Author's Note

This chapter is a little bit short because part of it was due to writer's block and part due to wanting to focus on Twilight and Luna's feelings regarding having foals of their own. Not quite happy with some of it but here it is anyway.

The next chapter will be a smut chapter that will focus on Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Twilight, and Luna. However, if my readers haven't guessed already, Emmit has a new ability that was hinted at in this extra chapter that will be said openly in the next final extra chapter.

Extra Chapter: Pinkie and Rarity give birth

"Thanks for these strength potions, Zecora," I said to her while levitating two jars of the same potion that was given to Fluttershy to my saddlebags. One jar in the right bag and one jar in the left bag.

There was an amused smile on her face as she sat beside her cauldron. "You are welcome, my friend," she said with a soft quick chuckle before standing up on her hind legs, putting her front hooves against the cauldron, and starting to stir it with a hoof. "As before, this potion will also help them mend."

"I have every confidence in your craft, Zecora," I told her with a smile and was fixing to leave but something came to mind. "You know, considering Equestria is preparing for war against the Storm King now, every little bit of help counts. Your craft for potions could come in really handy. I just had an idea that Tia and Luna could send one or two ponies from the medical profession to learn from you. Equestrian medicine is already way better than anything humanity could ever do but with natural herbs and plants to go with it, it would be even better. Just something I'd like you to think about, alright?"

She gave me a thoughtful single nod while continuing to stir her cauldron. "Your suggestion I'll give some thought but what have your war preparations brought?"

After a sigh of thought, I began to tell her, "Well considering it hasn't been all that long since rescuing Novo and the escape of Chrysalis, we've gotten some volunteers for Captain Celaeno to train. I've also talked with Tia, Luna, and Equestria's finest scientists about magically powered human weapons and cannons. We haven't made the announcement yet to the public for a couple of reasons. One is not to cause panic in the public. Two we didn't want the Storm King to be inadvertently told that we know what he's planning. We keep the element of surprise that way. And when it is officially announced and when we finally do go to war, I've got some ideas about how the public can help. With all that information they are currently working on, it gives me some time to spend here for the birth of my foals with Pinkie and Rarity."

She stopped stirring and pulled out the large spoon to take a quick sip. After a hum and nod of her head, she looked over at me again. "Sounds like you've got a good start but I bet it's nothing for what's to come for your part."

"True, very true," I acknowledged before curiosity got the better of me making me step up to the cauldron. "I really don't want to bring human weapons into this world but I don't have a choice and what is in here anyway?" Leaning over I took a careful sniff. It didn't burn my nose and she could a sip of it, so I doubt it was dangerous. And there appeared to be herbs in it.

"Herbs that help relax are in this tea that the massage twins asked," she responded with a smile before lifting up the spoon again for me to taste.

I brightened after taking a sip, "Nice, it actually reminds me of chamomile tea from back in the human world." Then looked over at her as my face fell from the smile, "I might need this from time to time because of what's in the future."

"Maybe," she gave me a nod before smiling at me, "but for now go deliver your babies."

"Thanks again, Zecora," I said to her, "for everything. I'll see you later and don't be a stranger." With that out of the way, I bid her so long and made my way to the hospital where Rarity and Pinkie were already in labor. But with my experience with Tia and Fluttershy, I already knew that there was time before delivery.

^_^

Considering I was so close to my herd's community and knowing that Fluttershy is watching over Solar, Blaze, and Aurora, I wanted to make a quick stop there to check on them. And once out of the Everfree Forest, I was happy to see the completed community in the near distance. It was picturesque and beautiful. The simple huts were built on either side of the stream that ran through it from the waterfall. And in the middle of the community, a beautiful gazebo was built over the stream but built in a way that the stream ran under it. Because I was heading for the gazebo, where Fluttershy was with our foals and Solar were, I trotted along the stream. And because of my great hearing in my fox form, I could already hear my daughter's giggling.

