Timing Changes Everything
"Oh, Horse Apples!" Applejack groaned, looking down at her swollen belly.
"What's wrong Applejack?" Apple Bloom asked, momentarily stopping her applebucking.
"It's just this gosh darn foal keeps getting in the way everything," The orange mare replied, stomping a hoof down on the ground.
"You should be happy your having a foal soon," Apple Bloom chastised, scowling at her older sister.
"I know, it's just I don't even know who the father is and I'm not even sure I want a foal right now. It's right at the beginning of Applebuck season and I really need to be out here helping you and Big Mac. Even now, before the foal is born, it's still in my way. I can hardly buck ten apple trees my legs giving out and this big belly of mine is so awkward and heavy!" Applejack exclaimed, clearly frustrated.
"Maybe you should take a break," Apple Bloom suggested, surprised at how worked up her sister had gotten.
"Maybe your right, I've probably been working too much with this foal," Applejack replied, turning to head inside.
The earth pony walked through the rows of apple trees, completely fatigued. By her normal standards, Applejack would be completely embarrassed by the tiny amount of work she had accomplished in such a long period of time. Now that she was heavily pregnant, her work practically skidded to a halt. Applejack walked back into the house, seeing Granny Smith sitting in her rocking chair.
"How you feeling Applejack?" Granny Smith asked, watching Applejack come into the farmhouse.
"I'm ok Granny, though I get tired real quick now a days and the foal gets pretty active when I'm moving around a bunch," Applejack replied, not going into too much detail.
"You really shouldn't be working at all with that foal of yours, you know," Granny Smith added.
"I know Granny, but Apple Bloom and Big Mac need my help. I can't just leave them to do it all while I sit around on my rump. Just because I got a bigger belly and a foal inside me, doesn't mean I'm not capable of doing my part around here," Applejack objected stubbornly.
"Applejack," Granny Smith scolded.
"I'm fine Granny. A little bit of pain and fatigue won't stop this Apple," Applejack replied, walking upstairs so Granny Smith wouldn't object any further.
Pushing in her door, Applejack noticed the dress laid out on her bed. The dinner she was having with the girls had completely slipped her mind until now. Luckily, Applejack still had plenty of time to get ready. She grabbed the dress of her bed and pulled it over her head, struggling to get the dress over her swollen stomach. The dress was made for her before she was pregnant, so it was quite a tight fit around her abdomen. Applejack pulled the dress back and forth, over and over again, trying to get to to lay better over her sides. Groaning in frustration, she let the dress be. Turning so her side faced the mirror, Applejack let out a heavy sigh.
"I look like I just ate a whole dozen of Granny's pies," Applejack muttered under her breath, dropping her head down.
Though Applejack wasn't one to care much about fashion, her lean, muscular figure meant a lot to her. Applejack was concerned with how others saw her, though she wouldn't admit it. Once again, the mare pulled on her dress, trying to get it to make her side look at least a bit flatter. She only proceeded to make it worse.
"I give up," Applejack groaned.
She headed over to the bathroom to tidy up her mane a bit. Applejack removed her hat and grabbed a brush out of the drawer, pulling it through her straw colored mane. It was full of dust and tangled up in knots. Finally getting it to a satisfactory look, Applejack put the brush away and returned her hat to its original position. Heading back downstairs, Applejack struggled to get her shoes on her hooves. Her swollen stomach really did complicate everything, even the simplest of tasks. Applejack, finally getting her shoes on, came out of the house and followed the dirt path through the orchard. She spotted Big Mac and called him over.
"I'll be out late tonight, so don't wait up," Applejack stated.
Her big brother nodded and returned to his work, letting Applejack go get to her dinner. The mare followed the dirt path out to the edge of the property, already tired from the walk out there. She knew if she didn't pick up the pace, she would be late to dinner. Arriving at the restaurant, Applejack saw her other friends had gotten there early.
"Applejack! Were happy you made it," Twilight greeted, waving her over to the table they were all sitting it.
"I wouldn't miss it," Applejack replied with a small smile, taking a seat between Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie.
