Wonderful

by Closer-To-The-Sun

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Romance, Drama, Big Macintosh
Length: 21610

Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash have a night of drinking, which leads to a string of events involving the two ponies.

"She think she's missed the train to Mars,/She's out back counting stars." -Hum, 'Stars'

After a night of drinking, Big Macintosh and Rainbow Dash spend the evening together, however, neither can remember what exactly happened. While Rainbow brushes it off as if it was no big deal, Big Mac can't shake a strange feeling about that evening.

Image created by DespisedAndBeloved on deviantArt.

Published 2014-03-14 23:30:06 UTC
Last updated 2014-05-14 02:47:55 UTC

Chapter 1: Closing Time

Chapter 1: Closing Time

“Last call!” the bartender shouted out to the crowded bar.

This announcement caught the attention of a number of patrons. A few ponies trotted up to the bar to make their last purchase of the evening. Among them was a blue pegasus with a multi-colored mane. Already tipsy, she had to use the barstool to support herself as she arrived up to the bar. After shuffling around a bit and sitting her flank down on the stool itself, she ordered.

“One more hard cider, my good stallion!” the pony spoke with an inebriated slur to her voice. She couldn’t help it by this time; she had already drunk five ciders previously.

The barkeep nodded as he went off to fulfill the order. As the pegasus reached to take out the currency to pay, she noticed the red stallion she was sitting next to. “Oh, hey there, Big Mac. How the heck are ya?” she playfully hit his back with her hoof.

Big Mac turned to see the rainbow colored mane sitting on top of the blue mare, “Good evenin’, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac greeted back. He had to blink a few times to make sure that he had called the pony the correct name.

“It ain’t evening anymore, its past midnight,” Rainbow corrected, trying to not fall off her barstool. “Anyway, what’s up? Wasn’t expecting to see ya out this late drinking.”

Big Mac chuckled slightly, “Ah could say the same ta you, Miss Rainbow Dash. Don’t ya gotta work with the weather patterns in the mornin’?”

Raising her hoof up, Rainbow brushed it off, “Please, I can do that in my sleep….and sometimes I do.” She laughed loudly, as if she was trying to prove she could be louder than the chatter of the rest of the bar patrons.

Taking a drink of his alcohol, Big Mac couldn’t help but chuckle as well. Rainbow Dash’s contagious laughter and the alcohol already in his system mixed to relax the red stallion. As the two were sharing a moment of laughter, Dash’s last drink of the night had arrived. Rainbow quickly shuffled around trying to pull out her money. However, Big Mac stopped her by slamming down coins of his own.

“Ya don’t have to pay for me, Big Mac,” Dash commented.

“So ya don’t want me to pay fer yer cider?”

“Nah. Like I’m gonna pass up a free drink! Take the stallion’s money!” Rainbow ordered the bartender with an intoxicated laugh.

After the barkeep left, the two continued their drunken conversation. However, most of the conversation was filled with laughter at the smallest of things, slurred speech, and saying things that seemed really odd to somepony that might be listening in.

“Look, ah’m jus’ sayin’ some apples are better than others….” Big Mac tried to speak coherently as he leaned on the wooden surface.

Rainbow seemed to be intently listening despite being completely drunk, “How so? Like how cider apples are better than the others?”

Big Mac laughed slightly, “Heh heh, no, not like that. An’ what’s with you an’ cider?”

“I like the poison!” the pegasus proclaimed proudly as she downed the last of her cider.

The stallion laughed again, “There’s more ta apples than just cider, Miss Rainbow.”

“And I don’t care about them; only cider for me!” Rainbow Dash exhaled the statement the second she finished swallowing the last of her drink, “It’s what Celestia herself would drink!”

Both Rainbow Dash and Big Mac laughed at her last statement. They were interrupted however, but the bartender.

“Sorry to do this to you two, but it’s closing time.”

“Does that mean we have to go home?” Rainbow asked, leaning on the counter.

The barkeep continued, “You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. We’re closing up for the night.” He pointed to the rest of the bar, which was empty save a few ponies putting the chairs on the tables, cleaning the floor, and turning off some of the lights.

The two ponies looked at the vacant bar. With a bit of sadness in their expressions, they hopped off the stools and trotted to the exit. However, they had to take their time as they had trouble standing, let alone moving. While doing so, they couldn’t help but laugh at themselves trying to get out the door.

Once outside, both Rainbow and Big Mac looked up at the sky. Luna’s moon was shining down brightly, lighting up the darkened Ponyville square.

“Well, it t’was pretty cool to hang out with cha, Big Mac,” the blue mare tried to speak. The alcohol in her system was getting the best of her however, causing her to slur her words.

“Same ta ya, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac replied, trying to keep standing without wobbling left and right.

Rainbow chuckled, “Ya don’t have ta call me that, Big Mac. It’s not like I’m some princess or something like that.” Finally stopping her laughter, she continued, “Alright, time for me ta fly back home.”

“Ya sure yer okay ta fly?” Big Mac asked.

“Sure I’m sure! I just gotta flap my wings, like this!” the pegasus started to move her wings up and down. However, even though she moved them, it was not fast enough to lift her body off the ground. She continued to flap for a few more moments before finally saying something, “I forgot how to fly.”

Both of the ponies laughed at the comment.

“How can ya ferget ta fly?” Big Mac was still laughing.

“How can you forget to be blah blah blah!” Rainbow Dash mocked as she stopped laughing herself.

“Well, ya can stay at the farm fer the night if ya want,” Big Mac stated, taking a step toward his home. His footing was off and he fell to the ground.

Laughing hard, Rainbow Dash commented, “You’re so smashed you can’t even walk!”

“Well, ya can’t even fly!” Big Mac retorted without missing a beat.

Offering a hoof to help him up, Rainbow continued, “Come on, I think we’re both too drunk to trot alone.”

Taking her hoof, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash slowly trotted along the path to Sweet Apple Acres while supporting each other. It was as if the two ponies were a part of a six-legged race, but their intoxicated state made it more of a challenge for the two of them. They continued to joke and laugh as they neared the barn.

Upon entering the barn, Rainbow had her eyes fixated on a single location: a large bale of hay in the middle of the barn. “There! We’re going there!” she verbally pointed.

“Huh?” Big Mac wasn’t paying attention to what she was saying.

Taking the lead, Rainbow Dash directed and moved toward the pile of hay. This sudden jolt of direction caused Big Mac to trip over his hooves, falling forward while still holding on to Dash for support. The two started to fall down, but were lucky enough to fall onto the hay bale that Dash was aiming for. Rainbow managed to land on her back, however, Big Mac wasn’t as lucky and landed with his muzzle buried in the pile of hay.

A loud laughter came from Rainbow, “Smooth one, Big Mac!” Her amusement echoed through the empty barn.

Raising his head up and out of the hay, Big Mac spit out the few strands of hay that were in his mouth. This just caused Rainbow Dash to laugh even more. Finally adjusting himself, he rested his back against the hay and looked up at the rafters of the barn along with Rainbow.

“So this was we’re you were aimin’ ta go?” Big Mac spoke, the taste of hay lingering still in his mouth.

“Yup! Nice a comfortable, ain’t it?” she asked, turning her head slightly to look at him from the corner of her eye.

Big Mac shrugged, “It’s alright, ah guess, but it ain’t mah bed. And speakin’ of such, ah think ah’m gonna go in the house ta sleep. Rest well, Miss Rainbow Dash.”

Just as the red stallion was starting to get up from off the pile of hay, he felt something on his body, pushing down on him. It was Rainbow Dash’s hoof. “Aww, you’re planning leaving me out here all by my lonesome?” her words were both playful and suggestive, “Now, why would you do that?”

This completely caught Big Mac off guard, “B-Beg pardon?”

The rustling of hay echoed through the barn as Rainbow moved around until she was sitting up, looking down at the red pony lying down on the hay, “And here I was hoping you’d stay out here and keep me company….”

Big Mac could tell by looking at the maroon eyes of the pegasus that there was some sort of intent behind her words. Her face as matching the shade of red in mane, but it didn’t seem to be just from the alcohol she had consumed.

Without second thought, Rainbow leaned in to plant a kiss onto Big Mac’s lips. The stallion was surprised by not only the mare’s action, but also by the sensation. Big Mac could taste the cider upon Rainbow’s lips, the fermented fruit was heavily present. He could also feel a warm feeling coming from Rainbow’s face, as if her face was ablaze.

Breaking the kiss, the pegasus looked down back at the red earth pony. A sly smirk appeared on Rainbow Dash’s face.

Big Mac woke up as the early light of Celestia’s sun shined in through the open barn door. Rubbing his eyes with his hooves, he saw that Rainbow Dash was standing in the doorway of the barn. Blinking a few times to adjust his eyesight to the light, he saw that Rainbow was stretching her wings out and what seemed to be other routine exercises for her. Everything from her mane to her tail seemed to be perfect about her, as if she had not slept on a pile of hay in a barn. Her ears twitched at the sound of the rustling hay, causing her to turn her head to see the red stallion.

“Mornin’, sunshine,” Rainbow Dash smiled. She snickered as she saw how his mane and tail looked with bits of hay in the unkempt mess of orange hair.

With a yawn, Big Mac replied, “Good mornin’, Miss Rainbow Dash….” his statement trailed off as he tried to quickly piece together the night before in his mind. However, his efforts were fruitless which led him to his next statement, “Ah don’t mean ta give the wrong impression or nothin’, but do ya know happened last night? Ah can’t remember a thing….”

Continuing with the stretching of her wings, Rainbow commented, “Heh, are you kidding? I was way too smashed to remember anything. I remember that we met up at the Salt Lick and had a few drinks together. After that, I remember you offered to have me crash in the barn.”

An uneasy expression was on the stallion’s face as he stood up and started to pick the pieces of hay from his mane and tail, “Is that it? Do ya know why ah’m out here?”

Rainbow paused for a moment to think, “Well, when I woke up and saw ya, I figured you were just as wasted as I was, so you just decided it’d be easier to sleep out here than go back inside your home. That’s what I thought anyway.”

“Hmm….” Big Mac thought for a moment, still not completely sure about what had happened the night before.

“Well, don’t let it worry ya, Big Mac,” Rainbow insisted as she resumed her exercises, “What’s in the past is in the past, not like we can do anything about it now. Besides, if we can’t remember anything, then nothing really could have happened, right?”

“Ah guess….” Big Mac half-heartedly agreed, “Still, ah’m curious of what happened. Aren’t ya curious?”

Finishing up the rest of her exercises, Rainbow Dash looked towards Big Mac, “Sure, I’m a little curious, but it’s not like we have something to let us see what happened or whatever. Let sleeping dogs lie, or whatever.”

Big Mac sighed and agreed.

Rainbow gave a smile and nodded, “Good, now I gotta get to work with those weather patterns. I’ll catch ya sometime later. See ya around, big red.”

With that, Rainbow Dash turned to the open barn door and began to flap her wings. Taking off and flying into the sky, the blue pegasus disappeared from Big Mac’s view. With the morning sun shining down on and warming up his red coat, the red stallion was left with his questions of what happened the night before.

Chapter 2: Lingering Still

Chapter 2: Lingering Still

A few months have past since that fuzzy night. Big Mac was unable to remember anything else from that night and if Rainbow Dash remembered anything, she didn’t share the information with the stallion. Life seemed to move on as if nothing had happened. However, the questions that the stallion had about that night were lingering with him still.

As for the relationship between the two ponies in question, the events of what they could recall were kept as a silent secret between them. With applebucking season in full swing, the two ponies never really got much time to interact with each other, much less talk. Rainbow Dash would often give a small, warm smile to the red stallion every so often which Big Mac would return, but nothing more than that. For the two ponies, the mysterious night seemed to have just disappeared in the past and didn’t have much consequence. The only thing he wished Big Mac knew about the night was what exactly happened.

It was the tail end of applebucking season on the farm and the Apple family was struggling to end the season on a strong note. While they were blessed to have a bountiful crop of apples come in, they lacked the necessary horsepower to get it all bucked and barreled up. It was because of this that Applejack asked her friends for some help. Lending a helping hoof, they were more than happy to oblige. With Twilight Sparkle, and Pinkie Pie helping Applejack with the bucking of one section of the farm, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were to help Big Mac with the other.

After bucking the trees in their section and filling up the carts, each pony started to pull their cart back to the barn. With Fluttershy and Rarity getting a head start, Big Mac was left behind with Rainbow Dash.

Big Mac watched as Rainbow was having difficulty attaching the cart to herself.

Dash took notice she was being observed, “Do ya like to watch ponies put stuff on? Most stallions rather watch mares take things off,” she joked.

The stallion was caught off guard by the comment and lightly blushed, “Wha? N-No, it ain’t like that….”

“I’m just messing with ya, Big Mac,” Rainbow said as she tightened the last strap around her body. She winced in pain, but she tried her best to hide it.

“Heh, right….” Big Mac replied, still flustered by the comment.

With the cart attached to her, the blue pegasus started to pull. It took a bit to get the cart moving, but Rainbow finally got it to budge and the two ponies started back towards the barn along the dirt path.

“Ya know, this is the first time we really spent any time together since the bar,” Big Mac spoke up.

Rainbow replied, “Hey, you’re right. Dang, how long ago was that? Two, three months?”

“Somethin’ like that,” Big Mac said.

“Huh, felt more than that,” Dash commented, “We should try to hang out more. That was fun night….despite that we really can’t remember part of it.”

