The Fruit Falls

“Okay, that was the second best burger I’ve ever had,” Rainbow commented loudly as she left Mac L Mares, garnering a few ponies’ attention.

“Dashing, ya gotta do that every time we leave?”

“Uh, yeah!  One, it’’s true.  The best was the first one,” she winked to Applejack as they walked to the street to their next appointment, “second is they offer a bigger discount to us.”

“Bits aren’t a problem, Rainbow.  Now that we’re makin’ Zap Apple Jam by the cartload, Filthy Rich is makin’ deals ta sell it across Equestria and beyond,” she slowed to raise a hoof,  panning across the horizon, “so it ain’t a problem payin’ two extra bits for a burger.”

“And potato fries!” Rainbow excitedly added.

“Eeyup, that too.  Ahm just sayin’ that we can be a little more free if ya want.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want to,” Rainbow said nodding to a passing pony before she turned back to Applejack, “I’ve changed so much over the last few months since we first, you know.  Well, it’s been two weeks since my last drink.  I haven’t been stunt flying much either.  I’m really feeling happy, AJ.

“Sure,” she opened her right wing to look at it, nearly brushing it against Applejack’s flank, “these babies are still awesome, but what’s the point of bein’ in the sky when everything I need is on the ground?”

Applejack exhaled a shaky breath. “That was so sweet, did ya just come up with that?”

“Eeyup.  I know you’ve noticed I’m not always flying nowadays.  I still do, but why bother?”

“Well, it’s who ya are.”

“Was.  I ain’t in a rush ta be a wonderbolt.  Ah’ve got a ways ta go.”

Applejack giggled. “Yer talkin’ like me again, Dashing.”

“Good.  I’m better since I met you, and bein’ with you’s been makin’ me happier than I’ve been in, ever.”

“Aww, yer so cute when yer honest.”

They shared a caring look and continued their path.

“AJ?”

“Yeah?”

“I wanna have a foal.”

Applejack stumbled and would have face planted onto the ground if Rainbow hadn’t had a wing ready to catch her.

“W-what?!”

“Ya heard me,” Rainbow said nuzzling Applejack, “but I don’t wanna carry it.”

“Oh, but, what’ll that mean for-”

“Hush,” Rainbow said kissing Applejack, “also.  It’s time.”

“Time?” she asked as a content smile crossed her muzzle.  She pushed herself back to her hooves and balanced her stetson on her head.

“I want to talk about Scootaloo.”

Applejack’s ears perked up and her expression became much happier.  “Ya mean ya wanna adopt her?” Rainbow smiled weakly and nodded, “well that’s great!  Ya haven’t talked a word since the doctor visit, what brought this on?”

“Well, I-I saw her sneaking into their clubhouse one night so I checked on it late one night and she was sleeping in there.  Alone, AJ.”

“Darn,” was all Applejack said as they started walking again. “So, when was it that that happened?”

“A couple days after the doctor.  It just hurt so much to see, and I don’t know how long it’s been happening, and-”

“Sugarplum, it’s fine.  Ah understand and,” she took in a controlled breath, “I know she’s been livin’ in the clubhouse.”

“What?!” Rainbow asked incredulously.

“I’d leave her snacks now and again.  Extra blankets during winter.  Let her ‘sleep over’ and play dumb for the weeks her parents’d be on vacation.  She’s never been a burden and she pulls her own weight.  She’s a good filly, but I have ta admit, with the harvest bein’ constant now she can’t stay there much longer.”

“Well, then we’d better get that filly before foal services does,” Rainbow said in a hushed whisper.  Applejack nodded in agreement.

“So,” Applejack said factually, “goin’ in heat next week?”

Rainbow snapped back. “What?!  Why do you ask that?”

Applejack smirked. “Don’t think Ah haven’t noticed over the years, every year this time and the other time ya get sappy.”

“Hey, I do not,” Rainbow protested.  Applejack wrapped a foreleg around Rainbow and pulled her into a deep kiss; a few seconds into it Rainbow lost strength in her legs and collapsed, ending their kiss.  A blush across her face and a goofy grin across her muzzle.

“Like Ah said, next week.  Let’s do it,” she said turning to lay beside her dazed fiance, “let’s have a baby.”

Rainbow guffawed and looked into Applejack’s eyes.  “Heh, eeyup.”

