Apple from a Seed

Rarity had been pouring over her latest creation for what felt like hours. Lace, no lace, satin or cashmere, summer or winter colors; no matter what she tried something always seemed not quite right. Sapphire Shores had wanted something different this time. She was redesigning her image, she had said when she placed the order, and wanted something ‘elegant and beautiful, something an old-fashioned lounge singer would wear today.’

That meant she had to take the style of the day and rework it with modern influences. Or she could take a modern dress and add features of yesteryear’s fashion; either would give her drastically different results and she had to decide which was closer to what Sapphire Shores was wanting.

All the while still trying to make it as fabulous as a design of the Carousel Boutique demands! She had to get this right. Her reputation was riding on it. And Sapphire Shores had been such a long-time customer, Rarity practically considered them friends. She couldn’t let her down.

“Hmmm, what do you think, Opal? Is the cayenne too drab for a main color? Should I have gone with the ultramarine velvet?”

Unfortunately, her design partner seemed more interested in sleeping upon a sun-warmed stack of fabrics on her worktable. Opal’s only response was a bored “mrowl”.

Rarity hmmmed in thought as she looked the gown over again. “Ugh, you’re right, of course. I should have gone with the velvet. Well, this morning has been a complete waste!” Using her magic, she whipped the dress off the ponnequin and flung it aside to deal with later. Then she began rifling through her fabrics. “Now, where did I leave it…?”

Opal gave another annoyed mrowl as Rarity lifted her from her resting spot.

“You know, Opal, I wouldn’t have to move you if you didn’t sleep where I was working!” Rarity tsked before she finally found the velvet. “Ah ha! Now, let’s try this again, shall we?”

She had just gotten a length spread out on the table and her pattern pinned in place atop it when she heard the front door of the Boutique crash open loud enough to rattle the window next to her.

“If that’s Rainbow Dash breaking my door’s window again I’m going to make her pay for it!” she groused as she took her glasses off and set them aside. Putting on her best professional smile, she called out, “I’ll be with you in just a moment!”

When Rarity opened the door leading into the Boutique’s showroom, she expected one of three things: a hasty customer who simply hadn’t paid any attention to how rough they were with the door, Rainbow Dash come by to rave about how her Wonderbolts Training was going or Scootaloo expecting to see Sweetie Belle. The latter thought brought a smile to her; it was a wonder what a special somepony could do to make one care about their appearance.

Or perhaps ‘significant other’ was more appropriate for her.

What Rarity didn’t expect was the distraught face of her marefriend’s little sister to place itself within inches of her own. Even less did she expect Apple Bloom’s hooves to grasp her face by the cheeks.

“Rarity, ya have to come quick!” she screeched, her eyes wide and panicky. “It’s the baby! It’s already comin’!”

“W-what?” Rarity stuttered. The world seemed to slow around her as she tried to process.

“AJ was out workin’ in the barn when her water broke! The contractions were already startin’ by the time Big Mac found her!”

Finally gathering herself, Rarity nodded. “Where is she now?”

“Big Mac’s already takin’ her to the hospital. Granny’s following behind as fast as she can and they told me to come get you!”

“Then let’s go; we’ll meet them there!”

To Rarity’s immense surprise, the hospital’s lobby looked almost… pedestrian as she entered with Apple Bloom hot on her tail. There were no ponies rushing about looking harried or panicked, there were no warning codes being read over the intercom; it was almost as though it was just any other day.

A few bored-looking ponies were sitting in the boring lobby chairs reading boring magazines while a bored nurse looked over paperwork behind the front desk. Looking across the utter mundanity of it nearly gave Rarity a sense of vertigo.

It was almost like the world wasn’t about to change irrevocably.

Once the sensation had settled enough for her to regain control, Rarity made for the front desk. Her approach got the nurse’s attention, who looked up from her work.

“Oh, Miss Rarity! I was told to expect you. You’re here for Miss Applejack?” the white earth pony nurse asked. At Rarity’s nod, the nurse pointed down the hall. “She’s already been taken into a delivery room in the maternity ward up on the second floor. You can take the elevator just over that way.”

