Everything moved by in a blink of an eye. The walls blew past her in a blur. Sterile, white walls zooming past weren’t exactly the thing she wants to be looking at right now. She couldn’t help but smile though, rubbing her very pregnant belly. The butterflies filling her stomach with anxiety and stress. She heard the rattling of wheels of the stretcher she was on, as they rushed her into one of the birthing rooms.
Melody Heart looked up and immediately felt blinded by the bright light above her. Relax, this is just like a performance in Canterlot.
“Sweetheart, can you hear me?” asked a panicked voice from beside her. She heard the shuffling of ponies around her, and yet couldn’t place a single one but his.
She barely registered the voice of her husband Train Tracks, she could see him right there, always by her side. Seemed like every time she was in trouble, he was always there for her.
“Train…” Melody managed to mutter. She flinched, eyes lidding tightly shut as a surge of pain swept all throughout her body. Their foal was ready to greet the world, and here she was having anxiety, and being a bundle of nerves.
“Ssshhh” Train whispered to her, leaning over her side, and nuzzling her cheek. “You’re gonna do great, just breathe.”
Melody beamed with pride, her lips curling upwards into a soft serene smile, her green eyes looking up into his violet gaze. He stood there by her side, ready to comfort her at a moment’s notice. He was always there, and he was her rock through everything. She felt her heart fluttering all over again, full of memories of all the love they shared with each other.
“You just breathe, and let me do the talking.” Train Tracks insisted, as he took a hold of her hoof into his, and squeezed it tightly. “Just do this if you need too, okay?”
“Okay…” Melody whimpered, and then another jolt shot up her back. She gasped for breath, biting her lips to not scream. As she felt her baby inside of her, wanting to greet the world. Their baby. She lidded her eyes, and basked for just a moment in the memories of how far Train and herself had come. Through all the ups and the downs, Train was always the one thing that kept her believing. And now, she was going to have a foal, one they’d raise together. Side by side, and they’d teach their foal all about the friendship of magic.
The nurse entered the room. Melody could tell she was experienced by the calm, and collected smile upon her lips, as she trotted over to her other side, and immediately checked her forehead to get a feel for how she was feeling, before speaking up.
“Hello there, my name is Nurse Red Heart and I’ll be handling the delivery. Now tell me, how are you feeling?” asked Red Heart as she looked over at her husband for just a brief moment, acknowledging him there, before returning her attention to her.
“I feel like I’m ready,” Melody panted heavily. She visibly flinched, her eyes clasping shut hard and fast as she felt a tremor of pain running all throughout her body. If she wasn’t ready, it wouldn’t matter, their foal was coming.
“Alright, dear, Just need to check a few things and we’ll get started,” Nurse Red Heart instructed her, while briskly walking to the end of the bed, Melody was placed upon. Gently, she helped the pregnant mare to spread out her hindlegs to be in an upright, bent at the knee position. A comfortable and more effective way for the birthing process.
Melody Heart had waited for this moment for twelve long months for this very day. This special event where she’d finally meet her foal, the one she was carrying in her belly. Melody felt it, she could feel her foal pushing towards her exit.
Nurse Red Heart washed her hooves, and put on surgical gloves, as well as offering a pair to the stallion present.
“Here, you might need these,” Red Heart explained, calmly. She knelt by Melody’s hindquarters, able to just barely see the head of the foal popping out. There was an immediate shriek by Melody, as she bucked up in agony, and pain. Red Heart focused on both the mother and the foal.
“Breathe. Take a big deep breath, and then push with all your might. Let’s get this foal out quickly,” Red Heart instructed.
Melody heard her, as the shrill of pain lingered throughout her body. However, no matter how much she had to endure, she would for the sake of the foal. Their baby. She took a deep breath in. It was like in that very moment, the whole world was still around her. She thought of the stage in this instance, and how much she had loved to sing. And this was just another performance. Deep breathe in. Hold it.
Push.
