“Earth Ponies and Pegasus really have it easy. I never realized how complex Unicorn and Alicorn pregnancy was”, MoonDancer was studying it with Twilight.

It was a relaxing afternoon, both of them in her room in the castle. Cadence went out with Flurry Heart and Spike to get lunch from the Hayburger.

Twilight lay on the bed, mostly on her side, her head and neck propped by pillows. She struggled a bit to get comfortable, but managed.

Since hitting 8 months, her belly was getting too big for her to be able to lay on her stomach or back, so she was most comfortable on her side.

But she didn't get real big either like Rainbow. She looked quite natural, delicate and even cute. It suited her.

She also found out she was having a filly.

MoonDancer sat at the bottom of the bed, with her own book.

“It's safe to teleport and perform simple magic as long as you've studied magic for a long time. It's important to mainly avoid using difficult spells...and flying in my case”, Twilight glanced at her wings.

The permanent damage her wing suffered caused it to suddenly hurt when flying.

It would happen at random, so Twilight didn't feel it was safe to fly at all during her pregnancy.

“This book is really good though. It even lists which spells are okay to use, and which spells aren't”, she said, she used her magic to turn the page.

“So...three more months is all”, MoonDancer commented, a hint of worry in her tone.

“Yeah, just three more months and she'll be here”, Twilight smiled tenderly at her belly.

“Are you...well, nervous?”, asked MoonDancer, concerned. Twilight's ears folded back.

“I'd be lying if I said no. But Cadence will be there with me, and so will you, Spike and my friends. It's been decided I'll be foaling in Canterlot. Since it's custom for the Princesses of Canterlot”, replied Twilight.

“Are you comfortable with...well, giving birth there? With all those bad memories of...you know”, asked MoonDancer, worriedly.

“Even though I have bad memories there, I still have good memories there as well. Meeting you, when I became Princess Celestia's student, the Gala...and of course its where Cadence and I first met”, Twilight replied.

“As long as you're comfortable, that's all that matters”, MoonDancer smiled.

Cadence, Spike and Flurry Heart were coming back from the Hayburger. Spike carried around 20 bags of food, while Cadence carried 10, and Flurry Heart carried 1.

“Why do we need so much?!”, complained Spike.

“Because Twilight is eating for two. She's due in only 3 months, Spike. We have to take good care of her to have a safe delivery, and if we want her foal to be healthy”, Cadence replied, there was obvious paranoia in her voice.

It was clear Cadence was becoming anxious for her sister in law, as the birth approached closer each month.

They made it back, and Cadence froze.

There was some flowers and even a treat from Sugercube Corner in a bakery box left on the doorstep.

“Looks like Romeo's at it again”, Spike commented.

Firework, since the Daring Do convention, had been leaving gifts for Twilight every week.

Since Twilight was still unable to trust, she didn't accept any of them. She was too scared to become hurt again.

“Oh Spike...I wish she'd give him a chance. He's really nice. I even know him personally since he's a guard at Canterlot”, admitted Cadence, sadly.

“Does Shining Armor know him?”, asked Spike.

“He does. Says he's just a big softie, and a hopeless romantic”, Cadence replied.

“Clearly”, Spike smirked, as he picked up the flowers and treat box.

The two entered the castle, and went upstairs. Spike put the gifts from Firework in his closet, where he's been keeping them for Firework just in case.

“Hey mommy”, Cadence said sweetly, entering the bedroom.

“Oh Cadence, you're back! You wouldn't believe all the stuff MoonDancer and I have been learning in here”, Twilight smiled.

She blinked then, seeing all the food.

“Wow...that's alot”, she admitted.

“Well, we want your foal to be healthy and strong, and need you to be as well for when you foal. I just want to make sure you're getting enough to eat, and enough rest”, Cadence replied.

Twilight smiled softly.

“It's okay, Cadence. I'm doing fine. We should really be more worried for Fluttershy. She's due any day now”, Twilight admitted, worriedly.

“Rainbow Dash seems really worried about her”, Spike mentioned, as he entered the room.

“Of course she is, those two are like sisters...what are you carrying a pillow for?”, Twilight tilted her head.

Spike climbed onto the bed, and then lifted Twilight's back hooves up, and then set them on the soft pillow.

“I read you have to keep them elevated”, he explained.

Twilight's ears folded back, and she smiled.

“That's so sweet, Spike”, she gently nuzzled the baby dragon.

“You know Spike, you'll be like a big brother to Twilight's foal”, MoonDancer pointed out.

“Really? Gosh...that's right”, Spike realized.

“As her big brother, you'll be there to protect her, and help take care of her”, Twilight smiled.