“Is Dr. Stable here yet?” Rarity asked. For the first time she regretted getting a doctor from Canterlot, even if he was supposedly one of the best in Equestria.

Unfortunately, the nurse shook her head. “Last I heard he was on his way, but the nurses up in Maternity will know more.”

She had barely even finished before Rarity and Apple Bloom were off down the hallway. Rarity somehow made it first and primly, if firmly, tapped the up button. When an elevator didn’t immediately open, Apple Bloom began furiously pounding the button over and over again. A ding sounded behind them and they practically jumped through the opening doors.

What felt like an age later, the doors opened again and they stepped out.

“It says Maternity’s this way,” Apple Bloom said, looking at a directory board. “This way!”

She led the way down the hall with Rarity following closely behind. They dodged around ponies as fast as they dared, neither wanting to be away from Applejack any longer than they had to but not wanting to accidentally bump into somepony and cause trouble on the way.

They turned a corner and spotted Big Macintosh pacing back and forth in the middle of the hall. His mane was a mess, looking as windswept as Rainbow Dash’s often did, and he was missing his yoke entirely. Rarity had a passing thought that he looked rather smaller without it.

Almost frail, even.

“Mac!” Apple Bloom shouted as she dashed towards him and threw her forelegs around his neck. He half-heartedly patted her back as Rarity caught up.

“Macintosh, where’s Applejack? How is she?” Rarity asked in a rush.

Big Macintosh nodded towards the door he had been pacing in front of. “Granny’s already with her. Ah was jus’ waitin’ for you two.”

“Then what’re we waiting for?” Apple Bloom shouted as she pulled away and barreled through the door without so much as a knock.

Shaking his head disapprovingly, Big Macintosh gestured Rarity forward. “Uh… Ladies first…” Too eager to see her marefriend, Rarity barely paid him any heed as she followed Apple Bloom inside.

The delivery room was as vaguely ‘welcoming’ as any hospital room was. The walls were a soft pastel green with decorative floral prints near the bottom of the wallpaper. Cabinets lined the ceiling along the opposite and left wall from the door, likely filled with an assortment of medical tools designed to handle a number of potential situations. A matching row was set underneath with an empty counter above.

The room was dimly lit, just enough to be comfortable and relaxing without hindering one’s sight. The room also had a lot of floor space, likely to give the doctor and nurses ample room to move around and work.

Covered by a thick green blanket on the delivery table rested Applejack.

Rarity’s first thought was that she looked awful. Her face was contorted in a grimace of pain as she clutched her stomach. She was lying on her side with Granny Smith wiping the sweat from her brow. Her entire body was dripping, leaving her fur matted and damp.

Rarity was at her marefriend’s side in an instant, clutching her hoof within her own. Her free hoof joined Granny’s in stroking Applejack’s forehead, paying no attention to the sweat getting on her pristinely-painted hoof.

“Oh, Darling! Are you alright? How are you feeling?” Rarity whimpered.

“Like Mac’s g–argh!– got my belly in a bear hug!” she gasped. After a few moments the pain seemed to pass and she relaxed, panting. She gave a light, breathless laugh. “Good thing he was always the weak one!”

Big Macintosh, who had settled himself opposite Rarity and above the table, rolled his eyes but remained silent as ever. Apple Bloom, leaning against the table next to him, bounced on her hooves anxiously.

“Is there anythin’ I can do, AJ? Can I get ya something? Water? Food?” she babbled.

“N-no, I’m fine, AB. Thanks, though,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Why don’t you go get her some water, in case she wants it later?” Granny Smith asked anyway. Apple Bloom darted off like her tail was on fire, slamming the door behind her.

Rarity turned back to Applejack with a stern frown. “Apple Bloom told me you were out in the barn working. What were you thinking?!”

Applejack rolled her eyes and sighed. “I was just sortin’ apples, Rares. Not exactly labor-intensive work!”

“You were out in the barn by yourself! What if Macintosh hadn’t heard you? You could have been out there alone for Celestia knows how long! What if–!”

A large red hoof came to rest surprisingly gently atop hers, cutting her off. Big Macintosh’s face was impassive as he shook his head at her. Realizing he had a point, she sighed to herself.