“Ya wanna hang out?”

“Totally! When you’re not dealing with farm stuff and whatever,” Rainbow answered.

Big Mac smiled, “Alright, ah’d be happy ta hang out with ya.” The words seemed a little weird for the stallion to say, but he didn’t mind.

Rainbow nodded, “Awesome! I’ll let ya know when I can do something like that agai-“ The pegasus paused mid sentence as well as in her stride. She raised her hoof up to her underbelly and grasped it tightly. Letting out a painful moan, she struggled to stand.

“Miss Rainbow Dash, are ya okay?” Big Mac stopped and watched on concernedly.

She didn’t reply right away. Her eyes were tightly shut and she gritted her teeth. She managed to speak, “Y-Yeah….I’m fine….” She was obviously lying.

Quickly, Big Mac unhooked himself from his cart and hurried to Dash’s aid. Despite her objections, the stallion took the straps off the blue mare as not to restrain her anymore. The pain continued to persist and so did Dash’s cries of agony. Not wanting to wait to see what might be the problem, Big Mac lifted Rainbow Dash on to his back and galloped at full speed toward Ponyville for help.

It was later in the day, with all of the ponies waiting for an update on their friend’s condition. Applejack had already more or less chewed Big Mac out for answers of what it could be, but it was obvious that there was nothing out of the ordinary with working around the farm. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of the waiting room was one of concern.

Big Mac was also in the waiting room, too worried even go back to work on the farm after what happened. Instead, he had to know what was going on, just like the rest of Rainbow’s comrades. He looked around the waiting room. The walls seemed plain save for the windows and the few pictures that dotted the room. The seats took up most of the room, which were all filled by those waiting for answers to what happened to Rainbow Dash. The medicinal smell bothered Big Mac’s nose, causing him to shake each time he breathed it in. The only real sound in the room was the chattering by the mares in the room with Big Mac. He didn’t mind it so much, partly since he shared their concern for the blue pegasus.

The conversations came to a sudden halt when the double doors were opened and Nurse Redheart trotted through. Everypony stood up and hurried over to meet her. A little surprised with the sudden swarm of questions from all of them, she backed away slightly.

“Calm down, calm down. I’ll happily answer your questions, but one at a time please,” the nurse instructed.

Twilight Sparkle was the first to speak up, “Will Rainbow Dash be okay?”

Nurse Redheart smiled, “Oh, yes, she’s doing perfectly fine.”

“Thank goodness,” Fluttershy commented in her meek voice.

“Jus’ what in tarnation happened?” Applejack asked.

“It’s nothing serious. Just some normal cramping and some mild back pain,” the nurse said.

“Normal?” Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, it’s all completely normal for a pony like her to have those symptoms,” the white mare explained.

“Ah don’t get it….” Applejack said.

“Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that the baby is also doing just fine,” Nurse Redheart smiled.

“Baby?” Twilight added, “Wait a minute, are you saying….”

The nurse was a bit surprised, but continued speaking with a warm smile on her face, “You didn’t know? Well, you’re friend Rainbow Dash is pregnant.”

“Pregnant?!” they all exclaimed in unison.

Chapter 4: Real World

Chapter 4: Real World

8 ½ MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

Two weeks had passed since Rainbow Dash had been let out of the hospital. She was given a clean bill of health and a list of precautions that she was to follow for caring of her unborn infant. Despite all of the attention she was getting about being pregnant, Rainbow Dash seemed to be her same old usual self; brash, reckless, bold, and competitive. She seemed to not slow down for any reason.

One evening, Rainbow entered the Salt Lick. Trotting up to the bar of the tavern, she ordered a drink.

“Barkeep! One hard cider, please!” her voice was loud to get his attention.

The pony behind the counter knew better, “Nice try, Rainbow Dash, but you aren’t supposed to have any alcohol.” He pointed down to Rainbow’s belly.

Letting out a groan of frustration, she retorted, “Fine, just give me something that isn’t alcoholic but taste like apple. Like normal cider or something….”

As the bartender left to fill the order, the blue pony put her head down with her front hooves supporting it, keeping it off the bar surface. She sighed with annoyance.

A low voice spoke up, “Ya feelin’ okay, Miss Rainbow Dash?”

She could recognize that voice anywhere. She looked up to see that Big Mac had taken the seat next to her at the bar, “Oh, hey Big Mac.”

“Aren’t you supposed to avoid alcohol?” he asked concernedly, “Ya know, because of ya bein’ pregnant?”

“Geez, thanks. I never would have known that if you hadn’t told me. Thank you so much, Big Mac!” the pegasus’s sarcasm dripped from her words, “What are you, my mom?”

Big Mac was a bit flustered by Rainbow’s bitter reply, “No….ah’m just makin’ sure that yer okay, an all so that….um….”

Rainbow laughed as she watched Big Mac struggle to find the right words to say, “I’m just kidding, Big Mac, it was a joke. Seriously, ya gotta lighten up. I know what I gotta do a lot of stuff for….whatever I’m gonna call this pony. This little annoyance is already making me sick almost everyday,” She looked down at her stomach. It was apparent she was pregnant at this time; a slight bump had grown on her stomach.

As she was talking, her drink had arrived. She was quick to grab it with her hoof and take a drink. Exhaling, she spoke, “Apple juice? Come on, that’s the best you can do? There’s gotta be something better than just having just juice!” She was not happy with the selection the barkeep gave her. However, the bartender ignored her as he went to help some other customers.

“Ah think he’s tryin’ ta help ya out, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac commented.

“And that’s what’s really ticking me off! Everypony thinks they know what’s best for me. I assure you that I can think for myself and I know what I can and can’t do,” Rainbow Dash started to vent, “Take work for example! All of the pegasi think I can’t fly as fast as before or something, and they insist on giving me all the boring jobs that I can’t stand! They won’t even let me do my morning exercises with them anymore for fear it might hurt the infant or something. I’m not some rookie who can’t fly, I’m Rainbow Dash! The Rainbow Dash! The one who did the sonic rainboom!” She took another drink of her apple juice as she was done with her rant.

Big Mac wasn’t exactly sure how to reply, but nevertheless he tried his best, “Ah’m sure they are just tryin’ ta help ya out. Ya know, wantin’ ta make sure that ya don’t do somethin’ that might hurt the baby.”

Rainbow scoffed, "Ugh....this baby is just getting annoying. I really wish I didn't have it so I could just have my life back. Flying at sonic speeds, eating whatever and whenever I want, basically doing whatever I want. Now, I'm stuck to listening to Twilight Sparkle tell me all the science of birth and hearing everypony say what I can't do now."

"We're just worried 'bout yer safety, Miss Rainbow Dash," Big Mac commented

The pegasus sighed, “I’m not that stupid. I know what I can and can’t do. I kinda wonder what it would be like to just get rid of this thing now, ya know?” Rainbow Dash looked at Big Mac who had a shocked expression on his face. The mare’s face was deadpan as she continued, “Kidding, I’m kidding. It was a joke. I’m not going to do anything like that. I just wish everypony would just stop hassling me.”

Still in a bit of shock of what she said, Big Mac continued, “Well, we’re all jus’ lookin’ out fer ya because we care ‘bout ya.”

“Please, you just care because it might be yours,” Rainbow Dash laughed as she took another drink.

Big Mac’s face turned a slightly darker red, “Th-That’s not true….ah really do care-“

“Look, Big Mac, you’re a sweet colt, I’ll give ya that. But ya don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big pony, I can handle myself just fine,” Rainbow interrupted, “This isn’t some real big deal. It’s just something I gotta handle.”

“Ya don’t gotta handle it by yerself, Miss Rainbow Dash,” the stallion insisted.

Rainbow Dash couldn’t contain a laugh, “Oh sweet Celestia, do you actually like me? Haha! Oh, this is rich. You actually care for me like that. Haha, this is so freaking funny! You care about me!” Pulling out some coins, she placed them next to her empty glass of apple juice, “Haha, I’m just joking with ya, big red, don’t think too much of it.” Hoping off the barstool, Rainbow headed towards the door, still amused, “Big Mac actually liking me? Haha!”

Left alone at the bar, the red stallion watched as the pegasus exited through the door. Quietly, he mumbled, “Ah do care ‘bout ya, Miss Rainbow Dash….ah really do….”

Chapter 5: Slide

Chapter 5: Slide

Chapter 5: Slide

8 MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

Rainbow Dash had sent out an announcement to her closest friends. She didn’t say what it was going on exactly, but she just told them all to meet her in Twilight’s library on a certain day. It was here that she would be making an announcement. Six ponies stood around, chatting and gossiping about what the news might be.

“What do you think Rainbow might say?” Fluttershy asked to the white unicorn standing next to her.

“I haven’t the foggiest clue, but the anticipation is certainly driving me mad!” Rarity replied casually.

“Oh, I know! What could it be?” Pinkie Pie bounced in between the two ponies and interjected herself into the conversation “Maybe Rainbow Dash gathered us together to tell us she’s moving! Or maybe she’s going to say that she’s the member of a tribe of long lost pegasus warriors! Or just maybe she’s going to tell us that she’s going to start playing the tuba! I would love that! I could get a tuba playing buddy!”

Rarity raised an eyebrow at Pinkie Pie’s farfetched statements, “I hardly think it’s that last one, dear.”

Applejack was standing next to her older brother, whom Rainbow gave explicit instructions about bring along to the library for the important news. She looked to the purple unicorn next to her, “Do ya know what this is all ‘bout, Twi?”

Twilight shook her head, “No, you’re guess is as good as mine. The only thing I know is that Rainbow Dash asked to use the library for this, to which I allowed her, of course, but I’m just as puzzled as the rest of you.”

“Ah swear, that blue pegasus is crazier than a junebug in winter….” Applejack sighed as she fixed her brown hat.

The purple mare thought about what her friend said for a moment and then responded, “Remind me to ask you what you mean by that.”

“What? ‘Bout how Rainbow Dash is crazy?” the orange pony asked.

“No, about the junebug statement.”

The front door of the library opened, revealing Rainbow Dash. The chatter died down as everypony turned to look at the pegasus. It was the first time Big Mac had seen the pegasus in about a week. The small bump on her stomach had grown slightly, but if it was bothering her everyday routine, she didn’t let it show. Trotting up on to the staircase, she stopped halfway and looked out to her friends as if she was on a podium about to give a speech.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash! Rainbow Dash! Hi, Rainbow Dash!” Pinkie frantically waved her hoof in the air in an attempt to get Rainbow’s attention.

The expression on the pegasus’s face was blank, or rather it just didn’t have any real emotion to it. “Yes, I see you Pinkie Pie, hi,” she said before turning her attention back to the group as a whole, “So yeah, hey. I’m sure you’re all wondering why I called you all over here. Well, I got an announcement, or something like that.”

“Did you find out the gender of your baby?” Rarity spoke first.

Rainbow wasn’t expecting the question “Wha? No, I’m here to-”

“Is it a colt or a filly?” Pinkie Pie interrupted loudly.

“No, it’s not about the bab-“ Rainbow Dash was cut off.

“Do you have a name for him or her?” Fluttershy asked.

Finally, the pegasus shouted, “It’s not about the baby! Well, I guess it kind of is. Anyway, I think I figured out who the father is.”

The words quieted everypony down and caused them all to listen intently to the blue mare.

“Look, it’s not really that big of a deal. But, after doing some thinking and stuff about what I was doing on certain days and what not, I think I figured out who it was,” Rainbow calmly spoke, unintentionally building up the suspense in the room.

“Well?” Pinkie edged on, leaning more and more forward, looking as if she was about to fall flat on her face, “Who is it?”

She finally answered, “I figured out it was Big Macintosh.”

In unison, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight all expressed surprise, “Big Mac?” They all turned to look at the two Apple siblings in the back. Both of them had a stunned expression on their face.

“Say what?” Pinkie Pie was the first to speak after what seemed like an eternity of silence and shock. Her voice stressed the second word as she also tilted her head.

Without missing a beat, the four ponies encircled Big Macintosh as they all started to pelt the stallion with questions.

“When did this happen?”

“Was it planned?”

“Do you want to be the father?”

“Why did you choose to make a baby with Rainbow Dash? Is it because babies are so adorable? Like the Cake twins?”

Big Mac couldn’t get a single word out. Just as one question was finished being asked, another one was flung right at him. He wanted to answer them truthfully, as that is how he had always been, but being under the pressure of all the ponies, it was becoming too much for him.

“Alright, back it up! Give Big Mac some breathin’ room!” Applejack pushed the other mares away from her brother, “Quit crowdin’ him!”

Finally able to breath, Big Mac looked around the library’s main room in hopes to find Rainbow Dash. However, it was apparent she used the sudden influx of attention on the red stallion as a cover to make a getaway and go undetected.

“Look, Big Mac will answer yer questions later, ‘kay? Jus’t give him some space right now,” Applejack defended her brother.

While he was not exactly thrilled about it, he knew he would have to answer a multitude of questions from a number of ponies for the next couple days. Sadly, Big Mac just wanted to ask a few questions to the blue pegasus that just directed the attention to him.

Chapter 6: Stars

Chapter 6: Stars

7 ½ MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

A couple of weeks have past since the announcement that Big Mac is most likely the father of Rainbow Dash’s unborn baby. This has gotten the red stallion some unwanted attention from both his sister’s friends but also a number of ponies around town. Because of this, Big Mac had kept himself at the farm, getting lost in his work. This didn’t exactly mean it was a complete cure for Big Mac and his thoughts. In fact, he would often ask himself the same question Applejack would ask: just what were Big Mac and Rainbow Dash to each other? The stallion was unable to find a definite answer to the question and would drop it to work on the task at hoof to think about it, but he couldn’t find a good enough answer for his sister or himself.

