To Be a Mother

It was a day which left Rainbow Dash feeling...depressed. She could barely get out of the bed, but with silence and help from Red Feather. Looking back at what she had with the stallion, she spent only a day with him at most, chased him around for a month, and then was brought back to Ponyville, just about to slip away into death. A month she had known him and had carried his child...Children, whichever the result would be.

Yet as she felt the steaming tears as they were about to fall out of her own eyes, he was there, comforting her. She wondered if he even did think of it all as much as her.

The day the funeral came, she was still in the hospital bed. She requested that she go to the funeral, and approved by the doctor, they began. Red Feather helped her almost roll onto her hooves, only for her to slowly lay down as the extra weight was too much. But, behind her, Twilight used her own magic to help support her.

"Thank you Twilight."

"You think you can walk the rest of the way?"

"...Yeah.", Rainbow Dash replied.

The day was darkened, storm clouds overhead and wind slowly churning the aura around the place which it was held. No rain poured that day, and by what the pegasi said, the sun itself had dimmed. Celestia was giving her best impression of a heart stricken queen, but she was neither. She was still a princess, without someone to love, no marriage. Rainbow Dash looked at her with a new pain for the snow white mare.

Unlike Rainbow Dash, she wouldn't have children any time soon, and above that, she would have to go through the pain of watching her own family grow up and slowly die before her. It was a pain that Celestia, and Luna as well, were to endure.

Rainbow Dash was nearly about to lose the strangth in her legs again, but luckily, she had made it to her spot. They moved a cushion outside for her to lay on, and that is just what she did.

"My little ponies...", Celestia began, "I call you here not to honor some random stallion. Though, he was a good unicorn, he did pay a price, the price which brought him to my attention and making him worthy of a funeral as public as this. I ask that everyone forgive him for the pain he has ever caused, for the heavens to take him.

"What he had done was saved a life. But not just one life. He gave up his life to save Rainbow Dash. She was captured and treated like she was just a slave or a prisoner. But he stayed by her side, and, having had to do unruly things as well to keep his cover, has no right to say he hadn't harmed her mentally or physically.

"The stallion we talk of now, rests in his coffin, more peaceful than anyone could ever be. He is in eternal happiness now.

"As of four days ago, the fateful day had befallen this unicorn. He used an old form of military magic, healing Rainbow Dash from a stab to the belly. He saved her and her children, but at the price of her own age, and his own life, contracting the same injury she had. But with Rainbow Dash's state, it caused his heart to rip open. He died slowly, if at all, and with little struggle and pain. He did not suffer, as he knew the result would kill him.

"We stand here today to honor that and bid a final farewell to the hero of Rainbow Dash, and only reamaining blood kin to her lover, Red Feather. Today, we honor Rigget Damontriauh."

All bowed their heads respectively, Rainbow Dash even shedding a few tears. Her heart was thumping in her chest. She couldn't tell whether it was fear, love, or sadness. It didn't matter, because Red could see it, and he embraced her, comforted her to help ease the pain. And with that, Rainbow Dash quickly dried her tears.

"Th-thank you Red..."

Red did not respond, but stayed next to her, having even laid down with her.

"I ask anypony who has some final words to please come up. After, we will dismiss for the burial."

Red rose up, almost jumping.

"I have some final thoughts I need to say."

He flew up to the podium, bowing to the princess as she stepped down.

"Mares and colts, ladies and gents of Canterlot, I bring these words straight out as they are made. I loved Rigget. He was the last I had of closest family. He even helped me most of the time with the hardest of situations. He, and several of my old friends, taught me to be strong, taught me to be there for others. Though, my friends have only sights of iron bars, and Rigget, only of darkness.

"I wish...I soulfully wish that this could never have happened. If I never ran away, this would have never happened. In reality, this is all my fault. I arranged for Rigget to help Rainbow Dash in anyway. He did. But he couldn't exactly save them both.

"In my family, he was a healer, of both physical, and mental injuries. He helped us all through the tougher times. But, when a fight broke out in a small area, he helped fight against a rebellion. As their main healer, he helped everyone the best he could, but unlike I, who had been traveling the land of Equestria, he watched as the family fell. Blood kin or not. And it only pained him more to tell me and see me depressed.

"In all over all, he has suffered worse than I. And I feel sorry for him. I never actually knew till he slipped away from me, how much I loved him, and how much he meant to me. Rigget is undoubtedly, the best stallion I ever knew."

With the conclusion of that, Red stepped down to return to Rainbow Dash's side. She could no longer hold her own eyes to the coffin anymore. It was like staring at the sun, it burned.

"Would you like to see him one last time?", Red asked.

Rainbow Dash stayed quiet, but looked at him with her decision, giving him a simple nod.

Once the rest of the town had put their say in, some disrespectful, others, honoring the dead stranger, they all began to leave. As Rainbow Dash stood, she struggled with her newfound weight and almost fell, should Red not have been there. The two made their way to the coffin, Red looking first. He could only stare at the last of his only family to share blood with.