“Yes, of course. Now is hardly the time for that, I suppose. Is there anything I can do for you, Darling?” she asked.

Applejack grinned ruefully. “Not unless you can use your magic to get this thing outta me right now!” But then as she tried to shift herself up higher on the table she winced again.

“Another contraction?” Rarity asked. “How far apart are they? Where’s the doctor and nurses?”

Applejack shook her head and tried again to inch herself higher up the table, this time successfully. “Nah, just a sore back. Contractions are comin’ every few minutes, but they ain’t so bad. Nurse said I still have a way to go before we’re to the pushin’ part.”

“But where are they?” Rarity pressed. It was Granny Smith that answered.

“The nurse left jus’ a minute ago to check on the doctor. Said he should be arriving any minute now.”

Rarity fell silent, unsure of what else to say, and so she settled for continuing to rub her love’s back. Even after Apple Bloom returned with a bottle of water, there was little to do but wait for the doctor to arrive.

Like Applejack had said, every few minutes another contraction wracked her body, leaving her trembling and whimpering until it subsided. Every one, even though they only lasted half a minute each, felt like an eternity to Rarity as she helplessly watched.

The entire room breathed a sigh of relief when the door finally opened and a brown-coated unicorn stallion came in with a nurse carrying a medical clipboard in her mouth right behind him.

Dr. Stable was a curt stallion, offering little more than a nod as he took the nurse’s clipboard in his magic and limped over to the counter to read it. His right hindleg was in a brace with two metal rods, one to either side, that kept it rigid and straight. Unlike any other time they’d met with him, he didn’t wear a lab coat, instead choosing a pair of simple green scrubs. She guessed they’d likely be more practical for delivering a baby.

Things probably got… messy.

She tried not to think about it as the nurse set about checking Applejack’s blood pressure and heart rate. Instead she focused on not snapping at their doctor. Walking into the room, on today of all days, and not even introducing himself or saying a simple hello?! How rude!

But it wouldn’t do to be too upset with him. He’d been like every time they’d met with him. Though his bedside manner perhaps wasn’t the best, it was simply how he was. It helped that he was one of the most highly-regarded prenatal care providers in Canterlot.

Once he’d apparently read enough of his file, he wheeled over a stool Rarity hadn’t noticed before and sat by Applejack’s side with Apple Bloom giving him room.

“Good afternoon, Miss Applejack, Miss Rarity,” he said to each of them in turn before nodding to the rest of the family. “Looks like today’s finally the day, eh? How’re you feeling?”

“C-can’t say I’m feeling great, doc,” Applejack choked out as another contraction began to take hold. Rarity could feel her shaking as she fought not to scream aloud, instead leaving a long, low groan to fill the room. She clutched her stomach and rocked her flanks as the pain continued to build.

All Rarity could do was continue to rub her back.

Useless. Completely and utterly useless.

And yet she didn’t stop her massage to wipe the tear rolling down her cheek.

“It’ll be alright, Darling. You’re doing great! I love you so much,” she whispered in Applejack’s ear, even if she couldn’t be sure her words were even heard.

After countless agonizing seconds, the pain evident in her expression began to fade and she relaxed, panting and exhausted.

“The file said your contractions are coming roughly five minutes apart?” the doctor asked.

“Yes,” Granny Smith answered for her, as Applejack was still too winded to do so herself. “Though they’re comin’ closer now. A little over three.”

He magicked over his clipboard and made a note. “Alright, I’ll need to check your dilation. If you’d like privacy…” he trailed off, his point implied as he glanced pointedly at the gathered family.

Applejack shook her head, finally gathering herself enough to respond. “N-no, they’re all stayin’.”

Dr. Stable looked up, blinking over his clipboard. “For the… whole delivery?”

She nodded in return before smiling tiredly at each of them. “Bringin’ a new little one into the family needs family around. It’s how we’ve always done things, ain’t that right, Granny?”

“Durn tootin’!” Granny Smith said proudly.

