Stay With Me

Celestia stepped off of the gilded carriage and onto the ground beneath as she stood in front of a large hospital that was present on the streets of Canterlot. Her long white dress brushing against the ground.

The guards opened the doors and guided the princess in. Her guards walking on both sides of her. Being sure to keep any press or curious or wanting pony from approaching the fatigued princess whose energy was slightly renewed from finally leaving the god forsaken annual conference. Passersby merely looked on or gave a bow to the princess as she walked through.

She stopped at the front desk where a white pony with a pink mane smiled at her.

"Oh my, Princess Celestia." she gave a bow. "It is an honor to have you here."

The princess smiled. "Please, there is no need to be so formal Nurse Redheart. I am here for-"

"Your checkup." A voice intervened.

Celestia and Nurse Redheart turned their heads to see a white, above average tall unicorn look at them both. Her bright red mane sparkled in the lights and her half lidded eyes that wore a red eye shadow gave the middle aged pony an almost sultry look. It was none other than the strict Nurse Goodwell. Celestia's personal assigned royal nurse.

"You my dear, are five minutes late."

Celestia gave a frown. "I am-"

The unicorn merely pointed at the clock that stood above the the front desk. Celestia looked at the time that showed five minutes passed five. The princess gave a sigh. "Fine you got me. But I am here now."

"Yes, yes you are which is why we should get a move on. Come, there is quite a bit to be done."

Nurse Goodwell led the way as she took Celestia and her two guards through the halls. Keeping her head held high in a rather uppity but regal manner like some of the wealthy unicorns did who strolled through Canterlot's streets everyday. It did not take long for both of them to arrive at the room prepared specifically for her.

Nurse Goodwell turned the knob of the door with her magic and opened the door. Celestia was almost blinded from the brightness of the room as the marble floor below reflected the gleaming lights of the ceiling above. The floor was spotless, clear of any deformity and all of the equipment like needles, a quick first aid kit, a blood pressure tester and even tissue was placed in all their proper positions. The examining bed that Celestia was to lay on had the sheets tightened and fitted accordingly so that no crease or wrinkle could be seen.

What should have made any pony proud made Celestia cringe at just how obsessive the place seem to be. Nurse Goodwell wasn't called clean freak for nothing...at least when it came to her profession as her twin sister, Rubyheart commonly spoke on how her room was an utter mess.

"Are you going to just stand there or are you going to come in?"

Celestia gave a sigh and walked into the room. The guards aimed to follow but they were both stopped by the nurse herself.

"This is a most private affair between two mares, however, you are more than allowed to stand outside of the door."

The two guards raised an eyebrow and looked at each other before the door was slammed shut in front of their faces. They both recoiled  back in surprise and shock before finally standing apart on both sides of the door.

"Anyway princess shall we get started?"

Celestia, as per ritual, got up on the examining bed and removed her regalia and dress. Laying them down neatly beside her.

Nurse Goodwell went and grabbed the blood pressure monitor and wrapped it around the alicorn's front leg.

"Now your majesty, you know better than to concern yourself with such stressful tasks in your state. Do not think that I do not know about your little conference meeting." Princess Luna said that she herself will take on the major political duties while you focus on getting rest. Especially when you are so far along in your pregnancy. The baby is due any time now and you know that. Look at you! You look on the verge of death!"

"I am aware of that." Celestia said with her head down low.

"Dealing with those stressful and agitating ponies is doing more harm than good. Especially Mr. Smarty Pants himself. There is a reason he has earned that name and rightfully so. He is irritating to the highest degree."

And so can you be but I assume that is what makes you so charming.

Celestia smiled at the thought.

The unicorn cut her off. "Nuh uh, last time you were twenty minutes late! Princess Luna put me in charge of monitoring your health and monitoring your health I will do! When I heard that you were in the middle of a conference I couldn't help but shake my head. Did you not remember anything your sister told you?"

"I do but there are times where such things are best left to me to handle. Especially knowing my sisters short temper. I can only imagine her ending it as quickly as it begins. Knowing Luna she probably wouldn't even give them a chance to speak. I can only imagine her blowing them away with her royal Canterlot voice." Celestia chuckled as Nurse Red Heart took the opportunity to check Celestia's heartbeat.

The unicorn gave a small smile and took off the blood pressure wrap. "I wonder how your sister may think of such a thing. She will be less then pleased you know."

Celestia gave another small laugh as she envisioned her sisters small, filly like pout.

"Your blood pressure is fine as well as your heartbeat. Now, time for the most important part." The nurse pushed to Celestia's side a small screen and grabbed hold of a tube that she opened. She squeezed it and took the clear liquid that came out and smeared it onto Celestia's swollen belly as the princess laid slightly turned on her side.

The princess shivered slightly at the cool feeling it gave off as it opened her pores. Her nurse, with a small smile, grabbed hold of the transducer and rubbed it against the princesses abdomen as she watched the black and white blurry screen depict something remotely like a small filly.

