Manual Labor

by Rahheemme

Rating: teen
Tags: Profanity, Fluttershy, Slice of Life, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Rainbow Dash, Drama
Length: 4942

Applejack's labor has started and it's up to her friends to help her through it.

Applejack is in labor on the farm and insists on having her foal the old-fashioned way. Rainbow Dash is the only one with first-hand experience and has to coach her stubborn friend through the process as best she can. Slight, distant sequel to my story Not So Secret.

Published 2020-09-01 00:40:00 UTC
Last updated 2020-09-01 00:40:00 UTC

Farm Work

Rainbow Dash’s third cup of coffee that morning was a mistake.

Hoping it would give her the energy to rush across town at the speed of light, all it did was give her the jitters and made her nauseous when she flew too fast. After wolfing down a bagel to settle her stomach, she glided low to the ground in a straight line, stopping every few minutes to make sure she wasn’t going to throw up. No matter what, Dash couldn’t turn around. She had places to be and scarcely little time to get there.

Once she’d passed over downtown Ponyville, Dash’s stomach had settled enough that she could comfortably pick up the pace, catching an updraft and gliding just below cloud level over the isolated cabins and small farms on the outskirts of town. Beneath her, the occasional clusters of trees suddenly became neat, orderly rowsstretching across acres of rolling hills. Dash furrowed her brow and squinted against the cold air as she picked up a burst of speed, hurtling across the sky like she’d been launched from a catapult.

In the center of the orchard was the farmhouse, looking quaintly miniature from the air. There were a pair of dots on the front lawn, directly below Dash; one yellow, one orange. With a risky maneuver the pegasus had become an expert at, she made a quick upward turn, faced the ground, then tucked her wings to her sides and dropped out the sky like a stone. The green lawn rushed closer by the second, filling her vision as her eyes watered. With only a few feet to spare, Dash quickly extended her powerful wings, catching herself with a loud whumph. She hit the ground with all four hooves at once, the impact traveling up her legs and into her spine. With a sigh, Dash tossed her mane and caught her breath.

“Well ain’t you a show-off?” Applejack was pacing in the center of the lawn, teetering awkwardly through the grass. She was trying to sound casual, but the strain in her voice was impossible to hide, as was the discomfort on her face. It took an incredible amount of pain before AJ showed it.

“Falling’s faster than flying, y’know?” Dash said, just as casually. She made an effort not to stare, but found it was harder not to look.

Applejack’s pregnancy had reached levels where she was more belly than mare. It swelled out to either side of her barrel, visibly wobbling with every step she took, and looked tight as a drum. Dash thought she’d gotten uncomfortably large with her own foal, but AJ had her beat. She winced in sympathetic pain, remembering how it felt to carry that kind of weight around. Dash hadn’t even made it to full term.

“Good thing you’re ‘bout as good at fallin’ as you are-” Applejack stopped pacing and gritted her teeth, ducking her head down beneath her hat as a ripple of tension shook across her belly. She stomped a hoof into the dirt and muttered under her breath. “Boy, I swear, you’re ‘bout to be the death of me…”

“You, uh, you doing okay?” Dash asked, biting her lip.

“For the hundredth dang time, I’m fine!” Applejack snapped, clearly still in pain. “I told y’all not to fuss over me, didn’t I?This ain’t nothin’ to burn the damn barn over.”

You won’t be saying that by the end of this, thought Dash, though she bit her tongue and kept that little jab to herself. She could make fun of AJ more than enough after the foal was born.

“Do me a favor, go check up on Fluttershy, wouldja?” Applejack added, gesturing to the side of the house. “I’m startin’ to think she got lost somewhere.”

“Sure, no problem.” Dash trotted backward toward where AJ was pointing. “Just…keep it together, okay?”

“Not sure that’s up to me,” said Applejack as she sighed and stroked her belly with a hoof. “Hurry back, alright?”