Melody Heart quaked and trembled, as she felt the tremors of shock surging through her as her baby’s head popped out into the open world. She could instantly hear the foal crying. She couldn’t see the foal yet, but just hearing that faint cry, gave her all the strength she’d ever need. She pushed with all her might. Aiming to get her foal out into the world fully, and not just her head. It took more than a few. It took a good few hours, but eventually, their child was out of her womb, and into the forelegs of Nurse Red Heart, and taken to be cleaned and sterilized.
“Congratulations, it’s a beautiful, and healthy unicorn mare,” Nurse Red Heart announced as she hurried to put a diaper onto the little one, and handed her to her mother, so she could see her for the first time.
The unicorn’s mane was a pure snow white, her fur a deep ocean blue with deep violet hues, just like her father.
“She has your eyes, my love,” Melody cooed softly towards Train, giving him a light nuzzle against his snout, before encouraging him to hold his little filly.
Train Tracks beamed wildly, letting out an excited neigh. He immediately reached for the small bundle in his wife’s forelegs, being very careful as he lifted her up. Noticing those big wide violet eyes, they really were just like his. His daughter. He grinned, proud to call her theirs, but realizing quickly, she needed a name.
“Love, we should give our baby a name. We can’t just call her baby after all.” Train chuckled, and rolled his eyes, at the mere thought of such a thing.
“What are we going to call her?” asked Train, gently hoofing her back to Melody. As much as he would’ve loved to hold her forever, it was important for her to be with her mom in these first beginning moments. Though he’d be right there. Like he always was, as the rock that had always held them together.
“Hmm…” Melody pondered aloud. She tilted her head to the side, ever so slightly, as she heard the filly coo, and reach out her forelegs towards her. She looked to her pure white mane.
“She’s as pure as snow. Snow!” Melody called out. “We’ll call her Snow.”
“Just Snow? We should add something. Something...like heart. Yeah Snow Heart. Do you like it, my love?”
“It’s perfect. Snow Heart. Our little unicorn. She’s so beautiful.”
“Just like you.” Train retorted playfully, leaning in and kissing his wife, before leaning in to kiss the top of their filly’s mane. Snow Heart was just a foal, she made gurgly noises, and looked at him, seemingly interested in what he was doing, before trying to grab at his snout with her small forelegs.
“She already acts like you too.” Train teased his beloved wife, before nuzzling Snow Heart once more.
“I’ll let the two of you be, Celestia knows you don’t need me here right now.” Nurse Redheart said, smiling, as she left the room to give the family time to bond with their little one. After all, a moment like this didn’t happen everyday.
There was a lot to do to get ready for Snow Heart’s arrival back to their home in Ponyville, but right now, Melody and Train both nuzzled their little one. At this moment, time almost felt frozen. The love that radiated from both of them, made Snow giggle, and try to reach out more.
She was so small, yet already trying to show what she wanted. She wanted to be close to her daddy, Train Tracks, and Melody couldn’t blame her. Train was the most amazing stallion she had ever known. To think of all those years ago, she had been fleeing from that accident at the tavern, to meeting the love of her life.
Now a new part of their lives was starting, raising their daughter. Teaching her the values and lessons they had learnt over the years. Of course it wouldn’t be easy, but nothing in life ever truly was easy.
“She’s so beautiful.” Train Tracks said, leaning against his wife, and nuzzling her. “She’s just like her mother.”
Melody blushed, and tilted her head to the side. She felt a tremor of pain through her body, and gasped for breath, as she squeezed Snow every so gently, clinging to her. She knew her body would need time to recover. She had just given birth to a beautiful baby girl.
Snow Heart stared back at her mother, her big wide eyes lighting up, as she made noises, and continued to reach up towards Train.
