Unborn

Breakfast went well, even with Granny Smith. She agreed to take over the lighter chores with almost no convincing. The only thing she was concerned about was that Applejack be safe throughout. Considering how safe it was to make pumpkin stew, there was little concern to be found.

She started her day with a broom and dustpan, sweeping the whole place clean. There would be time enough for dusting tomorrow, but today, she had plenty to take care of already. After the sweeping, out came the mop, and between the two of them, that ate up most of the morning.

She was about to start on lunch, apple butter and banana sandwiches, when Fluttershy walked in. "Hi, Applejack. How are you feeling?"

Applejack shrugged. "Could be better, could be worse. How 'bout you?"

Fluttershy smiled. "I found out what Discord's most recent addendum is."

"He widened my cervix," nodded Applejack. "Apple Bloom doesn't need to shrink down so much to come out."

Fluttershy shuffled her hooves. "You already figured it out, huh?"

Applejack nodded. "Ah mean, thanks for your help, an' everythin'. Ah truly do appreciate it, but Ah figured it out last night when--" She looked around. "Granny still outside?"

Fluttershy nodded. "She wanted to keep an eye on Rainbow."

Applejack lowered her voice, regardless. "Big Mac managed to fit his entire tip through the tiny hole it used to be. Ah reckon any stallion could fit up there now, if they was long enough."

Fluttershy nodded. "Or a hoof."

Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Why do you bring that up?"

"Well," Fluttershy blushed, "I imagine that it would make the delivery process easier. Somepony could reach up there and help pull her out."

Applejack nodded. Eventually, Apple Bloom would need to come out, and having a helping hoof would be immensely beneficial. Then again, that would mean that somepony with hooves smaller than Big Mac's would need to do so. Even if he could fit his massive hooves up there, there's no way he could pull it out at the same time as Apple Bloom. There just wasn't enough room. Perhaps Twilight or Fluttershy could help? Twilight had plenty of research material to figure it out, and Fluttershy had helped her birth animals here on the farm. Maybe it was best to have Fluttershy helping with Twilight making sure she was doing it right. That was assuming that it was the same process, or at least similar enough to carry over. Who could be sure?

"Are you sure ya don't just wanna root around in there?" joked Applejack, but as soon as she let her chuckle peter out, she noticed that Fluttershy had that look on her face again. "Seriously?"

Fluttershy nodded hopefully.

Applejack sighed and shook her head. "Why?"

Fluttershy shrank down. "You don't have to, if you don't want to."

"Ah'm not sayin' no, Ah just..." She sighed and rubbed her forehead. "You an' me need ta have a talk about this side a' you. The whole "sexual deviant" thing is startin' ta befuddle me."

Fluttershy shrank down even more, looking almost hurt. "I don't mean to. It's just what I am..."

Applejack wrapped a hoof around her shoulders. "Now, now, don't cry. Ah don't think any different of ya, and that's not about ta change. We just have ta talk about it, that's all."

Fluttershy wiped the tears that were starting to form in her eyes. "Can we talk tonight?"

Applejack had to pause for a moment. "Well, normally, Ah wouldn't mind so much. It's not applebuck season, nor do we have ta work with the finnicky zapapples, and we're not quite ready to go inta cider season. All that would say come on over, but you know Ah have to help Big Mac."

"I can help with that!" volunteered Fluttershy excitedly. "I would love to help with that! We can talk before and after!"

Applejack had to admit, Fluttershy was good at coaxing Big Macintosh to a full mast. If she was this excited to be involved, how could she say no?

"Ah need ya ta promise me that nothin' we talk about leaves that room," nodded Applejack. "Don't tell anypony."

"I swear, I'll be quiet as a mouse!" promised Fluttershy, hugging Applejack tightly. "And I know you won't tell anypony else, either."

"You're in safe hooves, Sugarcube," smiled Applejack. "Now, Ah need to finish up lunch so Big Mac and the others have somethin' ta eat."

Applejack went back to the sandwiches she'd been making before Fluttershy showed up. She now had more to make, but that was no problem. She had the extra ingredients to spare, and even if she didn't, she could cut the sandwiches in half and serve them with macaroni and cheese, or something. It was no problem.

There was, however, an alternate problem. She had to somehow bring Big Mac in to feed Apple Bloom while keeping Rainbow from seeing her. No doubt Granny would tell everypony to just eat outside while she stayed in, but that kept Big Mac outside. She sighed, relaying her thoughts to Fluttershy. "I guess Apple Bloom is skipping lunch today."

"No she's not," insisted Fluttershy. "Discord said it would be three weeks until she comes back out at the dosage he gave you, and I will find some way to ensure that she spends no more time in there than is necessary. I'll think of something."

Applejack nodded. She was unaware that Fluttershy had been given a time frame, but it was good to have an approximation. It was faster than she was expecting, too.

Fluttershy's eyes lit up as she helped move the sandwiches onto the platter. "I have a plan!"

"Great," smiled Applejack. "What is it?"

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "I'll tell Big Mac that you need help fixing a stuck drawer in Apple Bloom's bedroom. He'll come in to have a look and try to pull it free without tools first. That should give you ten minutes, at least."

Applejack furrowed her brow. "Aside from the fact that ten minutes is pushin' it, Ah'm not too keen on lyin' ta my brother. Not again."

"You won't be," assured Fluttershy. "I will. And it'll keep Rainbow from finding out."

"Keep me from finding out what?" asked Rainbow, popping her head in the window. As soon as she saw Applejack, her jaw dropped to the kitchen counter. "What the hay happened to you?!"