Dash rounded the house and spotted Fluttershy at the far end of the back yard, talking to herself and groaning. She was struggling with the metal water pump sticking out the ground, standing on her back legs and trying desperately to pull down on the lever. A metal bucket was on the ground just below the mouth of the pump.

“Come on…come on Fluttershy, you can...nngh...you can do this. You…can…do...thiiiiis!” Fluttershy briefly left the ground and dangled from the lever like a squirrel, her wings flapping impotently. It still did not budge. Dash quietly approached from behind and put one of her hooves on the lever, pushing it down easily. A rush of clear, sparkling well water gushed out of the pump and landed in the bucket.

“There!” shouted Fluttershy excitedly before falling on her back. From the ground, she met eyes with Dash and froze. “Oh. Um…thank you.”

“You loosened it,” Dash said with a smirk. She helped Fluttershy to her hooves and took over the pump herself. “So, how’s she doing?”

“Labor started yesterday afternoon, but it could’ve been earlier. You know how she is.”

“Oh yeah, that kid’s totally coming out today,” Dash nodded, grunting a little as she pushed down on the pump. With the bucket nearly full, she carried it with the handle in her teeth back to the front yard as Fluttershy followed.

“I got here last night just to make sure she got some sleep. She still wants to go out and take care of things, even now.”

“Obviouthly,” Dash said with the bucket in her mouth. “How long doeth schee habve?”

“I’d be surprised if her water doesn’t break sometime in the next hour.”

“Uhour?” Dash stopped and put down the bucket, sloshing water on her legs. “Shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?”

“Oh no, she wanted to have the baby here. She’s veryserious about it.”

“No offense ‘Shy, you know what you’re doin’ when it comes to animals and stuff, but we gotta make sure she’s got a pro around.”

“But we do!” Fluttershy said brightly, her wings twitching. “I’m a registered midwife, now!”

“What? When did that happen?”

“Well, when you had your little…um…scare on the day Silver Dart was born, I thought it would be a good idea if one of us could help if something like that happened again.”

“So…you got certified ‘cause of me?”

“Um…s-sort of.”

Dash cleared her throat and rubbed the back of her head. “Glad…I could help? I guess?”

They carried the bucket of water to the front yard, where Applejack was waddling back and forth, taking deep, chest-filling breaths. When she spotted Dash carrying the bucket, she let out a relieved sigh and trotted toward them as fast as she could while carrying a fully-grown foal. Before Dash could say anything, Applejack tossed her hat aside and dunked her entire head in the bucket, splashing the grass around it and soaking her mane.

“Maybe we will have to boil that, after all…” Fluttershy said, frowning.

“Gahh! Sorry, y’all,” Applejack said, jerking her head back once half the water was gone. Dash got some in her eye and rubbed it with the back of her leg. “I’m out here sweatin’ like a show pony in church. Got me all dehydrated.”

“You’re gonna need as much water as you can get,” Dash nodded. “Trust me.”

“I’ve been drinkin’ like a fish all damn day, don’t you worry.” Applejack returned her hat to her head and absentmindedly touched her belly, flicking her tail. “Tell ya the truth, I’m real glad you’re here, Rainbow.”

“Like I was gonna let you do this alone,” Dash said with a snort. “Even if you didn’t want me to come.”

“We both needed you, really,” added Fluttershy. “You’re the only one of us that’s had a baby before.”

“Even if you did spend the whole damn time pretending you weren’t,” Applejack said with a scowl.

“Huh? I never did that,” said Dash, quickly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You better thank your lucky stars I’m in labor right now,” said AJ as she jabbed Dash in the chest with her hoof. “Speakin’ of babies, where’s your little fella?”

“Silver Dart’s at daycare, but I got Soarin picking him up tonight,” Dash said. She gave Applejack a gentle, friendly nudge. “So I’m not going anywhere.”

“Lucky me,” Applejack said, rolling her eyes. With a sharp gasp, her eyes widened as the tight muscles around her belly clenched with another contraction. Dash was at her side quickly to help her stay on her hooves while Fluttershy spoke to her in easy, measured tones.

