CYOA: A Day in Ponyville

Despite having come unexpectedly, you step into the room with the new mother. "Congratulations. How are you and the little one doing?" You offer a gentle smile as you step up to the bed.

"We're both just fine." The mother offers a tired smile. "Just glad he's out now. Could you ask if his father is here yet?"

You nod softly. "Of course." You slip outside, heading back down the hall. You run into some of your fellow ponies in scrubs.

They pass you with a laugh. "Still doing rounds?"

"The mom wants to know if the dad's shown up yet." You point the way to the room. "Do you happen to know?"

The other nurse laughs at that. "Everypony on shift before you knows him. He won't be quiet. Just head out to the main waiting room and look for the loudest stallion. He'll be so happy."

You offer a polite smile. "Thank you!" With a pat to your shoulder, they continue on.

As instructed, you go to the waiting room. The receptionist points you towards one of the largest stallions you've ever seen. Part of you wonders at the size difference of the couple, but puts that aside. That's not for a nurse to worry about. You trot up to the large and noisy stallion that's busy boasting about his mare. "Um, excuse me?"

"Yeah? You got something to say about my wife?" He looms over you, huffing out his nostrils.

You step back at the tone, ears falling flat against your skull. "Actually, yes. She's delivered. Both she and the foal are safe, sound, and ready for a visit if you're up for it, sir?"

He grunts, not waiting for anything more before pushing past you towards the door. "I'm not going to keep her waiting."

You watch him go, then follow along behind. "Your son is a healthy foal."

"Of course." He glances back at you. "How would any son of mine be different? He'll be perfect. Better than everypony else."

"That's right. Perfect." You go ahead and slip into the room with him. "Ma'am, he's here." You wave to the stallion already rushing up to the new mother. "Visiting hours are until eight, and I have a feeling he'll want to spend every minute of that with you."

"Good." She groans as she shifts in place, still cradling her newborn. "I'm so glad you're here. Meet our son." She gestures towards the tiny little bundle. "We talked about it, but we still haven't agreed on a name."

"Yeah, it'll take a while. There are a lot of good names out there." He frowned faintly. "Didn't have any dream about him?"

She shook her head. "Nothing that stuck around. It'll come to us. Don't worry."

You can only watch in bemusement. You remember your first day as a nurse. There were quite a few new foals, with equally confused parents. "Don't forget, a name is just a label. You can, and so can they, change it later."

"Right." She strokes her newborn's cheek with a hoof. "A name is just something you call yourself."

You lean over, one hoof hovering over the filly's cheek. "So when he starts thinking of himself as a handsome little unicorn..." It's only at that moment you realize they're a little unicorn. Both parents are earth ponies. That happens sometimes, but it still can catch one by surprise. "You'll be able to call him that."

The stallion peers over you, grinning broadly. "Not yet. Wait until he grows into that title." He jabs your shoulder with a hoof. "For now, I think he's Little Puff."

The mother laughs gently. "Little Puff it is then." She glances up at you. "Would you mind going ahead and bringing us in some paperwork?"

"Of course!" You nod at them both and go to fetch the needed documents.

It wasn't a day of high stakes, but helping welcome a new little face to Ponyville feels like a perfectly fine day to have.

The end.