Rainbow Dash could not stop thinking of the events before and what could have nearly killed her, what had killed him. When she looked at his body, she found new peace within herself, staring at his expressionless face. But then memories flooded back in and she remembered the blade being forced into her, the time she had lain there, dead. She could not help but stagger her breaths as her fears worsened.

A slight trickle of fluids trailed down her legs and she felt her stomach contract.

"R-Red...Problem."

Red turned to her with worry, "You ok?"

"I think...I think it's time."

Red processed this quickly and began lifting and dropping each hoof, panicking slightly himself. Then, once upon gathering his mind, he turned to Rainbow Dash with determination.

"Twilight, fluttershy, we need help, rarity, get a dark blue rag, Spike, send a message to the hospital, we need a room for Rainbow Dash, quick! Hurry!!!"

Upon the conclusion of his commands, everyone he had called for was alive, helping Rainbow Dash as she was carried quickly to the nearby hospital. The second she was through the doors, the waiting doctors took her into a bed, moving her through the building a lot more quickly into the maternity ward.

Rainbow Dash could see dots as her breathing reached a point where it exhausted her, leaving her to the point where she was being coaxed by a nurse to breath in and out deeply. She did and found it very relaxing, helping her a lot more. Though, it didn't help the now painful contractions as they continued, pulling a few tears of pain from Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow Dash?", Red's voice carried to the cyan mare's ears.

She opened her clenched eyes as she looked at the white coated pegasus at her bedside. He held out a hoof to her and she put it against his, but as another contraction flowed through, she pulled her leg back towards her, crossing her forelegs in a heavy cringe.

"She is going to be exhausted very easily soon if we don't start, Jack! Where are those blankets!", one of the nurses called.

Rainbow Dash could feel as one of the foals began it's course. The pain heightened and she bit her lip, trying to make the pain go away, it only sustained her enough to hear as the nurse gave her the first command.

"Push!"

A single, long push and the first was out, replaced by another as the rest began it's own course. The next one wasn't as painful, but still dragged out a scream of pain from Rainbow Dash. She had only a few seconds before the next began it's course, leaving her with an exhausted pang to her movements and breath.

"Push Rainbow Dash, come on, only one more to go. Just one more time, push!", the nurse coaxed.

Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, holding it as she birthed the last foal, and letting go of that breath, her vision blacked out and she passed out.

When she finally came ot, she could barely see anything at all, her vision blurred as much as it was dark. The lights were off, but the evening sun shining in the window. She mumbled something inaudible to even her and began looking around for something familiar. She saw an arrangement of colors in the room around her, each watching her intently.

"G...Girls?", she asked weakly.

"She's awake! Everypony, she's awake!", Pinkie Pie's voice rose.

Feeling a new throbbing headache that the party pony had made worse, Rainbow Dash moaned slightly from the pain.

"Quiet.", she pleaded.

"Oops, sorry.", Pinkie Pie whispered.

"Rainbow Dash.", Red spoke softly.

Turning her head to the one stallion which even caused all the recent events of the past month and a half, she smiled.

"Red...I feel, empty."

"Well, you did give birth to three foals not but yesterday. You passed out after birthing the last. Worried us all.", Red smiled.

Looking around in her half dazed sight, she made out the rest of her friends' shapes and colors, seeing all which had been there with her for years. Though, there was a new face. Broad and adorned with a horn. A unicorn. No. Rainbow Dash could see two massive wings clinging to his sides. An alicorn.

"Her name is Rainbow Dash, right Twilight?", he spoke.

"Yeah. She seems really confused, or really interested about you."

"Well, I'd be able to understand that. We've only been together for about a week, I've almost got everypony's names down right."

"Almost. But lets give some introductions. Rainbow Dash, this is Erick Magistalli. And, yes, he is an alicorn."

"Well...It's obvious he is an alicorn, but...you two speak like you're together. Am I correct?"

"Yes. It will be a week tomorrow."

"Good to hear. But I'm kind of growing uneasy here. Where are..."

"They are sleeping. I'm surprised they didn't wake you.", Red finished her sentence.

"What do you mean, Red?"

"Well, the foals need to be fed, and there is only one natural way. Though, again, I'm really surprised you didn't wake up."

Getting a few thoughts, Rainbow Dash looked down at the covers and found they had been disturbed from the usual perfectly lain position. most of it still covered Rainbow Dash, but the rest was disturbed. She spotted three small rises in the blanket around her though, each with a tiny nose lying outside as the foal it belonged to, slept.

One awoke, using it's nose to push the covers out of the way as it reached Rainbow Dash, though the sight resulting made Rainbow Dash blush from embarrassment. The foal was hidden under the blanket but it still made Rainbow Dash feel embarrassed.

"Teehee! Rainbow Dash, you act as if it's a bad thing.", Pinkie Pie giggled.

"Yeah...but...I just feel like I'm being humiliated."

"Well, if you don't want them to feed like so, then they could be taken."