“Keep breathing, don’t hold your breath. Just ride it out.”

“Like bein’ caught in a damn vice,” Applejack groaned through her teeth. “Feels like my guts are getting squeezed out.”

“It really sucks,” said Dash. “Like she said, just ride it out. It’ll be over in a minute.”

After a few more tense seconds, Applejack finally relaxed, letting out a long sigh as the contraction passed. She gulped down more of the water, her nose touching the bottom of the bucket, and backed away to pace the front lawn again.

“It don’t hurt so much as long as I keep movin’.”

“That’s why I didn’t even know I was in labor ‘til my cork popped,” Dash said, moving to pace alongside her. She raised a hoof and touched it to the mare’s belly. It was warm and her coat was soft, but the muscles underneath were hard and taut. “Geeze AJ, what kinda freak of nature did you hook up with?”

“Draft horse fella livin’ outside of Wacolt. Nice guy. Young. Put himself out to stud to pay for school. Wanted me to send him pictures when the foal’s born.”

Dash hesitated, frowning to herself as she pulled her hoof away. It wasn’t illegal for a stallion to put himself out to stud – or vice-versa for a mare – but it wasn’t very common. She hadn’t known anybody have a foal that way until Applejack decided she wanted one.

“Draft stallion, huh?” Dash tapped Applejack’s belly gently. “Yep, sure looks like it.”

“Figured it might be good to have another Big Mac around the farm. He ain’t gonna stay young forever.”

Dash stopped and gave her an incredulous look, raising an eyebrow.

“Really? That’s the only reason?”

Applejack paused, her mouth open. After a moment, she glanced back at her middle and her expression softened.

“I guess that fella out in Wacolt wasn’t too bad lookin’, either. And…well…I’m hopin’ he might come out lookin’ a little like my Pa, to tell ya the truth.”

“That’s more like it.”

“Not like I woulda minded if it was a filly, but I’m sure my brother won’t mind havin’ another…” Applejack paused and sniffed the air. “You smell that?”

“Uh-uh.” All Dash could smell was grass and pollen, but she knew from experience how pregnancy heightened the sense of smell.

“Smells like…lightning?” Applejack glanced up at the clear, blue sky. “Like a storm’s comin’ in.”

“Applejack!” Fluttershy called across the lawn, the bucket dangling from her wing. “Do you need any more wa-EEEEEE!”

With a sudden, violent pop, a bright ball of light flashed only feet away from Fluttershy, sending her diving into a bush next to the front porch. When the light faded and Dash rubbed spot from her eyes, she found Twilight standing in a circle of singed grass.

“Oh my Gosh, sorry sorry sorry sorry!” She stammered, flapping her wings in agitation. “I was all the way in Canterlot when I got the news so I had to use a really strong teleportation spell to get here!”

“Oh c’mon, now! Y’all gonna invite the whole town next?” Applejack grumbled. “I told y’all not to make a big deal about this!”

“You’re gonna be the center of attention for a while, AJ, so get used to it,” said Dash.

“Sorry Applejack, I know you probably didn’t want a big audience.” Twilight folded her ears back shyly and kicked the dirt. “I just…thought I should be here.”

“Twi, I didn’t mean to…” AJ winced again through another contraction and breathed as she waddled across the lawn. “I’m just…nngh…tense, is all. ‘Course I want my friends, here.”

“AJ’s going to be saying a lotta stuff she doesn’t mean,” said Dash. “Don’t take it personally, okay?”

“You do remember I’m right here, dontcha?”

“How are you feeling?” Twilight asked as she approached the two of them. Dash cocked her head and frowned. Had she gotten taller?

“Like I’m a water balloon somebody damn near overfilled,” Applejack grumbled, shifting her weight from side to side. “He ain’t movin’ too much right now, but every time he does I can feel it.”

“You look like an orange,” Rainbow Dash snickered.