After getting close, Fluttershy was laying on her side on the thick soft artificial grass while nursing our son. Our daughter, meanwhile, was busy trying to climb onto her muzzle because her head was on the floor. Solar, on the other hand, was between her wings lightly pawing at her feathers the way she does with her mother. Fluttershy was the first one to spot me as I silently walked up the steps and into the gazebo. My heart felt light when our eyes met. And with a smile on my face that echoed the joy in my heart, I walked up and kissed her forehead, "How are you doing my beautiful butterfly, my beautiful Flutterbat?"

She giggled cutely with her eyes glowing with love and joy, "We're fine." That's when my daughter poked her head up from between Fluttershy's feathers and saw me.

"Daddy!" she called out, so I lifted my head so she could latch onto my face. After levitating the saddlebags off my back and off to the side, I sat my butt down and held her with two paws. She laughed and giggled away as I kissed and blew raspberries on her belly.

"I love you," I told her while holding her out, so I could look into her beautiful glowing eyes.

"Love, daddy!" she giggled gleefully while her wings buzzed and wiggled her legs at me happily. That had my heart bursting with pride and joy as she wiggled out of my paws to flutter to my back to play in my tails.

That gave me the opportunity to lower my head down to gently nuzzle our daughter, who was now wiggling her front hooves up at me. With a happy chuckle, and while she playfully batted her front hooves against my muzzle, I told her, "Daddy loves you." Where she responded with happy cooing baby sounds, eyes wide up at me, and all while happily batting away at my muzzle. Fluttershy looked on with a joyous smile on her face as her head lay on the artificial grass in front of mine. "I noticed that their eyes are red bat-like eyes. Have their sharp teeth started coming in yet?"

"A little but it's not bad yet," she said before letting out a happy content sigh while looking at me. "I love you, Emmit and I'm soo happy with our foals."

Because our daughter was still playing against my muzzle, I couldn't kiss her. "I love you and our beautiful foals too, my beautiful butterfly, Flutterbat," I said with a loving smile her way. That got our son's attention, so he turned loose of his mother's teat and started waddling his way over to me. And when he finally reached me, he started excitedly patting his little front hooves against my muzzle as well, mimicking his sister. "I love you, too, son," I said while bringing my paw up to gently rub against his head. Perches for birds were attached to either the wooden support pillars or from the ceiling above. And birds from the area had come in and started chirping out their songs softly as I enjoyed my family.

"How are Pinkie and Rarity doing?" Fluttershy asked as she looked down at our foals with all the love and glow of a happy and content mother.

"I checked in with them before walking into Zecora's hut," I said and lifted my head after our son and daughter began to play together. "And it will still be at least three or so hours before the contractions become urgent, so to speak. So, unfortunately, I can't stay long but I can stay long enough to say hi."

Solar heard me as she played with my tails and so she fluttered up to my face with a sad frown, "Daddy?"

I gave her a reassuring smile and nuzzled her gently with my head, "I need to see to Aunty Pinkie and Aunty Rarity, honey. They are bringing in another brother and or sister into the world at the hospital and I need to be there to help them. So, will you be patient with me? Be a good girl for Aunty Fluttershy and Aunty Luna?" She didn't look happy about me leaving so soon after arriving but she gave me a few nods anyway. I nuzzled her again, "That's my good girl, thank you, honey. I'll try not to stay away too long."

^_^

At least my plan wasn't to spend a long time away from them. However, with both of them giving birth at the same time and recovery time, it was left up in the air. Solar wanted to come with me but I finally convinced her to stay with Aunty Fluttershy. And was on my way to the hospital with Zecora's strength potions for both Pinkie and Rairty. And I would have gotten there sooner but Apple Bloom and Scootaloo wanted to speak with me first. I met up with them on my way through town to the hospital. Meeting up with Apple Bloom on my way through the marketplace.

"Hey, Emmit," Apple Bloom greeted with a growing blush and a wide smile when she saw me. She was tending to the family's apple stand.

"Hey yourself," I greeted with a wink while walking around the stand, and the two spa ponies that stood in front of it. Of course, Aloe and Lotus brightened immediately with both of them giving me a seductive wink of their own. Her eyes were locked onto mine as I walked around, up to her, and greeted her with a kiss. She giggled first before returning the kiss with a happy soft hum and leaning into me. "How are you and the stand doing?"