“It's seems like such a big responsibility...what if I misplace her?! Say we're at the park, and I lose her in the sandbox!”, Spike panicked.

“Spike, you don't have to worry. Nothing like that would happen”, Twilight assured him.

“But...what she doesn't want me as a big brother?”, wondered Spike, anxiously.

Twilight looked at him worriedly. She then pulled him close, in a loving hug.

“Hey...she'll love you. You're not just my number one assistant, Spike. You're family. I'm the one who hatched you. So...in a weird way, you're like my son. And I know she'll love you”, Twilight comforted him.

Spike gently had his hand on her belly, being very careful with his claws.

“But still...I'm a dragon. What if I scare her?”, he wondered.

“You know...she'd be the only foal to have something as awesome as a dragon for a big brother”, MoonDancer pointed out.

“She'll never be bullied, and she'll have the coolest brother”, she added.

Spike blinked then, he then grinned.

“Yeah! I guess she will!”, he said, feeling better.

“Thanks, MoonDancer”, Twilight said, as Spike left to go make lunch.

“It's no problem. This is a big deal for Spike as well as you, and all of us”, MoonDancer said.

“I was honestly worried he'd be jealous...or think he was being replaced”, admitted Twilight.

“I think given the circumstances, and everything that happened between you and Flash...Spike is just happy that you're safe and happy again”, Cadence pointed out.

Spike went downstairs, walking down the castle hall.

“Let's see, Twilight's cravings today are blueberry pancakes, muffins, hay fries, oranges and...popcorn?!”, Spike read the list.

“Well, okay then”, he shrugged. He was about enter the kitchen, when there was urgent knocking on the front door.

“Coming!”, Spike hurried over.

As soon as he slightly turned the knob, the door flew open, and a flash of rainbow zoomed passed him, causing him to spin rapidly, and then knocking him down.

“TWILIGHT!”, Rainbow Dash never flew that fast before in her life. She stood in the bedroom doorway, out of breath.

“Rainbow Dash...!”, Twilight got out of bed, with Cadence's help, already knowing.

“It's Fluttershy...”, panted Rainbow, she never looked so anxious before.

“Say no more, let's hurry”, Twilight said, urgently.

They soon arrived at Ponyville Urgent Care.

They entered the building, and Rainbow zoomed over to the front counter.

“We're here to see Fluttershy!”, she said, panicked.

“What ward?”, asked the pony receptionist. The earth pony seemed distracted by a magizine she was reading.

“What ward?! How can you not..! Ugh! Maternity!”, Rainbow yelled.

Just then, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Soarin (carrying the twins) came in.

“All right, calm down. Let's see...oh okay, the Pegasus, are you family?”, the receptionist asked.

“What does that matter?! We're friends!”, Rainbow demanded.

“Sorry, only family's allowed in”, the receptionist said.

“But we ARE like family! She's like my sister! If you don't let me back there, I'm gonna use a Sonic Rainboom-”

“Whoa, nelly! Calm down, RD!”, Applejack pulled Rainbow away from the counter.

“What in tarnation has got into you? You're acting like you're the father!”, Applejack said, surprised.

“Aren't any of you worried?! I know what this is...and Fluttershy is so delicate!”, Rainbow said, worriedly.

“Of course we're worried, Rainbow Dash. But you need to calm down. Fluttershy needs us all to be level headed”, Twilight replied.

“”But they won't even let us see her!”, Rainbow cried.

“Oh they will”, Twilight walked up to the counter.

“Ahem”, she cleared her throat. The receptionist suddenly blinked.

“Oh, Princess Twilight! What can we do for you, your highness?”, she asked.

“Please let myself and my friends see Fluttershy”, Twilight said, sternly.

“Oh...of course, yes, go right in”, the receptionist opened the ER doors for them.

“Thank you”, Twilight said. “Room 32 on floor 3”, the receptionist added.

“Why didn't I think of that?”, Rainbow asked, a little embarrassed, as they got on the elevator.

“It's fine, you're just worried. But don't worry, she'll be fine”, Pinkie smiled.

Soarin remained in the waiting room with the twins and Cadence. MoonDancer had stayed with Spike at the castle.

“Looks like we're here for the day”, Soarin said. Winter and Skylar both giggled cutely, and played with the toys in the waiting room.

“We don't want to overwhelm her girls, we don't know how well she's handling the labor”, Twilight said.

“Of course”, Rarity agreed, the others nodding.

Twilight opened the door to room 32 with her magic.

“Fluttershy?”, Twilight entered first quietly.

“Oh girls...!”, Fluttershy looked happy to see them. Twilight smiled, as she and the rest entered.

“How are you?”, asked Twilight, worriedly.