"How are you feeling?" Fluttershy asked, genuinely concerned.
"I'm just fine. The foal gets awful active, but I'll be happy to have it when it gets here," The orange earth pony stated.
"When are you due?" Fluttershy asked, looking over at Applejack's swollen stomach. She couldn't help but notice Applejack was getting awfully big.
"I've only got three weeks left with this gigantic belly. I have to say I will be so glad to get rid of all this extra weight. I can hardly buck an apple tree without this big thing getting in the way," Applejack explained, laying a hoof on her stomach.
"What's it like being pregnant, if you don't mind me asking," Twilight added in.
"Well, it's different from anything that's ever happened to me. When you finally start showing, your stomach just feels real odd, almost tight. Now, my belly just feels like it's about to rip it's stretched so tight. When the foal kicks, you can feel your stomach stretching out and it hurts an awful lot. I'd be happy to answer all your questions and I'm real grateful for y'all treating me to this fancy dinner, but could we change the subject. It just seems like my pregnancy is all I can think about any more. I don't even know who the father is," Applejack explain, setting her head in her hooves.
The waiter came around and took all of the ponies orders. Waiting for him to leave, Rarity looked over at Applejack, pondering what she had just said.
"Wait, the foal isn't Caramel's?" Rarity asked, giving Applejack a confused and almost disapproving look.
"Caramel and I are just dating, we haven't done anything intimate," Applejack replied, slightly hurt by the way Rarity looked at her.
"What happened, how do you not know the father?" Rainbow Dash asked rather loudly, butting in.
"I was at a party a while ago. They had all kinds of drinks, and I just planned to sample a few. I didn't really know anypony so I was a little nervous. I just kept sipping my drinks. Before I knew it, I was completely drunk. I couldn't even stand up straight. The last thing I could remember was a hot, muscular stallion pulling me over to another room. The next morning, I woke up a complete mess in my room," Applejack stated, trying to explain what had happened.
"Applejack! I can't believe you let some random stallion do that to you!" Rarity exclaimed, saying the last part in a harsh whisper.
"I was drunk!" Applejack exclaimed defensively, pounding a hoof on the table and accidentally attracting the attention of all the restaurant clients.
Applejack blushed ferociously, heat rushing to her face. She buried her face in her hooves, completely embarrassed that she had just let the entire restaurant hear that. Fluttershy laid a gentle hoof on Applejack's shoulder, hoping to console the ashamed mare.
"It's ok Applejack, it happens to everypony," Fluttershy said in attempt to make her friend feel better.
"That's just it Fluttershy, it doesn't happen to everypony," Applejack mumbled into her hooves.
"I know, I just wanted to make you feel better," Fluttershy said with a content smile.
"Sooo, now that that's out of the way, who ready to eat?" Rainbow Dash asked, happily changing the subject as their food showed up.
The waiter dropped off each ponies food before leaving. The girls made sure to keep the subject off of Applejack, not wanting to upset her in any way. Though the topics were not very engaging, the girls had a good time anyway, just chatting and hanging out with each other.
"Are you lovely mares finished?" The waiter asked politely.
"I believe we are. Here you go," Twilight replied, handing over nearly two hundred bits to pay for everyponies dinner.
"Thank you miss, it's been lovely serving you all," the waiter added, leaving the girls to say their goodbyes and be on their ways.
"I'm gonna use the little fillies room before we go," Applejack said, heading off towards the back of the restaurant.
Applejack pushed the door to the restroom open, seeing it was nicely furnished with several stalls. She opened one and went to do her business. Little did she know, Applejack's water broke while she was using the restroom. She wasn't due for another three weeks, making it all the worse that she didn't notice her water breaking. That would make the oncoming labour all the more surprising. Applejack exited the bathroom after looking at herself in the mirror one last time and readjusting her dress. She joined the girls once more as they headed out. The six walked together for a while and one by one, they split off, heading home. Not too long after they left, Fluttershy and Applejack were the only two left together.
"Goodbye Applejack. I hope you sleep well," Fluttershy said, turning down a winding road that eventually led to her cottage.