Dr. Stable just shrugged noncommittally. “If that’s what you wish, as long as they stay out of the way once things get going.” He stood from his stool and limped around to the tail of the bed where he lifted the sheets up to expose Applejack’s lower body. “Now I remember the cervical checks haven’t hurt for you in the past, but they can still be uncomfortable. Just try to relax and keep your tail raised, alright?”

Rarity purposefully looked away as the doctor set to work. She could feel Applejack’s body tense as his magic slid inside her. Having some other pony feeling around down there had always made her uncomfortable.

Perhaps in an effort to distract herself, Applejack looked to Apple Bloom. “When I start pushin’, I want you to stay up here, alright? I don’t want you anywhere near the tail of this bed, you hear me?”

“What?!” Apple Bloom said. “AJ, I’ve helped you birth pigs on the farm. This ain’t gonna be nothing I haven’t seen before!”

“This ain’t the same! These’re my nethers we’re talkin’ about and you don’t need to be seeing ‘em like that!” Applejack countered.

“Then what about Mac? How come you aren’t telling him too?!”

“Fine!” Applejack huffed, rolling her eyes. “Mac, you too!”

“Eeyup.”

Apple Bloom looked ready to argue again but Granny Smith cut her off. “Now that’s enough, Apple Bloom. Your sister’s got enough to deal with as it is; you mind her now.”

“No fair! Nineteen and still everypony treats me like I’m a baby…” Apple Bloom pouted.

Rarity smiled at the exchange. Apple Bloom’s outburst and everypony’s reactions, though not exactly what she thought she would have wanted at the moment, felt like a little touch of familiarity amidst all the uncertainty.

By then, the doctor had finished. “Looks like it’s going to be lively in here tonight,” he said as he straightened. “You’re two centimeters from full dilation, Applejack. It won’t be long now. Are you ready?”

“As I’ll ever be, doc,” she said. The resolution in her voice was definite, and Rarity couldn’t help leaning in to kiss her temple.

Dr. Stable cut a rare smile. “Alright then. We’ll finish getting all the equipment in here and then we’ll be set to go. Get ready everypony, we’re about to have a baby.”

“Alright, Applejack. Push!”

A scream, forced through clenched teeth, tore into the labored air. Rarity could no longer tell how many hours she’d sat in that damned delivery room. Time had lost all meaning as she watched and listened to her lover suffer. Every screech, every whimper, every pained moan ripped into her heart and frayed her nerves until all that was left was a jittery, cold emptiness. She wanted to go home. Or back to work. Or to just run and keep running until she left the entire world behind.

Anything to get her away from the shame she felt at having no way to help the pony she cared for more than any other in the world.

Applejack; her beautiful mare. The strongest pony in her world. Her port amidst the storms of life. Her guiding star when she was lost. She was the one Rarity relied on to get her through the tough times. And when her fears over her place in the fashion world or for the Boutique’s future started to run wild, Applejack was the one that kept her grounded. How in the world was she supposed to do that when she felt like she was falling apart as well?

“You’re doing great, Applejack!” Dr. Stable said. “Now, again! Push!”

Applejack braced herself for another go, only to give another pained scream and collapse back onto the table. “I… I can’t!”

“Applejack, you can’t give up now. The head’s about to crown; you need to keep pushing!” Dr. Stable warned.

She just shook her head pathetically, letting her eyes close as exhaustion overwhelmed her.

Cursing under his breath, he turned to the gathered family instead. “Somepony’s got to get her pushing again!”

“Now, Sugarcube, you ain’t the sort to be givin’ up!” Granny Smith gently chided, wiping her granddaughter’s brow lovingly. “I know it’s hard, and I know it hurts, but you gotta keep going.”

“I j-just can’t, Granny!” Applejack whimpered. Her brow was furrowed tight as the sweat poured down her face. She looked even worse than she sounded. “I got nothin’ left…”

“I know, Sugarcube,” Granny Smith said. “I know. But ya gotta.”

This time, Applejack offered nothing in response. Her eyelids were fluttering as she moaned low in her throat. Rarity could tell her consciousness was fading.

Perhaps because he didn’t know what to say, Big Macintosh leaned in to nuzzle the side of her head, occasionally giving her cheek a tender lick. From how gentle and caring the large stallion was trying to be, Rarity could only imagine how he felt. If it was hard for her to see Applejack in such a state; it must have been gut-wrenching for her big brother.

