Chapter 3: Where We Began (1)

***Part 1: Dry Tears***

It was Friday. The afternoon bell had just sounded, signaling the end of the school day. Sunset let out a loud groan as she struggled to stand up from her desk. Applejack quickly rushed to her side and helped the pregnant woman out of her chair.

"Whoa there, mama. Ya' can't be doin' stuff so quickly, or you'll just hurt yourself."

Sunset panted heavily as she gathered her books. Applejack helped Sunset put them inside her bag. Then, she put the bag over Sunset's dominant shoulder.

"Ya' feelin' alright?" Applejack asked softly as she took Sunset's cheeks in her hands.

Sunset nodded her head slowly.

"Yeah... I'll be better once I get this baby out..."

"I think the baby is the one that has to make that decision." Applejack said with a chuckle as she walked out of the class room with Sunset.

Once they were in the hall, both girls waved 'goodbye' to the teacher. Then, they began the long walk through the school to the main entrance. Sunset rubbed the bulge uneasily. With every passing day, Sunset became more and more afraid. Now, the estimated time of arrival was less than a week away, and Sunset began to feel that she was not ready. Applejack could see the feelings of fear in her lover's eyes.

"I know you're scared, Sunset..." Applejack said quietly. "But ya' shouldn't worry none. Ya' have your friends to help ya' through it, and... ya' have me..."

Sunset's heart fluttered in her chest at the sound of Applejack's words.

"You're right..." Sunset said with a huge smile as she kissed Applejack on the lips. "I do have you, don't I?"

Applejack melted at the gentle touch of her lover's lips. Sunset instantly noticed the lust that burned in her eyes, and she moved in to give Applejack another kiss. An administrator loudly cleared his throat, startling the two girls. With a wave of his hand, he told them to move along.

"Right... No sex in school..." Applejack muttered.

Her cheeks burned bright red as Sunset let out a sweet giggle. Sunset then made a 'shocked' face.

"Wait, you're telling me lesbians aren't aloud to make out on school property?!" She asked in a hushed tone.

Applejack laughed out loud, which earned a smug grin from Sunset, but her smile was cut short. Sunset let out a subtle groan as she clutched her abdomen. Applejack spun around and took Sunset's hand in her own.

"What is it, Sunset?" Applejack asked with a worried tone. "Are you alright?"

"It... It was just a kick..." Sunset said as she tried to stand upright. "A very big kick..."

Applejack managed to lead her to the the main entrance of the school. Most of the student body had cleared out, but a few stragglers remained.

"Hey, Applejack! Hey, Momma Sunshine!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully. "Are you love birds heading back to the apartment?"

Applejack bit her lip as he looked back and forth between the floor and Sunset. Sunset Shimmer was about to nod her head to answer 'yes' to Pinkie's question, but Applejack answered first.

"Not this time." Applejack said quickly, surprising Sunset.

"What are you talking about, Applejack?" Sunset asked. "I thought we were going back to my place."

Applejack smiled sheepishly and shook her head.

"No, uh... Actually, we were gonna go out to Sweet Apple Acres."

Sunset's heart skipped a beat in her chest.

"Ya' see..." Applejack explained to Pinkie Pie. "Sunset really wants to see Chief again before the baby arrives, and if I'm bein' honest, I really wanna see the big ol' stud too..."

Sunset looked at her friend and smiled. She could feel tears building in her eyes, but she managed to fight them back.

"Thank you, Applejack..." Sunset whispered to her. "Thank you..."

"We'll be comin' back first thing in the mornin'." Applejack said sternly. "I don't want ya' gettin' stuck there."

Sunset nodded her head quickly, but that didn't stop her from throwing her arms around her friend. Then, Sunset tightened the strap of the bag around her shoulder, and she took off down the stairs.

"Wowie!" Pinkie Pie said. "I've never seen her move that fast before!"

Applejack was equally impressed at the pregnant woman's ability to move at such a fast pace. In no time at all, Sunset had reached the bus stop. Applejack managed to catch up to her a few seconds later. The cowgirl was forced to kneel on the ground as she caught her breath.

"Come on..." Sunset snarled. "Where is that bus?"

"Ya' gotta slow down, Sunset!" Applejack cautioned as she rose to her feet.

Sunset spun around and glared at Applejack.

"No! I will not slow down, Applejack!" Sunset snapped. "I want to see my baby's father, and I will not stop until I do, so don't get in my way!"

Applejack looked hurt, and Sunset immediately regretted her outburst.

"Oh, Applejack..." Sunset said softly. "I... I'm so sorry... I didn't mean to yell. I just... My emotions are all over the place, and it's... it's hard to control how I feel... I'm happy, and I'm grateful that you are going with me to see Chief. I really am, Applejack..."

The cowgirl managed a weak smile, and she embraced Sunset.

"I know ya' are, Sunset...  It's the hormones. The nurse told me ya' might experience some mood swings durin' the end of your pregnancy."

"Maybe... But I should never yell at my favorite girl..." Sunset said softly. "You mean the world to me, Applejack, and if this baby turns out to be everything Princess Twilight predicted, she'll need the both of her mothers to care for her..."

