Author's Note

Last update of the year (and final one-shot for this anthology)! Yay!!!! Honestly This one-shot was the 1st one I wrote out back in like October. Not long after publishing Flying High, I knew how this was gonna end up! I may or may not continue with these characters in seperate one-shots, but they sure as hex are fun to write! You guys know I can be pretty spontaneous in my updates. Anyways, hope you all enjoy! Oh! Please listen to this one at the designated time:

Have a Happy New Year everypony!

New Year, New Life (Flying High)

New Year’s Eve was here and practically everypony in the “Horseshoe Canyon Apartment Buildings” was dealing with last minute prep work in their apartments and last minute party lists to get together in a few apartments. The building was absolutely noisy with the sound of various ponies getting themselves together. There was, however one door in the whole building (residential) that was eerily silent. That was only because nopony knew what was really going on in there.
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“Okay, have we got all the diapers in the hospital bag?”, A lanky pegasus stallion said as he got out a clipboard.

“Check.”, a very much pregnant mare replied as she made sure on the diapers.

“Okay. What about teat pump in case the baby doesn't latch on?”, the stallion asked again.

“Got it too. Seriously Riptide, we’ve got everything in here except the bassinet and before you say it, no we are NOT dismantling that darn thing to bring it.”, the mare snorted in annoyance.

“Sorry sis! I just want to make sure you have everything you need. Lilly you know I’m just looking out for ya.”, Riptide said as he nuzzled his baby sister playfully.

“I get it. I’m appreciative, but could ya lay off the overprotectiveness a bit?”, Lilly groaned as she nuzzled her big brother back.

“Nope! That’s my niece or nephew in there and I just want to make sure you and him/her are safe. So as ‘overprotective’ as you claim I am, I’m only doing this for the two of you.”, Riptide stated as he zipped up the hospital bag and Lilly’s suitcase. Purposely ignoring the groan from Lilly.

“Fine. But if you ask if I need another blanket, I’ll shove that clipboard down your throat!”, Lilly semi-sweetly threatened.

Knowing that while his sister was generally a peaceful pony, when she threatens you she means it and does it, Riptide shut his muzzle and set both bags down by the front door.

“Geeze! Okay. I get it! You know I can’t help it” Riptide started as he took a sip of his bourbon-infused eggnog “Besides *gulp* you should be grateful that you got a strong big bro like me worrying over you! Especially since that low life of an ex of yours won’t own up and be a real stallion about it.”, He finished.

At the mere mention of her ex, Lilly shuddered in disgust. She knew she was right to tell his sorry tail that she was pregnant. Did she expect him to lash out at her and deny the unborn foal? A small part of her had hoped not, but it was her logic that won that argument. She still remembered that day like a bad dream…..

(10 months ago…)

Lilly found herself walking through a large apartment building and into a cramped feeling elevator as she decided to pick up her ex-coltfriend, Train Tracks for a casual lunch. As she got out and found his apartment number, she couldn't help but feel nervous.

‘I don’t know why I’m feeling so nervous. Maybe he’ll be happy? Then again...he may overreact badly...Oh celestia help me!’, She thought to herself as the door opened and she greeted her ex. After a quick trip to the bathroom (as well as scoping out his new place), they were on their way to a small diner near the train station and his job.

(time later at the diner…)

“So….we both know this wasn’t so much a social visit between friends. Why’d you really ask me here today? I know how you are Lilly and you clearly look like you got a lot on your mind. Care to share?”, Train Tracks asked.

‘okay, here goes nothing...or everything…’, Lilly thought to herself as she took a deep breath to steel herself.

“Okay...well...you see…*sigh* I’m...a little….pregnant.”, Lilly said with a quivering voice.

“I-I'm sorry? What was that?”, Train asked as he was unsure of what he heard.

“I said I’m pregnant! Geeze, must I write it out for you?!”, Lilly replied as her voice found its strength.

It was then that all Tartarus broke loose as Train grew furious at this news. Gentle conversation turned into a shouting match and the obvious statement of ‘well then you should get rid of it’ was said. That statement earned him a hard slap to the face and water being tossed in his face. Followed by a teary-eyed Lilly speeding off.

(present day)

Shaking her head of that bad memory, Lilly quickly looked around her surroundings. Her 3 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment looked as clean as they could muster. It also looked completely ready for a new foal. Before Lilly could state how clean it looked, she felt a strong pain in her now heavily swollen belly.

“What’s wrong? You okay?”, Riptide asked quickly.

“I’m f-fine! The foal was just kicking real hard. That’s all.”, Lilly answered after catching her breath.

“Well okay. Oh! Hey! We promised Nonna and Star Walker that’d we would stop by and spend New Year’s with them. We’d better get going if we’re gonna beat the air traffic and trust me, it’s getting bad around now.”, Riptide said as he picked up her coat and slipped on his boots.