The nurse stared at it as a gentle silence filled the air. She analyzed the picture  before her seeing the hooves and four legs of the filly or colt that was soon to be born into the world, curled up about itself and its umbilical cord. However, no matter how many times she had done it before, she couldn't help but be taken aback at what the foal was. Though the princess, with great reluctance had explained to her the situation on their first meeting, she couldn't help that she was curious of the the foal's appendages that were hands and its rounded hair that was coated in a fine layer of hair.

Princess Celestia looked at the screen with motherly eyes as her heart beat with anticipation to see the foal for herself  but also in anxiety on what may come ahead of it being born. However, she relished the moment, seeing how much the once small being that was once no bigger than a large pod had grown to be even bigger than that of two newborn pony foals. Even if it was now becoming a strain to carry it.

The nurse stood quiet as she turned to gaze on at Celestia. Her once fine lines under her eyes had darkened since the last time she had met with her and she noticed how the regal monarch had kept her head down low most of the day. As if keeping it up was draining her too much of her energy. Goodwell's facial expression changed to one of pity as she gazed at the mare who entrusted the care of her foal to her. Despite the fact that said foal was literally sapping her energy away like a hungry leech that was never satisfied. As she monitored the health of the monarch, she watched as Celestia's energy fell after each passing month from the once bubbly and calmed ruler to one who was now strictly tied to her chambers.

"It has developed much larger than I had expected." the nurse said with a sigh. "How is your movement? Such a large foal probably does quite a toil on your body."

"Y-yes. For the last two months, it has became quite a bit difficult to move around. Since I've reached the peak of my pregnancy, it has weighed me down. I drag quite a bit...well, so much so that my servants have gotten to the point of merely bringing almost all of my needs to me. Still, I try to do my duty as royalty."

"I've checked back on your previous urine and blood samples and they are well. Also, I checked your  X-rays and your organs are pushed much tightly together than a normal mares body. Thankfully, because you are larger than the average mare your body is better able to cope with the stress of the pregnancy but it is paramount that from this month on until it is time that you stay as close to the castle and the staff as possible and keep away from those god forsaken politicians!"

The princess, though heavily tired and fatigued, couldn't help but give a smile at her nurse's rather playful rage. "Of course."

Goodwell breathed a sigh of relief  before moving on to put the ultrasound equipment back where it belonged. Celestia, using her magic, grabbed hold of a sheet of tissue and wiped the jelly like liquid off of her abdomen before dumping it into the trash.

"As much as I myself am a Canterlot pony I cannot help but get sucked into it's constant gossip."

"What do you mean?"

"All of Equestria itself is obsessing over your pregnancy as is but Canterlot and all of its wealthy noblemen even more so. You know how many times I have heard friends of Fancy Pants mention your foal?"

"It is to be expected that something like this is going to cause even silent ones to speak."

"You don;t say..."

"But I am not one to play politics with my foal. Let alone for them to be politics them-self."

Immediatley after the quote Celestia winced and let out a groan as a shock of pain shot up the middle of her stomach.

"Princess?"

"I-it kicked..."

The nurse stood quiet as she watched her beloved ruler try to make herself comfortable after the sudden shock of pain. She ruffled her wings and gave a quickened breath as she tried to take deep breaths.

"Celestia, how long have you been having these rush of pains?"

"Recently, along with the aches."

"I see...I will speak to Nurse Red Heart on giving you some pain killers."

"T-thank you. That will be nice."

The doors of the hospital opened as Celestia made her way onto the ready carriage. She moved sluggishly but still tried her best to maintain her regal pose and demeanor in front of both her guards and her nurse who stood by the door. Watching to see her princess off.

"Thank you Nurse Goodwell for everything that you have done. Truly it is of pleasure."

The white unicorn waved a hoof. "Oh please Celestia, I am merely doing my job, nothing more. Now remember what I said. It is important that you do not strain yourself. Your body is already under undue stress as it is from your ab-well, special pregnancy."

"Yes, I be sure of it. I doubt my sister would very much allow me to do much. She'll have me down lock and key."

"As she should." Her nurse smiled. "Your sister...if you do not mind, how has you and princess Luna been getting along after your...well, last predicament." Goodwell felt almost stupid for asking such a personal thing in public.

"It is going well." Celestia sighed. "She has...greatly calmed down. She respects my decision but she worries greatly about me that much is for certain."

"I see...well then princess I must go back to my duties. I do not wish to keep you waiting. Go back to the castle and get some rest. You deserve after today."

"Thank you. I'll be sure to add a bonus to your check as well." Celestia winked. "Just be sure not to tell anyone alright? I'll let your boss know by letter."

"I'll  be sure princess."

"Guards, let us leave."

With a nod, the two stallions took off back to the palace as Celestia's nurse gave a smiling wave before going back into the hospital