“I ain’t too pregnant to kick you, y’know.”

“Well I think you look amazing,” Twilight said, moving to Applejack’s side opposite from Dash.

“Sure, if you wanna call ‘fatter than a summertime tick’ amazing.”

“You don’t look fat! You look…motherly. Full of life.”

“Fat,” said Dash. “But like, in a good way.”

“Rainbow, I swear to God…”

“Is the foal moving?” Twilight said, quickly. She put a hoof gingerly to Applejack’s side.

“Just a little bit, further back.” She directed Twilight to feel closer toward her flank and farther down, where the foal had very clearly dropped. The three of them held still for a few moments, watching Twilight’s hoof against her friend’s belly. After a few seconds, Twilight let out an excited squeal and pulled her hoof back.

“I felt him! I felt him! Ohhh, this is so exciting!”

“Glad y’all are havin’ a good time,” Applejack grumbled.

“If you need something for the pain, I know a few spells that could help.”

“No thanks, I got this handled.”

“Uh, you sure about that, AJ?” Dash asked, raising her eyebrows.

“Look, Granny Smith had my Pa right here on this orchard. My mama did it three timesand neither of them needed magic.”

“But neither of them were friends with a magicalalicorn princess, were they?”

“You ain’t the one givin’ birth this time, Rainbow. I’m doingthis my way.”

“Ugh, you are so dense!” Dash stomped a hoof into the ground and marched away. If Twilight had been there when her son was born, Dash would’ve been begging for some pain relief. She knew earth ponies were sturdier than pegasi, but she didn’t see a need for Applejack to put herself through labor pain for no good reason.

While Applejack and Twilight chatted, Dash approached Fluttershy, who was still picking twigs and leaves out of her mane.

“Anyone else coming?” Dash asked.

“Well, Pinkie Pie was out of town this week, and Rarity is looking after Apple Bloom in town. She said she would come later but…”

“C’mon, you really think Rarity is gonna be here to watch a birth?” Dash said with a chuckle. “She’ll be here as soon as we tell her it’s over.”

“Too many ponies around might be a bad thing. We don’t want to put any extra stress on Applejack.”

“Probably a good idea.” Dash glanced over her shoulder and watched Applejack walk a few paces away from Twilight, clearing riding out another contraction. “It’s gotta be soon, right?”

“Well, with how close her contractions are, I think the foal will start coming any time between noon or-”

The pair of them jumped as Applejack let out a loud, pained cry in the middle of the lawn. She clenched her teeth and raised her tail as a sudden gush of fluid burst from underneath it, soaking the grass beneath her hooves.

“Or…now,” Fluttershy said, quietly.

“Alright, look alive! We’re in the home stretch here!” Dash shouted in a commanding voice while flapping her wings and gliding across the lawn.

“What was that? What happened? What’s goin’ on?” Applejack said, turning in a small circle while trying and failing to look past her own belly.

“Your water just broke,” said Twilight, gently trying to steady her.

“…Oh.” She blinked, then furrowed her brow. “Huh. Doesn’t feel too bad, actually. Kinda nice now all that pressure is-” Applejack’s eyes widened and she gasped, nearly collapsing against Twilight. “Oooohhh my God…”

“Hang on, Applejack! We’re here, we’re right here,” stammered Twilight, clearly well out of her element.

“Ain’t no hangin’ on,” Applejack groaned, sinking to the grass. “He’s coming now.”

“He’s probably just starting to engage in the birth canal,” Fluttershy said in a calm, clinical voice. “You aren’t quite ready to push yet, so resist the urge.”

“Feels like…a damn bowling ball,” the laboring mare groaned through her teeth. She was panting, her breath hot through her nose.

“Deep breaths, AJ,” said Dash, sitting on the ground at her eye level. “C’mon, breathe like you’re running a marathon, okay? Fill your chest.”

Applejack nodded and took deep, deliberate breaths, inhaling through her nose and exhaling through her mouth. She clenched her eyes shut and shuddered.

