A day has gone by since Zack has finally given birth, although the occasion was far from anything to be celebrated. As it turned out, instead of having a foal developing within her body, it was instead an egg sack that housed an in-breed changeling larva. The egg sack grew too much for the pale purple alicorns womb to contain, so in effort to remove it, Zack’s body actually tried to expel the egg sack from the alicorn, however the sack was too big to be pushed out. And only ended up getting stuck in her vaginal canal, where it caused an insurmountable amount of pain to the alicorn.

Thankfully, Rarity and Fluttershy stumbled upon Zack in the midst of her pain, and rushed her to the hospital, where the doctor and nurses had to perform a c-section surgy on the alicorn, or else risk irreparable damage to the alicorns body. A few hours later and the operation was over and done with, and luckily Zack was in no life threatening state, but the whole experience was very draining for the poor alicorn. Both physically and mentally.

And as for the egg and the changeling nymph inside it, it unfortunately wasn’t as lucky as to survive the overall venture. Once it was removed the egg sack seemed to have deflated, as precious fluids were trickling out of it, and the inborn…it wasn’t salvageable. Not only did it loose the fluids that keep it sustain, but it’s overall physiology was compromised, as it was an inbreed changeling larva with some aspects of a pony foal. Even if the egg sack was able to be extracted, there would’ve been no guaranteed that the inborn offspring would even survive an hour after hatching.

For the time being Zack is being kept at the hospital, as the doctor and head nurse that operated on her wanted to make sure she was physically alright, while also having a psychiatrist check on the mare’s mental state. As for Zack’s friends, when Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash came back to Ponyville and went to go see the others, they were all told what has happened to Zack and what kind of state she’s in right now. After they were told what happened the three mares, as well as the others, ventured to the hospital to see how Zack was doing. When they got to the hospital and visited her, Zack seemed a little better from when Twilight and the others saw the day before, but she still looked worn-out, and very tired. But she seems to be alright otherwise, and according to her doctor she seems physically fine.

As for her psychiatrist…

“I would advise keeping a close eye on your friend Zack.” the older red earth pony mare said to the group in her office, while they sit or stand by the couch, while she sits at her desk.

“I’m not fully aware of what is going on in her life, but that mare has certainly been put through the ringer. She hides it well, but I can tell she has some deep seeded anxiety.” The mare looked at the group with a very concerned look as she adjust the glasses resting on her nose.

“And with this recent event of a childbirth, I suspect that this will only worsen her condition and lead to some self-destructive habits.” The entire group looked at each other with worried looks.

“But thankfully she’s tough, but even strong willed ponies have a limit. So when she’s discharged from the hospital I want all of you to keep an eye on her, and help her if she has an episode.”

“You can count on us to keep an eye on her.” Thorax said in a protective manner, followed quickly by the others.

“That’s good to hear.”

After the talk with the psychiatrist the group left the mare’s office, and decided to go visit Zack before they leave. Except for Pinkie Pie. When the group left the psychiatrist’s office, the pink mare deviated from the group and headed down the opposite end of the hall, and when her friends asked where she was going the pink pony didn’t say anything. And just continued to trot away from the group till she rounded a corner, leaving the others confused on to what she was up to. continuing on to go see their friend the group trotted through the hallways, and reached Zack’s room where they found Zack being checked on by a nurse, who seems to be examining the alicorns lower body, while also jotting down something on a clipboard.

“The scar seems to be healing quite nicely miss. Zack, and your charts show that you are showing no side-effects from the miscarriage, but I’d still advise you to not exert yourself for a few days when you get discharged.” The nurse said as she finishes writing something on her clipboard.

“Thanks Cold Heart.” The nurse nodded to Zack’s compliment before looking over to the door, and spotting the crowed standing by it. Zack looked over to door and gave a small smile to the group. “Hi guys.”

“Hey Zack, we came to see you again before leaving for the day.” Rainbow said as she and the others approached the bed, while the nurse gives them all a nod before leaving the room.

“So how are you doing?” Starlight asked as she and the others stood around the bed.

“I’m on pain meds right now, so I can’t feel much. but I’m pretty sure that I’m sore all over down there.” Zack’s face then shifted from a tired neutral expression, to a more curious one as her eyes looked over the group. “Where’s our social butterfly Pinkie?”

“She was with us a while ago when we were talking with your psychiatrist, but once we were don talking with her, Pinkie wandered off.” Twilight said to her look a-like.

