Tail Feathers and Comet Flies

Fly circled down and landed in front of his tiny cottage. It was a bitterly cold night, so, tucking his wings close to his canary yellow body, he opened the door and went inside. Even though it was late, his wife, Comet, was still waiting up for him, curled up on the sofa by the fireplace with a book. As Fly entered, Comet looked up from her reading and smiled.

“You sure are getting in late this evening,” she said in a playful, scolding tone.

“The weather team and I had to prepare for the big winter storm coming in tonight,” he defended, as he walked over to her and kissed her forehead.

“I was hoping the storm could wait another week,” she pouted, “I don’t want to go into labor during the biggest blizzard of the year.”

“Everything will be just fine,” Fly comforted, as he caressed his wife’s distended, orange, belly. “The storm will stop by morning. I know there will still be snow on the ground but I can still pull the wagon into town.”

“Okay, I was just hoping for things to go smoother.” Comet said as she wrapped her wings around her belly and rubbed it with a hoof. “I’m really tired though, so why don’t we head up to bed and worry about this later.” Comet ended, with a boop to Fly’s nose from her hoof. Fly scrunched his nose then kissed Comet before helping her to her hooves and up the stairs to bed. Once in bed Comet fell asleep almost instantly, Fly, however, couldn't sleep. He was too worried about how he was going to be as a father and what if something went wrong. Comet was due any day now and everything had suddenly become so real for Fly. He was going to be responsible for another life that depended on him and Comet for everything. Fly was a brave pony, but being a father petrified him. He couldn't show this weakness in front of Comet though, he had to be her strength. At least he didn't actually have to carry them for months and give birth to them.  Fly struggled to fall asleep for a few more hours, it was three AM before he finally drifted off. His rest was short lived however, not two hours later Fly was awoken by a gentle nudge. Comet was sitting up next to him with one hoof wrapped around her belly.

“What’s the matter, Com?” Fly asked, groggily, running his hoof through his purple and lime green mane.

“I’m having contractions, they started about an hour ago but I knew the doctor said not to be concerned until they became regular. The last thirty minutes they have been coming every ten minutes.”

“Do we need to go to the hospital?” Fly asked, now much more awake.

“I don’t know, I don’t want to get out in this storm for nothing.”

Before Fly could answer, Comet doubled over in pain holding her stomach tightly with both hooves. Fly got up and went around to her side of the bed and stroked Comet’s spiky red and purple mane.

“Can I get you anything, what do I need to do?” Fly asked with concern.

“I’d like to go down stairs and sit by the fire, if things get worse I want to already be down the stairs.” Comet said, as the pain subsided for the time being. Fly helped Comet to her hooves and they slowly went down the stairs together. Just as they got to the bottom, Comet felt another wave of pain grip her. This one was more intense then the last one, as she held onto Fly with one hoof and gripped her belly with the other, a sudden wetness could be felt flowing down her back legs.

“Fly, I think my water just broke.” Comet said through gritted teeth.

Fly looked back and sure enough, Comet’s tail and back legs were soaked.

“Let’s get you to the couch and I’ll go get the bag and bring the wagon around.” Fly said as calmly as possible. After sitting Comet down, Fly hurried upstairs to their closet and grabbed the suitcase they had had packed for weeks and his scarf. He then ran downstairs skipping a few and out the front door to where the wagon was. Once outside, Fly pulled his scarf around his face to fight off the brutal wind and snow hitting him in the face. The weather team really had done a good job with this storm. Thank goodness they had a covered wagon, he couldn't imagine Comet riding all the way into town in an open wagon. Quickly throwing the suitcase in the back, Fly pulled the wagon around and as close to the door as he could. Rushing back inside, he helped his laboring wife to her hooves, wrapped a scarf and shawl around her then helped her out the door and into the wagon. Once Comet was settled in and covered with a thick blanket, Fly hooked himself up to the wagon and started their journey into town.

The trip to the hospital took twice as long as usual due to the horrible storm, once they pulled up in front of it Comet’s contractions were only minutes apart. Leaving Comet in the wagon, Fly ran inside and told the mare at the front desk what was going on and that he needed a wheel chair. The light blue unicorn mare behind the desk hurriedly grabbed a wheel chair and followed Fly outside. They quickly got Comet into the chair and back inside and into a room. Once Comet got into the hospital bed the nurse began checking her over.

“I’m nurse Morning Glory and I need you to tell me how close your contractions are, sweetie.” The unicorn mare announced.

“About two minutes apart.” Comet said, breathlessly. “My water has already broken.”

“Oh my, you are very close to being a mommy. If I could get you to lay on your side I’ll check and see how close we really are,” Morning Glory insisted.

Comet rolled over onto her left side and took Fly’s hoof as he stood beside the bed feeling helpless. His beloved was in pain and he could do nothing.

“Now just breath, honey. I’m going to use my magic to see how dilated you are. You may feel some pressure, but it shouldn't hurt. Comet squeezed Fly’s hoof a little tighter as she felt the pressure Morning Glory was talking about.

“You look to be dilated all the way, so it’s time to have a baby.” Morning Glory announced, cheerfully. “Just push whenever you feel the urge, I can already see a nose.”

Comet pushed hard and squeezed Fly’s hoof tighter than ever as a contraction hit her. The baby’s entire head was visible now.

“One more push to get the shoulders out and it should be smooth sailing.” The white and lilac maned mare encouraged.

After catching her breath, Comet gave another push. This time the shoulders came out and the nurse was able to help the baby out the rest of the way. Fly looked over and cradled in the crook of Morning Glory’s leg was a light pink pegasus foal with a blue and purple spiky mane.

“It’s a little filly,” She announced, “would you like to cut the cord, dad?”

Fly was speechless, he was only able to nod. He kissed Comet on the forehead and then walked over and took the scissors from the nurse. After he cut the cord, Morning Glory wrapped the tiny filly in pink blanket and handed her to Fly. He gently took her and walked over to Comet.

“She’s beautiful,” Comet said as tears feel onto her cheeks.

The small filly yawned and opened her eyes to reveal irises the same pink, purple color as her father’s. The new family’s bonding was interrupted by Morning Glory’s concerned voice.

“There seems to be another nose poking out, sweetie. Did you know it was twins?”

Fly and Comet looked at each other in surprise.

“I was only told there was one foal.” Comet answered.

Just as soon as that was said, Comet got an overwhelming urge to push again. As with the filly’s birth it only took two pushes to deliver the second foal. This time, the nurse held a pegasus foal with a yellow coat, just like Fly's, and a spiky orange and red mane.

“This one is a little colt.” Morning Glory announced.

Fly handed the filly to Comet and went over to cut the second cord and take the colt after he was wrapped in a blue blanket. Fly carried the tiny bundle over for Comet to see. As she caressed the colt’s cheek he opened his eyes to reveal fiery red irises staring back into Comet's bright green eyes.

“You did amazing, Com.” Fly said gently, as he kissed Comet’s forehead. “They’re beautiful.”

“What should we name them?” Comet asked.

“How about Nebula for the filly and Solar Flare for the colt?” Fly responded.

“That sounds perfect.” Comet cooed, as she looked down at Nebula and then over to Solar Flare.

Morning Glory, after ensuring there were no more foals to be had, cleaned Comet up and left the family to rest. It was now five thirty AM and the snow had stopped. Soon their friends would be awake and they could tell them the news, but for now everyone settled in for some well deserved sleep.