"I'm fine and was just finishing up a sale," she told me then faced the spa twins. "Speaking of which, I hope you and your guests enjoy them."

Aloe picked up a bag with half the order while her twin picked up the other bag with the other half. They both giggled, winking to each other conspiratorially, before looking across the stand at me. "We do plan to enjoy them," Aloe's voice held seduction in it along with a sultry look. That was echoed by her twin when she finished with, "But we, and our guests, would enjoy them better with Emmit."

That brought a quick laugh out of me. "I'll give them this," I began with a wink to Apple Bloom before giving the twins an amused smirk, "they sure don't give up, do they?"

"No," she leaned against me with a short girlish chuckle, "not that I blame them." There was a slight pause as she nudged me to get my attention. The look on her face told me that she wanted to speak to me seriously for a second. As she was also still blushing and acting like a schoolgirl with a crush which was echoed in her soft voice, "Heat season is coming up and considering that it will be my first one plus the first one with you, I want it to be special." Moving a couple of tails, I pressed them against her as if to hold her against me. Her eyes held desire in them as well as a little embarrassment. "Out in the orchard, under Luna's full moon, and in your fox form. I love the way your hands make me feel but for my first time with you in heat, I want it to be natural. As nature intended."

"A mare's first time in heat should be with somepony special," Aloe said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

"We had nopony special for our first time," lotus added with a frown and a sad tone in her voice. Then looked over at me, "Make it really special for her."

"I plan to," I told them where they left to return to their spa. Then looked back at Apple Bloom, looking into her eyes, "I'll try to make it memorable."

"I know you will," she giggled and kissed me again before dismissing me toward the hospital again.

^_^

Scootaloo was next one for me to meet on the way to the hospital. I was trotting by Twilight's old three-house library, or at least where it used to be, when Scootaloo came buzzing up beside me on her scooter. "Hi, Emmit," she greeted happily and stopped beside me. She also had a blush on her face with that nervous schoolgirl with a crush look about her. For a second it looked like she wanted to say something but stopped herself and looked down as she nervously rubbed a leg with her hoof. Then muttered something under her breath, took a breath, then jumped up at me giving me a long kiss. I returned it gladly while sitting my butt down and using my front paws to hold her against me in a hug.

I was still holding her against me when we pulled apart and I looked at her. She was blushing beet red and even though she looked a little embarrassed, she still had a smile on her face. "I'm working on being more forward and open about our relationship and how I feel about you," she said as I held her. "Both Rainbow and Ember have encouraged me to be more open and not care about what anypony thinks."

Feeling a little frisky, I set down the saddlebags with the potions in them and morphed into my naked human form. After making sure to keep holding her as I morphed, I positioned her against me where her crotch was covering mine. In order to hold her weight up and keep her from falling, I lightly slapped a hand against her butt and gave it a possessive squeeze. "I can tell," was my playful and husky response. "I also don't know if I can help you fly or not but I will promise to do everything that I can to help you do just that."

As my hand gently squeezed her butt, she wiggled herself against me where her pussy lips pressed against my semi-hard shaft that was squished between us. "I know," she gave me a wide smile and leaned up for another kiss. This time, though, something happened. Something unexpected. It was my whole heart's desire to see her normal and fulfill her wish to fly. So, during our kiss and with one hand on her back between her wings, I felt a very gentle flow and magic coming from the Seapony's orb in my chest. It was a warm and tingly feeling, almost like a leg waking up from falling asleep. It flowed from the orb, into my hands, and then into Scootaloo. The orb in my chest even began to glow.

I know that she felt whatever this was because she took a deep breath during our kiss. I wasn't sure what this gentle magic was doing but she responded by moaning softly into my mouth, deepening the kiss, and started grinding herself against me slowly. The magical flow only lasted a couple of seconds and when it faded, along with the orb, Scootaloo broke the kiss and looked up at me with a slightly confused expression. "What just happened?" she questioned.