One evening, Big Mac returned from the fields to his home. The porch light shined, guiding him back to the house and barn. Luna’s moon had not yet risen for the evening and Big Mac was hoping to take advantage of the darkness to get some rest. Before he could get inside, however, his ears twitched slightly as he heard a couple of voices coming down the dirt path. Both of the voices were recognizable to him; it was Rainbow Dash and his sister, Applejack. He was able to get onto the porch of the house before he heard his name.

“Big Mac! Hold up!” she called out as the two drew closer.

The stallion knew better than to disobey his sister. He stopped mid-stride and waited for the two mares to trot closer. With the porch light finally shining upon the two ponies, Big Mac finally got a better view of the ponies. He noticed that Rainbow looked slightly different from the last time he saw her, which was in the library when she proclaimed that Big Mac was the father. The bump on her belly was slightly larger, about the size of a Dash’s hoof.

“Evenin’,” he greeted in his low voice.

“Howdy, Big Mac,” Applejack smiled at her brother.

“What’s up?” Rainbow Dash nonchalantly spoke, almost as if she didn’t care that he was there.

“Great, formalities are outta the way, now ah get the wheel movin’ on this,” Applejack spoke.

This statement puzzled the other two. “What are ya talking about? I thought you were going to give me the day-old apple fritters that didn’t sell.”

“Ah jus’ said that ta get ya here,” Applejack explained, “The real reason ah brought ya here is so ya can talk ta Big Mac.”

The red stallion raised an eyebrow in confusion, “Beg pardon?”

His sister continued, “The two of ya haven’t seen each other in some time, an’ ya haven’t spoken ta each other even longer. What I want ya both ta do is figure out jus’ what in Equestria ya two are to each other.”

“Ah don’t know ‘bout this, Applejack,” Big Mac expressed his concern.

“Ah, hush up! The two of ya need ta figure this out. Each time ah ask either of ya, ah don’t get an answer. Now, neither of ya are allowed ta leave until ya both figure all of this out,” Applejack’s voice was stern.

“Dang, you don’t have to be so pushy, AJ,” Rainbow commented, “Could ya at least give us some room? And I better get those fritters after this.”

The orange mare nodded, “Alright, jus’ make sure ya got figure this out, got it?”

Both Rainbow and Big Mac nodded as Applejack entered the house. With that, the two ponies were left alone in the front of the Apple family home.

“Guess mah sister really wants an answer, huh?” Big Mac was the first to speak.

Rainbow avoided eye contact as she replied, “Yeah….” It was as if she was looking for something.

“So….um….ah would kinda like ta know the answer, too,” Big Mac admitted as he looked at Rainbow Dash, “Jus’ what are we?” Her attention was elsewhere, not on the red pony.

Without turning to the stallion, Rainbow Dash started trotting away, “Follow me.”

Big Mac didn’t question her, following the blue pegasus. The darkness of the night was pretty harsh, but the light of the stars and the tiny bit of Luna’s moon that was peeking over the horizon was enough for the two to trot along. Big Mac wasn’t sure what Rainbow Dash was doing, but he followed her, up to the barn. Rainbow pushed open the door of the barn and went in, not bothering to ask permission. Big Mac followed in, but he didn’t have to go far as Rainbow had stopped just inside. The mare was looking at an empty spot on the dirty ground.

“Here’s where it all started, or so we think anyway,” Rainbow spoke in a hushed tone, “What’s it been, four, five months?”

“’Bout four, ah think,” Big Mac replied, matching Dash’s pitch.

“Hmm….” Rainbow let out a noise as she started to flap her wings. Taking flight, she flew up into the rafters and the second floor of the barn.

Big Mac could only watch as she went up and landed. He quickly looked around the barn and found a ladder. Retrieving it, he used it to climb up to the barn’s second floor rafters. Upon arriving, he saw Rainbow Dash unlatching the second-floor loading door. Having a bit of difficulty in pushing it, Rainbow turned around and gave it a swift kick of her hind legs. The door opened outward and let the night air into the upper half of the barn. Dash then sat on the edge, letting her bottom two hooves dangle down. Big Mac trotted over on the squeaky wooden planks and sat on the left side of the pegasus, leaning slightly onto the doorframe.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes. Big Mac was staring down at the ground and the farm below him, while Dash’s heads were looking up at the clear night sky.

“Could ya….answer the question, Miss Rainbow Dash?” Big Mac sheepishly asked, not having the courage to look up.

Rainbow spoke, but not with an answer, “How many stars do ya think there are?”

This odd question was enough to cause Big Mac to look at Rainbow Dash, “Beg pardon?”

The peasus’s gaze was still fixated on the stars, “When I was little, my dad would take me camping out almost every weekend during the summer. We would hike for miles until nightfall, then we would make camp, toast marshmallows and tell spooky stories. But one thing that I always remembered was that he would ask me how many stars were in the sky. I would try and count them, but I would always lose track of how many there were. So when he asked me how many there were, I would always answer with ‘I don’t know’. He’d always tell me that’s a good answer because he didn’t know either.”

Big Mac listened intently to Rainbow’s story, not saying a word.

“I guess that’s the same answer I have for what we are: I don’t know,” the pegasus admitted with a sigh, hanging her head.

“Ya don’t know?” Big Mac asked softly.

“I don’t, okay? I don’t know the answer,” Rainbow’s words sounded angry, but they were filled with sadness, “I just figured if I just ignored you, I would just forget about you....and how I feel.”

Big Mac paused a moment before he replied, “Well….how do you feel?”

Dash took a few deep breaths with her eyes closed. Finishing such, she answered, “I….like you. You’re a really nice stallion, Big Mac….too nice even. I just don’t know what to do or say about it. I’m not used to it.”

“Ah’m sorry.”

Rainbow looked to Big Mac, “Sorry? What are ya sorry for? If anything, I’m the one that should be sorry. I avoided you for almost a month, told everypony you might be the father and left you to deal with that by yourself. And about that, sorry about that, I….just kinda wanted to get the attention off of me for a while. Didn’t mean to throw you to the wolves like that.”

“It’s no big deal, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac insisted.

“See? You’re too freaking nice,” the pegasus sighed in frustration, “I just wish I could forget about all of this junk. That my life could be the same and go back to what it used to be.” Rainbow leaned backwards, resting her back on the wooden planks. With another groan, she added on, “Some days, I just hate everything….and right now, that includes me. I just don’t want to think about any of this.”

Sitting in silence, Big Mac thought of something. “Could ya tell me ‘bout yer father?”

“My dad?” Rainbow was puzzled, “Why?”

“Ah’m curious. After all, ah’m ‘bout ta be a father mahself,” the stallion had a little smile on his face at his own statement.

Rainbow Dash sat back up and smiled as she started to recall, “My dad was awesome, he still is awesome. He was one of the fastest pegasus in Cloudsdale. Heck, even worked with the Wonderbolts for a number of years before taking it easy. He broke so many flight records, it was awesome! But, he insisted that he retire to raise me by himself.”

“What ‘bout yer mother?”

The pegasus’s enthusiasm seemed to disappear, “I never really knew my mom. I remember when I was small, she was there one day and the next she was gone. I didn’t get it, and when I asked my dad, he didn’t give me an answer. I just remember when I asked him, it looked as if he was about to cry. He said that I should remember that my mom loves me very much. But he insisted that everything will be okay.” Rainbow’s ears dropped down and her eyes formed a few tears as she finished speaking, “I just never could understand how he could smile with all those tears in his eyes, telling me that everything will be wonderful.”

Upon hearing what Rainbow had said, Big Mac could really only say one thing, “Ah’m sorry to hear that.”

Quickly wiping away the tears out of her eyes, Rainbow returned to her normal self, “Well, doesn’t matter right? My dad raised a winner! Tough as nails, faster than any other pony around!”

Big Mac couldn’t help but let out a small chuckle at her boasting, “Ya sure are.”

By this time, Luna’s moon had risen fully above the horizon. With the light shining in, Rainbow Dash spoke, “Ya know, Big Mac? That actually felt good.”

“What did?”

“Letting it all out,” Rainbow leaned toward Big Mac, resting her head against his body, “I guess I had it all bottled up inside that it just needed to get out one way or another.”

The stallion felt Dash against his body. He leaned more toward the doorframe to his left in order to better support the two of them.

“So, yeah, thanks, big red,” the pegasus casually stated as she leaned more onto Big Mac as she made herself comfortable. Shifting her body around a few times, Rainbow Dash finally made herself comfortable. In this position, she was leaning against Big Mac’s right side, as if she was lounging on a couch, with her right bottom hoof propped up against the doorframe and her left bottom hoof hanging out of the doorframe.

“Think nothin’ of it, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac replied.

Rainbow tilted her head upwards slightly to look at the red pony, “By the way, how do you feel about me? I mean, I kinda already just spilled a lot about me, it’s only fair if ya do the same, big red.”

“Well, ah really meant what ah said. Ah really do care ‘bout ya, an’ ah really do have feelings fer ya,” Big Mac answered looked back down at his hooves.

Rainbow laughed, “Haha! Spoken like a true sap!”

The laughter caused Big Mac to blush a bit.

With her laughter finally gone, Rainbow spoke with a smile on her face, “Ya know, maybe having this baby won’t be that bad as I thought it would be. I feel like maybe everything will be wonderful after all.”

Chapter 7: I'm Sticking With You

Chapter 7: I’m Sticking With You

6 MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

Some time has passed since Big Mac and Rainbow Dash had their rendezvous that night in the barn. Since than, the two ponies hae grown closer together. While Big Mac still had the question of what they exactly were unanswered, he still enjoyed being able to hang around with the blue pegasus. As for Rainbow, she also seemed to enjoy having the stallion around her as well. In fact, she started to become extremely casual around him, particularly with her joking. Big Mac was still getting used to her different habits, but he still enjoyed the time they spent together.

One autumn day, rain was falling down onto Ponyville. The entire day was chilly and causing all of the citizens to take cover from the weather. As for Big Mac and Rainbow Dash, they were safe from the storm in Sugarcube Corner.

“Whoa, it’s really coming down hard out there, huh?” Dash commented, looking out the window, “Didn’t expect this today.”

“But aren’t ya part of the weather force fer Ponyville?” Big Mac asked as he took the final bite of his apple muffin.

Rainbow turned to look at the stallion, “Obviously, but it’s not like I’ve been to work or anything. Remember, they won’t let me do anything because of this thing.” The blue mare pointed at her stomach. The bulge on her body had grew significantly in the past month. It was about the size of both of Dash’s front hooves together, “Thanks to this, I can’t even do some of my morning exercises. It’s really throwing me off.”

Big Mac gently smiled, “They just care ‘bout ya.”

“I know, I know,” Rainbow shrugged it off before standing up from the table.

“Where ya goin’?” the red pony also stood up.

Dash started to trot to the door, “I gotta stop by the library and see if a book came in for me. Twilight said it should be in today.”

“Yer gonna go ta the library in this weather?” Big Mac was concerned, “Ya might catch a cold.”

Rainbow scoffed and rolled her eyes, “Thanks for telling me that, Big Mac, I never would have figured that out on my own.” The sarcasm of her words caused a few other patrons look at the two ponies.

“Ah’m jus’ worried, Miss Rainbow,” Big Mac added as he followed behind her.

With a sigh and a laugh, Rainbow turned back to look at him, “I know you are, Big Mac, I’m just giving ya a hard time. Now, come on.” She pushed open the door leading outside. The sound of the rain was now louder.

Rainbow Dash and Big Mac galloped quickly through the rain towards the library, aiming to get back inside as soon as possible. Despite her condition, Rainbow Dash seemed to want to make a race out of it. Pushing herself, she not only caught up with the stallion, but also started to pass him. Big Mac looked at Rainbow as she was running against the rain and saw something interesting. She seemed to have not only a determined demeanor about her, but also legitimately seemed happy as she ran. She was in her element as she ran through the rain, competitive as ever. The rain continued to pour down on her as she galloped, but refused to let it slow her down, picking up her pace. As the library came into view, the race came to a close with Rainbow Dash reaching the front door first. She stopped at the stoop, protected from the rain by a small awning.

“Ha! I win!” Rainbow was panting, pushing her wet mane out of the way of her eyes.

Big Mac was also panting as he arrived. “Wh-When did it become a race?” he asked brushing some of the rain off of his face.

Dash smirked, “When I said it was, duh!” She proudly smiled before turning to the door. As she tried to open it, she noticed a note on the door. Taking it, she read it aloud, “Stepped out to pick up some items. Be back in ten minutes. Signed, Twilight.”

“Guess we jus’ missed her,” Big Mac commented to himself.

“Ugh, that egghead! Why’d she have to leave when it’s raining?” Rainbow tried to wring out the water that got into her tail.

Taking a seat on the stoop, Big Mac also began to rid the water from his coat, “No need ta get upset, ah’m sure Miss Twilight will be back soon.”

