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.
Tail Feathers and Comet Flies
It was now nine o’clock the next morning and everyone had gotten a fair amount of rest. Comet was feeding Solar Flare a bottle while Fly did the same for Nebula.
“We should call the girls and tell them.” Comet announced.
“I’m sure they will be so excited to be aunts again!” Fly responded.
Comet had three best friends, one of whom already had a five year old filly of her own. Comet picked up her phone and dialed Divinity’s number.
“Hello,” Divinity answered.
“Hey Divvy! What are you up to?”
“Just sitting at Concord’s house with Storm Chaser, what’s up?” The pink mane and coated unicorn mare asked.
“Well, Fly and I went to the hospital early this morning and long story short, you’re all aunts!”
“Oh my gosh! We’ll be there in like, five seconds!” Divinity practically squealed before hanging up without a goodbye.
Before long all three girls and Divinity’s filly, Orchid Blossom, came walking into the hospital room.
“Where’s the little cutie?” Storm Chaser asked while looking around.
“Well,” Comet replied, “our little colt is right here and our little filly is over there with Fly.”
“Twins? TWINS!!” the black coated and blue maned pegasus mare replied “Why didn’t you tell us?!?!”
“We didn’t even know until this little boys nose started peeking out, ruining his sister’s big moment.” Comet said with a smile and a kiss on top of Solar Flare’s head.
“What are their names, auntie Comet?” The purple mane and coated unicorn filly asked.
“Well, this little boy’s name is Solar Flare and his sister over there is Nebula.”
“Awww, those are cute names. Can I hold one, please?” Orchid pleaded.
“Of course, sweetie. Go sit by uncle Fly and he can help you hold Nebula.”
Orchid bounced over and plopped down next to Fly with her front legs making a cradle. Fly gently placed Nebula in her arms and helped her support the tiny filly’s head.
“She’s so adorable uncle Fly!” Orchid exclaimed. “Look at your little ears and tiny hooves.” She cooed to Nebula, before kissing the tip of her nose.
“Do you like your new cousins, Orchid?” Her mother asked.
“I love them! They are the cutest things ever!” Orchid responded.
Everyone took turns holding both foals and fawning over them. Soon, nurse Morning Glory came in for one last checkup and announced that they could go home with the foals now. After bundling the foals tightly Fly helped Comet into the wagon while Concord and Strom each carried a foal. Everyone was going over to Comet and Fly’s cottage to help them rearrange the nursery to accommodate two babies. Divinity and Orchid rode in the wagon with Comet so that Divinity could hold the second foal, while the other two mares went to pick up an extra crib. The trip home took just as long as the trip there, this time it was not due to the weather though. With the added weight of a filly and a full grown mare, Fly was having a bit of trouble making it home.
The other two mares arrived shortly after the main group with a new crib in tow. Concord and Storm Chaser unloaded the crib and carried it inside to the nursery. The nursery was one of three rooms upstairs. It was to the left of the stairs, directly across from Fly and Comet’s room with a bathroom straight back from the stairs in the middle. Inside the nursery was a crib, a changing table, and a rocking chair. Luckily, with so little stuff, there was enough room for the second crib. Once the crib was in place Concord pulled a package out of her saddle bag.
“Storm and I bought these while we were in town, we thought they would be nice in the cribs.” Concord said, while handing Comet the package.
Comet handed Nebula to Concord and tore open the package. Inside were two sets of crib sheets. One had a flame pattern on it and the other had pink and purple hearts.
“They are perfect!” Comet exclaimed, then hugged both mares. “Thank you so much. Let’s put them on and see how they look.”
Comet and storm went to work putting the sheets on. Once they had finished, Concord lay Nebula in her crib and Divinity lay Solar Flare in his. Both of them were sound asleep. Just then, Fly came into the room breathing heavily, with icicles hanging from his mane and tail.
“I guess the weather team did a little too good of a job, now it’s sleeting like crazy outside. I don’t know if you girls can get home just yet.” Fly announced.
“Well why don’t you all stay here? We have the couches downstairs and I have some sleeping bags.” Comet invited.
“Oh no, we couldn’t intrude on your first day home with the twins.” Said Concord.
“Don’t worry about it, you know you girls are family, we can’t just send you out in this weather.” The orange mare defended.
“If you say so, Com.” The mint green mare with a dark green mane and tail said.
“Yay! Sleepover at auntie Comet and uncle Fly’s house!” Orchid exclaimed while jumping up and down.
“Inside voice, Orchid, the babies are sleeping,” her mother gently scolded, “why don’t we go downstairs and I’ll make everyone hot chocolate?”
“Hot chocolate!” Orchid whispered excitedly, still jumping up and down.
The tiny purple filly bounded down the stairs with everyone following behind her, Comet with Nebula and Fly with Solar Flare. Everyone sat in the living room, around the fire while Divinity prepared the hot chocolate. Once it was done, she levitated six steaming mugs into the living room and passed them out.
Everyone sat around talking about the events of today and yesterday while the twins slept in Divinity and Storm’s arms and Orchid slept curled up next to her mother. It was getting late and everyone was ready for bed. The girls holding the foals carried them upstairs and put them in their beds, while Fly lifted Orchid up and carried her upstairs to sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor in the twins’ room. Divinity also slept in the twins’ room, while the other two mares slept on the couches downstairs. Comet and Fly went to their room to sleep. With everyone tucked safely in bed the sleet had turned to snow and continued to fall. With new foals in the house everyone was woken up every few hours, the three aunts took turns tending to them so that mom and dad could get some much needed rest. Even with the storm, unexpected second foal, and surprise sleepover, everything worked out perfect at the end of the day.
