"TROUBLE, IT'S TIME!" Applejack shouted in pain as she jolted to an upright position in bed, breathing heavily. It was seven months after their wedding, and just over eleven months after their first date and the time she got pregnant.

He'd been moved into Sweet Apple Acres since he and Applejack had gotten married, having set aside his rodeo-clowning job and the crappy trailer it came with in exchange for his new role as a farmer, and he indeed did a very good job with it given how large and strong he was.

Surprisingly to him, he'd indeed found that nothing unlucky had ever happened to him since he'd started wearing the lucky broach he was gifted at their wedding, only once having tripped in a mud puddle since... but a little bit of bad luck was expected in anypony's life, right?

As Applejack gave another pained groan, Trouble instantly got up upon feeling a wetness on their shared bed; groggy from the sudden awakening, but still knowing exactly what that wetness and his mare's pained cries meant.

"TROUBLLLLLLLEEE!" Applejack squealed desperately, with Trouble quickly moving through the motions of getting Applejack to the hospital, nearly forgetting their planned overnight-bag in the hurry.

~

Troubleshoes stayed in the delivery room of the hospital with Applejack as she delivered while standing, always right beside his mare as she squeezed his hoof tight in hers with each contraction, using him as an anchor in this hard time. She was silent save for her grunts and the deep breaths they'd practiced, her eyes sealed shut in concentration and her expression one of determination, always strong and stoic even at a time like this.

With a final, strong push from Applejack some time later, Trouble heard a soft gurgling cry coming from beneath them, and finally, Applejack collapsed to the floor to rest, exhausted but with her job finally done. "Congratulations, it's a beautiful filly! Good job mama!" the delivering doctor announced, making Troubleshoes smile largely.

"Good job honey, y'did it!" Trouble quietly cheered, with Applejack giving an exhausted pant and tiny dazed smile in return.

"Nah hun, we did it."

~

After the preliminary post-birth tests, their child was brought to them with a clean bill of health, perfectly healthy in every way. As they looked down to their foal swaddled in the pink blanket given to fillies, Applejack and Troubleshoes saw that the foal's coat was a golden brown, her mane light-brown, and her whole muzzle and up to between her eyes a cream-white color that was just like her father's markings, through and through.

Applejack also quickly found that she was indeed an armful for her, knowing she was big while carrying her and especially while giving birth. She was large even for being an Earth Pony foal, with them always being bigger than their Unicorn or Pegasus counterparts. It would seem Troubleshoes' size-determining genes had most definitely been passed on.

A short while later their filly opened her eyes, looking upon her parents' eyes with the same color of green eyes that both had looked into on each other, with each thinking that they were looking into a smaller version of their own or their mate's eyes as they looked into hers.

"Welcome to the world mah beautiful li'l' filly. Ahm yer mama." Applejack said softly, her smile the largest, yet most tired, one Troubleshoes had seen on her since their wedding day. As Applejack nuzzled their foal affectionately, Trouble joined his head beside hers, with Applejack looking up to him and planting a kiss on his cheek.

"...an' Ahm yer daddy," Troubleshoes said happily, feeling the same pride that Applejack undoubtedly did as he looked upon the small brown foal wrapped in pink, feeling a wet warmth streaming down his cheek. He was a father. He was a father to a beautiful little filly, and he had a beautiful mare to share her with.

After a short while more of initially bonding with their new little filly, the nurse came back to the couple with the customary forms, and after a few questions, they came to the name portion. As both looked to each other and Troubleshoes nodded, Applejack cleared her throat. They'd decided a while back what the foal's name would be, regardless of gender. The name that only seemed fitting given just how lucky they were to have it.

"We want t' name 'er Golden Horseshoe. Golden Horseshoe Clyde." Applejack said, with Trouble nodding his consent once more. "A perfect name for a perfect filly."

As soon as they finished the paperwork and Applejack rested a bit more, she was tested to make sure she was fit to leave the hospital, coming through it with flying colors. Just then, Applejack's friends, Granny Smith, and Big Mac were welcomed inside, all cooing at the new foal – and even if she later denied it, so was Rainbow Dash!

"Ooooh! What's her name?! What's her naaaame?!?!" Pinkie Pie excitedly squealed out, only to be shushed by a nearby nurse.

"Despite not all of us being so enthusiastic as Pinkie Pie, I think we'd all like to know," Twilight said softly, getting an agreeing nod from the other four.

Applejack gently unswaddled Golden's head, letting them see her sleeping face fully, her friends leaning in a little closer to get a better look. "Gals, Ah'd like t' introduce y'all to Golden Horseshoe, our beautiful li'l filly." Applejack said, answered by more excited chattering and congratulations from her friends. As she looked over to Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith, she saw their eyes watering as they looked upon their niece, cousin, and great-grandchild, respectively; each happy to see a new branch grown on the Apple family tree.

~

Soon after meeting, greeting and some more hanging out with Applejack's friends and family, the new parents left the hospital, bringing with them the beautiful pink-and-brown bundle that was their daughter. Applejack felt more proud that day than with any of her other accomplishments, this moment to her being the greatest achievement she'd ever completed. She'd brought somepony new into the world, and nothing could compare to that feeling; not even helping save the world a million times over.

Upon arriving home from the hospital, Trouble laid his filly into her bassinet as they stepped into their room and nursery, simply looking upon Golden for a while, as if in awe that she was finally here after just over eleven months of awaiting and preparing for her; of seeing the slow growth of her within Applejack. As Golden looked up to him and met his eyes for a second, Trouble felt another pang of pride roll through him alongside the love he felt for her, still somewhat unable to comprehend that he'd helped make this beautiful little filly.

Applejack came in a while later and stood beside him as they looked upon what they'd created, nuzzling softly against each other, with Applejack giving a contented nicker as they did. "What did Ah do to deserve this? Ah got a beautiful mare and a lovely little filly too." Troubleshoes soon after said, getting a soft kiss from Applejack for that, with her then leaning softly against his side and tucking her head under his chin as they looked back into the bassinet, watching with dim smiles the sleeping, lightly-wriggling mass inside.

"It's just mah luck."

Author's Note

Everypony likes foals, even athletic ponies who claim not to!