“Alright sugarplum, wait here while I check us in,” Applejack said as she pointed to a couch large enough for the two of them.

Rainbow nervously took a seat on the couch and laid down comfortably, however there was a paper draped over all the places to sit that was annoying her.  Not just why they were there, but the sounds they were making, the constant crunching of paper.  The waiting room was nearly full of mares in heat.  Some had stallions, some were in herds, all were there for the same reason.

“So, are you here for a baby?” A lone unicorn mare lying on a single pillow across from Rainbow asked, snapping her out of a daze she was in.

“Um, what?  Sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

“I asked, ‘are you here for a baby’?”

“Oh, uh, well.  Yea, I mean, no.  Well yes, but not me.  I’m not ready yet, but my marefriend is.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.  But you know, you never know when you’re ready, it can sometimes just happen.  I’ve got five, none ‘planned’ as they say.”

“Wow, five!  You must,” Rainbow stopped herself from insulting the mare across from her, “uh, be so happy.”

“I am!  Everypony handles it different, but once you have one, the whole world changes for the better.  My name’s Mystic Fire,” she said extending a hoof.  Rainbow smiled.  She got up from the couch.

“Name’s Rainbow Dash, best flier in Equ-” she gulped as she felt a discharge of fluids and some children playing nearby scream and run away from her.  Most parents hushing their children, other parents giggling.

She looked back to see a light yellow mark on the paper covered couch, then she realized why they were there.

“Oh, well, don’t worry about it.  We’re mares in heat; it happens,” Mystic dismissed the event and booped Rainbow’s nose.  Rainbow looked to her nose and wiggled it then raised her hoof, greeting Mystic officially.

“I’m Rainbow Dash and I’m going to die of embarrassment right now,” she said lowering her head and hooves to the floor, her tail drooped and she looked from the corners of her eyes at the other ponies who had gone back to their own business.

“Oh, pshaw, don’t fret, dear.  That’s why we’re on these awful things,” she motioned to the paper, “mares discharge, it’s a fact.  Just wave a hoof and one of the nurse aides with come over and clean it up.”

Rainbow felt a blush tingeling her cheeks as her left wing raised straight up.  An aged stallion walked by and cast a spell, replacing the marked paper with a new one.

“So, a bit shy about your time of the year, huh?” Mystic asked knowingly.

“Um, yeah,” Rainbow meekly replied as she took a seat on the couch again, the other side this time, “normally I can play it off as I’m sick or something and stay at home, or have my time in the clouds over Ponyville.  But,” she looked around at the other mares in the room, “I lost my cloud home and moved to the ground.

I can’t really say Ah don’t miss it, but I’ve got a reason to be down here now.”

She looked to Applejack who was waiting patiently in line.

“Ah, I see.  And I’ve heard of you, the mares who saved the world a couple times, right?”

Rainbow grinned and puffed her chest. “Eeyup, Ah beat ‘em all with my friends,” she gloated.

“Yeah, that’s what they say.  Now you’re having a baby with somepony?  How are your friends gonna handle a new mom to the group?”

“Oh, they’ll be fine.  My marefriend is one of the group, so we’re always gonna be together.”

“Hmm,” Mystic thought, “what about battles and future threats to Equestria?  Will she be going in while pregnant, sitting them out, or maybe,” she chuckled slightly, “be cheering her ‘Dash’ on from the sides?”

Rainbow grinned confidently. “Oh, we’re definitely gonna be fighting together.  No pony, monster, beast, or alien invasion can stand up to our friendship.  Plus, we’re the toughest of the group, no pony can touch us.”

“Except Discord, he reportedly took your wings, right?” Mystic asked.

Rainbow’s deflated a bit as she looked at the floor. “Yeah, well, he didn’t actually touch us, he used his magic to prank us,” she said solemnly, “but we kicked his flank and turned him to stone before he could really hurt anypony,” she justified.

“Well, that’s good to know.  And you have your wings back, so that’s great, right?”

“Yes it is, and until recently I was going to be a Wonderbolt,” Mystic gasped and sat up slightly, “but, I’m over that.  I’d rather just be happy at home with AJ.”

Mystic smiled and laid back down, the paper annoyingly crinkling. “Well, she must be special for you to give up a spot on that team.  And, who’s AJ, exactly?”

