Never Ending Happinessby Faith EverlastingChaptersNot a PrayerAnother MiracleA Thousand ApologiesWe Weren't PreparedMy PeculiaritiesMidnight GuardNot a Prayer"What? What happened?!" He looked her over and did not see anything peculiar, until he looked at her back legs. The bandages that were previously wrapped around her right back leg... "They're gone!" He brushed his claw down her leg in amazement and then looked to his wife for an explanation. "Ah decided I'd go to the doctor's early this mornin'. Figured you needed yer sleep." Applejack began to prance around her husband with a smug look on her face as he stared at her in awe. "Apparently, mah leg's all better!" "But... how is that possible?" "Ah don't know! Even he didn't know! He said it was a miracle!" "I'll say!" Spike hugged his wife firmly, but then pulled her away and looked at her sternly. "But this doesn't mean that you can get back to bucking apples just like that!" "Oh, ah know, Spike." He smiled at her response and released his hold on her. "There's also... another miracle the doctor mentioned..." Applejack trailed off when Spike looked at her again with shock. She blushed softly as the dragon placed his claw on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "What miracle?" THREE MONTHS EARLIER "Roasted apples! Get 'em here, get 'em hot!" Spike hollered out to the crowd surrounding the Ponyville market. Numerous amounts of stallions and mares were walking through the hot area with bags upon bags of groceries on their backs. One mare in particular was carrying an unusual amount of apples and was straining under the effort. "That's odd..." Spike muttered. "I'll give ya 3 bits for that one." Spike turned to see a young earth pony mare with incredibly crazy hair. She was standing with her friend who had a similar taste in hair style, but they both looked like they were bored out of their minds. "Sorry, but it's 10 bits for one apple." Spike picked up one of the tender apples and held it out for them to see. "These are home roasted by me!" The two mares looked at one another and then back at Spike. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?" The other mare asked rudely. Spike didn't know how to respond to that, so the two mares slowly walked away, bumping into ponies on their way over to the carrot stand. Spike rolled his eyes and put the apple back down on the counter and smiled when a familiar face started to speed towards him. "Hey, Rainbow Dash!" The multi-colored pegasus flew quickly to his stand and threw a large back of bits onto the table. "Give me how ever many that will buy!" She hollered in exhaustion. "You OK, Rainbow?" Spike slowly opened the bag and dumped out the bits, starting to count them. "Cider Season isn't for another two months! I've got to have something to munch on while I wait!" She watched with anticipation as Spike scooped the bits into a small chest near the ground. "So, all in all, I counted 130 bits." "How many does that get me?" "13." "DEAL!" Rainbow Dash snatched up 13 roasted apples, threw them into her saddlebag, and dashed off with a big smile. Spike rolled his eyes in amusement and counted how many apples he had left to sell. "Hmm... 1... 5... 9! 9 apples left!" He glanced around the marketplace and started shouting again. "Roasted apples! Roa-" Spike stopped short when an orange pony came hobbling up to the stand. At first, Spike felt frustration build up inside of him when he saw that she wasn't in her wheelchair. But then Spike's stomach turned into knots when he saw that she had a sad look on her face and he could barely greet her when she approached him. "Hey, h-honey." "Hey, Spike." Applejack responded with a whisper. "So...?" Applejack looked up at the dragon, tears welling up in her eyes, and then slowly shook her head. Spike's heart seemed to sink to his feet and he lowered his head and sighed. "So it is impossible." Applejack nodded and felt like she was going to burst out crying. Spike quickly walked around the stand and embraced her in a tight hug, obstructing her from anypony's view. There, she allowed herself to cry for a few brief seconds before sniffling and composing herself once more. "Ah'm sorry. Ah shouldn't be actin' like this." She pulled away from her husband's grasp and started to stumble towards home. Spike packed up the remaining apples, closed up his stand, and joined her. "Spike, ya don't have ta stop workin' 'cause a me." Applejack muttered. "I think that we should both take the rest of the day off." Applejack looked up at Spike and smiled. "Thanks, Spike." She gave him a quick kiss before she was distracted by a sound of muffled giggling not too far away. Applejack looked to where the sound had come from and saw a light grey pegasus looking underneath a bush. "Derpy?" Applejack called out to her. The wall-eyed pegasus glanced up at the couple and gave them a big smile. "Hey, AJ! Spike!" "What are you doing?" Spike asked. Derpy cocked her eyebrow playfully and quickly tilted her head towards the bush. It shivered for a few seconds as more giggles escaped from the leaves. Derpy then got into a low crouch, wiggled her rump in the air, and then jumped into the bush. "I GOTCHA!" Derpy cried out triumphantly as she held a small unicorn filly in her arms. The filly squealed with glee and wrapped her hooves around Derpy's neck. "Now it's your turn to hide, momma!" She said, covering her eyes and preparing to count. "Sorry, AJ. Gotta run! Can't let Dinky down!" With those words, Derpy galloped out of sight until Dinky had counted to twenty and began to pursue her. "Cute kid." Spike murmured under his breath. Applejack nodded and felt a tear slip down her cheek. She sighed once more and lowered her head to the ground as she continued towards home. Spike even felt himself tearing up when he saw filly after colt running through the streets, laughing and playing with their parents. "Applejack! Spike!" Both of them were snapped out of their daydreams and looked up to see Fluttershy and Big Macintosh approaching them. They had been going steady for about a month now and Big Mac had recently taken Fluttershy to see the movie "Watership Down". Long story short, it gave her nightmares for a week. "Hey, Fluttershy." Applejack replied half-heartedly. Fluttershy noticed Applejack's depression and looked over to Big Mac. "Mind if we cut this date short?" She whispered to him. "I think I need to have a private talk with Applejack." "Yeeup. And me with Spike." He responded. The two of them quickly kissed and Fluttershy approached Applejack. "Let's go talk somewhere." She wrapped her wing around Applejack's back and started to lead her away, supporting her friend as she hopped on three hooves. "Spike, you come with me." Big Mac commanded. Spike watched, unhappily, as Applejack grew further and further from sight. Then the red stallion walked behind Spike and gave him a shove in the back to get him to move. "Where are we going?" "Away from the females." With that, Big Mac continued to nudge Spike away from his wife and further down the path. Fluttershy watched as they continued to walk away, and stopped walking herself when she saw that they were no longer in sight. Then Fluttershy removed her wing from Applejack's back and coaxed her to sit by sitting herself. Applejack, with effort involved, eventually sat down on the dirt path and refused to look into Fluttershy's eyes. "I may not be the smartest pony in Ponyville, but I know when something is wrong with my friends!" Fluttershy placed her hoof on Applejack's shoulder and forced her to look into her eyes. Applejack stared into the turquoise pools and felt her body begin to relax. "Now," Fluttershy took her hoof off. "What's wrong?" Applejack sighed and looked away from her. "Ah can't fool ya, can I, Fluttershy?" The pegasus shook her head quickly which made Applejack giggle for a moment. "Well... the truth is..." "Whatdya mean ya can't have kids?!" Big Macintosh was towering over Spike in shock and Spike slunk down to the ground in fear. "We just can't!" Spike yelled. Big Mac started to calm down and then paced the ground in front of Spike. "That doesn't make any sense!" He complained. "You're telling me!" Spike stood from the ground and watched, pathetically, as Big Mac continued to pace, not diverting his eyes once from the ground. Spike thought that the poor stallion was going to flip out again, but he sighed in relief when Big Mac finally sat down on the path. "Ahh, shoot." Big Mac muttered. "What? What is it?" Spike plopped down beside the stallion and looked into his deep green eyes. Big Mac looked right back at Spike and placed his hoof on his head as if he had a headache. "AJ's always wanted a filly or a colt. Ever since she an' I started raisin' Apple Bloom, she KNEW that she wanted ta be a mom." Big Mac shuddered as some memories came flooding back to him. "Mah sister loved our mother. Ah loved her too, but not nearly as much as AJ did. AJ looked up to her, respected her, an' wanted ta be as good a mother as she was." Spike looked away from Big Mac as he continued his story. He felt his eyes begin to well up with tears and he loudly cursed his existence inside his mind. "The night our mother died, AJ made a vow." Spike's head shot up in shock and he looked over to Big Mac. "What vow?" "AJ might have told ya that she promised ta never be afraid again... and she DID. But she made another one too, sayin' that she would be as good a mother as our mother was." "But now that can never happen." Spike whispered. "And it's all because of me." "And it's all because a me." Fluttershy remained silent when Applejack had finished, knowing that this was not the right time to talk. When she's ready, she'll speak again. Fluttershy thought. Applejack kept her eyes on the ground and watched as three tears dripped down and splatter against the dirt. She cursed herself loudly in her mind and exhaled loudly. "Twilight wants Spike ta be a dad, an' Ah can't give that pleasure to him." Applejack's chest began to heave and Fluttershy walked over to her. She embraced Applejack tightly and rocked her back and forth when the tears came. Applejack cried for a good five minutes before she heard Spike and Big Mac come walking up the road. She quickly pushed Fluttershy away and wiped the tears away from under her eyes. "Are mah eyes red?" She whispered urgently to Fluttershy. "Uh... no." Spike rushed over to his wife and gave her a quick hug before helping her to her hooves. "Thanks for the... uh... conversations, guys." Spike said awkwardly as he led Applejack away. "You're welcome...?" Fluttershy looked over to Big Mac in confusion as he did the same. They both watched the couple go with heavy hearts and Fluttershy started to shudder with sorrow. Big Mac placed his leg around her shoulders and nuzzled into her mane. He then started to escort her home, but gave one final glance at his sister walking away. "So... what did you and Fluttershy talk about?" Spike asked Applejack. "Uh... well... female things. What 'bout you an' Big Mac?" "Uh... male things...?" "Fair enough." The two walked slowly in silence until they reached their house. By then, the sun had already set all the way except for a light blue color near the horizon. Spike opened the front door for Applejack and she hobbled inside, Spike soon following her. "It's mighty late." Applejack said bluntly. "Think Ah should be gettin' ta bed." She let out an exaggerated yawn and walked down the hall towards their room. The second floor was reserved for storage only while the first floor had everything else. Applejack clambered into the bed and slipped into the comforter, making sure that it came up to her neck just the way she liked it. Then she stared out the window as the stars started to sparkle in the sky. It was like Princess Luna took the stars in her hooves and tossed them across the dark blue blanket to make the night seem peaceful. Applejack sighed and closed her eyes tightly. OH, Lord, She prayed silently. Ah want a foal. So badly Ah want one! Ah can't work the farm or help Spike with anythin', so why can't Ah be a mother?! She stopped praying for a second as a tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and quickly whispered, "Amen." Then she heard Spike climb into the bed and gently kiss her on her head. She turned over onto her other side and stared at the dragon for the longest time. He seemed so... calm. This made her feel calm, too. She returned the kiss, but on the lips and they melted into each other's warmth. Another MiracleONE MONTH LATER Applejack woke up feeling miserable. She rolled over to see Spike, but discovered that he was already gone for the day. She glanced out the window to see if he was in the orchards... no. He had already gone to the market. She rose, unsteadily, from the bed and clutched her stomach in pain. The urge to vomit was almost unbearable. She ran as fast as she could to the bathroom and not a moment too soon. "Ugh..." She sighed when it was over. "What was that all about?" Then, she heard a knock at the door. "Applejack? You in there?" Twilight called out when she knocked on the door again. "Ah'm a comin'!" Applejack hobbled to the door and quickly swung it open much to Twilight's surprise. "OH, Applejack! What happened to you?!" Twilight exclaimed. She rushed into the house and put her hoof under Applejack's chin to look her over. AJ's mane was in a mess and she had numerous bags under her eyes. "Are you getting enough sleep?" Applejack swatted her hoof away in annoyance. "Yes, Ah'm gettin' plenty a sleep!" Twilight was taken aback by her friend's harsh tone. "Well, maybe you're getting too much. We said to meet us at the spa at nine... and it's almost noon!" Applejack groaned and wrapped her hoof around her stomach again, feeling woozy and collapsing onto the floor. Twilight gasped and ran to her friend's aid, only to be pushed away by the stubborn farm pony. "Ah'm OK, Twilight. Ah don't need help." She got back on her three hooves and hobbled out the door. "Well? Aren't we goin' to the spa?" Twilight rolled her eyes, but said nothing more as the two of them walked in silence. They were greeted at the spa door by the twin ponies who owned the place. "May we help you, Princess?" Aloe asked warmly. "We're meeting our friends here an-" "The usual!" Aloe interrupted, grabbing the Princess and Applejack and throwing them into a sauna. Applejack gasped for breath in the hot, stuffy place and tried to fan