“He’s moving…I can feel him.”

“I’ll stay with her,” Fluttershy said, sinking to the grass beside Applejack. “Dash, please go get us some more water. Twilight, see if you can find a blanket inside.”

Dash nodded, then snatched the bucket off the ground before taking to the air and zooming up and over the farmhouse. She was back in record time, the bucket brimming. Applejack was lying on her side in the grass, her belly rising and falling with her carefully measured breathing. Fluttershy was beside her, stroking her mane and giving her calm instructions.

“God da watuhr,” Dash said with the bucket in her mouth before dropping it to the grass. Applejack sat up just enough to drink a few more long gulps, then flopped back on her side.

“This ain’t gonna be fun, is it?” she asked Rainbow Dash.

Dash hesitated for a moment, then sighed.

“It’s gonna suck,” she said. Then, with a shrug, she added, “But you can handle it.”

Applejack paused her breathing as a twinkle of resolve appeared in her eye. Taking one more steadying breath, she clenched her teeth and nodded.

“That’s more like it,” Dash chuckled.

“I have a blanket!” shouted Twilight as she burst from the front door of the farmhouse, carrying an old quilt through the air by magic.

“Not that one!” Applejack yelled back, sitting up slightly. “Granny Smith made that! Go get the-”

“Sorry! Sorry, I’ll go- I’ll just- Um…” Twilight shuffled in place, releasing her magic and letting the quilt fall into the grass.

“No, don’t put it on the ground!”

“Um, okay! Sorry! I’ll- Uh- Hang on! I’ll be right back!” With another flash and pop, Twilight vanished, leaving behind another circle of smoking lawn.

“Granny’ll kill me if that thing gets dirty,” Applejack sighed, flopping on the grass.

“I think that should be the last thing on your mind, AJ,” Dash said.

A minute later, Twilight reappeared in the same spot with a blanket of lush, rolling fabric the color of the night sky draped over her shoulders.

“I’m back! Had to grab this from my bed at the castle.”

“Wait, I’ve seen that before,” said Applejack. “That was coronation gift, wasn’t it?”

“I think so. From Princess Luna, if I remember correctly.”

“I ain’t givin’ birth on that!” she shouted. “That thing’s more expensive than the whole damn farm! Go get me a towel or-” Applejack stopped, clenching her teeth and groaning through another contraction. “Oh whatever!”

The three of them helped Applejack carefully too her hooves, then walked her onto the blanket after stretching it out across the grass. Twilight flash-boiled the bucket of water and helped Fluttershy sterilize some towels while Dash stayed with Applejack.

“You still wanna do this all-natural?” she asked.

“Yep,” Applejack mumbled, stroking her belly. “Best way to start him out strong.”

“That’s stupid. It doesn’t make a difference as long as he’s born.”

“Call me superstitious, then.” Applejack looked down at herself. “For him, it’s worth it.”

“You got a name yet? Took me until Dart started crawling to even think of one.”

“I’ve had one ready,” Applejack said. “Cortland.”

Rainbow Dash paused. “…Is that a-”

“Yes, it’s an apple.”

“Gotcha. I guess there’s already a Big Macintosh, now there’s a Little Cortland.”

“Oh, there ain’t nothin’ little about him,” Applejack grumbled, smoothing a hoof around her bulging middle.

“Okay Applejack, we’re all ready,” Fluttershy said as she hovered across the grass. She was wearing a white saddlebag with a red plus-sign on the side as she settled just below Applejack’s tail. “This might be…um…a little uncomfortable.”

“Whatcha doin’ back there?” Applejack asked, straining to try and look over her own stomach. “Don’t do anything crazy without tellin’ me- Oh!”

“You look almost fully dilated,” said Fluttershy. “You’ll have one more contraction, then you’re ready to push.”

“Good Lord,” she sighed, flopping onto her side and looking at the sky. “I’m layin’ here on my front lawn givin’ birth. This don’t even feel real.”