"I'm not sure," I spoke softly, showing my own confusion. "There was a two-second flow of magic from the orb in my chest, through my hands, and into you. What did you feel?"

She blinked up at me as if in thought before finally saying, "I felt...something. I don't know what it was but it felt great. Like a warm good feeling wash over me before fading."

I quickly looked her over from head to tail, "Well, I don't see anything different. Do you feel different?"

"Yes?" It was one of those rhetorical questions that told us that she really wasn't so sure. "I'm not sure but I feel great." Then she looked up at me with her eyes half-lidded and her voice going softer, "Because this will be my first time with you during my first heat, I want it to be up high in the clouds with Rainbow Dash there."

I smiled down at her with a knowing smile, "You want it to be special." Even though it was a statement, she gave me a nod with a soft, "Mhmm," anyway. A thought hit me as I held her against me with a wide smile, "You three got together and asked each other how you wanted your first time with me would be, right?"

"Yeah," she giggled a little through her blushing response. "Each of us wanted it to be someplace special. For me, it's up in the clouds where I'm not normally at."

"Yeah, I get that," I told her while making a mental note to get the cloud walking spell put on me. "Apple Bloom already told me hers after I ran into her at the market." Then started morphing back into my fox form while gently setting her down on the ground again. "And I better head over to the hospital before Pinkie and Rarity start complaining. Want to come with?" After a nod from her, I put the saddlebags on my back again, put a couple of tails around her, and headed toward the hospital with her.

^_^

The maternity ward of Ponyville hospital was on the second floor inside the east wing, so that's where we headed. From the main front entrance we simply walked through the large front foyer slash waiting room and to the stairs to the right of the front desk. "Pinkie said that her parents and siblings would also be here, I wonder if they've shown up since I've been away getting the potions?" I asked softly as we exited onto the second floor and turned right to head to the ward. I didn't get to walk in because my eyes spotted my mom and Sweetie Belle standing just outside of the door. She was looking over at me with a teary-eyed happy look on her face. However, as I got closer, she was holding her hands to her mouth while looking like both of them were trying not to laugh.

"Mom, is everything alright?" I asked her as Scootaloo and I trotted up to her, now curious.

She nodded quickly a few times while motioning to the closed door. "Your...father's inside...go and...take a look," she said between bouts of restrained giggling while Sweetie Belle wasn't faring that much better.

Now very curious as to what was going on and especially why mom would be trying so hard not to laugh while outside the room in the hallway, I opened the door and stepped inside. I was shocked at what my eyes were seeing. Apparently, my dad decided to give love a try, like all the other changelings. I spotted him standing by the door looking off into space with a very displeased look on his face. And displeased was putting it mildly. He looked absolutely pissed at his new colors. As he turned his head slowly at me, he had good reason to be. With a paw to my mouth, I was barely able to hold it in my laughter. He had a turquoise head, neck, and legs with a light blue middle. His eyes, wings, tail, and neck collar were all shades of hot pink.

Scootaloo did the right thing and immediately backed out of the room and to the safety of my mom. Where she then lost it completely. Meanwhile, I was snickering quietly while my body shook because I was trying to hold it in.

"Pink is a great color, just look at me," Pinkie called out from the bed. Even though she looked a little tired, she looked happy as she couldn't help but giggle.

"Yes, don't fret about the colors," Rarity echoed Pinkie's sentiment from her bed. At first, she waved a hoof at my dad with a serious expression. However, that seriousness slowly turned into mirth as she said, "I'm sure those colors just match your colorful personality."

While Pinkie and Rarity were talking, my dad was looking at me with the perfect "Don't you dare" look on his face. Narrowed eyes and everything. What finally did it for me was when he finally growled out softly, "So help me, if you chuckle, chortle, or laugh one time-"

And that's what did it. He's always had a deep voice and hearing that deep voice of his with that bright of a color scheme was what finally did it for me. I lost it with the saddlebags sliding off of me as I couldn't help but laugh at fate's color choice for my dad. Luckily for me, and the potions, Rarity knew what was going to happen, as it has happened before, and levitated the potions away from me right before he tackled me. It may have been in different bodies now but it was the same wrestling that we've always done before. Only this time I couldn't stop laughing. After a couple of minutes of wrestling, he stopped, stood up, and proceeded to stomp his way out of the room with a huff, "Fine then! I'll just stay in my human form if all y'all do is laugh at me." He then got up and morphed back to his human form again, complete with clothes. And then turned around and left the room while I was still chuckling on the floor. After he left, probably to spend time with Mom outside, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo came walking inside.