herself off. "Why, Applejack, a sauna is meant to help you sweat off some extra calories!" Applejack looked over to the high-pitched voice and smiled a little. Rarity smiled back as she wrapped her silky mane into a damp towel. Fluttershy and Pinkie were there as well, both of them already having towels on their heads. "Rainbow's a no-show again, eh?" Applejack asked. "Oh, you know how much she despises ponies touching her..." Rarity gagged in disgust. "Daredevil hooves." She prissily waved her own hooves around and admired the gleam that they cast across the room. "I, on the other hoof, truly enjoy shining them up a bit." "A bit? You can see yer own reflection in 'em!" Rarity glanced down at her hooves and smiled. "And don't I look ravishing?!" Applejack rolled her eyes and chuckled for a little while before she heard a deep rumbling noise coming from her stomach. "Good heavens, Applejack, did you have nothing to eat this morning?" Applejack blushed in embarrassment. "Well, Twilight here was so eager ta get me outta mah home, that I didn't have nothin' ta eat." She shot an accusing glance over to Twilight who also blushed. "Well, we must get you something." Fluttershy piped in. "What are you hungry for?" "Uh... I guess... a daffodil and daisy sandwich." "That's no problem! I've got one right here!" Pinkie Pie pulled a plate from behind her back which held a soggy, yet edible, daffodil and daisy sandwich. "Pinkie Pie, where did you get that?" Rarity exclaimed. "I didn't have much time to eat, either, so I brought breakfast with me! Here you go!" Pinkie Pie threw the plate over to Applejack who smiled gratefully. She was about to take a bite, when she stopped to think about something. "An' you don't possibly have any... sapphires, do ya?" The room went utterly silent. Everypony stared. "Uh... Applejack?" Fluttershy whispered. "Nope! Sorry! Fresh outta sapphires!" Pinkie Pie gave an apologetic grin before changing the subject. "Did you know that Pound and Pumpkin are almost two years old now?! Boy, does time fly!" The conversation continued and everypony eventually dropped the whole 'sapphires' bit, everypony except for Fluttershy who was still staring quizzically at Applejack. AJ tried to act like she wasn't aware of Fluttershy's troubled gaze, but eventually found herself staring back into Fluttershy's eyes and sighing with concern. Applejack then quickly looked away and shoved the entire sandwich into her mouth, chewing contently on the juicy petals of the flowers. While the rumbling in her tummy died down, there was still a strange craving for precious gems... "Oh, it's time for our mud masks!" squealed a delighted Rarity. "You can count me out for this one!" Applejack declared as she rushed to sit in a waiting chair. "You'll at least join us for our mud baths, won't you?" Applejack grimaced and slowly turned her eyes to the white unicorn. Her lips were puckered out and her eyes were as big as she could make them and she let out a small whimpering noise. Eventually, she had to collapse onto her stomach and cry out to make Applejack agree. "So, how's life living with Spikey-Wikey?" Rarity asked as Aloe coated her face with a thick green mud. "It's nice. He takes care ah me an' all. Why, he practically runs our whole farm!" Suddenly, Applejack started to feel woozy again, so she instantly tried to change the subject. "How 'bout you an' Fancy Pants?" Applejack mocked. "He's sure been ta Ponyville... frequently." Rarity chuckled nervously when she saw the rest of her friends staring at her. She uttered a silent prayer of thanks when Aloe put two fresh cucumbers on her eyes so that she couldn't see her friends' curious eyes. "Yes, he quite enjoys seeing my works of art!" Rarity declared while proudly putting her muzzle into the air. "Ah bet he enjoys seein' you, too." The five friends laughed when they saw a deep crimson color start to show from the green mud mask. Rarity did her best to hide her face, but to no avail. "Do you like him?" Fluttershy asked. "Perhaps... it's too early to tell!" Rarity turned her back on her friends and tried to ignore them. "I bet she likes him more than chocolate milk drenched in whipped cream covered with chocolate chips sitting on the top of a hill made of skittles while being rained on by Reese Cups!" Pinkie Pie snortled to herself and clutched her sides with laughter. "Actually, Pinkie, I'm not fond of skittles." Rarity retorted. "But you sure are fond ah Fancy Pants, aren't ya?" Applejack smirked deviously when she saw Rarity start to tremble. AJ knew that Rarity was about to have an outburst, and it was coming. "3... 2... 1..." "YES! I LIKE HIM! HE'S SO SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT TO ME! I WISH HE WOULD PROPOSE! WHY ISN'T HE PROPOSING YET?! HE CALLS ME HIS JEWEL! WE TALK ABOUT LIFE AND HOW I WANT A LIFE WITH HIM!" Rarity summoned her fainting couch and collapsed into a heap of a muddy and teary mess. Applejack snickered and helped Rarity wipe the mud off the velvet cushions while she was still sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly, Rarity's head shot up with excitement and her tears quickly dried. "Oh! And did I happen to show you my latest creation?!" Rarity instantly sprung from her couch, forgetting her meltdown, and produced a shimmering new dress. Everypony gasped in awe when they saw the deep green color of the fabric, but most of all they noticed the gold hemming around the skirt. Applejack looked more closely at the glimmering substance and felt her mouth begin to drool. "That... isn't... real gold... is it?" Applejack sputtered. "You bet your left hind leg, it is, Applejack!" Rarity spun the dress around in circles so that the gold would catch the light just so. Everypony 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the spectacle, except for Applejack whose eyes were fixed on the hem. "Madam, the mud baths have been prepared." Announced Aloe who had just walked back into the room. "Thank you, deary." Rarity gently hung the dress back up on the clothing rack she had brought with her and draped a garment bag over the top of it. The four friends continued on with their treatments while Applejack stayed behind, still stuck in a trance. Her eyes were fixed on that garment bag and the urge to walk over to it seemed intolerable. "Gold... real gold." Applejack muttered, slowly approaching the clothing rack. She laced her hooves through the garment bag's rough texture and felt the soothing fabric underneath. She carefully pulled out the dress and sighed in contentment when the flickering gold sent sparkles flying across the room. "Just... one... taste..." "Applejack?! What are you doing?!" Fluttershy was gaping in horror at the sight of her friend. Half of Rarity's new dress was stuffed inside her mouth! Applejack tried to spit it back out, but found herself munching happily on the golden hem. "Applejack, spit that out!" Fluttershy ran over to Applejack and yanked the dress away from her like a mother would to a toddler. Applejack cried out in protest, but then smacked herself across the face and sighed. "Ah'm sorry, Fluttershy. I just don't feel right today." "No kidding!" Fluttershy looked over the dress and cringed when she saw the teeth marks all along the hem. Applejack blushed in humiliation and tilted her stetson hat over her eyes, but Fluttershy smiled sympathetically and came up with a plan. "We'll say that Opalescence came in and tore it up a bit." "That's a lie, Fluttershy." "Well, am I the Element of Honesty?" "Well... no... but-" "Do you honestly want Rarity to know that you did this?" ... "Well, do you?!" "No." Fluttershy sighed with concern and walked over to her friend. "Applejack, what's wrong?" "I woke up sick this mornin', I have a cravin' for precious stones, and I almost ate Rarity's new dress! That's what's wrong!" Applejack turned away from Fluttershy and smacked her hoof off of her shoulder. Fluttershy recoiled, but not because she was afraid. All Fluttershy could do was stare hopelessly at the stubborn pony and try to figure out why she was feeling this way. Then she had an idea. "You don't think that you could be..." Applejack looked over to her. "You know... uh..." "Yeah? What?" "Hold on, let me think!" Fluttershy looked away from Applejack and started muttering. "Sick in the morning... strange cravings... irritation... mood swings..." Suddenly, Fluttershy's head snapped up and she quickly rushed over and embraced Applejack tightly. Applejack gazed awkwardly, and quite intimidated, at Fluttershy's hug (which was quite strong for her) and eventually had to yank herself away. "What? What is it?" Applejack demanded. "I think you're... pregnant." Fluttershy whispered. Applejack froze. At first, she couldn't even comprehend the words that had come out of Fluttershy's mouth and she just stared into oblivion. Then the words sank in and a deep scowl started to form on Applejack's face. "How dare ya?" She muttered. "What?" Fluttershy came closer. "How dare ya raise mah hopes!" Applejack sprung onto the pegasus and pinned her onto the ground. Fluttershy squeaked in fear, but did not scream as Applejack snorted into her face. "Ya know how much Ah want a foal, and now ya tell me that Ah'm PREGNANT?! Element of Kindness indeed!" Applejack raised a hoof to strike Fluttershy and took in a deep breath. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes tightly shut and whimpered as the hoof started to fall. But then it stopped. "What am Ah doin'?" Applejack slowly lowered her hoof to the ground and jumped off of Fluttershy. She started to walk towards the exit of the spa with Fluttershy quietly trailing behind her. "Where are you going, Applejack?" Applejack turned around to see Fluttershy with tears streaming down her face. Seeing this only made her stomach twist into even more knots! "Away from everypony! Ah'm not safe anymore!" Fluttershy watched helplessly as Applejack galloped out the door, leaving a stream of tears behind her. She wanted to call out for help, but couldn't even manage a silent breath. That was the last time that anypony had seen Applejack. She had barricaded herself in her home and refused to let anyone in, except for Spike, of course. She stayed in there for two whole months until the doctor insisted that she see him at once! So, one day early in the morning, she quietly slunk out of her room and towards the hospital where the news of another miracle would be waiting. A Thousand Apologies"What miracle?" Applejack didn't answer her husband for a long time, leaving the poor dragon in a state of desperation. He placed his hands under her chin and gazed deeply into her eyes as if he was trying to seek the answer through them. Finally, he gave up and sat down on the floor grumpily. "Hey, if you don't want to say, that's fine." Spike snorted a few green flames in irritation and refused to look at his wife. Applejack chuckled and walked in front of him. "Ah've been sick fer three months." Spike's head shot up in alarm. "How is that a miracle?!" Spike quickly stood up and stomped a few feet away from her. "If you're going to tell me that you have cancer..." A tear slid down his face. "Then I don't want to hear it!" "Good gravy, no, Spike!" Spike nearly collapsed onto the ground in relief and walked over to Applejack, embracing her tightly. "Why would Ah say that having cancer is a miracle?" Spike thought about this for a moment and then merely shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I get over excited about things." "No kiddin'." Applejack smiled. Then a playful grin started to form on her lips. "Well, this miracle will really get ya excited!" "Yeah?" "Yeah!" "Then what is it?!" "It's somethin' that 7 months will cure." "Wait! Let me think really quickly." Spike sat on the ground. "Sick for three months... 7 more months will make it go away... all in all that's 10 months... WHAT TAKES 10 MONTHS?!" He paused. He thought. He knew. His heart pounded. He looked over to Applejack who was blushing and smiling with utter joy. He slowly walked towards her, extending his claw towards her side. Applejack sighed with pleasure when his claws brushed over her slightly rounded stomach and then she cried. Spike cried, too, and he embraced Applejack once more (gently this time). "That doctor is stupid!" Spike shouted above his tears. "It's NOT impossible!" "No, it ain't!" "What is it?! Is it a boy or a girl?!" "Ah don't know. An' frankly, Ah don't want to know! Ah want it ta be a surprise!" Suddenly, Applejack started to walk off. "Where are you going?" "To apologize to mah friends," A huge wave of guilt suddenly swept over her. "Especially Fluttershy." "Are you going to tell them, too?" "Ah course, Ah am!" Then, giving her husband a playful punch on the shoulder, Applejack trotted as quickly as she could towards Fluttershy's cottage. It felt like an eternity before she got there and when she stood by the door, she hesitated to knock. Tears started to form in her eyes at the harsh words she had spoken to Fluttershy. Dear, sweet, caring Fluttershy! And she had been right all along! Applejack then nodded and readied her hoof for the knock. Then, without warning, Fluttershy opened it and stared in shock upon seeing Applejack. "Applejack!" She exclaimed. "Fluttershy!" "I haven't seen you in months!" "Ah know! Ah've been a real jerk!" She sat on the ground and started to sob. "Every day Ah think 'bout how Ah treated ya! What kind of a friend am Ah?!" "Oh, no!" Fluttershy cried out, embracing Applejack. "What kind of a friend am I? How dare I raise your hopes like that! It wasn't right and I'm sorry!" "No! Ah'm sorry!" Applejack pulled away from Fluttershy and wiped her runny nose with her hoof. "Ah shouldn't have been so pessimistic." Applejack stood and helped Fluttershy to her hooves. That was when Fluttershy noticed Applejack's leg. "You're all better!" She said with a smile. "Yeah, Ah'm all better." Applejack replied warmly. "And mah leg ain't the only thing new an' excitin'!" "What else is there?" Applejack turned her head towards her slightly rounded stomach and caressed it gently with her nose. Fluttershy looked confused for only a moment before covering her mouth with her hoof, sustaining an utter cry of joy. "So... you are?" "Yeah, Fluttershy, Ah'm gonna be a mama." The two friends hugged each other tightly, continuing to mumble 'I'm sorry' every once in a while. Tears stained their fur and they shuddered with sobs, but now they