“But I’m sure she’ll turn up eventually, probably when you at least expect it.” Zack gave a small chuckle to Twilight’s hunch about the group’s wild card member.

“Well I just hope she doesn’t give me a heart attack with whatever little surprise she has, I’m not used to her full weirdness yet.” The others chuckled in response to Zack’s little jab to Pinkie’s weirdness.

“So aside from Pinkie, what did you guys talk to my therapist about?”

“She asked us to keep an eye on you and make sure that your anxiety doesn’t get any worse.” Spike said as the little dragonling crawled onto the bed. “She said she noticed that you’re really worked up, or something along those lines, and that this…birth…may have pushed you to your limits.” Zack gave a very exaggerated tired sigh as she slumps more into the bed, while a very, very, VERY exhausted, and almost dead-like expression took over her face.

“…a lot of has happened in this one month and half that I’ve been in world Spike, a lot of stuff…and I am very tired of everything Spike.” The mare closed her eyes, looking ever more like a dead body as she laid their on the bed.

“I could use a break from, everything.” Zack muttered, but was still loud enough for the others to hear. Zack then opened her eyes and looked at the small dragonling, and the other ponies

“If I was on Earth I would just go out to one my favorite camping spots, just get away from everything and relax…but here…I don’t know what could be around the corner that could mess with me. and its only worse with Chrysalis still on a run.”

“We’ll never let that sow get anywhere close to you!” Twilight practically shouted as she stomped her hooves on the ground, cracking the floor, and scarring not only Zack, but the others in the room as well.

“I know that your time in our world has been nothing but heartache, and I know we promised to help you have a peaceful life here…” Twilight then approached her doppelganger and wrapped her in a hug, surprising the pale purple alicorn.

“And we WILL keep that promise Zack. You’ve suffered enough in your short time here in Equestria, so believe me when I say that me and friends will ensure that you have a peaceful life.” The rest of the group around the bed all gave a firm nod, as they each placed a hoof on the bed, and giving the mat a gentle pat. As for Zack, she seemed unsure for a moment, but a small smile slowly started to creep onto her muzzle.

“…I apricate it Twilight.”

The two alicorns remained in their embrace for another minute before breaking it. for the next hour Twilight and her friends continued to talk with Zack, making sure that she stays in a good mood. Once the hour was up Twilight and her friends had to leave, as they did have to get back to their livelihoods and work, but the only one that didn’t leave was Thorax as he really didn’t have anything to work, or study for. which was fine by Zack, and Thorax himself.

“Are you sure you’re really alright Zack?” Thorax asked after the pair sat in silence for a bit after everyone left the room.

“For the most part, I’m just exhausted Thorax. Tired. And little unsure what my odds staying sane in this world is.” The alicorn then gives out a very exaggerated sigh as she lays in the bed. “I’ve been killed, lied to, toyed with, tortured, mind slaved, and I just had a miscarriage with my balls and dick nearly getting cut off in the process. I’m actually starting to think it will be safer to just turn into a shut-in, and never leave my room.”

“You can’t really mean that Zack?” Thorax responded. But the mare just stayed quite as she shifted in her bed, laying on her side as she looks over to Thorax.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just being paranoid.” Zack muttered as she fluffed a wing. As the pair continued to talk, they were interrupted when they heard soft knocks coming from the rooms door. After hearing the knocking Thorax made his way over to the door, and when he opened it the changeling found Pinkie Pie standing in front of him. with a small box resting on her head.

“Hi Thorax. Is, Zack still awake, or is open for visits?” the pink mare asked.

“Yeah. Come on in.” the changeling said before stepping to the side, allowing Pinkie to trot in and make her way over to the bed.

“Hey Pinkie.” Zack greeted simply.

“Hey.” Pinkie replied back in a pretty, un-characteristic way that both Zack, and Thorax thought would be the norm for the pink mare. When the mare reached the bed she gently pops her head up, causing her mane to bounce the box off, and land perfectly onto the bed.

“Seriously, how in the world do you do that?” Zack asked as she looked up to the baffling mare, to which Pinkie just gives a cutesy chortle as she sits down next to the bed, just as Thorax joins the pair.

“Trade secret.” The pink mare said before her jolly smile shifted to a more neutral expression, but while Pinkie’s expression looks as such to Zack, Thorax was able to see the small wafting waves of dark blue emanating from the mare. Revealing to the changeling that Pinkie was in a rather sad mood.