Melody reluctantly hoofed her over, she needed to rest. She closed her eyes, and took a deep breathe in, and then slowly exhaled. She repeated the same gesture, a few more times. Just so she could help soothe herself, as she laid there on the stretcher. It had been a long wait for Snow to be born, and she was glad everything had gone well. She knew not all were so lucky, but she felt utterly blessed by the divine beings of Celestia and Luna for gracing her with not only a husband, but a baby too.
The two took Snow Heart home the next day, allowing Melody Heart the rest of the evening to recover from giving birth to their foal. Melody Heart had Snow wrapped in a purple blanket rather than a pink one, as it reminded her of Train, and she cooed at how Train and Snow shared the same eyes. In a way, Snow’s fur was similar to her own, just Snow’s was of a darker shade, like a combination of both of them, into a little bundle of joy. One that would grow up to be a bright mare someday. Melody already knew the moment she saw Snow Heart, that she would accomplish great things, because she had the best parents to show her all she needed to know, in life.
“No bath!” Snow pouted, scrambling away from him. Snow Heart wore only a diaper and thrashed her front forelegs around wildly.
Snow skidded to a halt as she stopped inches shy of running into her mother, Melody. Her eyes sparkled, and gave her a big innocent grin, as she lifted a hoof out to poke at her mother’s bulging belly.
“Mommy! What’s this?” Snow asked, halting in her hoofsteps. She blinked and stared at the rounded belly. Her ears twitched, as she tilted her head to the side, and waited for mommy to explain.
“This is a baby Snow. And it’s going to be your little brother or sister,” Melody explained, while gently reaching a hoof out, and petting her snow white mane.
Snow purred and leaned into the pets. But suddenly, she felt the forelegs of her father picking her up from her spot on the floor. She flailed, and tried to fight her way out of his grasp. “No...I don’t wanna.”
“Snow…” Train scolded her, giving her a swat to her flank. Not too hard, but firm enough to let her know his displeasure. “All little fillies and colts need baths, and it’s time for yours. Don’t you want to be a big girl?” he asked her. He sighed heavily, shaking his head. He didn’t want to hurt her, but disciplining her would help her grow.
“Honey, let me try. Snow,” began Melody. Her tone was gentle and soothing, as she looked down onto her daughter with a loving gaze.
Snow Heart looked at her mother, and let out a coo. “Yes, momma?” she asked, tilting her head to the side, and trying to sneak out of her father’s grasp while he wasn’t looking. Unfortunately, he had a firm and solid grip on his little filly, and she was not going anywhere.
“Snow...you want to be a good girl right? Good girls take their baths. You know that, don’t you?” asked Melody, reaching out, and lightly ruffling her mane, tussling her hoof through it, and making her filly giggle.
Snow Heart bit her lip, and didn’t respond immediately. She stuttered something, mumbling before perking up. “Yes, mommy. I want to be a good girl.” Snow Heart’s wide eyes stared back up into her mother’s, looking at her with a longing to please.
“So what does that mean?” asked Melody, looking back at her little filly with a stern stare, lowering her eyes down, her snout firmly pressed onto her filly’s.
“Bath time…” Snow pouted, her ears drooping slightly as she whined and fussed, even though she felt her mother gently petting the top of her head.
“That’s my girl,” Melody said, tilting her head towards Train to take over now, as she rubbed her pregnant gut. She stared at her belly, not realizing Snow had wandered off.
Train Tracks grabbed a hold of his little filly with his strong front forelegs, and carried her to the bathroom, and gave her a bath. He took his time to scrub her fur with the soap, as he tickled her sides to distract her. He then moved to washing her mane, and whistling as he worked, to soothe his little girl. It was a very calming experience for the both of them.
After she was done, and dried off, Train carried her to her crib, and tucked her in for a nap. Snow yawned, opening her little muzzle as wide as possible. Seeing this, Train covered her in her favorite baby blanket, as white as the freshly fallen snow, and let her rest. He quietly exited the room, whispering ever so softly. “Goodnight, baby girl. Don’t let the bedbugs bite you.”
Train trotted over to his lovely wife, and pulled her tightly against him, nuzzling her neck, and inhaling her sweet scent.