were together again. Faithful and Strong. Sharing Kindness. "Yeah, give me a second, AJ! Still workin' on those apples I bought from Spike!" Applejack rolled her eyes in amusement as she watched Rainbow Dash pop another roasted apple into her mouth. She chewed on it contently for a good solid minute before swallowing and flying down to the ground. She rubbed her stomach in pleasure and licked her lips, trying to find any morsel that could still be there. "Spike really has a gift, doesn't he?" She mumbled. "He sure does." Applejack replied. Rainbow Dash let out a satisfied burp (which Applejack soon applauded) and then sat down on the ground. "So, what do you want to tell me?" Applejack, honestly, didn't know how to tell Rainbow Dash. She had thought about taking it slow, but Rainbow doesn't like slow. Then she thought about giving her a riddle, but Rainbow hates having to think hard unless it's important. Just tell it to her straightforward. "You're gonna be an aunt." Rainbow Dash froze where she sat. "An 'ant'? You mean like a bug?" Applejack groaned. "Rainbow, even you ain't that stupid!" "Hey! I'm not stupid to begin with!" "Then ya wouldn't have asked me that question!" Rainbow paused to think about that, but then got back to the matter at hoof. "So, I'm going to be an aunt, huh?" Applejack nodded. "Who's the one havin' a baby?" "Ah am." "You are?" "Yeeup." "Really?" "Yeeup." "This isn't a prank or something?" "Nope." "Did Pinkie Pie put you up to this?" "Nope. Ah haven't even told her yet." Rainbow Dash rubbed her head as she processed the information. She didn't seem to believe her. Then, she opened her mouth. "That... is..." "Awesome?" Applejack muttered under her breath. "AWESOME!" "Called it." Rainbow Dash hugged Applejack and then smacked her playfully on the back. Applejack grunted under the blow and glared at Rainbow. The pegasus blushed in embarrassment and then quickly flew off. "Wait! Rainbow! Don't tell anypony else! RAINBOW!" Too late. "Oh, congratulations, darling!" Rarity squealed when Applejack walked into Sugar Cube Corner. Everypony else was there and they were all smiling and hugging Applejack. "I am SOOOOOO happy for you!" Pinkie screamed. Twilight was sobbing with joy and couldn't say anything. Rainbow Dash hugged Applejack again. Fluttershy was busy bringing out a large cake that read, "Congratulations to the Soon-to-be-mama!" spelled out in sapphires. Everypony was happy. Everypony was smiling. Applejack could breathe for the first time in months. "What may I get for you today, madam?" Applejack smiled up at the waiter and glanced over the menu once more. "Don't bother asking for precious gems, honey," Spike warned. "They don't have 'em here." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at the waiter. "On the contrary, sir, since you started coming here, we've made preparations to add gems to the menu." The waiter turned a few pages in Applejack's menu and pointed out the brand new page. "Viola!" Applejack's mouth drooled when she saw the detailed pictures of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and even pearls! Spike did the same and laughed upon seeing Applejack gawking. "The baby's certainly doing a number on your mind, isn't he?" Spike teased. "Spike, how many times must Ah tell ya that it might be a 'she'?" Applejack lectured. She looked up at the waiter and smiled apologetically. "Ah'll have the whole order of... emeralds, please." The waiter nodded and turned to Spike. "I'll have a half order of the rubies, please." Spike said. The waiter then walked away, leaving the couple alone. Applejack caressed her swollen belly, which was now at around eight months, and sighed. "What's wrong, honey?" Spike asked. "Oh, nothin', Spike. Ah'm just so happy," Spike walked over to Applejack and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Her entire body grew warmer every second that he touched her and she almost whined when he pulled away. "Me too, AJ." AJ smiled and watched as Spike returned to his seat. She giggled to herself when she felt the baby within her move around, but this time felt different from the others. It felt a little uncomfortable, but Applejack payed no attention. Spike's eyes widened and he ran back over to her side. "Is he-" "She!" "Whatever," Spike laughed. "Moving?" Applejack nodded and groaned a little as the baby moved again. "May I feel?" Spike asked. He tenderly placed his claw on her stomach and his face lit up when he felt the baby move. He let a single tear escape from his eye and fall to the ground. "Spike? You OK?" Applejack asked with concern. "Yeah, I'm fine." He hugged Applejack tightly and sighed. Suddenly, AJ cried out, clutching her belly tightly and grimacing in pain. The baby just kept moving. "What?! What's wrong?!" Spike pulled away and laid a claw on her shoulder. "Ah don't know..." She gasped. She cried out again and fell onto the ground, groaning and inhaling sharply through her teeth. Spike panicked, quickly picking her up and opening his wings. He took off with impressive speed, aiming himself towards the hospital. Applejack groaned again and shifted in his arms, grasping tightly to her stomach. "Hold on, AJ! Hold on! You're going to be OK!" "Spike..." she muttered. "Hold on!" Applejack cried out again before hearing the confused exclamations of all the ponies in the hospital. We Weren't Prepared"Good heavens, Spike, what's wrong?!" The doctor exclaimed upon seeing the frantic dragon. "Something's wrong, doc! Applejack's in pain!" As if to confirm Spike's words, Applejack screamed loudly and clutched her belly. The doctor walked up to her and placed his hoof on her stomach, his eyes widening in shock. "But, you're not due for another three months!" He said loudly to himself. "What does that mean?! Is she having the baby now?!" Spike panicked. "Nurse Redheart!" A white earth pony with a pink mane and tail came running around the corner. "Get a stretcher for Applejack! I think it's time." Nurse Redheart nodded and dashed off to retrieve a stretcher. Applejack groaned even more and looked up at Spike. "Sorry, looks like the baby's impatient." Applejack joked. Spike smiled briefly and then looked up again to see Nurse Redheart pushing a stretcher towards them. He gingerly placed Applejack down and stroked her mane in attempt to calm her. "You're going to be fine, Applejack, I'm here." Applejack smiled and touched his claw with her hoof before grimacing once more and placing it back on her belly. As quick as they could go, the doctor, nurse Redheart, Spike, and Applejack rolled down the hall and straight into the emergency room. "Would you like anything to eat while you're waiting, princess?" Twilight looked up from the magazine she had been reading to see a young filly in nurse apparel looking up at her. She smiled down at the cute foal and folded the magazine up. "No, but thank you for the offer." That answer seemed to satisfy the filly as she beamed widely and pranced off down the hall. Twilight laughed to herself and looked over at the rest of her friends who were gathered there. Pinkie Pie was busy hanging off the back of a waiting chair while Rarity kept nervously glancing at the clock. "How long have they been in there, Twilight?!" She choked, starting to hyperventilate. "About a half hour, Rarity," Twilight responded. "I wonder if it'll be a COLT or a FILLY?!" Pinkie hollered, swinging back over and plopping down into her chair. "Or maybe it's TWINS!" "I don't know, Pinkie," Twilight muttered. "We weren't prepared for the baby to come this soon. Anything could happen." "Don't say that, Twilight!" Rarity screamed. "Think positive!" "How can I when there are so many negative attributes?!" Suddenly, the hospital doors burst open and Fluttershy dashed in, panting and sweating beyond control. Big Macintosh soon followed her, breathing quite heavily too. "Is she OK?!" Fluttershy whimpered as she flew over to Twilight's side. "We don't know yet," Big Macintosh growled and sat heavily into a chair. Fluttershy flew over to calm him down which he accepted generously. "Ya think she's in pain?" Big Mac mumbled. "No," Fluttershy cooed. "Applejack's a tough girl. She'll pull through." The minutes ticked by slowly after that... Tick, tock, tick, tock... Rainbow Dash eventually showed up, apologizing again and again for being late. "I was at a show for the Wonder Bolts all the way in Manehattan! I flew over here as soon as I heard the news!" "It's OK, Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "You're here now, and that's all that matters." The minutes ticked by slowly again... Tick, tock, tick, tock... "UGH!" Pinkie shouted. "When will I be an AUNT?!" "Right now," Everypony gasped and looked over to see Spike, standing tall and proud with tears streaming quickly down his face. The entire crowd of them rose from their seats and surrounded him with questions. "Is Applejack OK?!" "Is the baby OK?!" "Is she going to make it?!" "Is it a COLT or a FILLY?!" Spike smiled at their hysteria and quickly quieted them down. "If you want the answers to your questions," He said teasingly. "Then follow me." Of course, nopony hesitated to do so. They all even became a bit antsy as Spike slowly walked down the hall. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and quickly checked the clipboard on the front counter which showed the room numbers. "A127!" She announced. Everypony dashed past Spike, leaving him in a cloud of dust. He coughed for only a brief second, but then burst out laughing onto the floor. The entire crowd tried to shove past each other in the doorway, only to be shushed by nurse Redheart who had just placed a light pink bundle into Applejack's arms. Applejack looked exhausted, but the vibrant smile on her face was enough to make her look like the happiest mare in the world. Fluttershy approached her and looked down into the bundle. "Oh..." she sighed. Two light green eyes with strange reptilian slits met hers and a tiny gurgle escaped from its mouth. Applejack sniffled in a tear and gently lifted the foal into Fluttershy's arms. Everypony in the room gasped in awe upon seeing the foal, whose coat was the color of a summer's sunset and whose mane was the color of its father's green scales. "So..." Pinkie began. "Is it a COLT or a FILLY?" "Can't you tell by the color of the blanket, Pinkie?" Rainbow whispered harshly. "Pound Cake was accidentally placed in a pink blanket when he was born." Pinkie said with a laugh. "They couldn't find a blue one until they put him in a cradle next to his sister!" "It's a filly." Applejack whispered, taking the brand new foal back into her arms. The filly sighed contently and wriggled around in her blanket. Suddenly, the filly yawned and stretched, causing the blanket to become taunt near her back. Fluttershy was the first to notice. "Applejack..." She uttered. "Does she have...?" "Uh-huh!" Applejack laughed. "Wings!" She removed the blanket to show off two outstretched wings that were exactly alike to that of her father's. The only exception being that her wings were the same color as her coat, a summer's sunset. Twilight couldn't hold it in any longer. She started bawling. "Oh, Twilight." Spike laughed, running up to hug her. "I'm an aunt!" She bellowed. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but then smiled. "I'm an aunt, too." She stated proudly. "I'm an aunt!" Rarity cried out. "Hey, what a coincidence! I'm an aunt, too!" Pinkie cheered. "Ah'm an... uncle." Big Mac choked. He walked up to his sister and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Good job, sis. Good job." Then, Fluttershy walked back up to Applejack and gave her a light hug. "I'm also an aunt!" She whispered. Applejack nodded and then nuzzled her filly affectionately on the nose. "Any names yet?" Pinkie inquired after the whole sentimental business was over. "Yeah," Spike said. "I let Applejack decide." Everypony's eyes turned towards Applejack. She quickly glanced up towards the ceiling of the room and sighed deeply. This is fer you, mama. She prayed. "Her name is Gala Delight." "After mama." Big Mac stated. "Yeeup." Applejack confirmed. "It's perfect!" Rarity squealed. Everypony nodded in approval, and even Gala let out a joyful scream. Suddenly, a new nurse ran into the room carrying a tray of food for the new parents. She looked from Applejack and then, with a weird look, to Spike. She placed the tray in Spike's arms and was about to leave the room, when she saw Gala Delight. "Good heavens!" She exclaimed. "What happened to the poor darling?!" She quickly raced over to the new foal and snatched her from her mother's arms. Gala cried out and reached for her mother. "Hey!" Applejack hollered in protest. "What do you think you're doing?!" Spike yelled. The nurse whipped off the blanket fully this time and now everypony, except for Applejack and Spike, gasped. They had already seen her wings and her eyes, but they had not seen her tail and back legs. "They... look like a..." Rarity stuttered. "Dragon's!" Pinkie finished It was true. Gala Delight's tail was long, orange, and scaly, almost making the nurse recoil at the very touch. The back legs were more of a shock when everypony saw that they were not only scaly but had three long claws protruding from them. "Oh, dear!" The nurse yelled. "Don't worry, darling! We'll help your child!" "Don't you DARE touch her!" Applejack shrieked, forcing her exhausted body from the bed and grabbing her foal from the nurse's arms. "But... your baby is deformed!" "No she ain't! She's exactly how God meant for her ta be!" Applejack clambered back into her bed and tried to calm Gala down. Spike ran up to her side and gently stroked Gala's mane while quietly singing a lullaby. "Hush, now, my filly. Be still love, don't cry. Sleep while you're rocked by the stream. Sleep and remember My last lullaby And I'll be with you when you dream." The room was suddenly silent as they listened to Spike's clear voice. Even Applejack was amazed at how well his singing sounded! Gala let out a satisfied yawn and rubbed her eyes, Spike planting a passionate kiss on her forehead. She giggled and then drifted back off into sleep. When everypony had calmed down, Twilight glared at the nurse. "How dare you call my little niece deformed?" Twilight whispered. "Well... I... uh..." The nurse mumbled, silently slipping out of the room and galloping down the hall. "Humph! The nerve of some ponies!" