A Falling Star in Ponyville

Over the next few weeks, Falling Star was running or flying all over the place. When he wasn't working, he was checking up on Rarity at the boutique or the house. She had started getting morning sickness and he had to make sure she was okay. When they would go on their usual walks at night, Rarity would move gingerly. Soon, Rarity began to show. Falling Star gathered their friends at the library, their usual meeting place. Rarity was already there, wearing a loose fitting outfit to hide her rounded stomach. "Thank you all for coming. Rarity and I have great news and we wanted you all to be the first to know." Falling Star said to the group. "What are you talking about, Star?" AJ asked the proud looking stallion. None of the others had ever seen Star look like he did now. He looked proud, regal, happy and tired all at the same time. "Rarity and I are going to be listening the pitter patter of little hooves soon." Star said. A few minutes went bye in silence. Then, all the other mares looked at Rarity and asked "Is this true?" Rarity took off her outfit to reveal her rounded stomach to their friends. There they stood, in stunned silence, until Pinkie Pie started going crazy.

*

After calming Pinkie Pie down, the group hugged and promised to spread the news of the baby subtly. Walking back to their houses, the group slowly dispersed. "I think that went very well, Rarity." Star said looking at his wife. Rarity nodded and then stumbled alittle as she walked. Suppressing a laugh, Star put her on his back and took flight. As Star soared over Ponyville, he started talking to Rarity about what they would name the new addition to the family. She nuzzled his neck and told him that she didn't know yet. It took only a few minutes to fly to their house. Soon they were in bed again, drifting to sleep as they lay there with their arms wrapped around each other.

*

The nightmares were back, worse than they ever were before. Voices in his head as he slept, visions of things from the past; or were they from the future? An evil laugh, darkness, and the smell of smoke and fire filled his nightmare. Why couldn't he wake up? Then, everything faded into darkness. The darkness closed in around him, threatening to swallow him. The feeling of helplessness was unbearable. Suddenly, a new vision filled his vision. This new vision was the worst yet. It was that vision that forced him awake, screaming and in a cold sweat, waking Rarity and possibly half of Equestria in the process. He sat there, breathing heavily and waiting for his heart rate to go down. "What ever is the matter, Star?" Rarity asked her clearly frightened husband. "J-just a bad dream, my love." He replied, laying back down. It wasn't long before they both fell asleep again.

*

Waking up the next morning, Star rolled out of the bed and stretched. Even with the nightmares, he had slept rather well. The final vision still scared him. It had been so realistic. Star shook his head to clear the thought of it from his mind. He couldn't afford to be distracted right now. He trotted off to the kitchen, following the smell of a freshly made breakfast. Rarity was nowhere to be seen, but there was a note next to Stars breakfast plate. The note said that Rarity had gone in to her boutique early to do some work. Star smiled at the note and the breakfast. Rarity wasn't the element of Generosity for nothing. After eating his breakfast, Star headed over to the bakery, knowing that Pinkie Pie could always use the help. After spending hours in the bakery, making cupcakes, pies, and other assorted baked goods, Star left covered in flour and frosting.

*

Rarity was worried about Falling Star. She had never heard him scream like that. She knew something had scared him last night, but she didn't know what it was. What could have made her Star act like that? She had never seen him truely afraid before. Nothing had ever scared him before. She had seen him stare down an Ursa, for Celestias sake! Nothing could scare him, yet something had. Rarity shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hoof. She took a deep breath and was about to dive into her latest project when she felt movement in her stomach. She stopped and waited, then it happened again. The foal was kicking. She smiled and decided to take her time on the project, making sure she didn't move too much. The foal kicked from time to time and her smile would get bigger each time. She couldn't wait to tell Star about this.

*

After a long day of working, Star and Rarity met back at the house. They grabbed a quick bite to eat for supper and then cuddled on the couch, which Star had moved closer to the fireplace. Rarity told star about how the foal had been kicking earlier and Star put his hoof on her stomach. After a couple of minutes he felt a tiny push and he smiled. The two of them were going to be parents. It wouldn't be much longer now, just a few months. Thanks to their friends, Rarity's parents, the citizens of Ponyville, not to mention Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor, the two of them had everything they needed. Slowly, they drifted of to sleep on the couch.