On the other side of the bed, Apple Bloom was silently grasping the bed sheets, her eyes wide and fearful. She’d had little more than a couple of words over the last few hours, and Rarity wondered if it had all been too much for her. Much like Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom loved to insist she was an adult and could handle anything thrown at her, but inside she was still a filly.

Then again, Rarity felt just as scared as Apple Bloom looked. Maybe she was a filly, too.

It took a moment for Rarity to realize that silence had fallen. Granny Smith and Big Macintosh were both trying to comfort Applejack as best they could, but neither were trying to convince Applejack to keep pushing. Even the doctor had stopped talking, instead simply looking between all of them from the tail of the bed.

Surely they weren’t giving up, too? They couldn’t! Applejack had to do this. There was no going back at this point!

She had no idea how she was supposed to convince Applejack to do something she didn’t think she could. She’d never even known the stubborn mare to believe she couldn’t do something. But she had to try. Applejack needed her.

And she would be there for her.

“Applejack… Darling,” Rarity started, struggling to find the words to even begin. “You can’t give up. Think about the foal...”

Applejack turned as much as she could to look back at her. She wore a grimace as the corners of her eyes began to glisten. “I jus’ can’t, Rares! Please… please make it stop…”

Rarity’s throat tightened, threatening to stop her from replying. She sniffed and wiped her eyes to choke back a sob of her own. “I-I can’t do that, Darling. Only you can. You have to push. That’s the only way you can get this over with.”

“But–!”

“Shh,” Rarity whispered, touching her hoof to Applejack’s lips. A touch of magic brushed aside her messy blonde mane. “You are the strongest pony I know. You’ve broken your back for years working at Sweet Apple Acres. To keep your parents’ and grandparents’ legacy going. To provide for your family.” She paused to smile at Apple Bloom. “To give your little sister everything she needed to grow up into a wonderful young mare.”

As Rarity hoped, her words seemed to help the youngest Apple present. Managing to crack a small smile, she leaned in and placed her hoof on Applejack’s shoulder.

“I-I ain’t never said nothing, but…” Apple Bloom started, fumbling over her words slightly with nerves, “I’ve always looked up to ya, AJ. You watched after me when I was little… played with me… tucked me into bed at night… You were practically like a mom to me. And you were younger than I am now when you were doin’ all that! So… I know you can do it!” she pushed, her voice growing in confidence and energy. “Just tough it out a little longer, okay? I love you, sis. We all do! And we’re all here for you.”

“Exactly,” Granny Smith chimed in. “You ain’t alone, Sugarcube. I’d take all yer pain for ya if I could, but I can’t. It’s something every mother has to bear. I done it; yer momma did it. I know you can, too!”

As she finished, Big Macintosh gave Applejack’s cheek one more nuzzle before placing his forehead against hers. “I’ve always been proud to be your brother, AJ. I love you, li’l sis.”

Rarity swallowed the lump in her throat while wiping away the remainder of her tears. She wasn’t going to cry. Not anymore.

“Applejack,” she stated in the most authoritative voice she could muster. “You must get through this. You simply must. If you can’t, then how are you going to get through having foals of our own?”

The whole time, Applejack had quietly basking in her family’s words, but at Rarity’s question her eyes snapped open and her mouth fell open questioningly. “Wha…?”

Rarity smiled softly down at her. “You want foals of our own, don’t you? Well, so do I. So you have to be strong and get through this.”

Applejack’s lip trembled as she looked deep into Rarity’s eyes. “I don’t know if I can, Rares…”

“You can, Darling,” Rarity whispered back. An idea struck her, and she stood from her stool next to the table and hurried around to the other side, placing herself right in front of Applejack’s face. She took her hoof within her own and gently kissed her fetlock. “Hold my hoof, My Darling. I may not be able to take your pain away any more than Granny can, but I can at least help you bear some of it. When it hurts, squeeze. Squeeze as hard as you need to. Don’t worry about me; I’m tougher than I look, right?” she asked, winking.

She leaned down to kiss her lips.

“I believe in you, My Diamond in the Rough.”