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Nopony listen to her!" Fluttershy commanded. "Gala Delight is perfect the way she is!" Applejack nodded proudly and re-wrapped the blanket around her daughter. Spike then gave his two girls a warm hug and sighed with utter happiness. "Now we can finally breathe." He joked. Applejack laughed and nodded, kissing Spike briefly on the lips. Then, they both looked down to see Gala wriggling around in the blanket, grunting and growling. They both soon knew the reason why as she brought up her tail and started contently sucking on the pointed edge. Twilight smiled and looked over at Spike. "That's what you did when you hatched from your egg." She remembered. Then Gala dropped her tail and let out a satisfied burp. Big Macintosh laughed. "And that was the first thing AJ did when she was born!" The room erupted into joyful laughter, echoing down the halls and out the door. Gala let out a laugh of her own and waved her front hooves around in the air with pleasure. And for the first time in months, Applejack and Spike were happy again. Unfortunately, happiness does not always last for an eternity... My PeculiaritiesONE MONTH LATER "Honey, be sure to wear the fire proof gloves this time!" Spike called out from storage. "You don't want her to crisp you again!" Applejack sighed in annoyance and slipped on the gloves. "Ah know what Ah'm doin' now, Spike! Ah just didn't know she could breathe fire in the first place!" Gala giggled in her high chair as Applejack gently set down a bowl of mashed up carrots. Gala sniffed the bowl and grimaced, pushing it away with her hoof. "Oh, don't you start now, young filly! You gotta eat yer carrots!" Applejack ordered. Gala looked over at her mother and whined pathetically. "It ain't gonna work this time, sweetie." Applejack laughed. "Now, come on!" Applejack scooped up a spoonful of the carrots and moved them towards Gala's mouth. She batted her reptilian green eyes in a pout, but then opened up her mouth to accept the spoon. Or so Applejack thought. FOOM! Gala laughed in delight after the vibrant red flames burst from her mouth, melting the spoon in Applejack's hoof and toasting the ends of her mane. She gave a quiet thank you to Spike for reminding her to wear the gloves and looked at her daughter sternly. But it was impossible to stay mad at Gala! She was just so adorable when she was laughing! Applejack rolled her eyes in amusement and was about to walk away... when suddenly: Sniff... sniff... Applejack looked over at her daughter who was now sniffing the burnt carrots. She licked her lips slowly and lapped up the carrots like a puppy, even whimpering in pleasure as she chewed. "Ah ha!" Applejack cried out. "What?!" Spike hollered. "AH!" Applejack grimaced when she heard Spike falling down the steps and landing with a loud 'thud' onto the floor. She could almost see the stars dancing around his head. Gala laughed and banged her hooves on the high chair tray as Spike stood up. Applejack ran over to him and hugged him triumphantly. "Ah did it!" She declared. "You mean you screamed like that for-" Spike paused. "Did what?" "Ah got 'er to eat 'er carrots!" Applejack did a victory dance across the living room and kissed Spike long and hard. It wasn't for a while before Spike had to push her away to get some air into his lungs. "And you're excited about that?" He laughed. Applejack ran over to Gala and kissed her on the forehead, making her squeal with happiness. Suddenly, the door bell rang. "OH! I completely forgot!" Applejack gasped upon hearing it. "Forgot what?" Spike asked, looking towards the door. "Filthy Rich was comin' over this mornin' ta talk to ya 'bout yer apples." Applejack explained, running to the door. "I thought I told you to tell him that I'm not interested in selling my stand!" "Ah did! He ain't interested in yer stand no more, just yer apples!" Applejack opened the door and smiled upon seeing Filthy Rich. He smiled back and held out his hoof for a shake. "Thank you for letting me see you today, Mrs. Spike!" "An' thank you fer seein' us today, Mr. Filthy!" "Uh, I prefer 'Rich'." "Oh, yes, of course!" Filthy Rich, rather rudely, pushed his way into their home, looking around as if he was a critic or something. Then, without warning, another pony followed him inside. "EW! Do you live in a barn or something?" Applejack looked down and saw... ugh... "Well... howdy, Diamond Tiara." Applejack said un-enthusiastically. The prissy little pony held her snout up in a pout and marched into the home, gagging whenever she sent dust or dirt up into the air. "Seriously, have you ever considered cleaning your house?!" She griped. "Well, as a matter of fact, we're cleaning out storage right now." Spike stated. "That's why it's so dusty in here." "Sure, OK, whatever," Diamond snapped. "Now, honey, we aren't here to talk about their home." Filthy Rich lectured. "We're here to talk about their delicious apples!" He gently patted his daughter on the head and gestured for her to sit at the kitchen table. She did so with a sneer towards Applejack and bluntly sat down on Spike's seat. "That's my chair..." Spike muttered under his breath. "Just breathe, darlin'," Applejack whispered. "Now," Filthy Rich began. "Let's get down to business!" Diamond Tiara drowned out the boring discussions of the adults and panned her eyes around the room. "Amazing," She said to herself. "Not a silver fork or china plate in this joint!" She glanced down at the table and gagged when she saw the remnants of the burnt carrots. Quickly, she scooted away from it and diverted her gaze to the back door. Suddenly, she felt somepony fling... well... something into her mane. "AH!" She yelled when it hit her. The black and orange substance dripped down her styled mane and face, staining it and crusting. "EW! Who did that?!" She darted her eyes across the room until she saw the filly in the high chair, happily laughing with its eyes tightly closed. "Should've known they'd have a brat!" Diamond Tiara snapped, walking closer to the filly. "You think you're funny?!" Gala giggled and stretched out her wings in delight. "Hmm..." Diamond said, observing them with harsh eyes. "Not the strangest wings I've heard about. I remember Rarity's temporary ones: now THOSE were wings!" Diamond Tiara did the best she could to dance gracefully across the room. Usually, she had her butler do it for her, but he was on his vacation now, unfortunately. "Like a beautiful butterfly!" She complimented herself. Gala opened her eyes wide at the spectacle, revealing her reptilian green eyes. Diamond Tiara had just finished her final... uh... 'delicate' turn when she laid her eyes once more on Gala. "WHOA!" Diamond gasped, sharply stepping away. "What IS that thing?!" Gala laughed at Diamond's outburst and scooped up some more carrots in her hoof. She looked over at Diamond Tiara and aimed the carrots towards her face in a playful game of 'food fight'. "AH! DADDY!" Diamond Tiara raced into the living room and tried to hide herself underneath her father's legs. "Why, Diamond, dear, what ever is the matter?" "There's a MONSTER in the kitchen!" Applejack and Spike chuckled under their breath. "A 'monster', darling?" "Yes, daddy, go look for yourself!" Filthy Rich coaxed his daughter out from under him and cautiously walked into the kitchen. He looked around the room and saw mashed up carrots spewed about the walls. "Uh, Applejack? Spike? Were you experimenting with carrots this morning?" He called out to them. Before they could answer, Filthy Rich's eyes landed on Gala. Her wings were stretched to their maximum and her eyes were wide open in amusement. "GREAT SCOTT!" He shouted. "A MONSTER!" Filthy Rich slowly walked over to Applejack's kitchen counter and started opening all of the drawers. Eventually, he found what he was looking for. Suddenly, Applejack and Spike ran into the kitchen, each of them sighing in dismay at the carrot stains all over the walls. Then, Applejack's eyes landed on Filthy who held a long, sharp knife in his mouth. "Filthy..." Applejack said calmly. "What are ya doin'?" She watched as Filthy crept closer and closer to Gala's chair as if he was trying to sneak up on her. "This monster needs to go back where it belongs!" He said through clenched teeth. Slowly now, he was right next to Gala and leveled the knife in his mouth. "Filthy, that monster is mah daughter." The knife clattered to the floor. Diamond Tiara's gasp could have been heard from miles away. Filthy Rich looked up at them with utter perplexity in his eyes. "H-How?" He stuttered. "She just is!" Applejack barked, running up and blocking Gala from Filthy. Diamond Tiara couldn't take it anymore and ran out of the house screaming. Filthy Rich looked from Applejack to Gala and then over to Spike. His cheeks turned into a bright red and he hung his head in shame. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't know." "'Sorry'?" Spike snapped. Filthy cowered onto the floor as Spike marched up to him, baring his teeth. "Sorry?! You almost killed my daughter!" Spike spread out his wings and roared terribly, making Filthy Rich go pale. Green flames shot from his mouth, engulfing around Filthy's hooves. "The deal is OFF!" Spike roared. Filthy Rich nodded in terror and galloped out the door. Gala started crying in her chair and wrapped her wings around her eyes. Applejack ran to her side and cuddled her into her arms, quietly hushing her and giving her kisses. "Don't worry, sweetie." She cooed. "Daddy was just upset, that's all." Spike shrunk down to the ground and almost smacked himself for the way he behaved. "I'm sorry, AJ..." He whispered. "I don't know what came over me." "Don't be. Filthy got what he deserved!" Applejack walked over to Spike and placed Gala in his arms. She gazed up at her daddy and whimpered only once before snuggling into his warm chest. Spike sighed and gently rocked her to sleep. "Filthy was willing to kill her." Spike said once Gala was quietly snoring in his arms. "Yeah..." Applejack sighed. "What do you think other folks will do when they see her?" "Ah don't know." "From now on, she only leaves the house at night when everypony's asleep!" Spike flew over to Gala's crib and placed her inside, wrapping her favorite blanket tightly around her body. He kissed her forehead and then flew up the stairs into storage. "What're ya doin' up there, Spike?" Applejack called up to him. "Taking precautions!" He came back down quickly and Applejack gasped upon seeing what he had grabbed. "Good heavens, Spike! Where'd ya find that?!" "Granny Smith said it was her husband's during the war." "Ya can't be serious!" Spike stared down at the item in his hands and quickly loaded and cocked it. "No one threatens my daughter!" Spike snorted, aiming the dusty old rifle towards the front door. "No one!" He fired the rifle and watched as it sent splinters flying through the air and scattering onto the ground. Applejack watched in horror at Spike's new attitude and raced over to Gala's crib since she started screaming after the gunshot. Spike growled deeply and stared at Applejack gently rocking Gala back and forth. "And no one will be stupid enough to try and take her from me..." He whispered to himself. Midnight GuardSEVEN YEARS LATER The valiant predator glides through the starlit sky, searching out her un-expecting prey! The wind howled all around her as the sky began to darken even more than it already was. She grew nervous, fearing the rumbling clouds that surrounded her. Auntie Rainbow Dash had always told her to avoid those whenever possible, given the fact that a lightning strike had been what caused Derpy's eyes to go cuckoo. She shuddered at the thought. I hope my eyes NEVER go like that! She declared, doing a quick backflip in the sky. Her worries quickly melted as she felt the wind cut through her lime-green mane and tickle her webbed wings. "Gala!" A voice called out. "Oh, great!" She grumbled to herself. Glancing to the horizon, she saw the sun start to peak out over the rolling hills of their orchard. She silently cursed Celestia for bringing the sun back too fast. "Gala, where are you?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance and started heading back towards home as slowly as possible. She hated being confined to the night hours. In fact, she hated being confined to home! She wasn't even allowed to go to the town square and the only ponies she ever saw were Aunties Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and her Uncle Mac. Occasionally she would get the rare visit from Apple Bloom, but she was normally too busy with her Crusader club to hang out and play. I felt bad for her. She still didn't have her cutie mark. "Gala?!" The voice sounded frantic now. "I'm comin'!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, though she did not hold back the tone of frustration. She doubled her pace and soon found herself on the front porch, her father glaring down at her. "I thought I told you to get back here before sunrise!" He scolded. "I did!" She hollered back, wings outstretched. "Oh?" He growled, pointing a long claw towards the sky. She turned around and winced to find that the sun had already come half-way up the sky and was brightly shining down on their orchard. "I'm sorry, daddy," She whined, pulling in her wings. "But, I was just having so much fun tonight and I didn't want to come in." Spike rolled his eyes at the filly's persistence. This was the third night in a row that she had come in late and he was getting tired of it. With an exasperated sigh, he opened the front door and motioned for Gala to walk inside. With her eyes downcast, she trotted into the house and towards the kitchen. "I'm home, mama." Gala announced un-enthusiastically. Applejack quickly walked out of the kitchen and scooped her daughter into her arms, giving her a playful nuzzle on the cheek. "How was yer flight last night, Sugar Cube?" Applejack asked. "Fine," Gala responded, not looking into her mother's eyes. "What's wrong?" Applejack questioned as she pulled Gala away from her chest. "Nothin'," Gala squirmed out of her mother's grasp and sauntered into the kitchen, grabbing a carrot with her mouth and slowly cooking it with her own fire breath which she had recently learned to control. Applejack sighed and walked over to Spike. "We can't keep doin' this," She whispered. "Doing what, AJ?" Spike asked even though he perfectly knew the answer. "It's like we're keepin' her in a cage! She's not some animal we can take fer a walk and then pull 'er back in when 'er time's up!" Spike sighed, rubbing his head, and slumped down onto the couch in the living room.