“I've been better”, admitted Fluttershy. She did look quite tired already.

GoldenFeathers was by her side, holding her hoof.

“Thanks so much for coming”, he said.

“So how long do they think it will be, sugarcube?”, asked Applejack, gently.

“Well, it could be several more hours. They aren't sure yet”, replied Fluttershy.

“When I had Cherrypie, it took THREE days!”, Pinkie admitted.

“Pinkie!”, hissed Rainbow, glaring.

“Sorry”, Pinkie piped down.

“It's okay Rainbow, I already know that's a possibility”, Fluttershy assured her.

“Are you sure you're okay, Fluttershy?”, asked Rainbow, her ears folded back, worried.

“Don't worry about me, girls. GoldenFeathers is here with me...and I'll be okay”, Fluttershy's breath staggered a little as she spoke.

“We're all here for you, Fluttershy”, Twilight assured her, gently.

“I know”, Fluttershy gave a weak smile.

The doctor came in then.

“I apologize, Princess...but we can't have the room crowded for too long”, he said, he was kind in his tone.

“We understand, sir”, Twilight replied.

“We'll be in the waiting room, sugar cube”, Applejack assured Fluttershy.

“Just think happy thoughts!”, encouraged Pinkie, sweetly.

“We know you'll do wonderful, darling”, added Rarity.

“Thanks girls”, smiled Fluttershy.

Rainbow was the last to leave the room, she hesitated at first.

“Rainbow...you don't have to worry, I'll be okay”, Fluttershy gently held Rainbow's hoof then.

“I know...I'm just worried. You're like my little sister”, Rainbow admitted.

Fluttershy's ears folded back, she smiled softly.

“I'll be okay, Rainbow, I promise”, she assured her.

Rainbow gave a worried nod.

“If you need any of us, you know where we are”, she smiled softly.

Soon the five were waiting in the waiting room with Cadence, Soarin and Rainbow's twins.

Twilight sat next to Cadence, she was reading a book to keep herself distracted from worry.

But her eyes said it all.

Rainbow Dash flew back and fourth through the waiting room, nonstop, while Applejack paced on hoof.

Rarity kept biting her hoof, nervously, trying to distract herself with a fashion magizine, ironically one about her shop in Manehatten.

Pinkie Pie was playing with Winter and Skylar.

“Dashie...she's going to be fine”, Soarin tried to assure his wife.

“Uh huh”, Rainbow didn't appear to be listening, flying back and fourth, nonstop.

“It's been several hours...”, Cadence commented, worried.

“I know...but we all knew it could take a while”, Twilight said, worriedly.

“Ya don't reckon there's...a problem?”, Applejack asked, nervously.

“I'm sure everything's fine”, Twilight said, although she looked worried.

“We don't have to worry, some foals just take a while”, Pinkie said, cheerfully.

“I think we're all worrying for nothing. It's quite natural, and mares do it every day”, Rarity added. They were all really trying to assure themselves, rather than each other.

Finally, the ER doors opened. Rainbow Dash froze then. She flew down.

“How is she?!”, they all asked at once, causing the doctor to back up a bit.

“Well, it seems some complications are arising...”, he started.

Twilight's heart sunk.

“What does that mean?!”, asked Applejack, worriedly.

“The actual foaling started about an hour ago...and she's been struggling quite a bit”, replied the doctor.

“So what now?!”, demanded Rainbow Dash, anxiously.

“It simply means it's going to be a more difficult delivery..worst case is she'll need to have a C-section. I just knew you all needed an update”, replied the doctor.

“But..she'll be okay, right?”, asked Twilight, worriedly.

The doctor hesitated.

“Well?! Will she or not?!”, demanded Rainbow.

“Most likely yes...but we don't like to promise anything in situations like this”, he replied.

All the ponies looked horrified then, their hearts sharing the same fear.

Pinkie saw the devastated look on Rainbow's face.

“Winter, Skylar, let's go get some snacks, okay?”, she said softly. She picked both foals up, carrying them out.

Soarin gave her a grateful look as she left.

“Look, don't get upset. This kind of thing happens often. She is quite small and fragile, so this isn't a surprise. I'll give you all another update as soon as I can”, the doctor said.

“Thank you doctor..”, Twilight looked down, worriedly.

Cadence gently placed a comforting hoof on Twilight's shoulder.

The doctor went back behind the ER doors.

The ponies were grimly quiet, unsure what to say. And too scared to even think.

“What now, ya'll?”, asked Applejack, worriedly.

Author's Note

Okay this chapter came out longer than I expected Also, I'm so excited, I got new MLP figures of the mane six, Cadence and Shining Armor!

Thanks so much for all the comments, likes and faves so far!