Sighing and sitting down next to the stallion, Rainbow agreed, “Yeah, you’re right. I also need to stop getting easily annoyed at small things like this.” The pegasus opened up her wings and quickly flapped them to rid the water from the feathers. However, this seemed to just get Big Mac wet. The stallion laughed a bit as he now had more water to get off of him. Rainbow shared in the laughter. “Sorry about that, big red. I swear that wasn’t what I meant to do, but it’s just too funny.”

“It’s quite alright, Miss Rainbow Dash,” he replied, continuing to brush the water off his coat.

Rainbow continued to laugh until she experienced some pain. She grabbed on to her belly as she moaned. Big Mac was startled and quickly responded, “Miss Rainbow, are you okay?”

Gritting her teeth, she spoke up in a tone that seemed to be fighting back against the pain, “Yeah….I’m fine, just a cramp….or something….”

“Should ah take ya to Nurse Redheart?” he asked, ready to move at any word.

Rainbow shook her head, “Nah, these are normal….just gotta fight back.” Her voice wasn’t convincing, but she went back to the posture she had before the sudden pain, “It happens from time to time. I just gotta deal with it. Ugh, maybe I shouldn’t have ran over here.”

The stallion was still insistent, “Are ya sure? We can still take ya over fer a check up.”

“Big Mac, I’m fine,” Rainbow said as she waved her hoof in the air, brushing the incident off, “She told me it’s a normal part of being pregnant. A painful part, but normal.” She looked down at her stomach and gave a smirk, “I kinda wonder what will be more painful, giving birth to this or getting rid of it.” Dash’s statement made Big Mac give a horrified look on his face. She laughed, “I’m joking, Big Mac, I’m joking.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Big Mac commented, “Ah’ll never get used ta that kind of joking….”

Laughing to herself, Rainbow spoke, “Ya know, despite all of the junk I put you through, you still seem stubborn when it comes to my safety.”

“Well, ah really care ‘bout ya, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac replied.

“Heh, I never would have guessed,” Rainbow added.

The rain continued to fall and the sound grew louder. The two sat closer together for both warmth and to keep dry under the small awning. The two sat in silence together, with their coats touching one another. However, a surprising movement from the mare startled the stallion: Rainbow Dash leaned her head onto Big Mac’s body and rested it there.

Big Mac spoke up, “Miss Rainbow Dash?”

“Shut up. I’m enjoying this,” her eyes were closed and her voice was soft.

Rainbow’s coat was cool against Big Mac’s but it seemed to warm up the longer she rested against him. Her breathing was soft and calm, almost as if she was asleep against him. Her ear would twitch every so often due to the rain hitting the puddles and the awning above them, but other than that, she was in the most peaceful state Big Mac had ever seen her in.

As much as it pained him to do so, he spoke, “Miss Rainbow Dash?”

In a slightly annoyed tone, she replied, “What is it, big red?” Her eyes were still shut.

“Ah know this is a bit odd fer me ta ask ya bu-“

“Just spit it out.”

Big Mac continued, “Jus’ what are we exactly?”

Rainbow seemed to not move a muscle as she exhaled loudly. Other than that, however, she was silent.

The silence between the two returned. Big Mac’s face was burning red after asking the question. While he wanted to know the answer to the question that she had avoided for quite some time, he felt like a mule for asking. The splashing of the rain was the only audible sound for what seemed like an eternity.

The mare’s voice broken the cacophony of solely falling rain, “I don’t know what I’d call what we got,” she admitted. Opening her eyes, she looked at the falling rain as she continued, “but who cares about labels? Let’s just be us, whatever that is.”

“Um, alright….” Big Mac replied, not exactly sure how to respond to Rainbow’s remark.

Closing her eyes again to the sound of the rain, the pegasus spoke in a hushed tone with a smirk on her face, “But in case you’re wondering, big red, I’m sticking with you.”

Big Mac’s face became more flushed at Rainbow’s words. He was about to respond to her, however, a soft voice stopped him from doing so. Rainbow began to quietly yet playfully sing as the rain continued to fall, “I’m sticking with you, cause I’m made out of glue. Anything that you might do, I’m gonna do too.”

Chapter 8: Black Sheep

Chapter 8: Black Sheep

5 MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

It was late one evening on Sweet Apple Acres. Big Mac had just finished up a few of his daily tasks around the farm and was finally returning to the house. Trotting up onto the wooden floorboards, he noticed that the light in the living room was still on. Opening the front door, he saw an elderly green pony sitting in her rocking chair, slowly moving back and forth. It was apparent she had been waiting for his return.

“Evenin’, Granny,” the red stallion greeted.

Granny Smith nodded as she looked at her grandson, “Evenin’, Big Mac. Won’t ya take a seat? Ah wanna talk to ya ‘bout somethin’.”

Big Mac did as he was instructed, taking a seat on the couch in the living room. Facing Granny Smith, he waited for her to start.

“Ah want ta talk to ya ‘bout that blue pegasus that you’ve been seein’ a lot of lately. What’s her name….” Granny took a moment to try and think of the pony’s name.

“Miss Rainbow Dash?”

“Yes, her, Rainbow Dash.”

The stallion nervously pushed the conversation forward, “What ‘bout her?”

“Ah know that somethin’ has been goin’ on between the two of ya fer sometime now, but ah held mah tongue. But now ah jus’ can’t no more,” the green pony spoke.

“What are ya sayin’, granny?”

“Ah’m sayin’ ah don’t like ya bein’ with that pegasus. Ah can tell when a pony is a bad apple, an’ she’s a black sheep, no doubt ‘bout that,” Granny Smith explained.

Big Mac replied, “Miss Rainbow Dash isn’t that bad of a pony, ah promise ya that.”

“The pony is with child, fer Celestia’s sake!” Granny became more animated, “An’ if ah ain’t mistaken, it’s believed that yer the father.”

Shamefully, Big Mac looked away to avoid eye contact with his grandmother.

“Of course, the pony claims she can’t remember anythin’ happenin’, so who knows who might be the real father,” the elderly pony continued, “Fer all we know, it could be jus’ ‘bout any stallion in Ponyville!”

“Don’t....don'tsay that, Granny….” Big Mac softly spoke.

“What was that?” Granny Smith asked, leaning in to better hear what Big Mac said.

The red stallion repeated, “Don’t say that ‘bout Miss Rainbow Dash. She’s a good pony, she really is. She has her faults like anypony else, but she tries her best. Miss Rainbow Dash admits what has happened is the consequence of her actions an’ she won’t run away from the problem. An’ ah wanna stand with her an’ her decision.”

Granny Smith looked at Big Mac. While he was looking elsewhere, his expression showed that his words reflected how he felt, “Ah’m sorry fer raisin’ mah voice like that, Big Mac. Ah jus’ see that Rainbow Dash as trouble.”

Big Mac couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, “She certainly is a hoofful….” Finally looking back toward his grandmother, he continued, “But ah care ‘bout her a lot. No, more than jus’ care….Granny Smith, ah love Miss Rainbow Dash. Ah really have never felt this way ‘bout any other pony before….ah really do love her.”

Sitting in silence as she swayed back and forth on her rocking chair, Granny Smith thought for a few moments. She then replied, “Are ya sure this is how ya feel ‘bout her?”

“Ah’ve never been more sure ‘bout anythin’ in mah life, Granny,” his words were determined and strong.

“Are ya sure this isn’t jus’ because she might be carryin’ yer offspring?” a small smirk appeared on the elderly pony’s face.

“Eenope. Even if she wasn’t with child, ah’d feel the same way.”

“What if it isn’t yer offspring after all?”

Big Mac paused at the statement. The thought really seemed to visibly bother him as he dwelled on it, but he quickly shook his head and replied, “Then ah’ll stick by her side, no matter what.”

A warm smile appeared on Granny Smith’s face, “A strong scene of honor ta the pony ya love. Ya certainly are an Apple. Yer father an’ mother would be proud of ya, Big Mac. Jus’ like ah am.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Big Mac returned the smile back to the green pony.

“It’s obvious that yer in love with that Rainbow Dash pony,” Granny spoke as she carefully got off of her rocking chair, “An’ ah think yer jus’ the pony she needs.”

The red stallion smiled as his grandmother started to trot out of the room, “Thank ya, granny.”

“Of course Big Mac. Besides, somepony’s gotta give ya a hard time,” she mused as she let the room, “even if yer followin’ a family tradition.”

Chapter 9: Skip The Charades

Chapter 9: Skip The Charades

4 MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

The next month around Ponyville was pretty uneventful for Rainbow Dash and Big Mac. The pegasus was considered ‘grounded’ by the Ponyville weather force due to her pregnant state and put on maternity leave. While she objected the idea heavily, she did enjoy the time off to read in the library and just be lazy. As for the stallion, Big Mac had his normal duties around Sweet Apple Acres. Nevertheless, the two ponies still continued to spend plenty of time with one another. Most of the time it would be for either lunch or dinner, in which Rainbow would exhibit both her newfound appetite and cravings. Though, despite everything, Dash would keep trying to get cider, only to be stopped by either Big Mac or somepony else who knew better than to allow her to drink.

One evening, Big Mac and Rainbow Dash were returning back to Sweet Apple Acres after a sort of dinner date. Dash never liked using the term date as she felt that she would have to live up to an expectation of a perfect mare.

“So, ya enjoy yerself?” Big Mac asked as they trotted up onto the porch of the house.

“Yeah, I did, though I think I scared some of the ponies there about how much I could eat,” Rainbow laughed as she followed behind the red stallion.

Big Mac laughed a bit as he held the front door open for the blue pegasus, “Well, you are pregnant after all.”

Entering the living room and taking a seat on the couch, Rainbow hit her hoof against her growing belly, “Yup, I’m eating for two!”

Following her inside, Big Mac watched Rainbow showcase her stomach. The infant inside was certainly growing. Big Mac would guess just by looking at it was about the size of Big Mac’s own hoof.

“So what’cha wanna do, big red?” Rainbow asked as she lounged on the couch.

“Ah was gonna ask ya the same thin’,” the red pony replied.

Rainbow thought for a moment, “How about you see if you can find a blanket or something? Something tells me I might need to crash here for the night.”

Big Mac nodded, “Alright.”

The red stallion trotted out of the room and went up the stairs. Opening up the hallway closet, he took a large quilt from the closet. Carefully returning down the stairs with the quilt on his back, he trotted into the living room. However, Rainbow Dash was not in the room.

“Miss Rainbow Dash?” Big Mac called out. He put the quilt down on the couch were the blue mare was just moments ago.

His ears twitched as a noise came from the kitchen. Moving towards the sound, he entered the kitchen and found were Rainbow Dash was. She was at the table in the middle of the room, which looked as if it had just been ransacked. Dash had a bottle of cider in her hoof and was drinking straight from it.

“Miss Rainbow Dash!” Big Mac rushed to her side and stopped her drinking of the cider. Struggling slightly, he managed to take the bottle away from the pegasus. “What were ya doin’?”

“What do you think? I needed a drink!” Rainbow struggled to try and retrieve the bottle from Big Mac.

“Ya can’t drink, yer with child!” Big Mac insisted, keeping the bottle away from Rainbow, but having difficulty in doing so as time continued.

Dash continued to wrestle toward the cider bottle, “I’m well aware of that, now give me the bottle! I haven’t had a drink in a long time.”

Lightly pushing Dash away to break free from the wrestling, Big Mac turned toward the sink and poured the cider down the drain, emptying the bottle.

Enraged, Rainbow shouted, “What in Equestria was that for? That cider was still good!”

“That’s not the point and ya know it. Ya can’t be drinkin’ in yer condition,” leaving the glass bottle in the sink, Big Mac turned back to face Rainbow.

“It’s my freaking body, why can’t I indulge a little, huh?”

Big Mac raised his voice slightly, “Because of the baby, of course.”

“One single drink isn’t going to kill it!”

“That’s not the point, Miss Rainbow Dash, ya have ta think ‘bout the baby’s well-bein’,” Big Mac urged.

“Oh, so I can’t be myself because of this growth inside of me? Even despite the fact that I didn’t even want it?” Rainbow’s volume grew, “I have to change everything I do because of this thing?”

The stallion tried his best to keep his calm, “That’s not what ah’m tryin’ ta say.”

“Then what are you saying? Please, enlighten me, Big Mac,” Rainbow put her hooves up to Big Mac and pushed him away, “Why don’t ya just skip all of the charades and get to what you want me to be? You want me to be a perfect little filly for ya, don’t ya?”

“Miss Rainbow Dash, please let me spea-“ Big Mac was cut off.

The pegasus continued her rant, “Am I supposed to be this picture perfect pony for you? Or do you want me to be something else?”

Finally speaking firmly, Big Mac replied “Yer actin’ as if yer reckless actions won’t have any affects the child. Ya can’t jus-“

“Oh, quit acting like you’re all high and mighty, Big Mac!” Rainbow raised her voice even louder, “If I’m correct, you’re the one that got me in this situation. At least that’s what I told you, anyway. Heck if I know whose kid this could be!”

Big Mac’s face lost all expression at what Rainbow had said, “Wh-What do ya mean?”

Dash repeated herself, still shouting, “I just told ya, this baby could be any number of stallions, not like I can remember! Is that the Rainbow Dash you care so deeply for? Is it?”

The red stallion was silent and didn’t respond. He couldn’t find the words he needed or wanted to say.

“Answer me!” Rainbow barked as she raised her hoof up and hit Big Mac across his face.

The attack surprised both of the ponies. Raising his hoof up to face, Big Mac rubbed his jaw where Rainbow’s hoof had made the impact. They looked at each other; Rainbow’s anger had given way to shock at what she had just done, while Big Mac was in a state of disbelief. The two stared at each other in silence; the only sound that could be heard was the faint sound of the wind blowing outside.