Sweetie Belle was giggling as she walked up to me and gave me a passionate kiss. "Hey Emmit," she greeted me with a smile as I lay on my back on the floor.

"Hey, Sweetie," returning the kiss with my paws holding her head gently, I greeted her back with a welcoming smile of my own.

"Scootaloo told you about how she wants her first heat with you, so let me tell you mine." She moved to lay on top of me spread eagle, so I was able to wrap all four legs and tails around her. "In the clubhouse," she said softly while moving her body ever so slightly to let her lower lips spread over my sheath. "The same place as our first time will be the first time with me in heat. In your human form because I love your hands and love watching you go inside me."

"I'll try and make the most special and memorable time," I told her before our lips met in another kiss.

"And as wonderful as that is," Rarity teased and only paused to wince when a contraction hit, "you have a wife and a herd mare to take care of."

"Quite right," I told them happily while uncurling my tails and legs from around Sweetie Belle. I got up from the floor after Sweetie got off of me while looking reluctantly I might add, and walked between Pinkie and Rarity's bed with the potions. "I've got the potions right here to help you both through the birth," I said to them while levitating the potions over and setting them down against the wall by the head of their beds. "Fluttershy drank hers about an hour or so before she started giving birth. Which means we'll wait about another couple of hours before drinking yours." Then kissed them both, one after the other, "How are you two doing?"

"They should give birth soon, sire," the doctor walked in with a smile on her face. The same unicorn doctor that took care of Fluttershy walked in looking at me with a teasing, but joyful, glint in her eyes. "Expanding your family I see."

"Oh there will be more to come after this year's heat," Pinkie gave away with a gleeful giggle before wincing as her contraction hit her. "Twilight and Luna are planning to get pregnant this year."

"Is that right, sire?" the doctor looked over at me with mischief in her eyes as she sashayed her way up to me.

"We will as well, someday," Sweetie Belle spoke up, blushing as she walked over to Rarity's bed.

"Just not right now though," Scootaloo added as she walked past the doctor to stand beside me.

"I think that it is wise for you to wait," the doctor smiled at them both.

Rarity reached over to rub Sweetie's cheek, "Oh I agree completely. She, Scootaloo, and Apple Bloom are not ready for motherhood just yet." Then I watched Rarity reach out to me. There was joy in her eyes as I grabbed her hoof with a paw, looking deeply into her eyes with joy of my own. "I am ready, however, to be the mother of our foal."

"I am too," Pinkie echoed Rarity's loving sentiment and also reached out to me. So, I took her hoof with my other paw and looked over at her with love as well.

^_^

(Twilight's POV)

"With my talks with Celestia and Fluttershy plus all the research, I've been able to confirm that there is less pain with Zecora's strength potion than without." I was with Luna as we walked down the hallway toward the Ponyville teleportation room. I had woken her up early, so we could be with Pinkie and Rarity as they gave birth. The reassuring smile I gave to Luna was more for my benefit than hers. "So, it's comforting that the pain will not only be short but lessened because of Zecora's potion."

"Indeed," she agreed with a nod of her head as we walked into the teleportation room. "But as the mothers Tia has spoken to has said, the pain of birth is temporary but the joy of motherhood lasts a lifetime." Luna paused to smirk at me while we approached the rune circle. "Or in our case, multiple lifetimes."