"Night," Applejack said, continuing off towards Sweet Apple Acres.
By now, Applejack had had several small contractions, but she dismissed them, thinking they were kicks from the foal. This contraction hit her like a bullet. Applejack couldn't even speak through the pain. She stood there, just taking the pain with no way of helping it. Luckily for her, Fluttershy came trotting around the corner.
"Oh, Applejack. I forgot to tell you-" Fluttershy started, not yet having seen Applejack. "Applejack!" Fluttershy exclaimed, rushing over to the farm pony.
"Hospital... Now," Applejack panted in a harsh whisper.
The orange mare had all four legs spread out, trying to keep herself from collapsing to the ground. Her head was pulled back towards her chest and her eyes squeezed shut. A slick sheen of sweat formed over her coat.
"Oh my goodness!" Fluttershy cried out, galloping over to Applejack's side.
The Pegasus mare let her friend lean over into her, supporting some of her weight. It was quite a far walk to the hospital, but luckily it was late and there was no foot traffic. Every few moments Applejack would have to stop, fighting through the pain. Applejack was just trying to keep the foal in, refusing to give birth on a dirt road. After a long walk through absolute torture, Applejack and Fluttershy finally arrived at the hospital. Seeing Applejack's swollen stomach, the nurse at the front desk had no trouble identifying what was going on. The nurse helped Applejack to the nearest delivery room, leaving Fluttershy to go get the Apple family and all their friends.
"Your doing just fine," the nurse told Applejack in a soothing voice.
The earth pony completely ignored the nurse, focusing only on the pain racking her body. With each contraction, Applejack pushed as hard as she could, though she seemed to be making no progress. Screams frequently echoed down the quiet halls of the hospital, along with pleading cries for help. Just listening to this was enough to put all of Applejack's friends and family on edge.
"What if she gets hurt? Or if the foal is hurt? Or if something goes wrong?" Fluttershy fretted, sitting in a corner.
"Applejack's a strong mare, she will be fine," Twilight assured, trying to make Fluttershy feel better.
"It's just... I can't help feeling like this is all my fault. I should have made sure she got home okay," Fluttershy said softly, concern evident in her voice.
"Fluttershy dear, you simply can't blame yourself. These things happen naturally and no pony can predict when or where they will happen," Rarity said, laying a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.
"She will be just-" Twilight started to say, only to be cut off by a loud, hoarse scream.
Meanwhile, Applejack was ready to strangle the nurse. She kept assuring Applejack everything was going just fine. But if everything was fine, why was this taking so long?
"Just do something!" Applejack screamed, pushing as hard as she could.
"You need to push to get the foal out dear," the nurse said softly.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Applejack asked, gritting her teeth together.
With one incredibly hard push, Applejack finally got the foals head out. She screamed in absolute agony, the foals shoulders only halfway out. She felt as if she was being torn in two from her flank up. Applejack pushed once more, trying to fully deliver the foal. Unfortunately, nothing happened.
"The foal seems to be a bit stuck," the nurse said in a calm tone.
"Well get the gosh darn thing out before it splits me in two! Your the nurse!" Applejack screamed, her voice cracking tremendously.
"You have to push it out," the nurse replied.
"Oh Sweet Celestia! Just shut up!" Applejack screamed.
The orange mare pushed downwards with all her might, only increasing the pressure and pain tenfold. The foal still didn't move. Completely exasperated, Applejack took her hooves and shoved them down on her swollen stomach as hard as she could, pushing at the same time. The foal easily came out with all the force, landing roughly on the bed. The nurse picked up the foal and wrapped it in a blanket, handing it to Applejack.
"It's a colt," She said softly.
Applejack gently accepted the foal, laying him down against her chest. She watched as the nurse went out into the hall to let her friends and family in. Big Mac came in first, followed by everypony else. Applejack gently stroked her little colts mane, fluffing it up a bit. He was a stunning white with a red and blue stripped mane. His eyes were a hunter green and he had freckles surrounding his muzzle. The oddest thing about the colt was he was the first unicorn in the Apple family.
"Everypony meet my colt, Apple Shine."