When Rarity pulled away Applejack’s cheeks were lined with tears, though the barest trace of a smile on her lips belied their nature. She swallowed visibly a few times before weakly nodding. “A-alright. Okay, I’ll try.”

“Then let’s do it together, alright?” Rarity asked, pride flooding through her. “Now, push!”

Applejack set herself and pushed. “Aaaaaaaaaaaiiiggghhh!”

Dr. Stable looked up from the tail of the bed. “You’re doing great, Applejack! The head’s starting to crown. Keep going!”

“Again!” Rarity said, not even noticing the crushing pain in her hoof as Applejack squeezed with all her might.

“It’s almost over! One more big push!” Dr. Stable shouted.

“Aaaaaa-haa-haaaaaaaiiiggghhh!” Applejack screeched. Her voice broke long before she stopped screaming, leaving her soundlessly wailing against the immense pressure.

But in that same moment…

“Waaah!”

The cry pierced through the air, silencing every other sound in the room. Rarity could only watch as the doctor whipped upright, a small bundle of blankets held in his magic. He took it to the plastic bassinet the nurses had set up earlier and began fussing over it with his stethoscope and other tools. It was all happening in a blur and she couldn’t really fathom the specifics of what he was doing.

Because in that bundle…

Another squeeze on her aching hoof brought her attention back to the mare lying on the delivery table before her. Apple was panting and gasping for breath, her mane plastered to her brow with sweat. Her green eyes, finally open again, were red and puffy.

“I-is… it over…?” she asked faintly.

“Y-yes, Darling! It’s over; you did it!” Rarity hastened to reply, busying herself with wiping Applejack’s face clean. She couldn’t stop a wide smile breaking across her face at the thought. “I knew you could do it!”

“How’s… the baby?” Applejack mumbled.

“The baby’s perfectly healthy,” Dr. Stable said, making them both jump. Neither had even noticed him approach. “Vitals look good and he’s already breathing on his own. Looks like you got a strong one, here.”

“He…?” Rarity whispered absently.

Dr. Stable gave a wry smile. “Allow me to present to you: your colt.”

Slowly, he lowered the bundle into Applejack’s waiting forelegs. Rarity leaned over to get a look and her heart melted at the sight.

Her lover was holding the most precious little colt she’d ever seen. His coat was a greyish blue, not unlike spring clouds about to deliver a pleasant afternoon shower, while the curly scraps of mane atop his head were orangish-brown and highlighted with streaks of blonde. His eyes were closed as he squirmed and fussed in his bundle; Rarity couldn’t help but think his little babbles and coos were the most adorable sounds she’d ever heard.

There was no horn on his head, and Rarity gently peeled back one side of the blanket to see a fluff of down on his side.

“Ohhh, a pegasus! Soarin’ will be excited.”

“You got yerself a good lookin’ colt there, Sugarcube,” Granny Smith said, leaning in to nuzzle her granddaughter.

“Awww, look at his little hooves!” Apple Bloom gushed, her eyes alight with excitement.

A massive sniff burst through the room, shocking everypony into turning to see Big Macintosh with a tissue. Tears of pride sparkled in his eyes as he looked on. Smiling to herself, Rarity patted his shoulder and he blew his nose again, the sound not unlike a foghorn going off.

“We’ll leave you alone now,” Dr. Stable said softly, as though he were afraid of intruding on the moment. “He’ll likely want to nurse soon. Take care, and please let us know if you feel any undue pain or discomfort.”

He made to follow the nurses wheeling the equipment out the door before Rarity called after him. “We’re waiting on two additional family members. Is there any way you could send them in if they’ve arrived?”

Dr. Stable nodded. “Oh yes, the fathers, correct? Are you sure you wouldn’t like some time alone first?”

“N-no,” Applejack spoke up. Despite her eyes still trying to flutter closed, she couldn’t seem to take them off the tiny bundle in her hooves. “They’re prob’ly dying to see him. Can we… tell them he’s a colt?”

The doctor grinned and nodded again. “We’ll just tell them the baby is healthy and ready to see them.”

