morning and pushed the chair she'd been sitting in away from the table. Words were useless at this point. This wasn't my business, and that glare made it all the more obvious. After Apple Jack stormed out, Granny and I exchanged a quick glance. She sighed and looked down at the table.

"I guess she's full on that fire in her belly," suggested my Granny.

"Yeah, or the secrets she's been chompin down. Come on, baby boy. Let's get you a bath. Looks like we're going to the palace by ourselves again."

Rarity's POV

I almost feel bad for Cadence this day. I'd caught her sneaking in very early this morning with a look I knew all-too-well. The romance remorse. Instead of adding to her guilt, I simply played naïve and took my glass of water to bed, leaving her alone with her choices. So, when I shut the door my pulse was racing. So many- TOO many- thoughts ran through my mind. Who can I disclose this to that won't tell? For that matter, whom can I disclose this information to that I, myself, can tell? It would bludgeon Twilight, disturb Apple Jack, bounce around town from Pinkie, be ridiculed by Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy? Oh, poor Fluttershy…How terrible it must be to think the world is rough and then slapped across the face with this news. Perhaps that this particular case of romance remorse is as remorseful as it should be and everything is swept swiftly under the rug. If not, well, Fluttershy will be in ruins. Push it aside, push it aside, Rarity. I simply must focus on feeding my nieces and carrying on today's devoirs. I cannot bring this up, I cannot gossip, and I may absolutely under no circumstances allow my un-lady-like chatter to rope Cadence into confessing.

"Rarity, I made the most terrible mistake I've ever made in my entire life." Well, that's certainly the way to say good morning. Judging by the desperate scent of several layers of soap from hours of showering, the deep bags under her youthful eyes, and the damp yet tussled mane: she'd thought just as I had. This involved more remorse than the normal internal variety. This included most all of Equestria.

"Cadence, darling, grab a cup of coffee and let's have a nice long chat." The organic beans and steam brought a warm comfort to my soul and calmed my nerves before this conversation took flight. I knew confessions and drama were moments from the moment. The girls were normally awoken by this time of morning, but they hadn't called for me. It was a sign that this situation needed my expertise. "Now, this may not be your first blemish in a white boudoir sheet, but I'm no stranger to the scandal." An awkward silence rose among the room as the wording I'd chosen sank in. "Not by MYSELF, I assure you. Many other mare friends, my sister included," I corrected. It wasn't exactly a lie, I'd not completely regretted every sexual encounter that was less than planned.

"Well…what should I do?" asked the weakened mare. "Was it so obvious?"

"Of course not!" Well, that was a lie. "I've just got an eye for the sort of thing. Now, first thing first, was everything taken care of?"

"Absolutely, we were very careful," Cadence assured me.

"So, that's important, and I have another question for you as well."

"Yes?"

"What stopped you from spending the night?" Big Macintosh Apple did not seem the type to kick a lady from the bed after a night of "bonding." What sent her home so soon?

"It…was Apple Jack, actually," confessed the shamed Princess. After the tumbling cycle she'd been tossed into, it's no wonder her choices are ill-advised. Wait, Apple Jack!? Apple Jack caught them! Oh how disgusting! Oh how intriguing!

"What did she say? What did she do? What did you do? What did HE do?" Cadence's look let me know I'd crossed the line, my gossip bug had gotten the better of me, and I simply had to apologize. However, that could wait until after she answered me. "Well? What happened?"

"Rarity, it…it was after. It all happened so fast, I didn't know what was going on! I looked up and there she was and she obviously could tell as easily as you did that we'd done what we did. She could have outed us to Apple Bloom too, but she snuck me out back instead. Rarity, I screwed up big time. I kept telling myself I was really into Big Mac, but…after what happened? I think I was only into hurting Fluttershy and Shining. Now, though, I don't want them to find out! If they find out, I don't know what I'll do. I can't be responsible for-"

"Now, just hold on. This isn't even on the same caliber as what those two have done!" I defended. "You were on a date, and you tested your compatibility. You were in no relationship and neither was he! Fluttershy knew you were married- she attended your wedding- and Shining knew she was a dear friend of yours. As far as I'm concerned, you have done absolutely nothing but given up the mystery too soon."