Not a Prayer"What? What happened?!" He looked her over and did not see anything peculiar, until he looked at her back legs. The bandages that were previously wrapped around her right back leg... "They're gone!" He brushed his claw down her leg in amazement and then looked to his wife for an explanation. "Ah decided I'd go to the doctor's early this mornin'. Figured you needed yer sleep." Applejack began to prance around her husband with a smug look on her face as he stared at her in awe. "Apparently, mah leg's all better!" "But... how is that possible?" "Ah don't know! Even he didn't know! He said it was a miracle!" "I'll say!" Spike hugged his wife firmly, but then pulled her away and looked at her sternly. "But this doesn't mean that you can get back to bucking apples just like that!" "Oh, ah know, Spike." He smiled at her response and released his hold on her. "There's also... another miracle the doctor mentioned..." Applejack trailed off when Spike looked at her again with shock. She blushed softly as the dragon placed his claw on her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "What miracle?" THREE MONTHS EARLIER "Roasted apples! Get 'em here, get 'em hot!" Spike hollered out to the crowd surrounding the Ponyville market. Numerous amounts of stallions and mares were walking through the hot area with bags upon bags of groceries on their backs. One mare in particular was carrying an unusual amount of apples and was straining under the effort. "That's odd..." Spike muttered. "I'll give ya 3 bits for that one." Spike turned to see a young earth pony mare with incredibly crazy hair. She was standing with her friend who had a similar taste in hair style, but they both looked like they were bored out of their minds. "Sorry, but it's 10 bits for one apple." Spike picked up one of the tender apples and held it out for them to see. "These are home roasted by me!" The two mares looked at one another and then back at Spike. "Is that supposed to mean something to me?" The other mare asked rudely. Spike didn't know how to respond to that, so the two mares slowly walked away, bumping into ponies on their way over to the carrot stand. Spike rolled his eyes and put the apple back down on the counter and smiled when a familiar face started to speed towards him. "Hey, Rainbow Dash!" The multi-colored pegasus flew quickly to his stand and threw a large back of bits onto the table. "Give me how ever many that will buy!" She hollered in exhaustion. "You OK, Rainbow?" Spike slowly opened the bag and dumped out the bits, starting to count them. "Cider Season isn't for another two months! I've got to have something to munch on while I wait!" She watched with anticipation as Spike scooped the bits into a small chest near the ground. "So, all in all, I counted 130 bits." "How many does that get me?" "13." "DEAL!" Rainbow Dash snatched up 13 roasted apples, threw them into her saddlebag, and dashed off with a big smile. Spike rolled his eyes in amusement and counted how many apples he had left to sell. "Hmm... 1... 5... 9! 9 apples left!" He glanced around the marketplace and started shouting again. "Roasted apples! Roa-" Spike stopped short when an orange pony came hobbling up to the stand. At first, Spike felt frustration build up inside of him when he saw that she wasn't in her wheelchair. But then Spike's stomach turned into knots when he saw that she had a sad look on her face and he could barely greet her when she approached him. "Hey, h-honey." "Hey, Spike." Applejack responded with a whisper. "So...?" Applejack looked up at the dragon, tears welling up in her eyes, and then slowly shook her head. Spike's heart seemed to sink to his feet and he lowered his head and sighed. "So it is impossible." Applejack nodded and felt like she was going to burst out crying. Spike quickly walked around the stand and embraced her in a tight hug, obstructing her from anypony's view. There, she allowed herself to cry for a few brief seconds before sniffling and composing herself once more. "Ah'm sorry. Ah shouldn't be actin' like this." She pulled away from her husband's grasp and started to stumble towards home. Spike packed up the remaining apples, closed up his stand, and joined her. "Spike, ya don't have ta stop workin' 'cause a me." Applejack muttered. "I think that we should both take the rest of the day off." Applejack looked up at Spike and smiled. "Thanks, Spike." She gave him a quick kiss before she was distracted by a sound of muffled giggling not too far away. Applejack looked to where the sound had come from and saw a light grey pegasus looking underneath a bush. "Derpy?" Applejack called out to her. The wall-eyed pegasus glanced up at the couple and gave them a big smile. "Hey, AJ! Spike!" "What are you doing?" Spike asked. Derpy cocked her eyebrow playfully and quickly tilted her head towards the bush. It shivered for a few seconds as more giggles escaped from the leaves. Derpy then got into a low crouch, wiggled her rump in the air, and then jumped into the bush. "I GOTCHA!" Derpy cried out triumphantly as she held a small unicorn filly in her arms. The filly squealed with glee and wrapped her hooves around Derpy's neck. "Now it's your turn to hide, momma!" She said, covering her eyes and preparing to count. "Sorry, AJ. Gotta run! Can't let Dinky down!" With those words, Derpy galloped out of sight until Dinky had counted to twenty and began to pursue her. "Cute kid." Spike murmured under his breath. Applejack nodded and felt a tear slip down her cheek. She sighed once more and lowered her head to the ground as she continued towards home. Spike even felt himself tearing up when he saw filly after colt running through the streets, laughing and playing with their parents. "Applejack! Spike!" Both of them were snapped out of their daydreams and looked up to see Fluttershy and Big Macintosh approaching them. They had been going steady for about a month now and Big Mac had recently taken Fluttershy to see the movie "Watership Down". Long story short, it gave her nightmares for a week. "Hey, Fluttershy." Applejack replied half-heartedly. Fluttershy noticed Applejack's depression and looked over to Big Mac. "Mind if we cut this date short?" She whispered to him. "I think I need to have a private talk with Applejack." "Yeeup. And me with Spike." He responded. The two of them quickly kissed and Fluttershy approached Applejack. "Let's go talk somewhere." She wrapped her wing around Applejack's back and started to lead her away, supporting her friend as she hopped on three hooves. "Spike, you come with me." Big Mac commanded. Spike watched, unhappily, as Applejack grew further and further from sight. Then the red stallion walked behind Spike and gave him a shove in the back to get him to move. "Where are we going?" "Away from the females." With that, Big Mac continued to nudge Spike away from his wife and further down the path. Fluttershy watched as they continued to walk away, and stopped walking herself when she saw that they were no longer in sight. Then Fluttershy removed her wing from Applejack's back and coaxed her to sit by sitting herself. Applejack, with effort involved, eventually sat down on the dirt path and refused to look into Fluttershy's eyes. "I may not be the smartest pony in Ponyville, but I know when something is wrong with my friends!" Fluttershy placed her hoof on Applejack's shoulder and forced her to look into her eyes. Applejack stared into the turquoise pools and felt her body begin to relax. "Now," Fluttershy took her hoof off. "What's wrong?" Applejack sighed and looked away from her. "Ah can't fool ya, can I, Fluttershy?" The pegasus shook her head quickly which made Applejack giggle for a moment. "Well... the truth is..." "Whatdya mean ya can't have kids?!" Big Macintosh was towering over Spike in shock and Spike slunk down to the ground in fear. "We just can't!" Spike yelled. Big Mac started to calm down and then paced the ground in front of Spike. "That doesn't make any sense!" He complained. "You're telling me!" Spike stood from the ground and watched, pathetically, as Big Mac continued to pace, not diverting his eyes once from the ground. Spike thought that the poor stallion was going to flip out again, but he sighed in relief when Big Mac finally sat down on the path. "Ahh, shoot." Big Mac muttered. "What? What is it?" Spike plopped down beside the stallion and looked into his deep green eyes. Big Mac looked right back at Spike and placed his hoof on his head as if he had a headache. "AJ's always wanted a filly or a colt. Ever since she an' I started raisin' Apple Bloom, she KNEW that she wanted ta be a mom." Big Mac shuddered as some memories came flooding back to him. "Mah sister loved our mother. Ah loved her too, but not nearly as much as AJ did. AJ looked up to her, respected her, an' wanted ta be as good a mother as she was." Spike looked away from Big Mac as he continued his story. He felt his eyes begin to well up with tears and he loudly cursed his existence inside his mind. "The night our mother died, AJ made a vow." Spike's head shot up in shock and he looked over to Big Mac. "What vow?" "AJ might have told ya that she promised ta never be afraid again... and she DID. But she made another one too, sayin' that she would be as good a mother as our mother was." "But now that can never happen." Spike whispered. "And it's all because of me." "And it's all because a me." Fluttershy remained silent when Applejack had finished, knowing that this was not the right time to talk. When she's ready, she'll speak again. Fluttershy thought. Applejack kept her eyes on the ground and watched as three tears dripped down and splatter against the dirt. She cursed herself loudly in her mind and exhaled loudly. "Twilight wants Spike ta be a dad, an' Ah can't give that pleasure to him." Applejack's chest began to heave and Fluttershy walked over to her. She embraced Applejack tightly and rocked her back and forth when the tears came. Applejack cried for a good five minutes before she heard Spike and Big Mac come walking up the road. She quickly pushed Fluttershy away and wiped the tears away from under her eyes. "Are mah eyes red?" She whispered urgently to Fluttershy. "Uh... no." Spike rushed over to his wife and gave her a quick hug before helping her to her hooves. "Thanks for the... uh... conversations, guys." Spike said awkwardly as he led Applejack away. "You're welcome...?" Fluttershy looked over to Big Mac in confusion as he did the same. They both watched the couple go with heavy hearts and Fluttershy started to shudder with sorrow. Big Mac placed his leg around her shoulders and nuzzled into her mane. He then started to escort her home, but gave one final glance at his sister walking away. "So... what did you and Fluttershy talk about?" Spike asked Applejack. "Uh... well... female things. What 'bout you an' Big Mac?" "Uh... male things...?" "Fair enough." The two walked slowly in silence until they reached their house. By then, the sun had already set all the way except for a light blue color near the horizon. Spike opened the front door for Applejack and she hobbled inside, Spike soon following her. "It's mighty late." Applejack said bluntly. "Think Ah should be gettin' ta bed." She let out an exaggerated yawn and walked down the hall towards their room. The second floor was reserved for storage only while the first floor had everything else. Applejack clambered into the bed and slipped into the comforter, making sure that it came up to her neck just the way she liked it. Then she stared out the window as the stars started to sparkle in the sky. It was like Princess Luna took the stars in her hooves and tossed them across the dark blue blanket to make the night seem peaceful. Applejack sighed and closed her eyes tightly. OH, Lord, She prayed silently. Ah want a foal. So badly Ah want one! Ah can't work the farm or help Spike with anythin', so why can't Ah be a mother?! She stopped praying for a second as a tear rolled down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away and quickly whispered, "Amen." Then she heard Spike climb into the bed and gently kiss her on her head. She turned over onto her other side and stared at the dragon for the longest time. He seemed so... calm. This made her feel calm, too. She returned the kiss, but on the lips and they melted into each other's warmth.
