Unborn

Applejack flopped down on her bed. Granny was angry, but not inconsolable. She'd insisted on a second opinion as to what was going on, but Applejack had begged her to wait a few days, and to trust in Twilight. That had placated her, but if nothing was made clear by Wednesday, four days away, Granny was going to have a doctor make a house call. Just as well, as Applejack didn't want to be paraded through town.

There was a knock at the door. Before she could call out, the door opened and Granny walked in. "Fluttershy's down in the kitchen. Ah told 'er you can't see anypony right now, but she insisted that Big Mac called her over at your request."

Applejack stood up and nodded. "Ah'll be right down."

"Sit," insisted Granny Smith. "She'll be up soon, but Ah don't want this becomin' a public spectacle."

Applejack raised her hoof. "Fluttershy, Discord, Twilight, Spike and whatever doctor still makes house calls. Nopony else knows, and nopony else will know, Ah swear."

"Ya best be right about that," huffed Granny as she walked out.

Fluttershy was up just a moment later, a basket tucked under her leg. "So, it is true..."

"Even sounds too far-fetched for you, huh?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "I didn't doubt Discord, per se, but he does tend to exaggerate sometimes. I just had to see for myself exactly how true it was." She reached into her basket and started pulling stuff out and laying it on the bed. "Now, I brought along some things that I think might help you, but if you have any specific needs, I can look around. Just let me know."

Once everything was laid out, Fluttershy began pointing at the various bottles, boxes and tubes strewn across the foot of the bed. "This hoof cream contains a topical analgesic. It's good for relieving the pain in your ankles when you're on your hooves all day. This lotion helps erase the stretch marks, as well as preventing them. Then there's vitamins, these help you sleep more soundly, these help ease nausea, and these help ease your mood swings. All over the counter, of course."

Applejack looked it all over. "That's nice of you ta offer, but that's not why Ah called ya over."

Fluttershy grabbed her hoof. "Moral support?"

Applejack shook her head. "Ah need you because you know Discord better 'n anypony else. Is there any way to move this along any faster?"

Fluttershy tensed up. "I know he offered you a way to fix it. He wouldn't tell me what it was."

"He wants me an' Big Mac to perform a... routine... that's s'posed ta shrink her back down. Then she slides right out, apparently."

"What's the routine?"

Applejack blushed. "I'd rather not say."

"Well, what were you doing when he caused the issue?"

"I'd rather not say."

Fluttershy pouted. "Applejack, I can't help you if you don't let me."

Applejack sighed. "Ah know, Sugarcube. If Ah could say what it was, I would, but Ah don't want y'all thinkin' ill of me."

Fluttershy leaned back and nodded. "Okay."

Applejack looked surprised. "That's it?"

"We all have secrets to hide," nodded Fluttershy, packing everything away into the basket. "If it makes you uncomfortable, then I won't ask."

"Thank ya kindly."

"But I want you to know what you mean to us. We're your friends, Applejack. We only want what is best for you. If there's anypony you can confide in, it's us. We won't tell anypony or judge you, because you matter too much."

Applejack was silent for a moment. "You been makin' up with Rainbow, haven't ya?"

Fluttershy blushed. "That obvious?"

"Pretty sure that's one of her lines."

"Well, that doesn't make it any less true."

Applejack sighed. "You're right." She took a deep breath. "Discord's spell will only work if my brother and I have sex."

The room fell silent. Fluttershy had a horrified look on her face. She didn't even move.

"Ah did say Ah didn't wanna bring it up."

Fluttershy sank back down to the bed. "Th-that's definitely a weird routine."

"An' Ah can't tell Granny about that, neither. As much as Ah think she deserves ta know, Ah don't want to strain her ol' heart more than we need to."

Fluttershy nodded as her face turned red. She mumbled something and shifted her mane to cover part of her face.

"What was that?"

"I was just wondering..." she trailed off into a mumble again.

Applejack furrowed her brow. "You're askin' me how he is in bed, ain'cha?"

Fluttershy's face turned beet red as she nodded, shrinking down. "I don't mean to pry."

Applejack shook her head. "Ah know Ah'm not the most picky of mares when it comes to stallions, but Ah don't need ta tell ya his name, right? Big Mac. He ain't tiny."

"Well, aside from that."

Applejack shrugged. "Look, I wasn't trying to gauge his feel as a lover, I was tryin' ta keep Apple Bloom alive. So was he, that's why he closed his eyes and pretended I was somepony else."

Fluttershy cleared her throat. "Right, sorry."

"Look, Ah could grow into it. Celestia knows Ah'll need to if we have ta keep goin' through this ritual. That's why Ah want you ta talk ta Discord and see if he can give us another option."

Fluttershy nodded. "I'll do my best. I promise."

"Thanks." Applejack leaned back against the headboard.

"Can I...?" started Fluttershy, reaching forward. "Would it be weird if I asked to feel your belly?"

Applejack scooted forward, beckoning Fluttershy to go ahead.

She placed her hoof on Applejack's belly and gently rubbed. "I've been waiting a long time for one of our friend group to have kids," she smiled. "I could have sworn that Pinkie would be first, but you were the one I thought second most likely."

"If ya were so gung-ho about it, Why didn't you take the first step?"

Fluttershy lowered her head. "I just didn't find the right stallion yet." She kept rubbing, as her face grew more and more red.

"Whatcha thinkin' 'bout?" asked Applejack. "Ya look like your face is turnin' into a tomater."

Fluttershy once again hid her face in her mane. "Something dirty..."

"Ya may as well come clean," sighed Applejack. "What, ya wanna try him out for yourself?"

Fluttershy glanced at Applejack.

Applejack rolled her eyes and buried her face in her hoof. "Fine. I'll ask 'im how he feels about it."

"Can I watch?"