“I really hate bubblegum-flavored bubble bath, but Snow really seems to enjoy it,” Train said, as he moved his head back from her neck, and pressed his lips to hers. There was no taste in the world as sweet as his Melody; the love of his life, and the wife of his children.
Melody Heart kissed him back, leaning in, and wrapping her front foreleg around his neck to keep him from pulling away too soon. Locking lips with him, and fully showing him the power of her love for the stallion who had saved her, who had shown her so much, and was still teaching her to this day, what it was like to belong.
Train broke away from the kiss first, leaving a trail of saliva between their lips. He stared endlessly into her green eyes. Letting out a soft sigh of content, he lifted a hoof to rub at her belly.
“Are you nervous?” He asked, caressing the baby bump, all the while moving his other hoof around her neck, and nuzzling his cheek against hers.
“Love, why would I be nervous about the baby?” Melody asked him, while putting a hoof over his stroking her belly, and holding it there. “It’s not like it’s our first one. This is our second baby, and I’m more excited than nervous.”
“Oh...Well it’s just after everything that led up to Snow’s birth…” Train began, tilting his head away, ashamed.
Melody moved in such that they were now snout to snout, forcing Train to look at her as she spoke, her tone was firm, yet serenely calm.
“Train, I know we had a lot of complications when we had Snow, and there were times I thought I was going to lose her,” Melody began, pausing as she took a deep breath. Lidding her eyes, she calmed her thoughts. “I’m confident that this birth will be easier on both of us. As long as you are there, I know we can get through anything,” Melody cooed as she leaned into his fur, and allowed him to hold her in his strong grasp.
“I know, love. You have always been strong. You are my rock, just as I am yours,” Train cooed, before lifting her up, as he stood on his hindlegs, as he pulled her snuggly to his frame, and kissed her neck. “Now it’s time for rest…” he encouraged her, as he carried her in his strong forelegs back to their bedroom. He enjoyed holding her like this, to give her a bit of a reprieve from all the stress that came with pregnancy.
Train laid her down onto their bed, and took a moment to gaze down at his beloved wife. Splayed out on the bed, the sheets ruffling underneath her barrel, as she scrunched and rolled to her side. He found himself drooling, admiring just how sexy she was, even with her belly bump.
“Train...come snuggle me I’m cold,” Melody whimpered sweetly, as she pulled a blanket over her barrel and began wiggling under it, curling her body around it. Cocooning herself underneath like a caterpillar might cocoon itself to become a beautiful butterfly.
There was no hesitation. He raced for the bed, a slight neigh rising from his throat, as he swallowed the breath he had been holding. He got into the bed behind her, wrapping his upper forelegs around her chest fluff. He buried his face into the crook of her neck, and inhaled the sweet scent of vanilla.
“Mmm. Make sweet melodies for me, my love,” Train cooed, as he scooted closer, his barrel pressing tightly against hers. Train savored every breath, every moment he got to spend with the love of his life, especially ones like this.
Melody cooed against him, sighing and lidding her eyes shut, as she leaned her head back into his, putting a forehoof over his.
“I’d love to sing sweet melodies to you, my love. However, I’m exhausted. I think we can wait until sunrise.”
“Anything for you, darling,” Train replied softly. He shut his own eyes, and just held around her, enjoying her warmth, her presence, listening to the rise and fall of her heart as she shivered against him, before falling into a soft slumber.
Snow Heart sat on her hindquarters, her front forelegs crossed against her chest.
“Hmph. I don’t care,” Snow pouted.
“Snow, listen I know this is a big change but you shouldn’t ever say such a thing. This is going to be your little brother or sister, and they’ll need you to guide them.” Train explained, as gently as he could. He reached his hoof out to gently pet her head.
She flinched back, her ears drooping to the sides of her head. Her lips came together forming a circle as she pouted, and whined.