Rainbow Dash broken the stillness between them with an apologetic voice, “Big Mac….I’m sorry….I didn’t mean to….” She trailed off as she spoke, not finishing her sentence.

In a burst of energy, Big Mac trotted away from the scene and out of the kitchen. Going into the living room, he trotted straight out the front door, out into the night. Behind him, the blue pegasus called out to him, pleading with him to stop and turn around. Her voice was sincere and repentant, but Big Mac continued out. As soon as he trotted off the porch, he saw his sister trotting the opposite way, toward the house.

“Howdy, Big Mac. Where ya off to?” Applejack asked. She didn’t get a reply as the stallion trotted right past her into the grove of apple trees. The orange pony watched as he trotted into the grove and disappeared. Turning her head, she saw that Rainbow Dash was standing on the porch of the house, also seeing the red stallion vanished into the night.

Chapter 10: Talk

Chapter 10: Talk

Big Mac was out in the orchard apple orchard. Leaning up against a tree, he quietly thought of what just had happened between him and Rainbow Dash. The shouting, the anger, the words exchanged, it saddened him that such events took place. He only wanted the best for Rainbow Dash, but he didn’t want to over step his bounds either.

With a sigh that broke the stillness around him, he looked up at the night sky that hung over him. Luna’s moon was only shining half of its light down, but enough to light up the grove of trees where Big Mac was. Still with his gaze fixated on the sky, the stallion saw some of the stars shine brightly. His mind drifted back to the evening he and Rainbow were in the barn, when both of them began to spend more time together. A smile appeared on his face, remembering how she shared herself with him, about who she was. Big Mac missed that, more than he could have thought.

Picking himself up, the red pony started to trot back to the house. He had one thing on his mind: recovering the relationship the two ponies have.

Drawing closer to the house, Big Mac noticed two ponies on the porch, talking with each other. It was Rainbow and his sister, Applejack. He couldn’t make out what they were saying to each other, but he could tell from the body language that Rainbow Dash seemed very guilt-stricken. The two mares turned to see Big Mac returning and their chatter became more hushed. As he stepped onto the porch, Big Mac was approached by the blue pegasus as Applejack seemed to disappear elsewhere.

“Hey….” she managed to say. Her tone was almost uncharacteristic of her.

Big Mac nodded, “Miss Rainbow Dash.” He looked at Rainbow, who avoided eye contact.

“Can we….talk?” the mare didn’t want to look at Big Mac for any reason.

The stallion nodded again, moving towards the front door. Opening it, both he and Rainbow entered the house.

Once inside, Rainbow stood in the middle of the room. Her head was hung low, staring straight at the floorboards below her. She opened her mouth a few times, trying to say something, but nothing came out. Big Mac opened his mouth to start the conversation, but Rainbow finally spoke up. “I was talking with Applejack just now….and she knows what happened earlier between us….about the cider and stuff….”

“Okay….” Big Mac replied.

“And….I want to say sorry for how I acted….and hitting you square in the face….” the pegasus apologized, still looking downward.

“It’s alright, Miss Rainbow Dash.”

“No….it’s not, Big Mac….” Rainbow insisted, her voice grew louder and slightly distorted it because of it. Her tone returned to what it was before as she added on with a sigh, “Nothing’s making sense at all….not anymore….”

“What are ya talkin’ ‘bout?” Big Mac asked.

Finally jolting her head upwards, Rainbow looked at Big Mac in the eyes. Her eyes were wet with tears, some starting to roll down her face, “You idiot! You naïve, wonderful idiot! Don’t you see you’re too good for somepony like me? Look at me, I’m a wreck. I’m a pony who can’t even do a simple thing right for my future child. And you….you just come swooping in like some sort of knight in shining armor to save the day. You go and put me on some sort of pedestal like I’m some sort of princess. But….I’m not….I don’t deserve somepony as you….”

Big Mac quietly replied, “That’s not true, Miss Rainbow Dash….”

Rubbing her eyes, Dash shot back, “It is! I treated you like garbage, and more than just what happened tonight. I didn’t mean to treat you so bad….but I just do anyway, and you’re still here by my side for Celestia knows why!” Her tone was a mixture of anger, sadness, and pleading.

Looking at Rainbow’s face, the stallion raised a hoof up to wipe a tear from one of her eyes, “Because ah care ‘bout ya, Miss Rainbow Dash, ah always have….”

Rainbow looked as if she was going to shed more tears. Swiftly, she grabbed onto Big Mac and hugged him tightly, burying her face into his body. She began to sob lightly as she spoke, “You idiot….you caring idiot….I’ve been in what seemed like a nightmare during the last few weeks….like I was drowning slowly because of this baby. Then I would close my eyes and just hope it would be over when I open them….I’d make believe that I had this new life….but no matter what, I’d just felt more alone, more than I ever had….all because of this baby….”

“But why?” the stallion asked quietly.

“Because….I honestly don’t know whose it is….” she finally admitted.

Despite the surprise it was to Big Mac, he did not reply.

“I’m sorry….I’m so, so sorry….I screwed up badly….”

The two ponies stood in silence save for Rainbow’s soft sobbing. Big Mac placed a hoof around the pegasus as she clung tightly to the red stallion. For a few minutes, this was the scene in the Apple family’s living room, and for those few minutes, it was as if all of Equestria seemed to stand still for those two ponies.

Dash spoke as she continued to shed tears, “I just want my life to be the same….like how it used to be….like back when we were stargazing in the barn….”

Big Mac gently chuckled.

This action puzzled the blue mare, “Why….Why are you laughing?” she looked up at him, wiping away a few tears from her eyes and trying her best to get her voice to return her voice to normal.

“Because when we did that stargazin’….it meant a lot ta me as well. It was one of mah favorite moments that ah spent with ya,” Big Mac explained.

Rainbow had a small smile on her face as she spoke, “I really liked it, too….so much….it was simpler then….” She paused for a moment before continuing on to something else, “I’m sorry, Big Mac….I really am….”

“Ya have nothin’ ta be sorry for.”

“Yes, I do,” she said, burying her head back into Big Mac, holding him tightly, “I messed up….I have problems….too many problems, and because of them I don’t know if this is going to be our child or….whatever….”

“Ah don’t care ‘bout that. Ah’ll love the both of ya the same way, unconditionally,” Big Mac returned the hug that Rainbow was giving him.

Unable to speak, the pegasus simply tightened her limbs around Big Mac.

“Ah love ya, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac whispered.

With a new type of tear in her eyes, Rainbow replied, “I love you too, Big Mac….I love you too….”

“Why are ya still cryin’?” the stallion noticed the tears starting to roll down her cheek.

Dash sighed and slightly laughed, “You idiot, it’s a happy kind of crying….it’s ‘cause I’ve finally found somepony who really cares for me….somepony who is there to hold my hoof when it seems like my world is coming to an end….somepony to give me strength to stand up again….somepony who loves me even after I’ve broken down….” as she spoke, Rainbow was finding it hard to not start crying again.

Big Mac smiled at her words and held her close.

“Just promise me one thing,” she added.

“What’s that?”

“Just don’t let me down….”

“Ah promise, Miss Rainbow Dash….ah promise.”

Finally breaking their embrace after a few more moments, the two ponies looked at each other with loving smiles and flushed faces.

“Sorry about….breaking down like that….” Rainbow said as she rubbed the back of her head with one of her hooves.

“It’s fine, Miss Rainbow Dash,” Big Mac smiled warmly to the pegasus.

Looking out the window, Rainbow saw how dark the night had gotten, “Well, I guess I should get home and sleep….today’s been….well eventful to say the least,” she let out a small chuckle at her last comment.

“Alright, but may ah ask ya one somethin’ first?”

“What’s that?”

“Miss Rainbow Dash, will ya marry me?”

Chapter 11: The World Is Watching

Chapter 11: The World Is Watching

2 ½ MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

Big Mac was pacing nervously. It was a big day for not only him but also for quite a number of ponies. He was breathing heavily, trying to calm himself with each breath, but with no luck. His orange-coated sister approached him, wearing a white gown.

“Look at yerself, Big Mac, ya look a pig got ya dressed fer yer big day,” Applejack spoke as she reached over and straighten the black suit that was on the red stallion.

“Ah thought it looked fine,” Big Mac replied, holding still so Applejack could fix his clothing.

Moving up to his bowtie, Applejack straightened it out before talking a step back to look at her brother from head to hoof, “There ya go, now yer lookin’ sharp fer yer big day!”

Again, Big Mac started to take deep breaths in an effort to calm himself down. Applejack easily took notice.

“Yer scared aren’t ya?”

“Eeyup….wouldn’t ya be scared?” the stallion replied.

“If ah were gettin’ married ta Rainbow Dash, ah’m sure ah would be,” the mare joked as she patted her brother on the back, “Yer not gettin’ cold hooves are ya?”

Big Mac shook his head, “Ain’t no way.”

Applejack smirked, “Glad ta hear that. Good luck out there, Big Mac.”

“Ah feel ah’m gonna need it.”

The ceremony was about to begin. In their outdoor venue, with Celestia’s sun shining, the attendees included a number of ponies from all over Ponyville, including Bon Bon, Lyra, Cheerilee, Big Mac’s littlest sister Applebloom and her friends Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the Cakes from Sugarcube Corner, Zecora, and so many more others. One stand out attendee was Discord who was accompanied by Twilight Sparkle. She seemed to be keeping a sharp eye on him as to make sure he was to not ruin the ceremony.

The traditional music began to play and signified the start of the wedding. First to trot down the aisle was Big Mac with Granny Smith.

As they trotted down the aisle, Granny Smith jokingly whispered to her grandson, “Last chance ta get out of this, Big Mac.”

With some surprise in his hushed reply, Big Mac retorted, “Ah have no intention of leavin’.”

The elderly pony smiled, “Spoken like a true Apple.”

Big Mac led Granny Smith to her seat before taking his place up in the front of the audience. He watched as the groomscolt and bridesmaids trotted down the aisle as well. First was his best stallion, Caramel, trotting down with Applejack. While the mare seemed perfectly calm and relaxed during the trot, Caramel seemed to be nervous as he accompanied his best pal’s sister. It was enough to make Big Mac smile and softly chuckle to himself.

Next down the aisle was Big Mac’s good friend Pokey Pierce trotting along with Pinkie Pie. It was obvious that Pinkie was trying her absolute best to behave while trotting down the aisle, however it seemed almost painful for her to contain her excitement. Her joy was apparent with her the wide smile she had on her face.

Finally, the last of the bridesmaids was Rarity, accompanied by Big Mac’s cousin Braeburn. He seemed almost unrecognizable without his hat or vest on. Rarity, on the other hoof, seemed natural in her bridesmaid’s gown and trotting down the aisle, even if it wasn’t her big day.

With the groomscolts and bridesmaids all standing up in front of the audience, the traditional music faded out. It was now for the big moment, which everypony was waiting for. The sound of an acoustic guitar rung out as the music resumed. Big Mac looked to the side and saw the performers, Spike and Fluttershy. The day before, Rainbow Dash had told him that she arranged for a special song to be played for when she trots down the aisle.

“Everypony is here except for me,” Spike started to sing.

“And I can feel the world is watching,” Fluttershy took the next line.

“Who is on their own, I wonder,” the dragon sang out.

“And who has cast this spell I’m under,” the yellow mare continued.

In perfect harmony, the two sang the simple but sweet chorus. “I want you with me. I want you with me.”

Everypony’s attention turned back to the aisle, where the bride started to make her way down the aisle. Next to her was her father. His coat was a more of a bolder blue than his daughter’s, but the rainbow colored mane gave away that they were related.

As they trotted down, Spike and Fluttershy continued to sing, alternating the lines in their duet:

“Look into your heart, are you happy?”

“You could be the one to set me free.”

“And with your hoof in mine we will run.”

“To a place that knows no one,” the last line of the stanza was sung together before they continued to the simple chorus.

As they sang, Big Mac stared at Rainbow Dash. She wore what seemed to be a traditional bridal dress, nothing extravagant or with frills, but it held it’s own beauty in simplicity. It was apparent that it was also made by hoof, possibly by Rarity. The size of her belly stuck out quite a bit, but it was as if Rainbow didn’t care if was obvious she was pregnant, in fact, it was as if she was flaunting it. The rainbow mane that would normally be tossed in any which way the wind wished was neatly braided. Rainbow’s face was hidden behind a white veil, but despite such, her bashful yet big smile was noticeable as she mouthed the words to the song.

“I won’t forget the things you said, that’s dancing and singing inside my head,” Fluttershy sang out.

Spike followed up with his line, “You’ve always known you’re not alone.”

Finally, the two singers sang the last chorus of the song. It was at this time, Rainbow Dash had arrived up to the front with her father. The two trotted up and stopped just to the left of Big Mac. With the silence finally sitting in, the ceremony continued on.

The presider of the wedding, Mayor Mare, took her place in front of Big Mac and Rainbow Dash and started speaking, “Dearly beloved, thank you for coming. We are gathered here today on this wonderful spring day in the sight of Celestia and Luna to join together this stallion and mare in matrimony.”

As she spoke, Big Mac and Rainbow exchanged glances at each other, nervously and bashfully smiling at one another.

“I ask who gives this mare to be married to this stallion?” Mayor Mare asked, following the lines that presiders follow.

