Chapter 2

Despite the sudden jump in her baby count, Zecora took it all in stride. But despite her best attempts at managing, there was one thing that was getting on her nerves. Her belly, which was still unaccustomed to its three new extra occupants, was itchy. She tried her best to cope, but it was always there, never quite going away. It finally came to a head one evening while she was in her bed reading a book. Or rather, she was trying to read, and having to pause every few minutes to scratch the side of her belly. A few paragraphs later, another itch. Finally, after almost thirty minutes of this song and dance, she had had enough.

“This will not do!” she yelled as she hoisted herself up and off her bed, immediately going for her ingredients cabinet. She had a salve recipe she could make that’d hopefully sooth her itchy skin. Only, there was one problem…

“Juniper berries, cloves, and Aloe Ve-“

She stopped as she examined her cabinets again. She was completely out of the fleshy plant in question.

“I seem to have everything, up until I need a thing.” She grumbled. It seemed another trip to Ponyville was in order. Carefully, she slipped on her cloth chest binding, the old strips feeling a tad snug since her size jump.

“It may be a sign, but I should fine” she reasoned. With what little clothing she usually wore and her coin purse ready, she was out the door and on her way.

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The Ponyville marketplace was its usual level of afternoon busy. Ponies going about their business and shopping. Some grabbing produce, others basic odds and ends. Zecora always enjoyed wandering the streets, taking in the sights and sounds, even if her first few visits were met with fear from the locals. But as she walked down the street this evening, she kept noticing ponies staring at her from out the corner of her eye. Now she’d admit, she had always dressed lightly compared to her pony neighbors with her simple loincloth and chest covering, but at most she’d get on aside glance from the occasional bachelor. Now, it was constant, and from almost everyone she passed by.

“All this gawk while I walk. Is my change so strange?” She mumbled to herself as she entered the herb shop

The shopkeeper was kind enough to keep a straight face while she picked out some Aloe Vera fronds, but she still noted her eyes drift down to her belly at least once while she was paying for the plants. It wasn’t annoying to her, but it was still…odd. She was met with more of the same treatment on the way. Was it because she was pregnant? Before she could contemplate it for long, something caught her attention that made even her stop and stare. In one of the shops was a mirror. It wasn’t unusual in any way, just a plain full body mirror.

It’s what it showed her that had her attention.

She hadn’t seen herself in the mirror since even before the start of her pregnancy, and she was massive! Not that she was small before with just one foal, but with four she already looked overdue with healthy twins. The stripes along her belly were visibly stretched compared to the rest on her body. Her breasts, swollen in preparation for the additional foals. And to cap it all off, a navel that was now jutting out proudly in front.

“My goodness, Zecora! You’ve gotten so big!” a familiar voice called from behind. Zecora turned to spot the always fabulous Rarity. The store Zecora stopped in front of was in fact Rarity’s boutique.

“Rarity. Always a pleasure.” She greeted the ivory pony before looking back her side profile in the mirror.

“Though I must say, I may need a tape measurer.” She said, still slightly mesmerized by the sight of herself.

“Darling! You talk as if you haven’t seen yourself before!”

“You are correct, I haven’t inspected myself. Even before I knew.” Rarity gasped before putting her hands on her hips.

“Well we can’t have that now can we?”

“What do you propose-“ Zecora started before noting some of the clothes in the window

“-besides clothes” she thought to herself. Rarity just smiled.

“Take the mirror, darling.” Zecora snapped her head back at her.

“What!? Just to stare at my gut?”

“Being pregnant is a special time in someone’s life! You need to see and enjoy all the little changes!” she looked down at Zecora’s belly. “Well, maybe big changes in your case.”

“Even still! To carry such a thing would be very-“ she stopped as she noticed Rarity had already walked into her store, and was in the process of levitating the mirror out with her. She just smiled as the mirror floated beside her. Zecora just shook her head.

“I see I cannot dissuade you and your aid. I will show you the way.”

“Just steer clear of the Poison Joke patches.” Zecora just chuckled.

“Of course.” They walked back down the market road. The stares were still there, but Zecora seemed less phased this time around.

“Though I have to ask; there was gossi- I mean, rumors that you were only pregnant with one. How did,” she gestured to her belly, “that happen?”

“The story is quite long and boring.”

“As well as the trip to your hut.”

That rewarded her a hearty laugh from Zecora.

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After arriving at her hut, and a brief chat, Rarity went on her way; leaving Zecora to her homemade itch remedy. By the time she had managed to crush and mix the concoction together, she was left with a gelatinous turquoise salve.

“No matter how brief, I shall find relief.” Wasting no time, she scraped her fingers through the mix, and slowly began to work it into her taut skin. Her eyes slowly rolled in the back of her head as her lids drooped. The cool gel sooth her dry, strained.

“And found it I have, for my round mound.” She purred. Reaching for the bowl again, she took a more generous glob in her hand and plopped it onto her belly with a splat.

“Yes, I will caress, even if I do make a mess.” She cooed as she rubbed it all across her belly. Even her bellybutton seemed less sensitive after the ministrations. Still, it didn’t stop her babies from waking up and making a few ripples under her damp skin.

“Through my actions, I have one less distraction between me,’ she stopped to place a palm over where one of her foals moved, “and you.”

Author's Note

This one took a tad longer than it should have to put together, but here it is! If any gratuitous spelling errors still remain, let me know. As always, thank you for reading.