“I want mommy! It’s not fair she’s not here,” Snow scowled, her eyes narrowing, trying to flail her upper forelegs drastly. She scrunched her face with a redbeat shade.
Train Tracks reached down and swatted his filly’s flank, making sure it was firm, but not too hard.
“Stop that right now. Your mommy is in labor with your new sister or brother,” he began, pausing for a moment. How was he possibly going to explain this to her, in a way she’d understand for such a young age?
“Mommy needs to be alone right now. I want to be with her too, but we have to let her do this on her own. Your mother is very strong, and I think she’d be upset if she knew you were misbehaving in this way. Snow I want you to say you’re sorry for what you said.”
Snow Heart pouted, and tilted her head away, almost as if she wasn’t going to listen. Snow paused, seemingly deep in thought. However, she turned back to Train Tracks and whimpered.
“I am sorry daddy, I didn’t mean to be a bad filly. I’ll be good,” Snow cooed, and jumped into her father’s forelegs, burying her head into his stomach.
Train held around her, and petted her white mane softly. “It’s okay sweetheart, I know you didn’t mean it. Now let’s try to cheer up. Your little sister or brother will be here soon, and you’ll need to guide them. Show them all you know.”
“Yes, daddy!” Snow said, with a rumbling purr. She then moved out of his forelegs, and began pacing around the room. She paced from one end to the other, noticing how all the walls were white, and that it smelled like bleach here. Snow Heart had never been to a hospital before, and all this waiting was hard for a small, hyperactive filly who was eager to play.
Train couldn’t help glancing over to the double doors they had taken Melody Heart through. His heart was pounding against his chest with every second that passed. Sweat Drops dripping down his face, as he took deep breaths, trying to compose himself. He held onto their little filly, keeping one hoof around her. She didn’t understand any of this, he knew that. He wanted to rush to his wife’s side, to be her support, but he also had to be a father for Snow.
He wondered about the baby, how it might change things for the future. Of course he would love it, no matter what it was, a girl or boy; a pegasus, earth pony or unicorn. He didn’t care. His ears drooped slightly, as he instinctively petted Snow’s mane, shooing her and getting her to fall asleep in his hold. His second baby, it was hard to believe it had already been two years since Snow Heart had been born. Now he was going to be another filly’s or colt’s father, and he felt such joy in his heart, he had to force back a tear.
The wait was killing him, and he found himself pacing back and forth while his little filly was sound asleep in her baby basket. He kept looking back at the double doors, with each passing minute he felt the time dragging. His eyes glazed over, as his posture slumped, and he forced himself to sit. He closed his eyes, and simply tried to breathe.
The doors opened and a nurse came through, looking directly at him.
“Congratulations, you are a proud father once more,” Red Heart said, pausing for a moment. “You may come in now, your wife is perfectly fine and you have a beautiful baby filly pegasus.”
Train Tracks had to compose himself, forcing his body to listen to his heart. He stood up, and embraced the nurse without thinking.
“Oh thank you!” Train shouted. Then he flinched back awkwardly, staring at the nurse, and rubbing his mane. “Sorry, that was impolite of me.”
“Oh don’t worry, it’s normal for a father to be excited by the birth of his child. It seems though, this isn’t your first,” the nurse stated, looking over to the basket where Snow Heart was, sound asleep.
“No, it’s not the first. It’s just…” Train began, but before he could finish, the nurse was directing him towards the double doors.
“You don’t need to say a thing. Right now, you need to be with your wife and child. I’ll bring the little one in if you’d like.”
“No it’s fine! She’s not heavy at all. Besides you might wake her if you pick her up the wrong way. My baby she’s a light sleeper, and I’d rather not risk her crying right now.” Train explained as he went to pick up the baby basket with care. With pride and joy in his heart, he dashed past the double doors with Snow Heart in his hooves.
Train walked into the labor room, his gaze focusing on the love of his life. He froze right there as he saw her cradling a bundle of joy within her forelegs. His heartbeat pounded rapidly against his chest as he took a deep breath, carrying Snow over to her and placing her on the opposite side from the new baby.