“That would be me,” Rainbow Dash’s father raised his hoof up, giving a proud smile.

The mayor nodded, “Thank you. Now, the bride and groom will read to each other their vows, which they have written. Rainbow Dash, would you like to start?”

“Actually, can Big Mac go first?” she asked.

A little surprised, Mayor Mare nodded, “Sure. A little odd to do so, but there’s no problem with that. Big Macintosh?”

Turning to face Rainbow Dash, Big Mac started to speak, “Miss Rainbow Dash, what can ah really say? Ah’ve always cared so much ‘bout ya. Ah’ve loved ya fer the longest time an’….heh….an’ here ah thought ah could recite the vows without the needin’ the cards.” With a little bit of laughter from the audience at his comment, Big Mac reached into his jacket and pulled out two small cards and started to read from them, “Ah have always cared so much fer ya, Miss Rainbow Dash, from the first time we just spent time together. Ah’ve always loved ya, an’ jus’ every moment we spend together seems better than the last. An’ ah promise ta make every day together the best it can be. Ah look forward ta makin’ new memories with ya an’ ah’ll do whatever it takes fer us.” Pausing and switching the front card out for the other, Big Mac continued, “Ah’ll be the best husband ah can be fer ya, ah’ll be the best father ah can be fer our child, an’ ah’ll be the best provider ah can be fer all of us. Ah know things might become challengin’, but ah know we can get through anythin’ together.” Finishing his vows, Big Mac looked up at Rainbow Dash. Her face had a very joyful smile as she was touched by the stallion’s words.

Mayor Mare spoke, “That was beautiful, Big Macintosh. Rainbow Dash, if you may.”

The pegasus looked at Big Mac for a moment before starting, “Well, I’ll admit that the reason why I wanted you to go first was that I didn’t really write out my vows beforehoof. It’s not that I didn’t want to write them out, it’s more of that I couldn’t find the right words every single time I tried to write them out. Even now, I can’t seem to find the right words at all.” Rainbow was silent for a moment before trying to continue, “You’re really the nicest pony I’ve ever met. After all of the stuff I put you through, from pushing you away to even fighting with ya, you’re still here by my side. Like….when I cried, you were there to wipe my tears dry. When I was just frustrated and confused, you helped clear my mind. You gave me strength to stand up again to face the world again. I never could understand it, but when I needed you, you were there. And I know I never made anything really easy for you, Big Mac, but….I do love you, more than anything else. We’ve had times that I wouldn’t trade for all of Equestria itself. So….thank you. And I just have one thing for you to add to your vow: just be the best friend you can be for me, just like you already have.” Trying her best, Rainbow Dash was fighting tears as she finished. Big Mac was unable to say anything either, completely captivated by Rainbow Dash’s words.

Mayor Mare smiled as she continued, “That was very touching, Rainbow Dash. Now then, I say that if any individual here can show cause or any reason why these two shall not be joined together in matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.” With no reply from the audience, the mayor continued, “Very well. Do you, Big Macintosh, take Rainbow Dash to be your lawfully wedded wife and live together forever in the estate of matrimony? Do you promise love, comfort, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, for better or for worse for as long as you both shall live?”

“Ah do,” Big Mac nodded.

“And do you, Rainbow Dash,” the mayor switched her attention to the pegasus, “take Big Macintosh, to be your lawfully wedded husband and to live together forever in the estate of matrimony? Do you promise to love, comfort, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, for better or for worse as long as you both shall live?”

“You better believe it,” Rainbow spoke before rephrasing her response, “I mean, I do.”

Mayor Mare smiled as she finished, “Then with the power vested in me by Princesses Celestia and Luna and by the town of Ponyville, I now pronounce you stallion and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”

Big Mac lifted up the veil that masked Rainbow Dash. Once it was lifted, he saw that Rainbow looked as if she was about to burst into tears of joy. The two closed the gap and shared their first kiss as a wedded couple.

The audience began to clap their hooves together for the newly weds. In the back row, Discord whispered to the purple unicorn seated next to him.

“There, the ceremony is done, Twilight. Now can I make it rain mud on them?” he was annoyed that he had to behave himself.

Twilight replied in a whisper as she continued to clap, “You do that, Discord, and I will banish you to the void between dimensions.”

Chapter 12: Fade Into You

Chapter 12: Fade Into You

After the ceremony, all of those in attendance were invited to the reception. Everypony present were there to eat, drink, and give their best wishes to the newly married couple. Also, since Pinkie Pie herself had baked the wedding cake, she insisted that everypony come and enjoy the celebration.

“Alright, everypony, it’s time for the newly weds first dance together!” the MC announced as he directed the entire audience’s attention to the center of the dance floor.

Slowly trotting out onto the floor, Rainbow Dash and Big Mac were sheepishly looking at each other. They both laughed a little as they raised their hooves up and placed them on each other. Rainbow placed hers around the stallion’s neck, while he placed his hoof on the pegasus’ back, right above her wing. As the music started to play over the speaker, the two began to sway to the soft ballad.

“I want to hold the hoof inside you. I want to take a breath that’s true. I look to you and I see nothing. I look to you to see the truth,” as the lyrics were being sung, Rainbow pulled closer to Big Mac, causing him to do the same. The two knew that everypony was watching them, and while it did make both of them feel a bit uneasy, they felt as if they were in their own world, slow dancing.

“Fade into you, strange you never knew. Fade into you, I think it’s strange you never knew,” the song continued to the chorus.

As their dancing continued, Rainbow whispered quietly, “So….this is it, huh? We’re finally married….”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac replied gently.

Nuzzling closer to the stallion as they danced, Dash spoke softly, “I love you, Big Mac….”

Not replying verbally, Big Mac smiled lightly as he pulled Rainbow closer to him, still drifting to the music.

The song finally came to the close and so did the first dance between Big Mac and Dash. With the cheer of applause, the two parted from the dance floor and rejoined the audience. A number of ponies went up to the two ponies and congratulated them.

This was cut short, however, by the speakers playing a very upbeat and energetic song. This caused Pinkie Pie to rush over to Rainbow’s side and pulls her out onto the dance floor to join the rest of their friends in dancing, “Come on, Rainbow Dash, this is our jam!”

Left by himself, Big Mac watched as the six friends started to dance with one another. His observation was interrupted by a familiar pegasus stallion trotting next to him.

“Hey there, Big Macintosh,” the pegasus greeted with a smile.

Recognizing the rainbow colored mane, the red pony knew it was Rainbow Dash’s father, “Howdy, Mister Rainbow Stratus.”

“Please, you don’t have to be so formal. Especially after today, we’re family now,” he smiled, “Stratus is just fine.”

Big Mac smiled and nodded at his comment. He turned his attention back to the dance floor, watching the mares on the dance floor continuing their shaking and grooving.

Rainbow Stratus also watched on, laughing slightly and sighed, “My Rainbow Dash has really grown in the last few months. And to think, it was all because of you, Big Mac.”

The red stallion’s ears perked up at the comment, “Beg pardon?”

Stratus turned to look at Big Mac, “She’s really matured recently and I think it has a lot to do with you and how much of an impact you have on her.”

“Ah don’t think ah have all that much of an impact on her,” Big Mac admitted.

“Nonsense. You affect her far more than both of you realize,” Stratus explained, “When she was a filly, she was a little hellion. Always getting into scraps, testing her limits, and being adventurous. Heh, she’s still the same in some ways in regards to that. Something she got from both her mother and myself. But I can’t help but think about what it would have been like if her mother were around to help raise her.”

Feeling a little uncomfortable about asking, Big Mac carefully spoke, “Why wasn’t her mother around, if ya don't mind me askin'?”

Stratus sighed as he answered, “Well, her mother and I had often got into arguments. Nothing major, just disagreements from time to time, and we would always make peace at the end of them. She and I knew that we loved and cared for each other no matter what, so we would always make come together at the end. One day, however, we had one argument that caused her to leave our home. I don’t even remember what it was, it seems so trivial now. But as night came, she didn’t return. The next day I learned she had gotten into an accident and passed away.” He paused taking a deep breath before resuming, “Rainbow Dash had just been born and….I didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth of what happened. So, I just told her that everything will be okay. In doing so, I guess I helped molded her into what she is now.”

“Does she know? 'Bout her mother that is.”

“No, but I plan to tell her sometime later today. I feel that it’s the absolute least I could do for her,” the pegasus answered before changing the topic, “Anyway, this isn’t about that, Big Mac. It’s about how much you mean to her. Say what you will, Big Mac, but she has told me that you have gotten her to straighten herself out and think about more than just herself.”

“Ah still don’t get why she thinks it’s me who did that, what ‘bout doin’ all that fer her child?” Big Mac asked.

Stratus smirked slightly, “Well, you didn’t hear it from me, but Dash told me that you were the first pony to take a serious interest in her and her well-being.”

“Well, ah do care fer her an’ all….” Big Mac admitted.

“And it seems your warm, caring personality rubbed off on her. All because of you, Big Mac.”

The red stallion thought for a few moments before speaking, “All because of me?”

“Because of your kindheartedness and your compassion,” Stratus corrected, “but yes, because of you.”

“Gosh….” was all Big Mac could say in response.

Placing a hoof onto Big Mac’s back for reassurance, “You’re a good stallion Big Mac, and you got a big heart. I’m proud to call you my son-in-law and I know Rainbow Dash is proud to be married to you.”

“Thank ya, Stratus,” Big Mac smiled.

As the two stallions finished, Rainbow Dash trotted up to Big Mac, started to tug the stallionn out to the dance floor. “Come on, Big Mac, they’re about to play a song I requested for us!” Dash eagerly stated.

Big Mac seemed to not have a choice in the matter, and he waved quickly to Stratus before having to dance with Dash.

With a chuckle, Stratus spoke to himself, “She’s quite a hoofful, Big Mac, but you’ll do just fine.”

Chapter 13: Sea Of Love

Chapter 13: Sea Of Love

2 MONTHS UNTIL DUE DATE

It was two weeks after the wedding between Big Mac and Rainbow Dash and, after talking about it for a while, the pegasus was finally moving into Sweet Apple Acres. The idea was originally Rainbow Dash’s, who believed that it would be best to not only move in with her now husband, but also to help care for her child after it’s born.

“Well, that’s the last box,” Big Mac said as he placed the cardboard box on the floor of Rainbow’s new room.

“Thanks for bringing all of my junk here,” the pegasus spoke with a smile.

“Think nothin’ of it, Rainbow, yer family now. Besides, we ain’t gonna have ya do anythin’ with ya still lookin’ like that,” Applejack used her hoof to point at Rainbow Dash’s belly. It had grown slightly since the wedding.

Dash laughed, “Yeah, kinda stinks I can’t even lend ya a hoof though.”

“Well, we’ll certainly lend ya a hoof tomorra with settin’ up yer new livin’ space. It’s gettin’ a bit late, so ah’m gonna turn in,” Applejack waved her hoof as she exited the room.

“Ah think ah’m gonna do the same,” Big Mac stated as he was about to turn around. However, a hoof reached out to stop him. He turned to see Rainbow had gotten closer to him and stopped him.

“Please don’t go….not yet….” she softly spoke.

Big Mac obeyed the instructions, but he was puzzled of why.

Dash trotted to the door and closed it, leaving only the two ponies in her new room. Big Mac watched as Rainbow moved from the door, passing the wooden dresser and finally reaching her bed. She hopped up onto the bed, sitting down with her bottom legs dangling off of the side.

She spoke up again, “Sit.”

Big Mac did as he was told, sitting closer to the end of the small bed.

Aside from the springs in the mattress making a few noises, the room was calm and quiet. The stallion looked at Rainbow to find that she was staring straight down at the floorboards directly below her dangling hooves. Due to her mane, he couldn’t see her face.

Suddenly, Dash’s body came alive as she wrapped her hooves around Big Mac, holding on to him tightly. Caught off guard, Big Mac fell backwards onto the bed as he let out a yelp of surprise.

Rainbow Dash found his reaction amusing. Still holding on to him, she laughed, “Heh, sorry, wasn’t expecting you would do that, big red.”

The stallion was still a little shook up, “I-It’s quite alright….uh, may ah ask what that was for?”

“Well, it’s simple really. It’s because I love you, ya big idiot.”

“Ah….don’t really follow,” Big Mac was puzzled.

“Do I have to spell it out for you? I mean, it’s obvious that we love each other, but the more I think about it, I realize just how much you mean to me.” A few tears started to form in Rainbow’s eyes as she pulled herself closer to Big Mac. The tone of her voice, however, was happy, “You mean the whole world of Equestria to me…..heck, you mean more than that to me. Even when I was completely stupid you stuck by me for reasons I can’t even begin to imagine why.”

Big Mac replied, “Well, it’s because ah love ya.”

"Is that the belief of 'true love' or whatever those ponies call it?" the pegasus asked, giving a small laugh, "Do you honestly think that two ponies have a love that can last forever?"

The stallion smiled, "Ah hope....no, ah know so."

Rainbow shook her head and continued. Her voice seemed to have a warm and loving tone to it, along with a bit of a laugh, "Even with somepony like me? Please, I’m such a stubborn mule and act like I know everything, not listening to anypony. But you still were right there beside me, even when I pushed you away. For the life of me, I can’t think of what made me think that way or why in Celestia's name you would stay by my side through all of it. I just don't get it”

Placing a hoof on top of her mane, Big Mac lightly patted Rainbow Dash, “Because ah love ya that much.”