"Which led me to wonder how long will our foals live? Will we outlive them? Will they live long lives as us because they have a powerful father and mother, in Alicorn cases?" I paused long enough to step into the rune circle with Luna and wait for it to teleport us to Ponyville just outside of our herd community before continuing. "Because I've found out, through asking the parents of Ponyville, that all parents want their foals to outlive them. And the parents are heartbroken and torn with grief if their foals die before they do. Which led to my previous questions and the impact that it would have on Celestia, you, and I." After emerging in Ponyville I followed Luna's lead, spread my wings, and flew off alongside of her as we flew toward Ponyville Hospital.

"I have not thought of these questions," Luna mused as we glided over the city in the early evening with the sun hanging low in the sky above. "However, should those questions not be better for another time? Further, do those questions and the possibilities change your mind on becoming a mother?"

As we flew over the center of town, my mind mulled over that question as Derpy unexpectedly flew up beside us. "Hi Twilight, hi Princess Luna," Derpy greeted happily with a wide smile. "Word around town is that Pinkie Pie and Rarity are giving birth at the hospital. It's my last stop for the mail today, so how are they doing?"

"Hi, Derpy," I greeted with a smile of my own and a wave of a hoof.

"Greetings, Miss Derpy," Luna greeted as well.

"Yes, they are in labor right now and we want to be there," I continued as it came across my mind to ask her the same questions. "Considering we are wanting to be mothers we wanted to see how painful the birth is."

"Oh yes, it's painful," she responded with a shutter and a wince but returned to the happy smile that she's known for. "But I forgot about all that pain after seeing my precious Dinky for the first time. To hold her in my hooves for the first time." As we got near the hospital the three of us angled down for a landing. As we did, I kept my eye on Derpy because she's known for rough landings due to her lazy eyes. "I couldn't be happier to have her in my life." As we began to land in front of the hospital, it was clear that she was about to crash again, so I used magic to help her land safely. "Thanks, Twilight," she gave me a sheepish thankful smile, "these eyes of mine make for hard landings, fly into things, knock over things in the house, etcetera."

"You're welcome," I said to her. "But can I ask you something?" After she gave me a nod, I asked her, "Because Luna, Celestia, and I are Alicorns, we will live long lives and therefore possibly outlive our foals. If you knew that something would happen to your daughter that would have her die before you did, would you still choose to have your daughter? Or not have her to save you from the grief of losing her?"

Derpy's mouth hung open with her head tilted to one side in confusion, with some shock thrown in, due to the question. A couple of minutes went by as she closed her mouth in thought. "I've never thought about it," she said at last as we stood in front of the hospital. "Life isn't fair, Twilight. I'm an example of that. I used to be a good flier until my eyesight went to Tartarus. So, sure, something could happen to my daughter. That's a fact of life. I would rather have her in my life, for however long I'll have her, than not have her in my life."

"Better to have loved and lost than not have loved at all," I whispered after a couple of seconds of thought about her answer. That got them both looking at me, wondering about what I said. I shook my head with a smirk, "Something that Emmit said once a while back that finally starts to make sense. Even if something happens to our foals, or if we do outlive our foals, we are still better ponies because of the foals in our lives. The family and herd that we have make us better ponies. Therefore, the opposite is also true. We would lose that part of ourselves if it never came to pass. We would lose the lessons we would learn. The love that we would have for our foals and herd sisters." My heart seemed to swell and felt like a lead weight was taken off my shoulders. Enough, to step up to Derpy and pull her into a hug. "Thank you, Derpy."

"You're welcome, Twilight," Derpy said quietly as she hugged me back. "But what did I do?" she asked after pulling away from me.

"For answering my questions and helping me get over a worry that my overthinking mind couldn't get rid of," I smiled at her. "I just had these worries that I just couldn't get rid of and you helped me with that."

"Oh, ok. Glad I could help. And thanks again for helping me land because I've got mail to deliver." After thanking me again, she turned and walked into the hospital. With a smile at Luna, we both walked into the hospital after her, through the front waiting area slash foyer, past the front counter, and to the stairs. After exiting the staircase and onto the second floor and turning to the East Wing, the first thing Luna and I spotted Pinkie's family. And not just Maud either, but apparently the whole family. And not just Pinkie's family but Rarity's parents as well. They were sitting in a smaller waiting area near the stairs and the second floor nurse's station.