"Does this make me a complete who-"

"Do not tarnish your own name! You may not call yourself that! I've had the same conversation with someone very dear to me when she brought home twins much younger than you are…and I wish she could be here right now. Perhaps, if she was, she could give better advice than I. I've always hidden my shame quite well and kept a fabulous reputation, but this is a scandal. On the bright side, all eyes will be on you once this gets out."

"Gets out?" Cadence gasped.

"Oh, honestly, darling, there's no possibility Equestria isn't going to find out about the Princess and Farmer Colt." We both allotted a sigh and glanced at my flying niece. "Minnie, did you come to get me this morning all on your own?"

"Yes!" squealed the positively precious child. Even her voice reminded me of her mother. I put a halt to her fluttering wings and set her in her high chair to prepare breakfast. On my way, however, I had to pause. Suck up those tears Rarity. You've got three princesses in this house that cannot see you crack. "Cadence, would you like pancakes? A lady must recharge her fuel after a night of…romance."

"Drowning my sorrows in syrup?" she sighed. "Sounds perfect, thank you Rarity."

Twilight's POV

I couldn't stop Spike from rushing off to Rarity's this morning, while I tried to help Fluttershy. It felt like all of Equestria was completely divided! Apple Jack and I care so much about Fluttershy's failing health right now. Rarity and Spike don't really seem to care. I think Apple Jack and Rarity's clashing is a conflict of interest causing Rarity's opinions for Fluttershy to be even worse. In fact, I don't even think Rarity knows Fluttershy's sick. Poor Fluttershy. Shining Armor has completely began to resent her for his struggling. He's drowning in his new position as a guard. He's doing an absolutely appalling job, and I hate to say that as his sister, but it's true! He's so distracted, he's depressed, he's moody; you'd think he was the pregnant pony. So Fluttershy's lost his support, along with everypony else's but mine Apple Jack's and Apple Bloom's. It's the only guilt trip that breaks down my moral wall and lets me help her. I feel like a tyrant or something, considering my brother and Cadence both hate her right now. I just don't understand how he can be angry with her when all she's been through was physically draining, mentally draining AND much more of a detriment. Shining may have lost his job, but he still has his buddies at the guard. He may have lost his wife, but he chose to leave the mare who was having his foal. My BBBFF is starting to become a complete and total stranger to me!

"Fluttershy, how do you feel today?" I asked the weak mare. Her pink strands were split and crinkled from her poor health. Her hooves were swollen and rough. I could have answered my own inquiry. "Can I get you a snack or a drink? Maybe a nice book to read!"

"No, no, I'd really just like to rest, if that's alright," she pleaded. Fluttershy was going through depression as well. I only wish she'd been moody like Shining Armor, but the way Fluttershy was, the only moods she knew were happy, sad and scared. Well, as of now, it was sad and scared.

"Fluttershy, I really wish you'd eat something. There's not enough fuel in your body," I insisted.

"I'll just get sick, please let me just lie here, please?" she whimpered. She looked so sad. I just wanted to wrap her up and take her to some sanctuary where all of this was just gone. Luckily, Apple Bloom had just arrived with some of the most delicious looking apple bran muffins I've ever seen. Fluttershy's morning sickness, however, disagreed. It was strange to me, she still had morning sickness very late in her pregnancy. Shining tried his best to get closer to Fluttershy, but her hormones caused her to be very…snippy. It was almost like a possession that only came out when Shining was around, and I couldn't blame her for it. Albeit, Fluttershy was a surprising victim, but it was obvious she saw Shining as the cause of the disruption in her life. Rightfully so. Gingerly, I led everypony but Fluttershy from the room and returned to lie beside her.

"This isn't about being sick, is it? Not really…"

"No," Fluttershy admitted. "I just can't do it anymore, Twilight. I feel like there's no possible way for me to make it to the birth…This baby…this poor baby…"

"Fluttershy, you're important too," I reminded. Usually I would expect Fluttershy to put another pony's life before her own; but this one? She never ceases to amaze me.

"Thank you Twilight, but I'm not the pony that's the most talked about scandal in Equestria," whimpered the mare on her bed.

"But you're part of it…" There was silence in the air. Complete and empty solitude in the air. Then she said words I will never be able to forget.

"I'm not the innocent pony that's the most talked about scandal in Equestria."