Dash smiled slightly, “Heh, ya know, I always wondered what would happen if I just broken down in front of you, telling ya how I feel and even cry. Never would of thought that it would make me feel so relieved. And I never thought you’d accept me.”

“Of course, ah would.”

Letting go of the stallion, Rainbow Dash sat up in her bed and allowed Big Mac to do the same. “Can I be honest about something?”

Big Mac nodded as he repositioned himself.

“Well….I still don’t remember that night when….well, you know what happened, but I can say that I do not regret what happened.”

“Beg pardon?”

Dash nodded, “I know that sounds stupid with how things have turned out since then. But despite the fighting, the way I treated ya, and of course the baby, I don’t have a single regret about it, because I have finally been honest with myself. Honest with myself and others. And while I know I was smashed, but I know me. If I really did sleep with you, it's because I love you, big red. And I still do.”

“Do ya really mean all of that?”

With a smile and a few tears in her eyes, Rainbow nodded again, “Yes. I don’t think you realized that you kinda stole my heart, big red. And even when I showed you the ugly parts of me, you still felt the same way about me. It was then I realized how much I loved you, Big Mac.”

Big Mac simply smiled at Rainbow Dash as she finished her confession.

“Haha, I feel like such a chump for being all sappy like that….” Rainbow’s face turned red as she looked away from Big Mac, brushing the tears out of her eyes.

The stallion shared in the laugh as well, giving a warm smile to the pegasus, “Ah found it ta be quite beautiful, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash silently blushed at his comment and bashfully smiled. After a few moments of stillness, the pegasus took one of Big Mac’s front hooves in hers and placed it on her belly. The red pony was a little surprised by what his hoof was feeling. Rainbow continued to hold the stallion’s hoof to her body. A content expression was on her face as they both felt the child move.

“This is our baby,” Rainbow said quietly with a smile.

Overcome with emotion, Big Mac felt the child inside move slightly. The joy he felt was indescribable, and it caused his hoof to tremble as he continued to touch Rainbow’s belly. However, the pegasus’s hooves were there to comfort the red pony.

Big Mac was struggling to speak, “D-Do ya know the gender?”

Rainbow shook her head, “I want it to be a surprise. I figured it would be better that way, for both of us.”

The stallion smiled at her statement.

Looking down at her belly and the hooves that were pressed against her, she smiled again. A small nudge was felt by the two of them from inside, surprising them both. “Heh heh,” Rainbow lightly chuckled, “the little squirt is energetic.”

Big Mac looked at Dash and smiled tenderly. Rainbow couldn’t help but bashfully smile back at the stallion, her face becoming flushed the longer she looked at him.

For a few moments that each seemed to last an eternity, the two ponies sat on Rainbow Dash’s bed with a hoof on her belly, feeling the minor movements that their child was making.

In a hushed tone, the pegasus began to softly sing, “Come with me, my love, to the sea. The sea of love. I want to tell you, how much I love you.”

Chapter 14: Waiting

Chapter 14: Waiting

2 WEEKS UNTIL DUE DATE

Celestia’s sun was shining down upon Sweet Apple Acres and the rest of Ponyville. Big Mac was working out in the fields, preparing for the upcoming applebucking season, which was about a week away. He was going through the normal procedure that he did every season: inspecting each tree, observing the fruit within the branches, cleaning the spaces between the trees for the carts to move easily, and other tasks.

His peaceful working atmosphere, however, was broken by a loud shout, “Big Mac!”

Raising his head up, he looked around to see who might have called his name. There was no pony that he could see.

Just as he was about to resume his present task, he heard his name yet again, “Hey, Big Mac!”

Turning to the sound of the voice, he finally saw the source of the shouting, a small purple and green dragon moving as fast as his little legs could carry him down the dirt path. Finally hurrying over to the red stallion, he stopped right in front of him.

“Howdy, Spike,” Big Mac greeted the exhausted dragon.

Spike was still panting hard from his running, “H….Hey….Bi-Big Mac….”

“Why are ya in such a hurry? Ah ain’t goin’ nowhere,” the stallion spoke.

“It’s….” Spike was still trying to catch his breath, “something important….”

“Important? Like what?” Big Mac asked.

He was finally able to speak, “It’s Rainbow Dash....”

This got the earth pony’s attention, “What? What’s goin’ on? Is she alright?”

“She just went into labor.”

“She what? But that means she’s goin’ in early,” Big Mac was in disbelief, “Where is she now?”

“The hospital. Twilight and Applejack took her over there,” Spike answered.

“Then we’re goin’ right over there now!” Big Mac started to gallop towards the town.

“Wait! Please don’t make me run all the way back there!” Spike pleaded as he tried to chase after the stallion.

Big Mac stopped and hurried back to the dragon, placed him on his back and resumed the full-speed gallop to Ponyville.

While he was running, he spoke to Spike, “Why didn’t anypony tell me she was close ta goin’ into labor?”

“I think she told Twilight that Rainbow didn’t want you to worry or something like that,” Spike answered, hanging on to Big Mac as he started to pick up speed.

“She wanted me ta not worry? She’s goin’ into labor, of course ah’m gonna worry!” Big Mac sighed.

Spike shouted back, “Hey, don’t look at me! They didn’t want me to go find you!”

As they reached the hospital, Spike got off Big Mac’s back and the two entered the hospital. Right away, Big Mac already hated the scent of the hospital. Quickly, Spike and Big Mac made there way toward the waiting room where the other ponies were waiting for to hear the news of how the birth went. The entire atmosphere of the room was tense, but also one of celebratory of the event.

Big Mac took a seat next to his sister.

“Ya nervous, Big Mac?” Applejack asked, offering a smile to him.

A million different possible responses were floating around in Big Mac’s head, ranging from annoyance that Rainbow didn’t want him to know she was going into labor early to joy about Rainbow's birth. However, Big Mac simply nodded and replied with a shaky tone, “Eeyup.” It was the truth.

Applejack smiled at her older brother, “Ya got nothin’ ta worry ‘bout, you’ll be a great father. An’ ya got all of us here ta help the both of ya.”

Big Mac smiled back, trying hard to push any and all fears he might have to the back of his mind.

Finally, the double doors opened to reveal Nurse Redheart. She trotted into the waiting room a bit before speaking, “Is there a Big Macintosh here?”

Everypony in the waiting room turned to look at the red stallion. Standing up, he raised his hoof, “That’ll be me.”

“Follow me, please,” she instructed.

Chapter 15: Hold Me [Ending #2]

Chapter 15: Hold Me

The stallion took a deep breath and followed. His mind was flooded with reasons of why he was being called up and told to follow the nurse. She guided through a hallway to a door. She made a gesture for Big Mac to enter. Taking a deep breath, he entered through the door.

Inside the room, was a bed sitting in the center. Upon it was a blue pegasus’s body, turned away from the door and towards the bare wall. It seemed lifeless, as if frozen in a moment of time.

“Rainbow Dash?” Big Mac quietly broke the stillness of the room.

The body moved slightly at the spoken words. However, there was no verbal response. The only reply the stallion was given was in the slight shuffling of Rainbow Dash’s body beneath the thin hospital blanket.

Trotting up to her, Big Mac placed a hoof lightly on her back, just above her wing. He felt her quiver at his touch. It was during this contact that Big Mac realized something, she was crying.

Rainbow finally opened her mouth, but instead of words coming out, there was a heavy panting and struggle for air. It was as if she was struggling to keep her head above water, but she was slowing drowning. The sound of this echoed in the small room, only to be heard by Rainbow Dash and Big Mac.

A sentence was finally spoken by the blue mare, “I’m sorry….”

Big Mac, who had been gently rubbing his hoof along Rainbow’s back, asked, “Beg pardon?”

“I’m sorry….it’s all my fault….” She repeated, still turned away, hiding her face, “….maybe….maybe this is karma for messing up….”

“Ah don’t follow….” the stallion stated nervously.

Pausing, Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, causing her entire body to tense up. With every bit of strength in her body, she spoke against the pain she was feeling, “The birth….was….was a miscarriage….” The moment she finished the last word, she began to cry.

This news stunned Big Mac. He lowered his hoof back down to the floor and stared down at the tile floors.

“I thought….I thought I could be strong through this….I tried so hard….but….it’s too much….” the pegasus sobbed into her pillow. She still refused to turn towards Big Mac.

The stallion couldn’t figure out what to say to comfort Rainbow Dash, or what to say in this situation at all. He felt crushed, but he knew that his feelings on this paled in comparison to how Rainbow felt in this situation.

“Rainbow Dash….I’m so sorry….” he spoke softly, his words were calm and soothing.

She continued to shed tears into her pillow, gripping it tightly. If Big Mac’s words reached her, she didn’t let it show.

Hanging his head, Big Mac turned around and started to trot towards the door. He was stopped, however, by a pleading statement.

“Wait. Please don’t go….I don’t want to be alone.”

Turning back to see Rainbow Dash, Big Mac noticed she still had not moved from her position on the bed. He trotted back to her bedside. For a few minutes that seemed to last an eternity each, there was nothing but silence.

Rainbow spoke, destroying the silence, “Do you still love me? Even after all of this?”

“Of course,” Big Mac quietly responded, “my feelings have always been the same.”

Despite being touched by the statement, Rainbow Dash couldn’t help but shed more tears. “Why….Why did this have to happen….everything was great….everything was wonderful….and then this happened. Why did it have to happen, Big Mac?” she shuffled much more beneath the blanket, almost as if she was fighting.

It pained him to speak, but Big Mac replied firmly, “Ah can’t answer that.”

She was quiet for a while, and then continued, “It just….it feels like I’m going to die….please….prove me wrong, Big Mac, prove me wrong,” Rainbow was pleading, begging for some sort of comfort.

Big Mac paused at her statement before speaking, “Ah can’t prove anything….but you can trust me that ah won’t ever leave yer side.”

These words caused Rainbow to finally move her head. She rolled it on the pillow towards the red stallion. Her eyes were closed until she stopped moving, then they opened. The maroon eyes of the pegasus were drenched with tears. Beneath the dampness, the eyes were that of an innocent filly stared right back at Big Mac.

Rainbow spoke in a whisper to the pony, “Could you please….lie next to me….and hold me? I'm terrified and I….I need to be held….”

With a silent nod, Big Mac agreed. The two ponies quietly moved around so they both could lie upon the small hospital bed. The movement ended with Rainbow being in the same position as she previously was, but with her back against Big Mac, whose front limbs wrapped around Rainbow Dash’s body. Despite being on the cramped hospital bed, the two seemed to be completely comfortable lying with each other. With a faint smile upon her face, Rainbow Dash seemed to be delighted in Big Mac’s embrace.

“I’m sorry….” Rainbow mumbled, “about everything I put you through….”

“Don’t be,” Big Mac insisted.

The pegasus lightly shook her head, “No, I need to be….I have just been a complete mess. And the miscarriage….I never wanted any of this….I would give anything to make this all better….even my own life....”

Big Mac tightened his hold on Rainbow as if giving her the impression that he wouldn’t be going anywhere, “What has happened we can’t change, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from it all and become better ponies from it. Ah certainly learned a lot from this past year.”

Rainbow sighed, raising a hoof to dry the tears off of her eyes, “You got a point about that….but I still feel like a complete mule for all of this, big red.”

“It’s fine, Rainbow Dash,” the stallion insisted.

“But….throughout this nightmare that I but you through….you didn’t have to stay….acting all honorable and stuff….” the pegasus stated, fighting back a few tears.

“Ah didn’t do it out of honor….ah did it out of love.”

“But why? Why did you stick by me through all of this?”

“A true love will stick beside you, no matter what.”

“Even through something like this?” Rainbow gave a half-hearted laugh, but not out of humor. A couple tears started to form in her eyes.

“It’s the hardest parts of our lives that make us stronger. And ah’ll always be here to help ya through them, Rainbow Dash.”

A smile appeared on the peagsus’s face, along with a few tears of sorrow and happiness, “You’re right, Big Mac. All of this is awful, but….it’s not the end, only a beginning. Maybe….things can still be wonderful after all with the two of us. Just, please....don’t let go of me....ever.”

END

Chapter 3: Sweet Disposition

Chapter 3: Sweet Disposition

“Rainbow Dash….is pregnant?” Applejack spoke, “Ah….Ah jus’ don’t get it….”

“Can we go see her, nurse?” Fluttershy asked.

Nurse Redheart shook her head, “Sorry, she needs her rest. However, she shared the same reaction as most of you. She didn’t believe it herself.”

“I still can’t believe it,” Twilight commented.

“I can’t believe that Rainbow Dash would find a stallion before me!” Rarity spoke with a bit of an attitude. All of the ponies turned to stare at her for her remark, “What? It’s a compliment.”

“Well, I guess we’ll just come back tomorrow then. Thank you very much for your help, Nurse Redheart,” Twilight thanked the nurse and headed towards the exit.

The rest of the ponies followed suit. They trotted back and began to chat amongst themselves again.

“This is some really big news. To think one of our friends is going to become a mother,” Rarity mused happily.

Fluttershy agreed, “It really is exciting, I’m really happy for Rainbow Dash.”

“Who’d ya think the father is?” Applejack asked aloud.

“Not sure, but I think Rainbow will tell us tomorrow. Still, this is really exciting, the birth of a new pony in Ponyville? I don’t think since the Cake Twins that we had somepony being born in our town,” Twilight was trying to recall.