"Greetings to the Pie family and Rarity's parents," Luna greeted warmly with a smile as we approached them.

"Glad everypony could make it," I added with my own smile.

Naturally, when they saw us they stood and began to bow but it was pleasing to see Luna hold up a hoof in protest. "No, please rise for we are all here for Pinkie and Rarity. Such ceremony is not needed."

"It's good to see you all here," I told them as they all stood back up. However, after saying that I noticed that Rarity's parents were looking a little embarrassed.

Rarity's father put a foreleg around his wife as she leaned into him with the same embarrassed look on her face. "We made sure to be here for this considering we couldn't get back in time for Hearth's Warming Eve like we should have."

Rarity's mother was looking just as glum when she added, "We felt bad for a couple of weeks after that, so we made sure to be here for this."

And as if on cue we heard Rarity shout out in pain from down the hallway. "GET THIS FOAL OUT OF ME ALREADY!"

"Pain always loosens the tongue," Pinkie's father mused softly while all of us turned to look down the hallway. The nurses, however, that were carrying on with their duties, paid it no mind as they went from room to room. I watched Igneous' face fell from a smile to a frown as he added, "And breaks hooves." Cloudy, Pinkiie's mother, had an embarrassed blush on her face when she heard that. And it took me a second to realize what he was talking about then smiled at them.

"Celestia broke his paw when it was her time," I said as the memory brought out a light giggle. As we heard Pinkie shout out her pain I began to wonder if his paw, and or paws, would survive this go around. Further wondered if either I or Luna would break his paw as we held onto him.

"For our second foal, he didn't want me to hold his hoof," Cloudy started saying with embarrassed amusement that had a small smile forming on her face. "So, he thought it would be better for me to put my leg around his shoulders. I quickly saw that it wasn't a good idea when I accidentally started choking him."

"Ouch," Rarity's father winced, chuckling a little.

Speaking of ouch, we all heard Pinkie's let out a wailing cry of pain as well.

"And that is something that Luna and I have to look forward to," I commented to them all as my eyes focused on the room down the hallway.

"Indeed," Luna echoed as she stood beside me, "the pain isn't something I look forward to."

"You're too focused on the pain, dears." Luna and I looked at Rarity's mother when she spoke up. She had an understanding smile on her face as she looked at us. "The pain of birth is momentary. Intense, yes but momentary. The joy, and life, of motherhood, are worth the momentary pain. And there's a definite reward to being a grandmother."

"We get to spoil our grandfoals," Pinkie's mother added with amusement in her voice and a wide smile on her face.

"Indeed, thou art quite correct," Luna agreed as she looked back at them. Then looked over at me, "We are focusing on the pain." As if on cue, both Pinkie and Rarity's scream rent the air. All of us suddenly looked down the hallway as Luna's voice, and face, changed to one of uncertainty, "Though it's hard not to."

^_^

Luna and I had a good time with Pinkie's and Rarity's parents as we waited. And talked with them at length about their time as a mother and the joys and hardships that went along with it. Until the maternal ward doctor started walking down the hall toward us.

"Both mothers and the newborn foals are doing fine and recovering," she said to us with a wide happy smile which greatly lifted our spirits. "And because of Zecora's strength potions they are stable and doing well enough for a short visit. However, I do request to make it relatively short."

"Of course, thank you," I told her then she led us down the hall and into their room. Pinkie's parents and sisters surrounded Pinkie's bed while Rarity's parents stood on the other side of Rarity's bed. Knowing what happened with Celestia, I checked Emmit to see if he was alright. He was and sitting on his butt between the beds with a proud and happy grin on his face. One thought came through my mind and a smirk across my face when our eyes met, the proud father. A phrase he told me a while back after telling me how useless he felt during Celestia's and Fluttershy's birth. And an amused giggle started bubbling up within me as I remembered a phrase that Rarity said about the whole thing. He gets all the fun and we mares get all the work.