“Oh, the super sexy orange pony over there with the hat and apple cutie marks.  She has deep green eyes, her mane smells like coconuts, her coat smells like a day of hard work, her kiss is like apples and makes me all jelly,” Rainbow had closed her eyes and was lost in the image of Applejack, “her freckles are the best thing to wake up to in the mornings and her accent.  ‘Well, sugarcube.  Mighty pleased ta meetcha, put ‘er there’.

Oh Celestia I love the way she touched the side of my muzzle when she kisses me and-”

“Whew!  Okay, wow,” Mystic interrupted.  Rainbow opened her eyes and looked around to see nearly half the waiting room looking at her expectantly, “that was, vivid.  What I wouldn’t give for that in my relationship.”

Several ponies agreed before turning back to their own tasks again.

“Sorry, I kinda get carried away.  So, who’re you here with?” Rainbow asked.

“My husband, Square Knot.  He’s two in front of your marefriend.”

Rainbow looked and nodded.  “Eeyup, he looks like a husband alright.  Is he a good guy?”

“Certainly, he is,” Mystic said with a warm smile, “I work from home and he spends half a day everyday at a factory in Trottingham, that’s where we’re from, making parts for carriages.”

“Huh, that’s cool.  Never knew a factory pony before.  I work in weather management and I help AJ on her farm.  I bring in a crop of Zap Apples every week for her to harvest.”

Several ponies turned to look at Rainbow, their mouths hanging open.

Mystic swallowed and cleared her throat. “Th-that’s you?  And, and her?  The two of you are the makers of that amazing treat?”

“Well, not really,” Rainbow said puffing her chest again, “I just make the fruit appear with my awesomeness, then AJ picks ‘em.  It’s up to her granny to make sure it’s made right.  We only have a day to pick ‘em and get ‘em ready or they vanish, did you know that?”

“N-no, but I know what I’m craving now,” Mystic said licking her lips, along with much of the room that was ease dropping, “Some Zap Apple pie with vanilla iced cream.  This can wait, I’ll come back some other time,” Mystic said rolling to her hooves and fast trotting out the open door into the warm Canterlot day.

Several other mares followed her, opening most of the room and sending a sigh from the various aides and staff that had to reshuffle the paperwork.

“Well, ain’t that just the luck.  What happened here, Dash?  The whole place cleared out faster than the farm durin’ a tornado.”

Rainbow scowled at Applejack.  “That was one time and it was supposed to be a prank, how many time do I have to apologize?”

Applejack chucked.  “I don’t mean it like that.  Where’d everypony go?”

Just then Mystic returned with a content smile and happy step in her trot.

“Well, now the time’s been cut more than in half.”

“Applejack, this’ Mystic.  Mystic, this’ Applejack.”

Applejack smiled warmly. “Well, sugarcube.  Mighty pleased ta meetcha, put ‘er there,” she said as she extended her hoof.

Mystic chortled and looked at Rainbow Dash who was staring at Applejack’s mane, intently.  Extending her hoof she was greeted by a nearly violent hoofshake that was surprisingly relaxing.

Applejack ended the shake and turned to hop next to Rainbow on the couch, the paper garnering a frown from Applejack.  “Ah declare, why in tarnation…  You okay, sugarcube?” she asked Mystic who was looking at her slightly trembling hoof that was recently shaken.

“Um, yes, but I have to ask, are you the Applejack, that makes Zap Apple products?”

Rainbow and Applejack looked at each other and grinned, then turned to smile at Mystic.  “Well, reckon I, we are the ones who grow and harvest them,” she emphasised, “but Granny Smith and a few helpers make it into the jam and whatnot.”

“Yeah, and there’s this guy, Messy Rich, or something, he sells it across Equestria!”  Rainbow added happily.

“Well,” Mystic said with a smirk, “then I guess you’re rich, happy, and planning to have a baby?  Sounds like a perfect relationship to me.”

“Mystic Fire?  Mystic Fire?  The doctor is ready to see you.”

Mystic smiled and trotted to her husband who had sat, seemingly upset, near the nurses station.  He grumbled something to her that made both her and the nurse frown before they went around a corner and out of view, leaving only a dozen or so mares and a stallion in the room.

It was eerily silent for the next minute while most of the mares settled into their seats and the stallions looked at either the ceilings or the walls.

“Well, this got boring,” Rainbow called out loudly, “who wants to hoof wrestle?”