“I doesn’t really hit you ‘til you’re holding him,” Dash nodded. “You don’t even realize what you did until it’s already done, y’know?”

“Don’t even really feel like I’m doin’ anything. More like my body’s doin’ it for me.”

She tensed again, her belly clenching hard under another contraction. This time, Applejack didn’t keep her pained groans under her breath and instead cried out loud enough to echo across the orchard. It was fortunate they didn’t have any close neighbors, but Dash still kept an eye on the sky to make sure there were any curious pegasi fluttering around.

“You’re ready,” said Fluttershy from somewhere behind. “Start pushing with the next contraction, okay?”

“Finally,” Applejack panted. “Get him outta me.”

“That’s kinda more up to Cortland than you,” Dash said.”

“This boy better be buckin’ apples as soon as he can stand to make this up to me.”

“Are you…sure you don’t want me to do something about the pain?” Twilight asked. Among the four of them, she was the most anxious. “It’s an easy spell, it won’t hurt the foal. There’s even a book in my library about medicinal magic for foaling.”

“I’m sure.”

“AJ doesn’t change her mind when it’s set on something,” Dash said. “Even if it’s something stupid.”

“You don’t got much room to talk, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack smirked. Her eyes suddenly widened before she clenched them shut again, another contraction hitting her.

“You’re ready! Push!” Fluttershy shouted.

Applejack took off her hat and bit down on it before pushing with every muscle in her body, her eyes clenched so tight tears leaked from the corners. Her strained groan was loud and violent, but she managed to keep herself from screaming again. After a few minutes, she let out a gasp and relaxed, her body going limp.

“That was great!” said Fluttershy, cheerfully.

“I…I felt him…” Applejack panted. “He’s startin’ to move…I felt it…”

“I think I can almost see him. His legs will come first, then his head.”

“It’s gonna be feel like it’s taking forever,” Dash said. “But then he comes out all at once at the end. It’s gonna surprise you.”

“I don’t need any surprises today,” Applejack sighed.

For the rest of the hour, Applejack had six more contractions, each one pushing the foal a little farther through her body. Fluttershy kept the rest of them updated and watched for any tearing or strain, but was assuring them the birth was going well. Twilight mostly worked as Fluttershy’s assistant, keeping the bucket of water full and the towels freshly cleaned. Dash stayed close by Applejack, talking her around the pain and coaching her through contractions.

The noon sun was high above them and burning bright. Dash had left momentarily to push in little cloud cover, but realized she had picked the wrong time to step away. When she returned, Applejack was weeping like Dash had never seen her do, struggling on the blanket and kicking her legs impotently against the grass. Twilight was trying to comfort her, but didn’t seem to be doing much good.

“I can’t…I can’t do this…It’s too much, I can’t…Y’all, I can’t do this…” Applejack wailed, her eyes clenched shut as the labor pains overtook her. “I can’t…I can’t…”

“Yes you can! I know you can do it! You’re so close!” Twilight held Applejack’s hoof, pleading with her. “You’re the strongest pony I’ve ever met, I know you can do it!”

“I can’t…Twi…I can’t, It’s…it’s too much…”

“The legs are out, I can almost see his head,” said Fluttershy. She was trying to stay professional, but Dash could detect a stammer in her voice. “Just a few more.”

“I can’t...I can’t…”

Dash landed beside Twilight as she stepped away and summoned a thick, white book with magic.

“I’m using the pain relief spell, this is too much for her.”

“Hang on,” Dash said, pushing the book away with her wing. “I got this.”

She took a deep breath and put on a scowl before stepping forward and standing over Applejack.

“I never realized your Granny raised such a wimp.”

The shock was just enough to make Applejack snap her eyes open and forget her pain for the moment.

“Look at you, you’re crying more than your own baby! Your mom went through this three times and you can’t even do it once? Are you sure you’re one of the Apple family?”