Because Luna walked up to the foot of Pinkie's bed to check up on her, I walked over to the foot of Rarity's bed to do the same. I could see the exhaustion on her face but there was also a glowing happy new mother smile as well while she held her new foal. "It's a colt," she said dreamily as the newborn colt lay on her chest, wrapped in a soft blanket. "He has his father's yellow coat and white mane and tail the same color as my coat. I can't wait to see what color his eyes are. It would be so wonderful if they were the same color as my hair and tail."

"No wings or horn?" her father asked curiously as he leaned in for a better look.

Rarity slowly shook her head, "No, a simple earth pony. Rear hooves, front paws, and I can guarantee you that he'll eat meat. As much as he demanded that I eat it, that would not be a surprise. And I will raise him to be a real gentlestallion."

"Is yours an earth pony as well?" Luna asked curiously from the foot of Pinkie's bed.

Pinkie had the same tired but new mother happy look on her face as she too held her newborn foal. "Yeah," she said just as dreamily, "he has the same coat color as his father and the same pink color as my own mane and tail."

"Another wonderful addition to the Pie family," we all heard from Igneous as he looked down at his first grandfoal also with a look of pride.

"Of course, he will learn all about his Pie family heritage," one of Pinkie's sister's, Limestone I think her name is, spoke up. However, it was the tone in her voice and the look on her face that was one of cautious warning. A way of telling him that he better do this or face her wrath as she turned her head around to lightly glare at Emmit.

Taking that warning in good stride, he looked over to Pinkie's sister with a light glare of his own. "Of course he will, Miss Limestone," he told her with a curt nod. "As most everypony here knows, family is very important to me. That is why I want all my foals to grow up in the herd community that we've all established. I may be young yet but even I know that foals needs a stable safe environment with a strong mother and father figure in their lives to grow up in. So, yes he will grow up learning about his Pie heritage. However, he will also learn about his father's heritage and the heritage of his other aunts as well. Where as much as I can, I will educate him, and my other foals, personally."

While watching and listening to the exchange, I noticed that Rarity's son had the same, or at least very close, colors as Blueblood. Just swapped. I don't know if Rarity noticed that or not but we all know that Rarity's son will not grow up like Blueblood. She would never allow her own colt to grow up like that. Which meant that he could turn into quite the stallion. Pinkie's son I couldn't help but wonder about. What aspects of his parents did he inherit? What abilities would he have considering his mother? Would he have his own type of Pinkie sense? Would he be able to just appear out of nowhere at any time and place like Pinkie does? What abilities would he inherit from his father?

You are quiet, came Luna's telepathic voice. Taking a glance over at her, she had turned toward me and just started slowly stepping over to Rarity's bed.

I gave her a small thoughtful smile. Just in thought. While telepathically speaking to her, I returned my gaze to Rarity's new foal. Just wondering about things. I noticed that Rarity's foal colors is just like Blueblood's, just reversed. Of course, we all know that Rarity and Emmit would never allow their colt to grow up like him. What abilities would he inherit? What abilities Pinkie's new foal will inherit? Happy that Emmit is so determined to educate his foals himself as much as he can. What my own foal will look like and what abilities he or she will have? Those kind of things.

Luna came to sit beside me as we looked at Rarity and her drooping eyes. She was quickly falling asleep as the toil of the birth started taking its toll. I had the feeling that Pinkie was quickly falling asleep as well. Because of this, the conversations were quickly winding down as it became evident.

Indeed, Luna agreed, such thoughts have run through my mind as well. What my foal would look like? What abilities would he or she have? But after seeing the look on Pinkie's face and on Rarity's face at seeing their own newborn foals, I've realized that it is something that I'm looking forward to.

A smile spread across my face when I heard that, especially after seeing the look on her face as she looked down at the newborn foal. It was a look that my heart echoed. Me too, I agreed as my eyes also looked down at the newborn foal. I am, too. As I've interacted with my niece and watched little Solar and Fluttershy's foals, my heart seems to swell at the thought of my own foal in my hooves. Our eyes met with knowing smiles on our faces as we both realized the same thing. It's something that I want as well. That we can all help raise these foals as a herd community.

Luna acknowledged that with a slow nod of her head, As a herd we will be there for each other and our foals.