"No!", Rainbow Dash quickly responded, "I mean, it's not that bad...just...I feel a little embarrassed that it is happening while my friends are watching me."

"Rainbow Dash, don't start stressing yourself, for now, relax."

Rainbow Dash nodded and the foal stopped feeding, pushing through the covers by Rainbow Dash's side, then using it's nose to find it's way to her head where it curled up and nuzzled into her neck.

"Awwwww, thats so cute.", Fluttershy spoke.

"Well, I'm not one for cute, but, I don't feel like fighting it. When am I going to be able to leave?"

"Doctor said that once you wake up, you can leave when you wish, or stay for a few more days.", Red said.

"Well then.", she sat up, waking the three foals.

"So, do you wanna leave now or what?"

"I don't know. I think I will. But not right now."

Rainbow Dash picked up one of the foals and placed it on her right side with the other two.

They were all had Rainbow Dash's colors, but divided among them. One had red orange and yellow spectrum hair, another with green blue and purple, and the last having shades of indigo and violet. Each had red tipped feathers and each had red colored eyes, like Rainbow Dash. What she wanted to know was which were fillies, and which were colts, though.

"So, which is which?"

"You mean, filly-colt?"

"Yeah."

"Red head is a colt, the Blue one is a filly, and the Dark haired one is a filly as well."

"Have you thought of any names?"

"Crimson Wing, Blue Feather, and Ultraviolet Ray. Each responding to their hair color."

"They're all wonderful names. But, how about instead of Ultraviolet Ray, Just Ultraviolet?"

"Sure. If it makes you happy."

"Now, about getting them home."

"Got it taken care of. Come on Violet, Crimson, Blue."

As if on cue, the foals all got up onto their hooves and each slowly made their way to the stallion which called them and sat back down in front of him. He bent down next to the bed and each climbed on his back, Crimson assuming a higher up position on Red's head.

"They obey a little too much like a pet. How did you do that?", Rainbow Dash chuckled.

"Well, I was what they first saw, earning their favor of me. I gave them each their names right after and since then, they've responded to me when I call them."

"But how did they know how to get on to your back?"

"Well, I was thinking of that myself. They've never done it before and I was actually just experimenting to see what they would do."

"Well, exploring already."

"Indeed they are. Shall we go?"

"Sure, just let me get out of this bed and on my hooves."

Rainbow Dash moved the covers aside and stretched, a few audible pops resulting. She put her hind legs over the side and pushed off, landing on her hind hooves and then directly after, she was on all fours. It was slightly difficult, probably a result from laying in a bed for a day without moving, but she was standing.

"Ok, I'm ready.", Rainbow Dash announced.

"Well, we'll get out of your hair and maybe later we could have a little bit of time together?", Twilight half asked, half said.

"Uhm, maybe tomorrow, I dunno, just give me a while to plan what is next in life."

"Ok, well, we're gone. Come on girls, lets go."

"We should have a party for Rainbow Dash!", Pinkie Pie bounced out.

"Not now, Pinkie Pie, it's too early.", Twilight countered before Rainbow Dash refused Pinkie Pie's party altogether.

Smiling as she and Red left the room, following a small distance behind teh others to the front desk, Red kept pace with her, the foals watching their surroundings silently.

"Would you like to carry one?"

"Yes. I'd love to."

Red lowered his head next to Rainbow Dash's side and Crimson jumped from his head onto her back, standing on her back straight, not loosening his stance at all. He turned from side to side, look at everything and even Rainbow Dash as she walked on.

The nurse at the desk was reading a report when she looked up at Red, putting it aside with a smile.

"Is she ready to go?"

"Yes, she is. I think she is already enjoying what she has now."

"She definitely looks like she does.", the nurse replied, loking behind Red at Rainbow Dash.

She and Crimson were both smiling as she nipped playfully at the foal's small ear tip. Each time the colt would shake his head with a small laugh at the play.

"Well, it's a start for what I owe her."

"I'd say you owe her nothing. She's happy, you care for her..."

"Well, not exactly. I mean, I love her, but after what I did, it will be a while before I can say I have repayed my debt."

"Well, it won't take long for that, will it?"

"You're right, possibly. But after what I forced her through, It will be a while before I can forgive myself."

"Well, good luck. You're welcome to leave, if you need some help getting home with your new foals, don't be afraid to ask."

"No thank you, I've got it."

The nurse gave him a smile which he quickly returned, and went back to work.

"Let's go Rainbow Dash. I added on to the house to make it bigger, we can model it later when we get there."

Spreading his wings, the foals each huddled against Red as they were startled. Rainbow Dash just got Crimson to lay down before she opened her wings and took off after Red.

It was a good day, but Rainbow Dash could tell what was wrong. She used to have such a view of life as something extreme. But now it all was peaceful to her. She was docile. Though, she didn't like the thought of being relaxed and happy from the beauty of things. She didn't care that the day was beautiful, nor the sound the birds made as they sang, was beautiful. To her, it was too beautiful. But she understood why she was so docile now. It won't be long before she is up and looking for the next extreme thing once more.