“I ain’t no wimp,” Applejack panted.

“You sure sound like one. ‘I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.’ Well I can’t listen to you complain anymore!”

“Rainbow, what are you doing?” Twilight hissed. Dash fanned her wings to keep her away, making sure she was the only one in Applejack’s line of sight.

“I ain’t complaining,” Applejack said, her voice turning into a snarl. “And I told you I ain’t no wimp.”

“You wanna prove it? Or are you just gonna sit there and cry some more?”

Applejack glared, then clenched her teeth and hefted herself to her hooves to look Dash in the eye.

“You think you’re better’n me?”

“I got a three year old to prove it,” Dash said, haughtily. “I got through four hours of labor and you’re already crying after one.”

“Oh yeah? You did it in a hospital while pumped fulla drugs. I think you’re the one with somethin’ to prove.”

“Betcha ten bits you can’t finish in twenty minutes.”

“You’re on.”

With her eyes still locked onto Dash’s, Applejack stomped her hooves into the dirt and pushed through the next contraction while standing up, sweat beading down her neck and soaking her mane.

“I can see the head!” Fluttershy shouted. When the contraction passed, Applejack was still on her hooves.

“You ready to pay up?” she huffed.

“Hey, let’s make it fifty bits,” Dash said with a grin. “I could use the cash and I know you’re good for it.”

“Deal. You ‘bout to be paying for a whole lotta diapers.”

“Guess that’s up to you, huh?”

Applejack clenched her teeth again, spread her legs wide, then growled as she pushed through another contraction.

“T-Twilight?” Fluttershy called. “We’re going to need some more towels. And a bassinet. Soon.”

“Double or nothin’,” Applejack groaned. “He’ll be out on the next contraction.”

“I’ll take that,” said Dash. “I like the odds.”

“Not for long.” Applejack drank three large gulps of water, put her hat back on her head, and leaned against Rainbow Dash as the next contraction came. She pushed, harder than ever before witha roar in her throat.Suddenly, shewent slack against Dash as the wet, gurgling cry of a brand-new voice split the air, carrying far over his family’s farm.

“He’s out!” Fluttershy shouted over the foal’s wailing. “He’s out! He’s here!”

“Oh thank God,” Applejack sighed, collapsing to the blanket and catching her breath.

“Guess I owe you some money,” Dash said with a grin.

“Damn right.”

“Just getting him all cleaned up!” Fluttershy said as she handed a small, squirming bundle to Applejack. He was a stocky little colt with a dark-red coat that looked nearly purple and a platinum blonde mane that looked almost pure white. Cortland snuffled and fussed, but as Applejack pulled him closer, he squinted open his eyes and looked up at his mother in something like shock, like greeting the sun for the first time. Applejack herself had a similar look on his face.

“I just had a foal,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “I just had a baby.”

“Surprise! You’re a mom now,” Dash cackled, nudging her friend in the shoulder. “Toldja. It all hits you at once.”

“You ain’t wrong.” Applejack folded back the towels to get a full look at her newborn son. “He’s…perfect. He’s actual, for-real, no-fooling perfect.”

“He’s alright,” Dash nodded. “I think mine’s better, though.”

“Agree to disagree.” Applejack rolled onto her side and pulled the foal close to her, her nose touching his. Dash and Twilight backed away to give the new mother some time alone.

“Dash, you saidhorrible things to her!” Twilight hissed once they were out of earshot. “Why did you do that?”

“You obviously never played sports like we did,” Dash chuckled. “Sometimes your coach needs to be kind of a jerk to make you bring out your A-game, y’know?”

“Remind me not to invite you into the delivery room if I ever have a foal,” Twilight said, flatly.

“How come? AJ’s got a new baby and I’m out a hundred bits. I think she made out pretty good.”

“I’m impressed,” said Twilight. “She managed unassisted labor without any doctors and no painkillers. All at home, too. That’s a real accomplishment.”

“Eh,” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Mine was better.”