“Love… how are you holding up?” Train asked her, as he leaned his head against hers, nuzzling her affectionately.
“I’m fine hun. You worry too much. Look at her, she looks so much like Snow. You can really tell they are sisters.”
Train looked at his new baby girl. Pure white fur, a blue mane atop her head, and a pair of wide green eyes staring back at him. Her wings splayed out to each side of her, she reached her small forelegs up towards him.
“Eeeee,” the baby giggled, her eyes locking on his.
“She’s beautiful. Though I didn’t have any doubts. They all got it from you,” Train said, as he took a moment to lean in and give his wife a deep long sensual kiss. His lips locking with hers, his tongue seeking hers out.
Train Tracks lifted the pegasus foal into his strong forelegs, and held her for the first time.
“Frost Heart,” he suggested. “We should call her Frost, what do you think, my love?”
Melody Heart looked over at the pegasus, and then up at Train, smiling softly, pursing her lips together. “Mhmm. I couldn’t think of a better name for her. Frost Heart. It’s perfect. I do hope… Snow won’t be jealous.”
“She’s a smart little filly I’m sure she’ll understand, and be a good big sister to Frost. She’ll have to guide her down the right track.”
Melody Heart leaned her head against Train’s as he sat down on the wooden chair beside the bed. He handed Frost back to her, and smiled.
“There, now that’s perfect. Two sisters with their beautiful mother. The one I love with all my heart.”
“Oh, Train I love you too. I couldn’t imagine my life without you. And now we have two of the most beautiful daughters to raise. To show them what it means to be loved,” Melody paused, as she couldn’t help flinching back slightly. Memories swished back through her mind, and she trembled visibly.
He put his hoof around her, and whispered to her softly, like a soothing melody.
“Sssshhh. It’s okay I’m here. I’m here. Look at how strong you are now. You are part of Celestia’s choir, and a wonderful mother. Don’t let the past affect you now, because you are stronger now,” Train explained, as he held her firmly using his own strength to hold his wife, and comfort her.
Melody Heart couldn’t help but shiver against him, before looking at her two babies, her two little fillies. Her children. She reached out her hooves to hold them snuggly against her chest, as she kissed both of their foreheads.
“I promise I’ll be strong not just for me, but for them. Thank you, love. I really needed to hear that.”
“You don’t need to thank me, I was simply reminding you of just how amazing you already are,” Train said, as he kissed her forehead. There was no place he’d rather be, then right here by her side.
Melody looked to her fillies, hoping in the back of her mind, they wouldn’t struggle as she had. She wanted them to grow up to be loved, to be strong mares someday, and she’d be right here to teach them, if they needed help. No matter what, she was going to be here for her children, just as Train Tracks had been there for her, all those years ago.
Snow Heart yawned and opened her violet eyes and looked directly up at her.
Melody smiled at her, and turned her little filly to see her sister for the first time.
“Snow Heart, this is your little sister Frost Heart. I need you to teach her how to be a good girl. Can you do that for mom?”
“Uh-huh,” Snow stated, yawning sleepily.
Frost Heart leaned against her older sister’s barrel, reaching her smaller hooves around her, holding her close.
Melody couldn’t stop smiling, when Snow turned towards Frost Heart and held her own hooves around her. Two sisters, wrapped up together in their mother’s forelegs. It was a sight she’d never forget for as long as she lived. And she hoped to provide them both with a loving home, and a bright future together.
There were just small fillies right now, but Melody simply knew they would accomplish great things. She cradled them both, and closed her eyes, to drift off into a soft slumber, knowing Train would be there when she woke up, to ease her mind as she entered the dream realm.
Author's Note
Thank you to all you readers that are enjoying this ride with me, truly it's never a story I thought I'd publish, but more and more it finds I'm doing things I never thought I'd do. Truly, life is an experience~