Another MiracleONE MONTH LATER Applejack woke up feeling miserable. She rolled over to see Spike, but discovered that he was already gone for the day. She glanced out the window to see if he was in the orchards... no. He had already gone to the market. She rose, unsteadily, from the bed and clutched her stomach in pain. The urge to vomit was almost unbearable. She ran as fast as she could to the bathroom and not a moment too soon. "Ugh..." She sighed when it was over. "What was that all about?" Then, she heard a knock at the door. "Applejack? You in there?" Twilight called out when she knocked on the door again. "Ah'm a comin'!" Applejack hobbled to the door and quickly swung it open much to Twilight's surprise. "OH, Applejack! What happened to you?!" Twilight exclaimed. She rushed into the house and put her hoof under Applejack's chin to look her over. AJ's mane was in a mess and she had numerous bags under her eyes. "Are you getting enough sleep?" Applejack swatted her hoof away in annoyance. "Yes, Ah'm gettin' plenty a sleep!" Twilight was taken aback by her friend's harsh tone. "Well, maybe you're getting too much. We said to meet us at the spa at nine... and it's almost noon!" Applejack groaned and wrapped her hoof around her stomach again, feeling woozy and collapsing onto the floor. Twilight gasped and ran to her friend's aid, only to be pushed away by the stubborn farm pony. "Ah'm OK, Twilight. Ah don't need help." She got back on her three hooves and hobbled out the door. "Well? Aren't we goin' to the spa?" Twilight rolled her eyes, but said nothing more as the two of them walked in silence. They were greeted at the spa door by the twin ponies who owned the place. "May we help you, Princess?" Aloe asked warmly. "We're meeting our friends here an-" "The usual!" Aloe interrupted, grabbing the Princess and Applejack and throwing them into a sauna. Applejack gasped for breath in the hot, stuffy place and tried to fan herself off. "Why, Applejack, a sauna is meant to help you sweat off some extra calories!" Applejack looked over to the high-pitched voice and smiled a little. Rarity smiled back as she wrapped her silky mane into a damp towel. Fluttershy and Pinkie were there as well, both of them already having towels on their heads. "Rainbow's a no-show again, eh?" Applejack asked. "Oh, you know how much she despises ponies touching her..." Rarity gagged in disgust. "Daredevil hooves." She prissily waved her own hooves around and admired the gleam that they cast across the room. "I, on the other hoof, truly enjoy shining them up a bit." "A bit? You can see yer own reflection in 'em!" Rarity glanced down at her hooves and smiled. "And don't I look ravishing?!" Applejack rolled her eyes and chuckled for a little while before she heard a deep rumbling noise coming from her stomach. "Good heavens, Applejack, did you have nothing to eat this morning?" Applejack blushed in embarrassment. "Well, Twilight here was so eager ta get me outta mah home, that I didn't have nothin' ta eat." She shot an accusing glance over to Twilight who also blushed. "Well, we must get you something." Fluttershy piped in. "What are you hungry for?" "Uh... I guess... a daffodil and daisy sandwich." "That's no problem! I've got one right here!" Pinkie Pie pulled a plate from behind her back which held a soggy, yet edible, daffodil and daisy sandwich. "Pinkie Pie, where did you get that?" Rarity exclaimed. "I didn't have much time to eat, either, so I brought breakfast with me! Here you go!" Pinkie Pie threw the plate over to Applejack who smiled gratefully. She was about to take a bite, when she stopped to think about something. "An' you don't possibly have any... sapphires, do ya?" The room went utterly silent. Everypony stared. "Uh... Applejack?" Fluttershy whispered. "Nope! Sorry! Fresh outta sapphires!" Pinkie Pie gave an apologetic grin before changing the subject. "Did you know that Pound and Pumpkin are almost two years old now?! Boy, does time fly!" The conversation continued and everypony eventually dropped the whole 'sapphires' bit, everypony except for Fluttershy who was still staring quizzically at Applejack. AJ tried to act like she wasn't aware of Fluttershy's troubled gaze, but eventually found herself staring back into Fluttershy's eyes and sighing with concern. Applejack then quickly looked away and shoved the entire sandwich into her mouth, chewing contently on the juicy petals of the flowers. While the rumbling in her tummy died down, there was still a strange craving for precious gems... "Oh, it's time for our mud masks!" squealed a delighted Rarity. "You can count me out for this one!" Applejack declared as she rushed to sit in a waiting chair. "You'll at least join us for our mud baths, won't you?" Applejack grimaced and slowly turned her eyes to the white unicorn. Her lips were puckered out and her eyes were as big as she could make them and she let out a small whimpering noise. Eventually, she had to collapse onto her stomach and cry out to make Applejack agree. "So, how's life living with Spikey-Wikey?" Rarity asked as Aloe coated her face with a thick green mud. "It's nice. He takes care ah me an' all. Why, he practically runs our whole farm!" Suddenly, Applejack started to feel woozy again, so she instantly tried to change the subject. "How 'bout you an' Fancy Pants?" Applejack mocked. "He's sure been ta Ponyville... frequently." Rarity chuckled nervously when she saw the rest of her friends staring at her. She uttered a silent prayer of thanks when Aloe put two fresh cucumbers on her eyes so that she couldn't see her friends' curious eyes. "Yes, he quite enjoys seeing my works of art!" Rarity declared while proudly putting her muzzle into the air. "Ah bet he enjoys seein' you, too." The five friends laughed when they saw a deep crimson color start to show from the green mud mask. Rarity did her best to hide her face, but to no avail. "Do you like him?" Fluttershy asked. "Perhaps... it's too early to tell!" Rarity turned her back on her friends and tried to ignore them. "I bet she likes him more than chocolate milk drenched in whipped cream covered with chocolate chips sitting on the top of a hill made of skittles while being rained on by Reese Cups!" Pinkie Pie snortled to herself and clutched her sides with laughter. "Actually, Pinkie, I'm not fond of skittles." Rarity retorted. "But you sure are fond ah Fancy Pants, aren't ya?" Applejack smirked deviously when she saw Rarity start to tremble. AJ knew that Rarity was about to have an outburst, and it was coming. "3... 2... 1..." "YES! I LIKE HIM! HE'S SO SPECIAL AND IMPORTANT TO ME! I WISH HE WOULD PROPOSE! WHY ISN'T HE PROPOSING YET?! HE CALLS ME HIS JEWEL! WE TALK ABOUT LIFE AND HOW I WANT A LIFE WITH HIM!" Rarity summoned her fainting couch and collapsed into a heap of a muddy and teary mess. Applejack snickered and helped Rarity wipe the mud off the velvet cushions while she was still sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly, Rarity's head shot up with excitement and her tears quickly dried. "Oh! And did I happen to show you my latest creation?!" Rarity instantly sprung from her couch, forgetting her meltdown, and produced a shimmering new dress. Everypony gasped in awe when they saw the deep green color of the fabric, but most of all they noticed the gold hemming around the skirt. Applejack looked more closely at the glimmering substance and felt her mouth begin to drool. "That... isn't... real gold... is it?" Applejack sputtered. "You bet your left hind leg, it is, Applejack!" Rarity spun the dress around in circles so that the gold would catch the light just so. Everypony 'oohed' and 'ahhed' at the spectacle, except for Applejack whose eyes were fixed on the hem. "Madam, the mud baths have been prepared." Announced Aloe who had just walked back into the room. "Thank you, deary." Rarity gently hung the dress back up on the clothing rack she had brought with her and draped a garment bag over the top of it. The four friends continued on with their treatments while Applejack stayed behind, still stuck in a trance. Her eyes were fixed on that garment bag and the urge to walk over to it seemed intolerable. "Gold... real gold." Applejack muttered, slowly approaching the clothing rack. She laced her hooves through the garment bag's rough texture and felt the soothing fabric underneath. She carefully pulled out the dress and sighed in contentment when the flickering gold sent sparkles flying across the room. "Just... one... taste..." "Applejack?! What are you doing?!" Fluttershy was gaping in horror at the sight of her friend. Half of Rarity's new dress was stuffed inside her mouth! Applejack tried to spit it back out, but found herself munching happily on the golden hem. "Applejack, spit that out!" Fluttershy ran over to Applejack and yanked the dress away from her like a mother would to a toddler. Applejack cried out in protest, but then smacked herself across the face and sighed. "Ah'm sorry, Fluttershy. I just don't feel right today." "No kidding!" Fluttershy looked over the dress and cringed when she saw the teeth marks all along the hem. Applejack blushed in humiliation and tilted her stetson hat over her eyes, but Fluttershy smiled sympathetically and came up with a plan. "We'll say that Opalescence came in and tore it up a bit." "That's a lie, Fluttershy." "Well, am I the Element of Honesty?" "Well... no... but-" "Do you honestly want Rarity to know that you did this?" ... "Well, do you?!" "No." Fluttershy sighed with concern and walked over to her friend. "Applejack, what's wrong?" "I woke up sick this mornin', I have a cravin' for precious stones, and I almost ate Rarity's new dress! That's what's wrong!" Applejack turned away from Fluttershy and smacked her hoof off of her shoulder. Fluttershy recoiled, but not because she was afraid. All Fluttershy could do was stare hopelessly at the stubborn pony and try to figure out why she was feeling this way. Then she had an idea. "You don't think that you could be..." Applejack looked over to her. "You know... uh..." "Yeah? What?" "Hold on, let me think!" Fluttershy looked away from Applejack and started muttering. "Sick in the morning... strange cravings... irritation... mood swings..." Suddenly, Fluttershy's head snapped up and she quickly rushed over and embraced Applejack tightly. Applejack gazed awkwardly, and quite intimidated, at Fluttershy's hug (which was quite strong for her) and eventually had to yank herself away. "What? What is it?" Applejack demanded. "I think you're... pregnant." Fluttershy whispered. Applejack froze. At first, she couldn't even comprehend the words that had come out of Fluttershy's mouth and she just stared into oblivion. Then the words sank in and a deep scowl started to form on Applejack's face. "How dare ya?" She muttered. "What?" Fluttershy came closer. "How dare ya raise mah hopes!" Applejack sprung onto the pegasus and pinned her onto the ground. Fluttershy squeaked in fear, but did not scream as Applejack snorted into her face. "Ya know how much Ah want a foal, and now ya tell me that Ah'm PREGNANT?! Element of Kindness indeed!" Applejack raised a hoof to strike Fluttershy and took in a deep breath. Fluttershy squeezed her eyes tightly shut and whimpered as the hoof started to fall. But then it stopped. "What am Ah doin'?" Applejack slowly lowered her hoof to the ground and jumped off of Fluttershy. She started to walk towards the exit of the spa with Fluttershy quietly trailing behind her. "Where are you going, Applejack?" Applejack turned around to see Fluttershy with tears streaming down her face. Seeing this only made her stomach twist into even more knots! "Away from everypony! Ah'm not safe anymore!" Fluttershy watched helplessly as Applejack galloped out the door, leaving a stream of tears behind her. She wanted to call out for help, but couldn't even manage a silent breath. That was the last time that anypony had seen Applejack. She had barricaded herself in her home and refused to let anyone in, except for Spike, of course. She stayed in there for two whole months until the doctor insisted that she see him at once! So, one day early in the morning, she quietly slunk out of her room and towards the hospital where the news of another miracle would be waiting.
A Thousand Apologies"What miracle?" Applejack didn't answer her husband for a long time, leaving the poor dragon in a state of desperation. He placed his hands under her chin and gazed deeply into her eyes as if he was trying to seek the answer through them. Finally, he gave up and sat down on the floor grumpily. "Hey, if you don't want to say, that's fine." Spike snorted a few green flames in irritation and refused to look at his wife. Applejack chuckled and walked in front of him. "Ah've been sick fer three months." Spike's head shot up in alarm. "How is that a miracle?!" Spike quickly stood up and stomped a few feet away from her. "If you're going to tell me that you have cancer..." A tear slid down his face. "Then I don't want to hear it!" "Good gravy, no, Spike!" Spike nearly collapsed onto the ground in relief and walked over to Applejack, embracing her tightly. "Why would Ah say that having cancer is a miracle?" Spike thought about this for a moment and then merely shrugged his shoulders. "I guess I get over excited about things." "No kiddin'." Applejack smiled. Then a playful grin started to form on her lips. "Well, this miracle will really get ya excited!" "Yeah?" "Yeah!" "Then what is it?!" "It's somethin' that 7 months will cure." "Wait! Let me think really quickly." Spike sat on the ground. "Sick for three months... 7 more months will make it go away... all in all that's 10 months... WHAT TAKES 10 MONTHS?!" He paused. He thought. He knew. His heart pounded. He looked over to Applejack who was blushing and smiling with utter joy. He slowly walked towards her, extending his claw towards her side. Applejack sighed with pleasure when his claws brushed over her slightly rounded stomach and then she cried. Spike cried, too, and he embraced Applejack once more (gently this time). "That doctor is stupid!" Spike shouted above his tears. "It's NOT impossible!" "No, it ain't!" "What is it?! Is it a boy or a girl?!" "Ah don't know. An' frankly, Ah don't want to know! Ah want it ta be a surprise!" Suddenly, Applejack started to walk off. "Where are you going?" "To apologize to mah friends," A huge wave of guilt suddenly swept over her. "Especially Fluttershy." "Are you going to tell them, too?" "Ah course, Ah am!" Then, giving her husband a playful punch on the shoulder, Applejack trotted as quickly as she could towards Fluttershy's cottage. It felt like an eternity before she got there and when she stood by the door, she hesitated to knock. Tears started to form in her eyes at the harsh words she had spoken to Fluttershy. Dear, sweet, caring Fluttershy! And she had been right all along! Applejack then nodded and readied her hoof for the knock. Then, without warning, Fluttershy opened it and stared in shock upon seeing Applejack. "Applejack!" She exclaimed. "Fluttershy!" "I haven't seen you in months!" "Ah know! Ah've been a real jerk!" She sat on the ground and started to sob. "Every day Ah think 'bout how Ah treated ya! What kind of a friend am Ah?!" "Oh, no!" Fluttershy cried out, embracing Applejack. "What kind of a friend am I? How dare I raise your hopes like that! It wasn't right and I'm sorry!" "No! Ah'm sorry!" Applejack pulled away from Fluttershy and wiped her runny nose with her hoof. "Ah shouldn't have been so pessimistic." Applejack stood and helped Fluttershy to her hooves. That was when Fluttershy noticed Applejack's leg. "You're all better!" She said with a smile. "Yeah, Ah'm all better." Applejack replied warmly. "And mah leg ain't the only thing new an' excitin'!" "What else is there?" Applejack turned her head towards her slightly rounded stomach and caressed it gently with her nose. Fluttershy looked confused for only a moment before covering her mouth with her hoof, sustaining an utter cry of joy. "So... you are?" "Yeah, Fluttershy, Ah'm gonna be a mama." The two friends hugged each other tightly, continuing to mumble 'I'm sorry' every once in a while. Tears stained their fur and they shuddered with sobs, but now they were together again. Faithful and Strong. Sharing Kindness. "Yeah, give