“Thanks, doc…”

Once the doctor and nurses had left, Granny Smith placed a kiss upon Applejack’s temple before standing and stretching out her back with several loud pops. “C’mon, Apple Bloom, Mac. Let’s give’m a little time alone.”

Apple Bloom had to fuss over the baby a little longer, offering her compliments on how cute he was and how much she loved Applejack before Granny Smith finally dragged her out by the tail. Big Mac followed without much complaint, though he gave Applejack a nuzzle and Rarity a hug before doing so.

Finally it was just the two of them.

“Rares… you mind giving me a hoof?” Applejack asked, pointing down towards the tail of the bed. It took a moment before her meaning dawned on Rarity.

With an ‘Oh!’ of recognition, Rarity gently lowered the sheets from Applejack’s body, leaving just her belly exposed to the air. After, she lifted the baby as carefully as she would the finest china in her magic and turned him so that his head was facing Applejack’s tail and laid him down beside her stomach. Applejack lifted a hind leg slightly, and almost instantly he latched on to her swollen teat and began suckling happily.

Applejack began sniffling again as she furiously rubbed her eyes. She couldn’t seem to hold back a chuckle as she looked down at the small life she’d help create.

“He’s… he’s amazin’…” she mumbled, her voice thick and weary. Rarity reclined on her stool once again, leaning down to lay her head against her lover’s as she watched the baby nurse.

“He really is, isn’t he?” she asked in turn. As silence began to fall upon the room, she kissed Applejack’s temple, thinking humorously to herself that there was going to be a mark left there from how many times she’d been kissed today. Oh well, what better time to show some affection?

The minutes ticked away peacefully, and Applejack’s breathing began to slow as a light sleep overcame her. Even Rarity began to nod off until a faint tapping sounded upon the door. She stood, careful not to wake her lover, and stretched her own aching back as she made her way across the room.

Opening the door revealed the two ponies she’d expected. She had to admit, her first impression of Braeburn and Soarin’ were that they looked almost as bad as she felt. They both had bags under their eyes and their manes were messed like they hadn’t been tended to in a while. She got the distinct impression that Braeburn had been pacing for some time, though she couldn’t put her hoof on what gave her that impression. Regardless, they both were beaming hopefully, their pride and excitement glowing through like the sun shining through the clouds after a storm. Soarin’ even had a fit-to-bursting diaper bag strapped against his side. She couldn’t stop herself from pulling them both into a tight hug.

“Good evenin’, Rarity,” Braeburn said into her shoulder. “How’s AJ and the baby?”

She pulled away from him and gestured him through. “Why don’t you come inside and see for yourself?” He wasted no time in slipping past her as fast as his nervous hooves would carry him. Rarity and Soarin’ shared a grin at his enthusiasm before following.

The arrival of visitors must have roused Applejack as she was stretching and trying to sit up as Rarity returned to her side.

“Well, howdy fellas!” she greeted as energetically as she could. “How’d you like to meet your son?” Rarity used her magic to pull the blanket back enough for them to see the colt’s face, still nursing away contentedly.

Braeburn’s hooves instantly went to his mouth as emotion overcame him. He stared breathless, trembling on weak legs at the sight. Soarin’ threw a foreleg around his husband’s shoulders and together they wept happy tears.

“Soar’! Soarin’, look! He’s got your coat color!” Braeburn gushed, pointing like nopony would know what he was talking about otherwise. Indeed, Rarity thought, the colt’s coat was just a few shades darker than Soarin’s own.

“Yeah, and it even kinda looks like his mane is the same color as yours! What’re the odds of that?” Soarin’ asked.

“Pa’s mane was orange like that,” Applejack said. “Just like Brae’s pa, too. Even Mac got it a li’l. Must run in the family.”

“Is he, uh…” Soarin’ started to ask hesitantly. Rarity wasn’t sure what he was asking until his wings fidgeted behind him.

“Oh! Yes, he’s a pegasus,” she said, pulling the blanket back again to show off his wings.

Braeburn took on a dream-like expression as he kissed Soarin’s cheek. “Looks like you’ll be able to go flying with him someday, after all.”

“Were you worried he wouldn’t be?” Rarity asked quietly.

