In front of a Flame

As she was reading in Pipp’s room on the table, she felt a strange kind of pain in her stomach. She couldn’t tell if it was just another one of the kicks or something else. She stroked her hoof down the left side of her quite bloated stomach to calm the lives inside her. She felt it again, this time a little painful than the first one. It wasn’t like she was holding in a scream or anything, but she still felt it. Pipp returned from the hall and entered the private library with Zipp. She picked a book from the shelf behind her and sat down opposite her sister. “Found this new book, it’s part of a series called Sleckodla: The Tale of Truth. I thought it’s a bit weird—are you okay Zipp?” She asked upon seeing her sister wince. “Y-Yeah, i don’t know, it feels a bit w-weird,” She replied. Pipp, having a hunch of what could be happening asked, “Does it feel like your stomach is tightening?” She didn’t know if she wanted her sister to say yes or no. “Yes yes, that’s exactly it. It doesn’t hurt though, it just feels weird,” Pipp’s fears were confirmed and she moved beside her sister and said, “Zipp we need to get to the hospital now,” Hearing the tension in her sister’s voice, she was immediately alert. “Why? I-is something wr-wrong with me?” She asked. Pipp whispered in Zipp’s ear. Zipp immediately dropped a text to Hitch and the 2 went over to the Palace Private Hospital

As Hitch burst through the door to room 75, he found his wife sitting on the bed. “Zipp, a-are you ok? What did the doctor say?” He said breathlessly. “Yeah, im totally fine, im definitely not freaking out over the fact that without any warning it would be today! Sorry, i didn’t mean to snap, it’s just a bit stressful and im trying my best to just be as chill as possible,”She said apologetically. Just then someone pulled him out. It was Thunder. “Listen, i just want you to know not to panic. It’s a very mentally and emotionally stressful time for her, and if you panic, shes gonna panic more, then you will panic more, it will be a viscous cycle, and it might affect the entire process, just a piece of advice from my experience,” He said really quickly. Hitch hastily thanked him and went back in and found her hyperventilating, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. “Hey, hey, look i’m here okay, nothing’s gonna happen, everything will be fine, and im gonna be right here beside you the whole time ok? You can do this. We can do this,” He said reassuringly as he held her hoof. She calmed down, smiling at him as she did. She began to shiver, but she wasn’t cold. She wasn’t in pain either, but she was shivering. The 2 were immediately alarmed, and at that moment a doctor entered. “If your hoofves are shivering, it’s completely normal,” he said as he crossed the room. As he spoke she began to shiver more violently. Her entire body was shaking now.

Pipp was outside, pacing, along with her friends. Their spouses were all at home, taking home of their children. The 2 of them were inside for quite a long time. They heard something that was a mix of a scream and a groan. It was loud enough to be heard by all of them. Hitch opened the door and exited the room. “C-com-complic-cations, em-emergency sur-sur-surgery,” he stammered. The room was empty. From what he stammered they made out what had happened. Pipp kept calm, while Hitch began to hyperventilate.

1 hour later

Hitch was nervously pacing outside despite protests from his friends. Finally a doctor exited the room and beckoned Hitch inside. He took a breath and entered. Zipp was lying in the bed on her back, looking peaceful. Seeing her like that, he immediately calmed down. “She is completely fine, we’ll bring the baby in soon, just running a few tests,” The doctor said, leaving the room. Zipp began to stir, and Hitch was immediately alert. As she began to open her eyes, her eyes fell on Hitch. “What happened?” she asked, the first thing she noticed was her flat stomach, something she hadn’t seen in months. Not seeing a baby anywhere, she was alarmed. “Wh-where,” She stammered. “They’re just running a few tests on the foal, im sorry” He said, before beginning to cry. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She asked, now calmer. “You h-had c-compli-ca-cations, and yo-you had an emergency sur-surgery. I couldn’t t-take c-ca-care of y-you,” he said inbetween sniffles. “Hey, the complications weren’t your fault, it was probably a result of me being a first timer, none of it was your fault ok? Im completely fine, and you should be too. We should be ecstatic actually, we made it, Hitch,” She said, tears of joy leaking from her eyes. He wiped his eyes, and hugged her.