Unexpected Changes

Once Lily had calmed down a bit, Daisy went inside. Lots of boxes were stacked up already, with Cloverleaf grabbing a new one a few seconds after her entry to start filling up. She didn't hear a lot of movement, just him in the kitchen. That's where he was working, and nopony else was around.

He caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. "Morning, Daisy. Lily's out back."

"I know," Daisy answered. "I saw her on my way in. She was crying."

Cloverleaf nodded, but did not stop. "I can imagine so. She's not very happy right now."

"I don't blame her," scowled Daisy. "She's being forced to move against her will."

"I know. It's not ideal, and I wish there were some other way. But we need to be closer to her doctor, and we have to move to make that happen."

"No doctors nearby?" scoffed Daisy. "We have a hospital right down the road."

"Not for what she needs."

"What she needs is to not be stressed."

"What she needs is a doctor that'll solve her problems without creating new ones. She needs to see a specialist. She can handle a little bit of stress on the road to fixing a lot of it. It'll be good for her."

"But will it be good for the baby?"

Cloverleaf stopped in his tracks and sighed. "Of course. Of course you figured it out..."

"Actually, she told us."

"I don't doubt that."

"Can't moving wait until after she gives birth? It'd give her time to rest, anyway."

Cloverleaf took a deep breath and closed the cabinet door, looking her right in the face. "She's pregnant. That's why we're moving. Because she's going to give birth, and when that happens, we need to be somewhere that will keep her safe."

"You think I'd put her in danger?"

"No, but if danger should come for her, do you think you could handle it? If six guards showed up to take her away and confiscate the baby, do you think you could hold them off?"

"I would try. I certainly wouldn't run away."

Cloverleaf shook his head. "Let's say you were successful, and fought off the guards long enough for Lily to escape. You'd be under arrest, and eight more guards would go after her. What are you going to do from your dungeon cell?"

The room fell silent but for the ticking of the wall clock.

"My point exactly. Our best bet for keeping Lily safe is to not attract attention in the first place."

"Why would guards be chasing you?" asked Daisy. "Why Lily?"

Cloverleaf resumed packing. "I'll answer that in a moment, but first, how many students in your class are pregnant right now?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Just humour me."

Daisy stopped for a moment, then answered. "Just Lily, I guess. Maybe others, but they're not showing."

"Right. Why do you think that is?"

"Probably because none of them are starting families."

"Do you think any of them should be?"

"Well, there are a few, but a lot of them are just dating to see what it's like. I don't think they've figured out sex yet."

"I didn't ask for "knew how." I asked for "should." How many colts would make good fathers, how many fillies would make good mothers?"

"...I mean, Lily's been putting in the effort to learn. It's something, anyway."

"And she's the most prepared, in your opinion?"

"She is."

"So, would you say that young kids should not be having their own kids, and should wait until they're older, more mature and wiser?"

"Yeah."

"Well, the royal court of Equestria would agree with you."

"And you don't?"

"I never said that. I think that, generally speaking, all colts and fillies should be given a sexual education before they go into heat for the first time. I believe that they should have a plan set out before becoming pregnant, but I know that sometimes, that doesn't happen, and one must deal with the consequences. That's what we're doing; dealing with the consequences."

"By moving?"

"Lily is pregnant. That's a fact. The stallion that did so will be arrested if we take her to a local doctor, and her child will grow up with no father. Furthermore, since Lily is under the age at which she can earn a minimum wage, she would be unable to take care of the child, and unable to take care of herself, so they would be placed in orphanages. If they're lucky, the same one, but not likely."

"Why not your care?"

"Having allowed it to happen in the first place is criminal negligence. I was supposed to keep it from happening. Can't raise a kid in prison, let alone two."

Daisy took a deep breath. "She can come stay with us. My parents love her."

"But that still has me going to prison," concluded Cloverleaf. "It doesn't matter if I did what I did to protect Lily, or her baby, or even to ensure that all parties were unharmed. Reasons don't change facts, and the fact is, she became pregnant while underage in my care. So, to keep her and her baby together, fed, and in good health, we have to go see a specific doctor. One that won't call the guard to take away her family, her home, and her child."

Daisy was silent.

"Lily is going away, yes, and that sucks. The choices are to either keep me with her, and she can raise the baby with my help, or I can go to prison, and her baby will go into state foster care. She can go away with her family, or completely alone. At least this way, you can come visit from time to time." He turned to Daisy. "If you want her to stay, and myself and the baby to be torn from her for the next ten years, you can do that. Or, you can come see her in two weeks, when school lets out for Hearth's Warming."

Daisy sighed. "This sucks."

"Don't I know it..."

Daisy shook her head. "Take her away, then. I hate this, but it's for the best..."

Cloverleaf nodded. "I take no issue with you all coming to visit us. I'll give your parents the address of the new place. She needs friends. Good friends. Friends like you. So make sure you don't forget about her."

Daisy shook her head. "I would never."