me a second, AJ! Still workin' on those apples I bought from Spike!" Applejack rolled her eyes in amusement as she watched Rainbow Dash pop another roasted apple into her mouth. She chewed on it contently for a good solid minute before swallowing and flying down to the ground. She rubbed her stomach in pleasure and licked her lips, trying to find any morsel that could still be there. "Spike really has a gift, doesn't he?" She mumbled. "He sure does." Applejack replied. Rainbow Dash let out a satisfied burp (which Applejack soon applauded) and then sat down on the ground. "So, what do you want to tell me?" Applejack, honestly, didn't know how to tell Rainbow Dash. She had thought about taking it slow, but Rainbow doesn't like slow. Then she thought about giving her a riddle, but Rainbow hates having to think hard unless it's important. Just tell it to her straightforward. "You're gonna be an aunt." Rainbow Dash froze where she sat. "An 'ant'? You mean like a bug?" Applejack groaned. "Rainbow, even you ain't that stupid!" "Hey! I'm not stupid to begin with!" "Then ya wouldn't have asked me that question!" Rainbow paused to think about that, but then got back to the matter at hoof. "So, I'm going to be an aunt, huh?" Applejack nodded. "Who's the one havin' a baby?" "Ah am." "You are?" "Yeeup." "Really?" "Yeeup." "This isn't a prank or something?" "Nope." "Did Pinkie Pie put you up to this?" "Nope. Ah haven't even told her yet." Rainbow Dash rubbed her head as she processed the information. She didn't seem to believe her. Then, she opened her mouth. "That... is..." "Awesome?" Applejack muttered under her breath. "AWESOME!" "Called it." Rainbow Dash hugged Applejack and then smacked her playfully on the back. Applejack grunted under the blow and glared at Rainbow. The pegasus blushed in embarrassment and then quickly flew off. "Wait! Rainbow! Don't tell anypony else! RAINBOW!" Too late. "Oh, congratulations, darling!" Rarity squealed when Applejack walked into Sugar Cube Corner. Everypony else was there and they were all smiling and hugging Applejack. "I am SOOOOOO happy for you!" Pinkie screamed. Twilight was sobbing with joy and couldn't say anything. Rainbow Dash hugged Applejack again. Fluttershy was busy bringing out a large cake that read, "Congratulations to the Soon-to-be-mama!" spelled out in sapphires. Everypony was happy. Everypony was smiling. Applejack could breathe for the first time in months. "What may I get for you today, madam?" Applejack smiled up at the waiter and glanced over the menu once more. "Don't bother asking for precious gems, honey," Spike warned. "They don't have 'em here." He crossed his arms in front of his chest and glared at the waiter. "On the contrary, sir, since you started coming here, we've made preparations to add gems to the menu." The waiter turned a few pages in Applejack's menu and pointed out the brand new page. "Viola!" Applejack's mouth drooled when she saw the detailed pictures of rubies, sapphires, emeralds, and even pearls! Spike did the same and laughed upon seeing Applejack gawking. "The baby's certainly doing a number on your mind, isn't he?" Spike teased. "Spike, how many times must Ah tell ya that it might be a 'she'?" Applejack lectured. She looked up at the waiter and smiled apologetically. "Ah'll have the whole order of... emeralds, please." The waiter nodded and turned to Spike. "I'll have a half order of the rubies, please." Spike said. The waiter then walked away, leaving the couple alone. Applejack caressed her swollen belly, which was now at around eight months, and sighed. "What's wrong, honey?" Spike asked. "Oh, nothin', Spike. Ah'm just so happy," Spike walked over to Applejack and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Her entire body grew warmer every second that he touched her and she almost whined when he pulled away. "Me too, AJ." AJ smiled and watched as Spike returned to his seat. She giggled to herself when she felt the baby within her move around, but this time felt different from the others. It felt a little uncomfortable, but Applejack payed no attention. Spike's eyes widened and he ran back over to her side. "Is he-" "She!" "Whatever," Spike laughed. "Moving?" Applejack nodded and groaned a little as the baby moved again. "May I feel?" Spike asked. He tenderly placed his claw on her stomach and his face lit up when he felt the baby move. He let a single tear escape from his eye and fall to the ground. "Spike? You OK?" Applejack asked with concern. "Yeah, I'm fine." He hugged Applejack tightly and sighed. Suddenly, AJ cried out, clutching her belly tightly and grimacing in pain. The baby just kept moving. "What?! What's wrong?!" Spike pulled away and laid a claw on her shoulder. "Ah don't know..." She gasped. She cried out again and fell onto the ground, groaning and inhaling sharply through her teeth. Spike panicked, quickly picking her up and opening his wings. He took off with impressive speed, aiming himself towards the hospital. Applejack groaned again and shifted in his arms, grasping tightly to her stomach. "Hold on, AJ! Hold on! You're going to be OK!" "Spike..." she muttered. "Hold on!" Applejack cried out again before hearing the confused exclamations of all the ponies in the hospital.
We Weren't Prepared"Good heavens, Spike, what's wrong?!" The doctor exclaimed upon seeing the frantic dragon. "Something's wrong, doc! Applejack's in pain!" As if to confirm Spike's words, Applejack screamed loudly and clutched her belly. The doctor walked up to her and placed his hoof on her stomach, his eyes widening in shock. "But, you're not due for another three months!" He said loudly to himself. "What does that mean?! Is she having the baby now?!" Spike panicked. "Nurse Redheart!" A white earth pony with a pink mane and tail came running around the corner. "Get a stretcher for Applejack! I think it's time." Nurse Redheart nodded and dashed off to retrieve a stretcher. Applejack groaned even more and looked up at Spike. "Sorry, looks like the baby's impatient." Applejack joked. Spike smiled briefly and then looked up again to see Nurse Redheart pushing a stretcher towards them. He gingerly placed Applejack down and stroked her mane in attempt to calm her. "You're going to be fine, Applejack, I'm here." Applejack smiled and touched his claw with her hoof before grimacing once more and placing it back on her belly. As quick as they could go, the doctor, nurse Redheart, Spike, and Applejack rolled down the hall and straight into the emergency room. "Would you like anything to eat while you're waiting, princess?" Twilight looked up from the magazine she had been reading to see a young filly in nurse apparel looking up at her. She smiled down at the cute foal and folded the magazine up. "No, but thank you for the offer." That answer seemed to satisfy the filly as she beamed widely and pranced off down the hall. Twilight laughed to herself and looked over at the rest of her friends who were gathered there. Pinkie Pie was busy hanging off the back of a waiting chair while Rarity kept nervously glancing at the clock. "How long have they been in there, Twilight?!" She choked, starting to hyperventilate. "About a half hour, Rarity," Twilight responded. "I wonder if it'll be a COLT or a FILLY?!" Pinkie hollered, swinging back over and plopping down into her chair. "Or maybe it's TWINS!" "I don't know, Pinkie," Twilight muttered. "We weren't prepared for the baby to come this soon. Anything could happen." "Don't say that, Twilight!" Rarity screamed. "Think positive!" "How can I when there are so many negative attributes?!" Suddenly, the hospital doors burst open and Fluttershy dashed in, panting and sweating beyond control. Big Macintosh soon followed her, breathing quite heavily too. "Is she OK?!" Fluttershy whimpered as she flew over to Twilight's side. "We don't know yet," Big Macintosh growled and sat heavily into a chair. Fluttershy flew over to calm him down which he accepted generously. "Ya think she's in pain?" Big Mac mumbled. "No," Fluttershy cooed. "Applejack's a tough girl. She'll pull through." The minutes ticked by slowly after that... Tick, tock, tick, tock... Rainbow Dash eventually showed up, apologizing again and again for being late. "I was at a show for the Wonder Bolts all the way in Manehattan! I flew over here as soon as I heard the news!" "It's OK, Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "You're here now, and that's all that matters." The minutes ticked by slowly again... Tick, tock, tick, tock... "UGH!" Pinkie shouted. "When will I be an AUNT?!" "Right now," Everypony gasped and looked over to see Spike, standing tall and proud with tears streaming quickly down his face. The entire crowd of them rose from their seats and surrounded him with questions. "Is Applejack OK?!" "Is the baby OK?!" "Is she going to make it?!" "Is it a COLT or a FILLY?!" Spike smiled at their hysteria and quickly quieted them down. "If you want the answers to your questions," He said teasingly. "Then follow me." Of course, nopony hesitated to do so. They all even became a bit antsy as Spike slowly walked down the hall. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and quickly checked the clipboard on the front counter which showed the room numbers. "A127!" She announced. Everypony dashed past Spike, leaving him in a cloud of dust. He coughed for only a brief second, but then burst out laughing onto the floor. The entire crowd tried to shove past each other in the doorway, only to be shushed by nurse Redheart who had just placed a light pink bundle into Applejack's arms. Applejack looked exhausted, but the vibrant smile on her face was enough to make her look like the happiest mare in the world. Fluttershy approached her and looked down into the bundle. "Oh..." she sighed. Two light green eyes with strange reptilian slits met hers and a tiny gurgle escaped from its mouth. Applejack sniffled in a tear and gently lifted the foal into Fluttershy's arms. Everypony in the room gasped in awe upon seeing the foal, whose coat was the color of a summer's sunset and whose mane was the color of its father's green scales. "So..." Pinkie began. "Is it a COLT or a FILLY?" "Can't you tell by the color of the blanket, Pinkie?" Rainbow whispered harshly. "Pound Cake was accidentally placed in a pink blanket when he was born." Pinkie said with a laugh. "They couldn't find a blue one until they put him in a cradle next to his sister!" "It's a filly." Applejack whispered, taking the brand new foal back into her arms. The filly sighed contently and wriggled around in her blanket. Suddenly, the filly yawned and stretched, causing the blanket to become taunt near her back. Fluttershy was the first to notice. "Applejack..." She uttered. "Does she have...?" "Uh-huh!" Applejack laughed. "Wings!" She removed the blanket to show off two outstretched wings that were exactly alike to that of her father's. The only exception being that her wings were the same color as her coat, a summer's sunset. Twilight couldn't hold it in any longer. She started bawling. "Oh, Twilight." Spike laughed, running up to hug her. "I'm an aunt!" She bellowed. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but then smiled. "I'm an aunt, too." She stated proudly. "I'm an aunt!" Rarity cried out. "Hey, what a coincidence! I'm an aunt, too!" Pinkie cheered. "Ah'm an... uncle." Big Mac choked. He walked up to his sister and kissed her gently on the cheek. "Good job, sis. Good job." Then, Fluttershy walked back up to Applejack and gave her a light hug. "I'm also an aunt!" She whispered. Applejack nodded and then nuzzled her filly affectionately on the nose. "Any names yet?" Pinkie inquired after the whole sentimental business was over. "Yeah," Spike said. "I let Applejack decide." Everypony's eyes turned towards Applejack. She quickly glanced up towards the ceiling of the room and sighed deeply. This is fer you, mama. She prayed. "Her name is Gala Delight." "After mama." Big Mac stated. "Yeeup." Applejack confirmed. "It's perfect!" Rarity squealed. Everypony nodded in approval, and even Gala let out a joyful scream. Suddenly, a new nurse ran into the room carrying a tray of food for the new parents. She looked from Applejack and then, with a weird look, to Spike. She placed the tray in Spike's arms and was about to leave the room, when she saw Gala Delight. "Good heavens!" She exclaimed. "What happened to the poor darling?!" She quickly raced over to the new foal and snatched her from her mother's arms. Gala cried out and reached for her mother. "Hey!" Applejack hollered in protest. "What do you think you're doing?!" Spike yelled. The nurse whipped off the blanket fully this time and now everypony, except for Applejack and Spike, gasped. They had already seen her wings and her eyes, but they had not seen her tail and back legs. "They... look like a..." Rarity stuttered. "Dragon's!" Pinkie finished It was true. Gala Delight's tail was long, orange, and scaly, almost making the nurse recoil at the very touch. The back legs were more of a shock when everypony saw that they were not only scaly but had three long claws protruding from them. "Oh, dear!" The nurse yelled. "Don't worry, darling! We'll help your child!" "Don't you DARE touch her!" Applejack shrieked, forcing her exhausted body from the bed and grabbing her foal from the nurse's arms. "But... your baby is deformed!" "No she ain't! She's exactly how God meant for her ta be!" Applejack clambered back into her bed and tried to calm Gala down. Spike ran up to her side and gently stroked Gala's mane while quietly singing a lullaby. "Hush, now, my filly. Be still love, don't cry. Sleep while you're rocked by the stream. Sleep and remember My last lullaby And I'll be with you when you dream." The room was suddenly silent as they listened to Spike's clear voice. Even Applejack was amazed at how well his singing sounded! Gala let out a satisfied yawn and rubbed her eyes, Spike planting a passionate kiss on her forehead. She giggled and then drifted back off into sleep. When everypony had calmed down, Twilight glared at the nurse. "How dare you call my little niece deformed?" Twilight whispered. "Well... I... uh..." The nurse mumbled, silently slipping out of the room and galloping down the hall. "Humph! The nerve of some ponies!" Rainbow Dash scoffed. "Nopony listen to her!" Fluttershy commanded. "Gala Delight is perfect the way she is!" Applejack nodded proudly and re-wrapped the blanket around her daughter. Spike then gave his two girls a warm hug and sighed with utter happiness. "Now we can finally breathe." He joked. Applejack laughed and nodded, kissing Spike briefly on the lips. Then, they both looked down to see Gala wriggling around in the blanket, grunting and growling. They both soon knew the reason why as she brought up her tail and started contently sucking on the pointed edge. Twilight smiled and looked over at Spike. "That's what you did when you hatched from your egg." She remembered. Then Gala dropped her tail and let out a satisfied burp. Big Macintosh laughed. "And that was the first thing AJ did when she was born!" The room erupted into joyful laughter, echoing down the halls and out the door. Gala let out a laugh of her own and waved her front hooves around in the air with pleasure. And for the first time in months, Applejack and Spike were happy again. Unfortunately, happiness does not always last for an eternity...