“So how are you feeling Zack? Alright, good? Somewhere along that line?”

“I honestly don’t know Pinkie, all I know is that I am mentally exhausted from, everything.”

Zack explained to the pink mare as she re-adjusts herself on the bed. Pinkie then outstretched a hoof towards the alicorn, but stopped mid-way before slowly pulling her hoof back. But Zack placed her own hoof onto Pinkie’s while giving the mare a reassured look. Pinkie then reached over to Zack and carefully pulled her into a hug, one that Zack accepts in full, and gives the mare her own hug. Thorax just sat by the two, smiling softly as he started to see the usual colors of happiness and joy start to appear around the mare, eclipsing the blue aura that was still surrounding Pinkie, but not as prominent as it was a moment ago.

“Zack…I know you’ve been having the worst time of your life ever since you were, brought, here. And I know Twilight and the others said that they would help you try to gain some sort of safety, as well as happiness in our world, and that includes me.” the pink mare then separated herself from the alicorn and reached over to the box she deposited onto the bed.

“But the only things I can do is just bake, and throw parties, and just be a wildly chaotic comic relief character. Which I know you don’t really like.”

“Pinkie it’s not that I didn’t like them, it’s just the way you went about doing these things just, baffled and confused me. I mean you ponies have different social norms that I just didn’t want to get to know, because I thought there was a way for me to get back to my world.” Zack said as she tried to comfort the mare from her preconception of the alicorns dislike of herself, and the things that she does.

“So, you don’t hate me, or my, quirks?” the alicorn shook her head before speaking.

“I don’t hate you Pinkie, your just so outgoing and extraverted, and no other way to say this, otherworldly that I just didn’t know how to handle it. didn’t help that I was a massive prick towards you and everyone else.” Pinkie gave a soft smile as she patted Zack’s shoulder.

“I understand. Getting back on topic, I wanted you to know that no matter what happens now, and after you leave the hospital, that I’ll be there to help you. and that if you need anything, just come and see me.”

“Same with me.” Thorax said as he jumped into the conversation, feeling upbeat from the little heartwarming moment that the two ponies were having. And seeing the more vibrant auras of pink hues covering them, showing the changeling just how much better they were both feeling.

“I want to help you feel better, like the way you helped me. so if there is anything I can do for you Zack, just let me and I’ll do whatever I can to help you.” the alicorn gave both Thorax, and Pinkie a bigger smile as started to visibly look more relieved and relaxed.

“Thanks you two, I’ll be sure to take you up on your offers.” Pinkie gave the pale purple pony a wider smile, as well as a little squeak, while Thorax grinned and buzzed his wings.

“Now that we got the touchy moment out of the way, I have something for you Zack.” The pink mare then slid the box in front of Zack before opening it, revealing a perfectly made key lime pie. “I know you said you don’t like sweets, so I tried to make something not too sweet as a ‘Get well’ gift.”

After presenting her gift to the alicorn, Zack used her magic to cut perfect slices before taking one of them in a constructed hand, and gave it a small bite. Both Thorax and Pinkie watch as Zack chewed on the bite she took, and after a few chews a small smile crosses the mare’s muzzle, before she took another bite.

“Not to tart, not to sweet, kind of savory in its own way. Not bad.” The mare said after her second bite before turning to face Pinkie. “Thanks Pinkie.”

The mare simply smiled and ushered Zack to finish the pie. However Zack used more constructed hands to grab two more slices of pie, and offered them to the other two occupants of the room. Thorax and Pinkie graciously accepted their own slices, and began to eat with Zack, while making idle conversation as they ate. The trio continued to talk and eat until the pie was fully gone, and once it was all gone, the doctor that operated on Zack came into the room and said that visiting hours are over for the day and that Zack needs to get some rest. Saying their goodbyes Thorax and Pinkie left Zack, while the doctor does one final check up on the alicorn for the day. Once the doctor was done with his assessment, he gave Zack a pleasant farewell before leaving, letting the mare get comfortable in her bed before starting to slowly drift off to sleep.

Author's Note

okay now i know Vol. 3 has had some sweet moments, with a touch of still lingering pain. and we just had another episode of pain for Zack, but fear not! the rest of Vol. 3 will be nothing but warm feels, good humor, and the ponies trying to help Zack feel safer in their world.