Applejack looked at Sunset with a confused expression, and she cocked her head.

"Ya' don't really mean..."

"Yes, Applejack, I do." Sunset said, cutting her off. "We're in this together. We started it together, so we'll end it together. You are going to be just as much of a mother to her as I will be."

Sunset's expression was unchanging. She was dead serious. After several long moments of silence, Applejack let out a long breath.

"Whoa..." Applejack muttered.

"What? What is it?" Sunset asked, sounding worried. "Is something wrong?"

Applejack shook her head subtlety.

"No, Sunset... Nothin' is wrong..." Applejack said to her. "I just never thought I would be a mother before I got married..."

Sunset looked into Applejack's teary eyes, and she saw pure joy.

"I'm so happy I met you, Sunset..." Applejack choked back her sobbing before she pulled her partner into a deep kiss.

Sunset was surprised by the affectionate display, but it was not unwelcome. She let out a horny moan inside Applejack's mouth. The kiss would have continued were it not for the arrival of the bus.

"After you, Momma Sunshine." Applejack said with a chuckle.

***Part 2: Daddy Dearest***

Sunset Shimmer, despite her unbalanced center of mass, leaped down the bus steps, and she hit the ground with a 'thud'. Applejack followed her closely to make sure she didn't do anything to hurt herself. She waved to the bus driver before turning back around to find that Sunset had already taken off.

"Chief!" Sunset yelled as loudly as her lungs would allow. "Cheeeeeeif!"

Applejack sprinted at full speed until she had managed to catch up with Sunset.

"Sunset," Applejack said as she reached for her friend's shoulder. "Chief might not be out, yet. We might have to go to the stable..."

Then, a horse's whinny cried out across the pasture. It closely resembled Tremors' whinny, but it was much deeper and far more recognizable.

"That's... That's him." Sunset said as she rested her arms on the fence. "That's Chief... I know it is."

Sure enough, the brown stallion appeared over the hill as he raced across the pasture towards the sound of Sunset's voice.

"Sunset, be careful, now." Applejack cautioned, but it was too late.

Sunset had already climbed through the fence, and she rushed towards the horse. Chief brought his sprint to a halt, and Sunset closed the gap. She threw her arms around the stallion's neck when she reached him. Applejack couldn't help smiling as she climbed through the fence after Sunset.

"Oh, Chief..." Sunset cried as she stroked the horse's face. "I've missed you so much..."

The stallion bumped his head against Sunset's affectionately. He then lowered now snout downwards to the bulge in her abdomen.

"Yeah... That's you inside me, Chief..." Sunset whispered to him. "That's you in there... She's going to come out soon. I just wanted you to meet her..."

Chief let out a friendly nicker before rubbing his snout against the bulge.

"That... That's so sweet..." Applejack said. "Ya' really are a pony at heart... Aren't ya', Sunset? It's almost like ya' were meant to be with Chief."

"Maybe so..." Sunset said, grinning from ear to ear.

***Part 3: The Harvest***

Granny Smith had a huge meal prepared for her family and Sunset, her biggest meal yet. Big Mac may have had the appetite of a weight trainer, but that was nothing in comparison to the very pregnant Sunset Shimmer. Fried squash, collard greens, mashed potatoes, and grilled ham were all on the menu that evening. Sunset effortlessly filled and cleaned her plate twice within the span of ten minutes. Everyone else favored their food, chewing slowly and taking their time.

"So, when are ya' expectin', Sunset?" Applebloom asked curiously.

"Hush now, Applebloom." Applejack scolded her. "That's not polite. Ya' don't just ask a woman when she's 'bout to pop out a baby."

Sunset placed her hand on Applejack's and shook her head.

"No, it's perfectly alright Applejack." She said as she turned her attention back to Applebloom. "Uh... The nurse at Canterlot High says I have less than a week, maybe a few- ooooohhhhh..."

Sunset's words were cut short by a violent kick from within her abdomen. It was the baby.

"Sunny?" Applejack asked, her voice sounding urgent.

"I... I'm fine..." Sunset said as she recovered from the cramping pain. "It's nothing... I'm fine, really... It was just a kick..."

Applejack didn't look convinced, but she didn't say any more to question Sunset. After a few more moments of silence, Granny Smith speaks up.

"Well, I must say this harvest has been one of our finest. Thank you, Big Mac and Applejack for making this possible. Because of your hard work and dedication on the orchards, I have prepared the finest apple pie I have ever made." Granny Smith said as she reached for the center of the table.

Everyone watched as she pulled the cloth off of a mm aluminum pan. In the pan, was a golden, brown pie. The aroma hit Sunset's twitching nose like a truck, and her mouth watered. Just as she was about to reach for a pre-cut slice that was offered to her by Granny Smith, Applejack tapped her wrist.

"Hey, Sunset..." Apple whispered to her. "What about a name like... Harvest?"

Sunset smiled. She liked the name. She was about to respond, but her voice fell silent. The contractions had begun.

***TO BE CONTINUED***

*Up Next*

***Where We Began (2)***