My PeculiaritiesONE MONTH LATER "Honey, be sure to wear the fire proof gloves this time!" Spike called out from storage. "You don't want her to crisp you again!" Applejack sighed in annoyance and slipped on the gloves. "Ah know what Ah'm doin' now, Spike! Ah just didn't know she could breathe fire in the first place!" Gala giggled in her high chair as Applejack gently set down a bowl of mashed up carrots. Gala sniffed the bowl and grimaced, pushing it away with her hoof. "Oh, don't you start now, young filly! You gotta eat yer carrots!" Applejack ordered. Gala looked over at her mother and whined pathetically. "It ain't gonna work this time, sweetie." Applejack laughed. "Now, come on!" Applejack scooped up a spoonful of the carrots and moved them towards Gala's mouth. She batted her reptilian green eyes in a pout, but then opened up her mouth to accept the spoon. Or so Applejack thought. FOOM! Gala laughed in delight after the vibrant red flames burst from her mouth, melting the spoon in Applejack's hoof and toasting the ends of her mane. She gave a quiet thank you to Spike for reminding her to wear the gloves and looked at her daughter sternly. But it was impossible to stay mad at Gala! She was just so adorable when she was laughing! Applejack rolled her eyes in amusement and was about to walk away... when suddenly: Sniff... sniff... Applejack looked over at her daughter who was now sniffing the burnt carrots. She licked her lips slowly and lapped up the carrots like a puppy, even whimpering in pleasure as she chewed. "Ah ha!" Applejack cried out. "What?!" Spike hollered. "AH!" Applejack grimaced when she heard Spike falling down the steps and landing with a loud 'thud' onto the floor. She could almost see the stars dancing around his head. Gala laughed and banged her hooves on the high chair tray as Spike stood up. Applejack ran over to him and hugged him triumphantly. "Ah did it!" She declared. "You mean you screamed like that for-" Spike paused. "Did what?" "Ah got 'er to eat 'er carrots!" Applejack did a victory dance across the living room and kissed Spike long and hard. It wasn't for a while before Spike had to push her away to get some air into his lungs. "And you're excited about that?" He laughed. Applejack ran over to Gala and kissed her on the forehead, making her squeal with happiness. Suddenly, the door bell rang. "OH! I completely forgot!" Applejack gasped upon hearing it. "Forgot what?" Spike asked, looking towards the door. "Filthy Rich was comin' over this mornin' ta talk to ya 'bout yer apples." Applejack explained, running to the door. "I thought I told you to tell him that I'm not interested in selling my stand!" "Ah did! He ain't interested in yer stand no more, just yer apples!" Applejack opened the door and smiled upon seeing Filthy Rich. He smiled back and held out his hoof for a shake. "Thank you for letting me see you today, Mrs. Spike!" "An' thank you fer seein' us today, Mr. Filthy!" "Uh, I prefer 'Rich'." "Oh, yes, of course!" Filthy Rich, rather rudely, pushed his way into their home, looking around as if he was a critic or something. Then, without warning, another pony followed him inside. "EW! Do you live in a barn or something?" Applejack looked down and saw... ugh... "Well... howdy, Diamond Tiara." Applejack said un-enthusiastically. The prissy little pony held her snout up in a pout and marched into the home, gagging whenever she sent dust or dirt up into the air. "Seriously, have you ever considered cleaning your house?!" She griped. "Well, as a matter of fact, we're cleaning out storage right now." Spike stated. "That's why it's so dusty in here." "Sure, OK, whatever," Diamond snapped. "Now, honey, we aren't here to talk about their home." Filthy Rich lectured. "We're here to talk about their delicious apples!" He gently patted his daughter on the head and gestured for her to sit at the kitchen table. She did so with a sneer towards Applejack and bluntly sat down on Spike's seat. "That's my chair..." Spike muttered under his breath. "Just breathe, darlin'," Applejack whispered. "Now," Filthy Rich began. "Let's get down to business!" Diamond Tiara drowned out the boring discussions of the adults and panned her eyes around the room. "Amazing," She said to herself. "Not a silver fork or china plate in this joint!" She glanced down at the table and gagged when she saw the remnants of the burnt carrots. Quickly, she scooted away from it and diverted her gaze to the back door. Suddenly, she felt somepony fling... well... something into her mane. "AH!" She yelled when it hit her. The black and orange substance dripped down her styled mane and face, staining it and crusting. "EW! Who did that?!" She darted her eyes across the room until she saw the filly in the high chair, happily laughing with its eyes tightly closed. "Should've known they'd have a brat!" Diamond Tiara snapped, walking closer to the filly. "You think you're funny?!" Gala giggled and stretched out her wings in delight. "Hmm..." Diamond said, observing them with harsh eyes. "Not the strangest wings I've heard about. I remember Rarity's temporary ones: now THOSE were wings!" Diamond Tiara did the best she could to dance gracefully across the room. Usually, she had her butler do it for her, but he was on his vacation now, unfortunately. "Like a beautiful butterfly!" She complimented herself. Gala opened her eyes wide at the spectacle, revealing her reptilian green eyes. Diamond Tiara had just finished her final... uh... 'delicate' turn when she laid her eyes once more on Gala. "WHOA!" Diamond gasped, sharply stepping away. "What IS that thing?!" Gala laughed at Diamond's outburst and scooped up some more carrots in her hoof. She looked over at Diamond Tiara and aimed the carrots towards her face in a playful game of 'food fight'. "AH! DADDY!" Diamond Tiara raced into the living room and tried to hide herself underneath her father's legs. "Why, Diamond, dear, what ever is the matter?" "There's a MONSTER in the kitchen!" Applejack and Spike chuckled under their breath. "A 'monster', darling?" "Yes, daddy, go look for yourself!" Filthy Rich coaxed his daughter out from under him and cautiously walked into the kitchen. He looked around the room and saw mashed up carrots spewed about the walls. "Uh, Applejack? Spike? Were you experimenting with carrots this morning?" He called out to them. Before they could answer, Filthy Rich's eyes landed on Gala. Her wings were stretched to their maximum and her eyes were wide open in amusement. "GREAT SCOTT!" He shouted. "A MONSTER!" Filthy Rich slowly walked over to Applejack's kitchen counter and started opening all of the drawers. Eventually, he found what he was looking for. Suddenly, Applejack and Spike ran into the kitchen, each of them sighing in dismay at the carrot stains all over the walls. Then, Applejack's eyes landed on Filthy who held a long, sharp knife in his mouth. "Filthy..." Applejack said calmly. "What are ya doin'?" She watched as Filthy crept closer and closer to Gala's chair as if he was trying to sneak up on her. "This monster needs to go back where it belongs!" He said through clenched teeth. Slowly now, he was right next to Gala and leveled the knife in his mouth. "Filthy, that monster is mah daughter." The knife clattered to the floor. Diamond Tiara's gasp could have been heard from miles away. Filthy Rich looked up at them with utter perplexity in his eyes. "H-How?" He stuttered. "She just is!" Applejack barked, running up and blocking Gala from Filthy. Diamond Tiara couldn't take it anymore and ran out of the house screaming. Filthy Rich looked from Applejack to Gala and then over to Spike. His cheeks turned into a bright red and he hung his head in shame. "I... I'm sorry. I didn't know." "'Sorry'?" Spike snapped. Filthy cowered onto the floor as Spike marched up to him, baring his teeth. "Sorry?! You almost killed my daughter!" Spike spread out his wings and roared terribly, making Filthy Rich go pale. Green flames shot from his mouth, engulfing around Filthy's hooves. "The deal is OFF!" Spike roared. Filthy Rich nodded in terror and galloped out the door. Gala started crying in her chair and wrapped her wings around her eyes. Applejack ran to her side and cuddled her into her arms, quietly hushing her and giving her kisses. "Don't worry, sweetie." She cooed. "Daddy was just upset, that's all." Spike shrunk down to the ground and almost smacked himself for the way he behaved. "I'm sorry, AJ..." He whispered. "I don't know what came over me." "Don't be. Filthy got what he deserved!" Applejack walked over to Spike and placed Gala in his arms. She gazed up at her daddy and whimpered only once before snuggling into his warm chest. Spike sighed and gently rocked her to sleep. "Filthy was willing to kill her." Spike said once Gala was quietly snoring in his arms. "Yeah..." Applejack sighed. "What do you think other folks will do when they see her?" "Ah don't know." "From now on, she only leaves the house at night when everypony's asleep!" Spike flew over to Gala's crib and placed her inside, wrapping her favorite blanket tightly around her body. He kissed her forehead and then flew up the stairs into storage. "What're ya doin' up there, Spike?" Applejack called up to him. "Taking precautions!" He came back down quickly and Applejack gasped upon seeing what he had grabbed. "Good heavens, Spike! Where'd ya find that?!" "Granny Smith said it was her husband's during the war." "Ya can't be serious!" Spike stared down at the item in his hands and quickly loaded and cocked it. "No one threatens my daughter!" Spike snorted, aiming the dusty old rifle towards the front door. "No one!" He fired the rifle and watched as it sent splinters flying through the air and scattering onto the ground. Applejack watched in horror at Spike's new attitude and raced over to Gala's crib since she started screaming after the gunshot. Spike growled deeply and stared at Applejack gently rocking Gala back and forth. "And no one will be stupid enough to try and take her from me..." He whispered to himself.
Midnight GuardSEVEN YEARS LATER The valiant predator glides through the starlit sky, searching out her un-expecting prey! The wind howled all around her as the sky began to darken even more than it already was. She grew nervous, fearing the rumbling clouds that surrounded her. Auntie Rainbow Dash had always told her to avoid those whenever possible, given the fact that a lightning strike had been what caused Derpy's eyes to go cuckoo. She shuddered at the thought. I hope my eyes NEVER go like that! She declared, doing a quick backflip in the sky. Her worries quickly melted as she felt the wind cut through her lime-green mane and tickle her webbed wings. "Gala!" A voice called out. "Oh, great!" She grumbled to herself. Glancing to the horizon, she saw the sun start to peak out over the rolling hills of their orchard. She silently cursed Celestia for bringing the sun back too fast. "Gala, where are you?" She rolled her eyes in annoyance and started heading back towards home as slowly as possible. She hated being confined to the night hours. In fact, she hated being confined to home! She wasn't even allowed to go to the town square and the only ponies she ever saw were Aunties Twilight, Rainbow, Pinkie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and her Uncle Mac. Occasionally she would get the rare visit from Apple Bloom, but she was normally too busy with her Crusader club to hang out and play. I felt bad for her. She still didn't have her cutie mark. "Gala?!" The voice sounded frantic now. "I'm comin'!" She screamed at the top of her lungs, though she did not hold back the tone of frustration. She doubled her pace and soon found herself on the front porch, her father glaring down at her. "I thought I told you to get back here before sunrise!" He scolded. "I did!" She hollered back, wings outstretched. "Oh?" He growled, pointing a long claw towards the sky. She turned around and winced to find that the sun had already come half-way up the sky and was brightly shining down on their orchard. "I'm sorry, daddy," She whined, pulling in her wings. "But, I was just having so much fun tonight and I didn't want to come in." Spike rolled his eyes at the filly's persistence. This was the third night in a row that she had come in late and he was getting tired of it. With an exasperated sigh, he opened the front door and motioned for Gala to walk inside. With her eyes downcast, she trotted into the house and towards the kitchen. "I'm home, mama." Gala announced un-enthusiastically. Applejack quickly walked out of the kitchen and scooped her daughter into her arms, giving her a playful nuzzle on the cheek. "How was yer flight last night, Sugar Cube?" Applejack asked. "Fine," Gala responded, not looking into her mother's eyes. "What's wrong?" Applejack questioned as she pulled Gala away from her chest. "Nothin'," Gala squirmed out of her mother's grasp and sauntered into the kitchen, grabbing a carrot with her mouth and slowly cooking it with her own fire breath which she had recently learned to control. Applejack sighed and walked over to Spike. "We can't keep doin' this," She whispered. "Doing what, AJ?" Spike asked even though he perfectly knew the answer. "It's like we're keepin' her in a cage! She's not some animal we can take fer a walk and then pull 'er back in when 'er time's up!" Spike sighed, rubbing his head, and slumped down onto the couch in the living room.