He quickly noticed how quiet Lilly had gotten. That obviously concerned him as he got closer.

“Lil’? You alright--”, Riptide said as he felt like he stepped in a puddle.

“Geeeet….theeee….cart!”, Lilly said in a hoarse tone.

“What?”, Riptide asked in surprise.

“MY WATER JUST BROKE!! GET THE CART AND CALL NONNA AND MA!!!! NOW!!!”, Lilly screamed as her first contraction hit.

Faster than a lightning bolt, Riptide hurriedly rushed his sister to her new family sized cart with foal seat already installed. He made sure she was in all the way before rushing to get the hospital bag, foal bag and calling ponies on his phone. After getting the bags and making sure his mother and “unofficial” grandmare were aware of what was happening, he took off to the hospital with his...rapidly getting uncomfortable little sister.

(an hour later due to traffic…)

The pair rushed into the hospital out of breath and in pain (on Lilly’s part). They rushed to the reception desk, where a bored looking nurse sat.

“How may I help--”, the nurse cut himself off as he looked up from his screen to see a panicked looking stallion and a mare in labor.

“Sweet Luna! Please, my sister's in labor! She needs a doctor….doctor…?”, Riptide stumbled at forgetting the doctor’s name.

“Doctor Sweetheart. Please, I already have a birthing room set and while it’s a little early, my foal is coming now!”, Lilly said through deep, labored breaths.

“Okay. I’ll call Dr. Sweetheart and get you a wheelchair” the nurse started before picking up his receiver “Dr. Sweetheart to front reception desk. Repeat. Dr. Sweetheart to front reception desk and please can somepony bring a wheelchair?”, he finished.

“Everything's gonna be alright, Lilly. Just keep breathing--”, Riptide said before getting cut off by a shrill neigh.

“TO TARTARUS WITH MY BREATHING!!!! I’M IN PAIN!!!!”, Lilly neighed loudly as another contraction hit. This one more painful than the last 2.

Just then a doctor with a wheelchair came into view.

“Goodness! Somepony’s a little bit early. That’s okay your room’s ready anyways. Riptide, follow us please?”, Dr. Sweetheart said as she helped Lilly into the chair and wheeled her into a very natural looking birthing room (and by “natural” I mean the whole room looks like an open field with a ‘nest' of soft grass and hay as a hospital bed and no modern medical supplies aside from a small bag of supplies). She helped the expectant mother into a lying position as a light came on overhead.

“Oh thank faust! I really needed to lie down. *sigh*...I wasn’t expecting the foal to come this early.”, Lilly said as she shifted to get comfy on her side.

“I can imagine. Don’t worry, on the occasion foals tend to come a week or two early. Now, sweetie I’m gonna need you to spread your legs so I can check and see how far your dilated.”, Dr. Sweetheart said as she reached for her medical bag as a nurse hooked up a heart monitor to Lilly and took a blood sample as well as attaching a hospital bracelet to her hoof.

“Okay, well the good news is that you’re 6 centimeters dilated so this little babe should be coming within the next few hours. Slight bad news, nothing major! Just need you to sign a few forms. Only to sign in.”, Dr. Sweetheart said as Riptide took the forms and the brother/sister pair filled them out.

(2 hours later...11:58pm.)

Over the next 2 hours, Lilly's discomfort grew greatly as she experienced contraction after contraction as she dilated quicker than expected. Pretty soon she was in constant pain as she was almost 10 centimeters fully dilated.

“Please let this end!!!”, Lilly shouted out as the pain hit her hard. Struggling to not push.

“Okay! Sweetie you're now fully dilated! Okay when I say so, I need you to push ok?”, Dr. Sweetheart said as she rubbed Lilly’s leg.

(11:59 pm)

10….

A strong push.

9….

A shrill cry

8….

Another push

7….

Labored breathing

6…

Push. Breath. Push. Breath

5…

A BIG push

4…

A loud, harsh neigh

3…

Pressure increased

2….

One last HUGE push

1….

A loud small cry of life. (A.N: Play song now!)

“Congratulations! It’s a filly! A healthy and very pretty one at that.”, Dr. Sweetheart said as she pulled the foals’ hind hooves out and gently hoofing the foal to a nurse to clean her up.

“Oh…..thank faust….” Lilly started tiredly as she was hoofed her recently cleaned and swaddled newborn “...Hi there. Hi. It’s mommy! Yeah…”, she finished to teary eyes and a tiny smiling filly in her hooves.

“Wow. Lil you did it. Oh wow...I’m an uncle. I have a niece! Just….wow. She’s beautiful.”, Riptide said in a hushed awe.

As the new mother held her baby, the nurse asked what the foal’s name was to be for the certificate.

“Well...after some long thinking, I finally came up with the perfect name for a little filly” Lilly started as she looked at her daughter in awe “Skye Blossom. Her full name will be Skye Patricia Blossom.”, she finished as she held her daughter to her fluffy chest.