“Oh, hush, Dashing,” Applejack said with a smile, “ya know Ahm the only one who can beat ya with my eyes closed.”

Rainbow snorted at her. “Wanna bet?”

“Don’t need, Ah make the bits in this here relationship.”  A few mares and the stallion ooo’d.

“Well, ya wouldn’t have them bits without mah rainboom,” Rainbow nearly shouted puffing her chest and opening her wings.

“Any ya wouldn’t have ta use it without havin’ me in yer life,” Applejack challenged narrowing her eyes and puffing her chest.

A nurse at the reception began to gather herself and prepare to stop a fight.

Rainbow Dash flared her nostrils and huffed hot air, nearly blowing Applejacks hat off.

“Without you I’d be miserable and not know it!  You saved my life!”

“Ya dang fool,” Applejack shouted leaning into Rainbow’s muzzle with her own, “if it weren’t for yer first rainboom when we were fillies I’da stayed in Manehatten and been miserable too!  Ya gave me a reason to stay home!”

The other ponies in the waiting room watched with bated breath, even the nurse had stopped to listen.

“You’re the reason I wanted to stay in Ponyville, I just didn’t know it.” Rainbow said leaning back.

“And you were the first mare I’d loved, I just didn’t know it,” Applejack sighed and lowered her guard.

“AJ, I’m sorry I yelled, I didn’t mean it.  I love you, and I don’t wanna make ya sad,” Rainbow whimpered.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash, I love you so much,” she sniffled in response, “Ah’m sorry Ah yelled too.  Ah dunno what came over me.”  They embraced into a hug and the room filled with sighs of contentment from the mares and stallion.

The medical staff huffed.  “Damn lovers heat.”

“So, Ms.’ Dash and Apple, what brings you to my office today?” the doctor asked looking between the two mares in an exam room.  The room was very medical efficient with simple art depicting a mare’s reproductive system.  The doctor was an experienced white unicorn stallion.

The look of years of asking the same question wore on his expression and he didn’t bother to feign interest in the question or answer as he mentally prepared for a rehearsed series of quoted answers he used several times a day.

“Well, reckon I ain’t used ta talkin’ bout this-”

“Now, Ms. Dash-”

“I’m Rainbow Dash!  How can you not know me, I’m the fastest flier in Equestria!”

“Nice to meet you.  Now, Ms. Apple, I understand there is some apprehension that comes along with all this, however part of the process is that you have to tell me what you want and expect, then I can answer your questions before we move forward,” he stated flatly, glancing to his paperwork.

“Well, we’re lookin’ ta have a little one; ya know, the pitter patter of little hooves.”

“Ah, yes.  Well, first you need to be financially stable, do both of you work or just one?” he asked looking to Applejack.

“We make Zap Apple jam!” Rainbow said enthusiastically.  The doctor finally showed some emotion as his mouth opened in shock.

“Z-Zap Apples?  That’s you two?  You’re the Apples?  Um, well,” he smiled happily, “I guess we can skip a few of the usual questions.  How soon were you thinking of getting pregnant?”

The mares smiled to each other.  “As soon as possible, before we go crazy!”

The doctor sighed. “Well, I understand your, enthusiasm, however this is a big step in any creatures life.  Once you start there’s no going back, and while there is adoption as an option for unwanted foals, the options for ponies that make the medical choice are more limited, especially to the more financially affluent.”

“AJ, what’s he saying?”

“Ah haven’t the foggiest.  Say doc-”

“What I mean is that if you go through with this you’re in it for the long haul.  No adopting the child out.”

“What?!” They both shouted.

“Let’s get this clear, partner.  Ain’t no Apple gonna be tossed aside, ya hear me?”

“And I know she’s gonna be too awesome!  There’s no way she won’t get into the Wonderbolts.”

The others looked at Rainbow.  “Who says it’ll be a pegasus?”

“What?  You mean it might be an earth pony?”

The doctor waved a foreleg to get their attention. “Ladies, there’s a one in six chance you’ll get any of the races.  There’s even an incredibly slight chance of you having a hybrid.  These happen once every few generations but they are a normal pegasus that can be born with a horn, giving the appearance of an alicorn, without the powers.

“I should add, before you get too excited, these rare ponies have only one third the power of each of their races, so they are actually quite dependant and may not receive their cutie marks until they are older.”