“I wouldn’t say ‘worried,’” Soarin’ said. “But… Well, I think it’s every pegasus’s dream to teach their foals how to fly someday. And to share with him something I love so much…” He trailed off as he choked up.

“Oh!” Braeburn suddenly said. “Soar’, get out the thing you brought!”

Soarin’ managed to grin again through the deluge of emotion he was going through. “Oh Braeby, you know it was dumb,” he said hoarsely.

“No, it was cute! Show them!”

Rarity cocked her head in confusion as Soarin’ sighed. He dropped the diaper bag he was carrying to the floor and rooted around inside, finally pulling out a fluffy teddy bear. It was a cute light brown thing with cute, black button eyes and a red bandana sewed around its neck. Soarin’ held it for a moment before awkwardly sitting it on the corner of the table.

“I know he’s way too small for it now, but I figured one day he’d like it. If nothing else it’d make a cute keepsake,” he mumbled through blushing cheeks.

“Awwww,” Rarity cooed. “That’s adorable! I’m sure he’ll love it!”

At that moment, Applejack’s head dipped and jerked back upright. She shook herself in a visible effort to wake back up.

“Soarin’, maybe we should go,” Braeburn said softly. “Let’s give them all some time to rest and recover.”

“Nah, nah…” Applejack said, shaking her head again. “They’re gonna take us to a private room in a bit and I can rest plenty there. There’s one more thing you two have to do before you can go. Rares, would you…?”

“Of course, Darling,” Rarity said. Carefully, she lifted the colt in her magic. He fussed a little at the sudden motion, but settled soon as Rarity pulled his blanket more snugly around him. Slowly, she floated him towards the two stallions.

“The new parents have to hold their baby,” Applejack said.

Both stallions seemed awestruck at the tiny bundle floating before them. After sharing a look, Soarin’ squeezed his husband a little tighter as Braeburn reached out his hooves.

He gasped as the colt came to rest in his forelegs. Rarity could see his chest heave with barely-restrained sobs and tears starting to flow freely down his cheeks.

Before her very eyes, Rarity had witnessed the birth of one little pony.

Now, she witnessed the birth of a family.

She would never forget this day. This very moment.

She sniffed aloud and fanned her face with a hoof. If that all kept up, she’d need a tissue herself!

“So,” Applejack mumbled, still clinging to consciousness. “Have ya picked out a name yet?”

Braeburn was still staring wide-eyed at the baby; Rarity doubted if he’d even heard the question. Soarin’ managed to drag his gaze away long enough to answer, however.

“Uh, yeah… Ace. After my grandfather,” he said.

“That’s a nice name,” Rarity said. “He’s going to be a handsome stallion someday.”

A tranquil silence fell over the room as each pony was left to their thoughts. Applejack finally succumbed to sleep shortly after the conversation died and Rarity began gently brushing her mane lovingly. Eventually the hospital staff returned and prepared to move them all into a private room.

Once Applejack and the baby were settled, both fast asleep in their respective beds, Rarity stepped aside with the stallions.

“So, how does it feel to be parents?” she asked.

They looked at each other, tired, stressed and completely overwhelmed and yet immeasurably happy. They leaned against one another for support as Braeburn spoke.

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet, but… It’s the best feelin’ ever! I still can’t believe it’s finally here.”

“We should probably go, though,” Soarin’ said to Braeburn and Rarity’s disappointment. “We still need to get checked into a hotel and I could use a bath. All that waiting had me sweating up a storm!”

Rarity didn’t even want to think of what she must have smelled like.

After taking one last long look at the baby and saying their goodbyes, they left, leaving Rarity alone. A single plush recliner sat to one side of Applejack’s bed and, knowing it was likely to be the only furniture for the foreseeable future, she took a seat.

With no other distractions, the exhaustion of the day crashed over her like a wave. Making herself as comfortable in her chair as was possible, she took Applejack’s hoof within her own. Rarity smiled; finally, her lover was sleeping peacefully. All the pain and hardship was done and over and they both could rest easy.

With that pleasant thought and the gentle sounds of two ponies snoring, Rarity’s eyes fluttered closed and the night took her to join her lover in sleep.