“I’m super-duper excited! This means I get to throw a baby shower! I need to start planning right now! Or maybe I should have started planning earlier? Gah! I’m already behind!” Pinkie bounced up and down as she rambled on.

“Calm down, Pinkie, we can plan for all of that latter,” Twilight insisted.

Pinkie didn’t do what the purple mare recommend, “But I was super excited in there, but I had to be good because it was a hospital, and now I’m too excited and nervous to be calm!”

Big Mac, who had been silent for this entire time since learning of the news, was following behind the mares. In his head, he was doing some thinking. As if he was piecing together a jigsaw puzzle of a cloudy sky, the stallion was doing his best to figure out what could have happened. His mind seemed to freeze in place when he came to a conclusion.

“Ah’ll see ya’ll tomorra!” Applejack bided her friends farewell as she began to trot back to the farm with her older brother. “Can ya believe it, Big Mac? One of our friends is gonna be a mother soon,” she tried to strike up a conversation as they trotted.

Big Mac didn’t answer the question. Instead, he spoke about what was on his mind, “Applejack….ah think ah might know who the father is ta Rainbow Dash’s baby….”

This caught the orange pony’s attention, “Really now? Anypony ah know?”

“Uh….” Big Mac was regretting to have said anything, “it might have been me….”

Applejack glared straight at her older brother. The look she gave him was almost poisonous and Big Mac tried his best to not make eye contact. “Jus’ what in Equestria are ya talkin’ ‘bout? Yer kiddin’ me, right?”

He didn’t want to talk, for fear of burying himself deeper. But he knew better than to keep silent around his sister, “Uh….well, one night a few months ago, we were at a bar an’ when we came back to the farm, we both kinda blacked out and don’t remember what happened….”

Applejack sighed, “Ya both blacked out, huh? Well, it’s possible ah guess, but this is highly unlike both of ya….an’ ah know fer a fact that ya know better, Big Mac.”

Big Mac turned to look at his sister. She was still glaring at him, “Ah know….ah jus’ don’t know what happened….promise me ya won’t say anythin’ ta Granny Smith?”

The orange mare nodded, “Ah promise, but tomorra, we are gonna head straight over ta Rainbow Dash an’ ask her what she knows about this. First thing.”

The next morning, Applejack and Big Mac trotted right over to the hospital to visit Rainbow Dash. While it didn’t exactly show on his face, the red stallion was anxious about visiting the pegasus. He wasn’t so much worried about the news of the baby, but rather he was more nervous about talking with Rainbow about her being pregnant. Whether he was responsible or not for the incident, it was concerned about his friend.

Stepping into the hospital, the medicinal scent hit Big Mac’s nostrils right away, already making him wanting to escape. He followed his sister up to the front desk where Nurse Redheart waited.

“Mornin’, Nurse Redheart. Is it possible that we can see our friend Rainbow Dash?” Applejack greeted.

After fiddling with some papers, the nurse replied, “Certainly. She is quite popular today, though I can easily see why after she was rushed in yesterday. She’s down this hallway, fourth door on your left.” Redheart pointed down one of the hallways.

“Thank ya kindly,” Applejack tilted her hat to the nurse as she led the way down the hallway.

The hallway was long and vacant, reminding him of the waiting room just the day before. Bare walls, little to liven up the monotone mood. The hoofsteps of his own hooves and his sister’s echoed through the empty hallway, adding to Big Mac’s dislike of the hospital. To him, everything about the building just seemed unnatural.

“Big Mac, snap out of it, we’re here,” his sister called him out of his own little world, pointing out that they had arrived to the correct room. The removable card on the door read ‘Rainbow Dash’, the pony they were seeking out.

Opening the door, the Apple siblings entered the small room. Easily noticeable in the center was Rainbow Dash lying down on the bed, reading a book. Elsewhere in the room, however, there were numerous colorful balloons. It seemed as if they had all floated to the wall edges and didn’t bother Dash anymore.

Applejack knocked on the now open door, “Hello? Anypony home?”

Rainbow looked up from her book to see the two ponies partly in the room. She closed up the book and placed it aside. She readjusted herself in her bed and sat up, “Oh, hey! Come in, come in.”

With the invite, the siblings trotted in and up to Dash’s bed. Applejack pointed up to one of the balloons and asked, “Lemme guess, Pinkie Pie?”

Laughing, Dash nodded, “Who else? As much as I love that crazy pink pony, I think this is a bit overkill. I mean, some of the balloons say ‘it’s a boy’ and some say ‘it’s a girl’. Can’t she wait a bit?”

Applejack chuckled softly, “That’s our Pinkie, alright. So how ya doin’? Everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything is going alright, no complaints except for what Nurse Redheart insists is normal,” Rainbow continued, “Oh, and Twilight coming in and giving me a crash course on what I’m going through.”

“Ya mean ‘bout the pregnancy?” the orange mare asked.

Rainbow nodded, “Yeah. I mean, I’m happy she told me some of it, but I didn’t need to know about the birds and the bees, ya know?” the pegasus laughed as her hind legs shuffled slightly under the blanket, “Anyway, the egghead says I’m around three months along with the pregnancy, so that means nine more to go.”

“Speakin’ of yer pregnancy, Rainbow, Big Mac an’ ah were wonderin’ do ya know who the father is?” Applejack was careful with her words, not wanting to see nosy with her question.

“You’re curious, too? Well, you’re not the first to ask, let me tell ya. Rarity spent the good half of an hour trying to get an answer out of me. Anyway, the truth is, I don’t know. I can’t think of who it could be or anything like that. I mean, I didn’t even know I had this thing inside of me until yesterday,” the pegasus explained.

“Well, what ‘bout mah brother here?” Applejack bluntly added.

The sheer candidness of the earth pony’s statement shocked both Big Mac and Rainbow Dash. The both of the ponies on the receiving end were dead silent about the comment. While Big Mac turned his head to look anywhere but at the two mares, Rainbow’s face had turned red.

Finally, Dash replied, “Well, I don’t remember doing anything with him….” Dash rubbed her head at the comment as if it would jog her memory.

Turning to her brother, Applejack spoke, “Well, what do you think, Big Mac?”

Still not looking at the two, he spoke, “Ah don’t know….”

“Wait, hold up,” Rainbow interrupted. Both turned their heads to look at her, “There was that night we both got smashed and can’t remember anything. Maybe something happened then?”

“Possibly,” Big Mac stated.

“Well, at least this puzzle is gettin’ somewhat solved,” Applejack spoke.

“Eh, don’t worry about it,” Rainbow casually waved her hoof and let out a laugh, “What’s in the past is in the past, not like we can change it now, right?”

Rainbow Dash’s carefree attitude didn’t exactly sit well with the Apple siblings. “But ya still have ta care fer that little pony ya got inside ya.”

“I know, not like I’m just going to do anything stupid, AJ,” the pegasus replied.

“Ah guess yer right ‘bout that. So when do ya get out?” Applejack asked.

Rainbow had to think for a moment, “Nurse Redheart said I can probably get out in a couple days if all the check ups and what not go without a problem.”

“Alright. Well, Big Mac an’ ah still got some work ta finish up on the farm. Ya take care of yerself now, Rainbow,” the orange mare bided farewell to her friend as she headed towards the door. Big Mac was following behind.

“Hey, Big Mac?” the blue pony called out.

The stallion turned to see Rainbow looking directly at him, “Hmm?”

“Never got to say thanks for helping me out yesterday, getting to the hospital and all. So….yeah, thanks,” Dash had a warm smile on her face.

A smile appeared on Big Mac’s face as well, “Think nothin’ of it, Miss Rainbow Dash.”

The pegasus let out a laugh as she smirked, “I’m telling ya, you don’t have to call me that. Just Rainbow Dash is fine, or even just Dash, whatever. But just please drop the ‘miss’, will ya?”

Letting out a small chuckle himself, Big Mac replied, “Take care.” He followed his sister out of the room, leaving Rainbow Dash to continue her book.

Chapter 15: Wonderful (The Way I Feel) [Ending #1]

Chapter 15: Wonderful (The Way I Feel)

The stallion took a deep breath and followed. His mind was flooded with reasons of why he was being called up and told to follow the nurse. She guided through a hallway to a door. She made a gesture for Big Mac to enter. Taking a deep breath, he entered through the door.

Inside the room, his eyes were drawn to the bed that took up most of the space. On that bed was a blue pegasus. Her rainbow-colored mane was a mess, but despite her exhausted state, she seemed to have a gentle and peaceful demeanor about her. In her front hooves, she held a something that was wrapped in a blanket.

She looked up to see the red stallion who had just entered, “Hey, big red.”

With a smile and a nod, trotted up to Rainbow Dash’s bedside.

“Guess you found out, huh?” she said with a tired laugh.

“Spike went an’ got me. Why didn’t ya tell me you were goin’ into labor soon?” Big Mac asked.

Carefully adjusting her front limbs with what she was holding, Rainbow replied, “I didn’t want to worry ya. You got a lot of stuff coming up with applebucking season and I thought it’d be helpful if ya didn’t have to worry about me with the busy season.”

A small laugh escaped Big Mac’s mouth, “Rainbow, ah’ll always have time fer ya no matter how busy things might get.”

The blue mare smiled as she looked at Big Mac and then to what she had wrapped in the blanket. Big Mac raised his head up to get a better view of what was inside.

“Ya wanna hold her?” Rainbow asked, her face beaming.

“It’s a she?” the stallion asked.

Rainbow simply nodded as she offered the newborn to Big Mac. Taking great care in his movements, Big Mac moved his limbs to openly accept the pony. With the upmost delicate care, the stallion accepted the pony and held her closely to his body. A surge of pride and love ran throughout Big Mac as he held the newborn. Using his hoof, he carefully pulled away the blanket to get a better view of the child. The little pegasus filly was sound asleep, but she seemed to be happy in her father’s embrace. Her coat was a slightly darker shade of blue than her mother’s, and her mane was the same color of orange as her father’s.

All Big Mac could do was smile as he looked at his child.

“She’s got your complexion,” Rainbow joked.

“She’s absolutely beautiful,” Big Mac said in a hushed tone.

Lying back on the bed, Rainbow Dash sighed and spoke, “It’s finally over….and it was worth it….even after everything that happened, it was totally worth it.”

Holding the newborn, the stallion smiled, “Well, this is only the beginnin’ of somethin’ amazin’, Rainbow Dash.”

“Can I be honest with ya?” Rainbow started, “I’m scared about raising her. I mean, what if I’m not good enough for her? I’ve seen just how lousy of a pony I can be, and now I have to raise her.”

Big Mac looked right at Rainbow Dash with a warm smile, “Ya don’t havta raise her alone. Ah’ll be right here with ya, every step of the way. Ah’m sure we’ll both have our fair share of struggles as parents.”

“Relax, big red,” the pegasus sat back up in her bed, “you’ll be a great dad.” She looked over at the child in his embrace and smiled, “I hope she’s a lot like you, avoiding my screw ups.”

“That’s why we gotta stick together, right? Raise our daughter the best way we can,” Big Mac smiled.

Rainbow nodded.

The door to the room opened with nurse entering, “Excuse me, I hate to intrude, but we should take the baby over to the nursery and make sure she is doing well and give her a clean bill of health.”

Almost reluctantly, Big Mac passed the newborn filly to the nurse who trotted out of the room, leaving Big Mac and Rainbow Dash alone.

The pegasus adjusted herself on the bed until she was sitting on the edge of the bed toward Big Mac with her hind legs hanging off the edge. She raised her front limbs out, “C’mere.” Her words were gentle and soft.

Before doing so, Big Mac took a brief moment to look at Rainbow Dash in the hospital gown she had on. In this fragile and vulnerable state, he found Rainbow looking the most beautiful than he ever had before. Big Mac closed the gap and hugged Rainbow Dash. Suddenly, his ears twitched as he heard the faint sound of crying and laughter. He looked to see it was Rainbow doing both in the hug.

“Rainbow Dash? Are you okay?” his words were of concern.

Her facial expression was of smiling and the sounds coming from her were both the sounds of sorrow and laughter. She tried to speak, “I’m….so happy….I….I can’t even speak….” Rainbow’s hold on Big Mac became tighter as tears of joy fell from her eyes.

The two continued their embrace for a few minutes were all of Equestria seemed to stop for the two ponies. The only sound was the happy crying that came from Rainbow Dash.

Finally, Rainbow managed to speak, “I’m just so sad it took me so long to realize it….”

“To realize what?”

“To realize that a true love will stick beside you….no matter what,” Rainbow explained, “Never thought I’d find him right in front of me this whole time….”

Big Mac smiled, “An’ ah’ll always stick beside ya, Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow lightly laughed as a fresh tear rolled down her face, “Even though it took so long and it wasn’t easy, it was worth it to know you’ll forever be with me.” Her grip on Big Mac became tighter, as if saying she wouldn’t ever let him go.

The stallion smiled as he continued to hold on to Rainbow Dash. Big Mac than spoke, "Ah must say that after all of the ups an' downs, ah'm happy we have each other after everything that has happened. Ah love ya, Rainbow Dash."

"I love you, too," Rainbow replied, smiling happily.

"Was it all worth it?" Big Mac lightly jested.

The pegasus smiled brightly, “Ya know, Twilight told me something a few days ago. She said that we’re supposed to fill our lives with every stupid mistake and wonderful miracle. I feel we did just that, Big Macintosh. I really do.”

END