Rainbow and Applejack sighed. “So, it’s a retard?”

Applejack scoffed at Rainbow’s comment. “It’d be family and that’s all that matters.  Powers or not, there’s always a place on the farm.  We even got a job fer you, if’n ya forgot.”

“Ladies, I know you’re both in heat and are prone to more emotional outbursts but please, control yourselves.”

“Well, she started it!”

“No, she did, ya heard her talkin’ ‘bout the baby like that.”

“It was the truth!”

“That’s a terrible word ta use with kin.”

“What about your cousin ‘Apple Sauce’?  Ya make of of her.”

“We treat her like any other member of the family!”

“Yeah, I heard you laughing at her that one time.”

“She told a funny joke about oranges!”

"LADIES, PLEASE!  Relax, please.  This isn’t what we’re here for, right?” Rainbow and Applejack shook their heads, taken aback by the doctor’s outburst.  “Very well.  Then let’s continue.  I cannot perform the operation today, if you’re certain you have to schedule for next month and make sure to think about this.”

“What?!  But, I won’t be in heat next month,” Rainbow said dejectedly, “same for her.”

“I’m sorry ladies, it would be unethical for me to just-”

“I’ll give you fifty jars of fresh jam,” Applejack blurted.  Not one to bribe she covered her mouth with her hooves and looked between them nervously.

He smiled. “You know how to grease the wheels.  The princesses will be honored to have your increase to the population.  Relax,” he said as his horn lit up.

“Are you doing one of those scan things?”

“Shhh,” he hushed.

Rainbow and Applejack felt their bodies tingle then when his horn stopped glowing the sensation went away.

“And there we are.  Congratulation, you’re going to be a mother, take these pamphlets and just send the jam here, please.”

“W-wait, that was it?  I thought-”

“Yes, yes.  Operating room and all that.  Just sign here,” he said levitating a paper to them and a quill.  They signed it and he smiled wide. “Now if you tell anypony about the procedure, let’s just say you don’t want to do that.  The exit is down the hall and to the left.”

He sat on the floor, smiling contently as he watched them leave.  “And don’t forget, fifty jars.  No less.”

The mares walked into the waiting room almost bewildered.

“So, what was that?”

“Dashing, Ah’m thinkin’ we got taken fer chumps.  Now Ah’ve gotta pay that doctor and send ‘em fifty jars ‘a jam.  Hornswagglers.  Next time Ah’m just goin’ to Canterlot.”

“Well, whatever.  At least now we know it’s a bust,” Rainbow added as they made their way through the lobby.  Ears of other ponies followed them but their owners kept their noses down.

As they left the clinic they both grinned. “Mystic, what in tarnation’re ya still doin’ here?  I’d thought ya left.”

“Well, Square thought it’d be a good idea to take a taxi back to the hotel.”

“Well, that’s mighty kind of him.”

“Alone.”

“Wow, what a jerk.”

“Now, Rainbow Dash-”

“No, Applejack, she’s right.  He wasn’t ready to be a father again and I went into heat early.  We had it marked on the calendar but ya know, mother nature is a fickle mare,” she chuckled.

“Well, that don’t make what he done okay,” she said in a huff, “Ah swear to ya, almost every stallion’s in it fer ‘emselves.”

Rainbow laughed and playfully punched Applejack in the shoulder. “Says the mare that’s never had one.”

Applejack scowled at Rainbow. “I don’t need to be with one ta know they don’t sit right with me.  Mystic,” she turned and smiled warmly, “care ta join us fer some chow?  Headin’ ta get some grub at the market.”

“Oh, well, if you don’t mind.  I am a bit hungry, being pregnant and all.”

“Yeah, I heard that happens.  Maybe when we get to a real doctor that’ll actually try to get us pregnant.”

“Awe, it didn’t work out?  Did you remember to see him last month so he could work with you now?”

Applejack and Rainbow lowered their heads in defeat. “No,” Rainbow started, “we thought it’d be a in and out.  Now we’ll be done by the time we get back ta see him and have to wait at least six months until the next time.  If it even happens.  You know how irregualar I am, AJ.”

“Well, reckon Ah don’t rightly know just yet, but if ya say so.”

“Then, my fellow mares,” Mystic proclaimed loudly, “to the food!”

With a giggle they turned left and headed toward the market.