The Derpy I Know And Love

CHAPTER TWELVE

It Is Time!

After this, there appeared to be no overt resistance to the three married mare couples.  And despite Filthy Rich’s fear, Ponyville nor Equestria did not collapse,  nor was there a rush of mares marrying each other.

Life went on, Bubbles got bigger.  She and Twilight continued to fall deeper in love.  As well as did Rarity and A.J.

Then one night in November, right after the Running of the Leafs (which Twilight finished 3rd, a shock to A.J. and Rainbow Dash) Twilight and her beloved Bubbles were asleep in bed.  Twilight was dreaming of having made herself a set of wings and she was flying with her wife.  Then she felt a hoof on her shoulder, gently shaking her.

“What?” Twi mumbled.

“Honey, my water bag broke,” said Bubbles.

Still in a half asleep state, Twi mumbled;

“Ok Dear, go back to sleep and I will get you a new one in the morning.”

This improper response was met with a non too gentle elbow in the ribs.

“Twilight!” Bubbles responded louder, “the foal is coming!”

To the end of her days, Twilight could never remember how she had gotten out of bed.

“Ok,ok,ok,ok,ok,ok!” Stammered Twilight going into her ‘I don’t know what to do’ panic.

“Get spike to sent the letter and get the girls up.” Said Bubbles slightly amused.  That is until the contraction hit.  “And hurry!”

Twilight vanished.  They had a letter already written, as per Celestia’s suggestion, for the princesses to send a cart to take them to the Magic Hospital at Canterlot Castle.

Sparkler was dispatched to tell their friends with instructions to return as soon as possible.  Sparkler started at Fluttershy’s cottage, being the furthest away, then Rarity and A.J.’s, as she galloped to Sugarcube Corner, it hit her how would she get Rainbow Dash?  Perhaps send Fluttershy up to Rainbow’s cloud house.  Sparkler frantically knocked at the door when an upper window opened.

“Keep it down,” said Pinkie Pie, sticking her head out the window. “the foals are sleeping.”

“Pinky!  Mom’s foal is coming!”

To Sparkler’s surprise, Rainbow Dash stuck her head out the same window, but Sparkler had no time to think about it.

“The foal!” exclaimed Rainbow, “We will be right there.”

Sparkler galloped back to the library smirking at what just happened.  Before she made it halfway, a familiar rainbow blur of speed streaked overhead, and it appeared that Pinkie Pie was riding on Rainbow’s back.

It only took about a half-hour for the group to gather.  The group had been assigned jobs to do when this happened.  Bags were packed for Bubbles and Twi.  Pinkie was keeping Muffin entertained and distracted.  Fluttershy was with Twi and Bubbles to keep them calm.  Fluttershy was actually having to work with Twilight more than Bubbles.

Rainbow came streaking in.

“Princess Luna’s cart is almost here!”

“What?  It should have been at least another fifteen to twenty minutes!” said Twilight surprised.

“The princess sent 6 guards to pull it!”

Almost as soon as Rainbow finished there was a knock at the door.

There was one of Luna’s guards suggesting that they hurry.   They informed them that two more carts were on the way for the non-flying friends to follow.

Less than 10 minutes later, Bubbles and Twilight were streaking through the night sky.  Bubbles was in good spirits despite the contractions coming closer.

“I have never flown this fast.”  Said Twi to her wife.

“Neither have I,” Bubbles smiled. “I think Rainbow Dash would have a hard time keeping up.”

“I would not bet on that!” said an unmistakable pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail.  She had appeared out of the dark, just off to their side.

“Rainbow!” exclaimed Twi.

“I came to help.  We mare-lovers should stick together!”

Then she sped just ahead of the guards.

“Come on boys!  Try and keep up!” she taunted.

The wagon lurched forward.  Twilight and Bubbles got to experience a sonic rainboom firsthand.

“Now I know I have never flown this fast!”   Said Bubbles in fear and delight.

They arrived at Canterlot Castle in record time.  The princesses were waiting along with hospital staff.  Bubbles was put  on a gurney and wheeled in.  Twi and Rainbow were directed to a waiting area while Bubbles was being prepped.  In a bit, Princess Luna came in the room.

“Twilight Sparkle, are you ready to go back with your wife?”

“Yes Luna,” she replied.  Twi gave rainbow instructions to look out for everyone.

Luna led her back to the delivery area.  Bubbles was on a bed and doctors were checking her out.  Celestia met Twi outside the room.

“My most beloved student!” said the princess.  “My heart is singing for you.  Your parents have been notified.  I have one request for you.  I am not asking as your teacher or your ruler, only as somepony who I hope you consider a friend.”

“Anything, princess.”

“May I be with you in the delivery room.”

“I would feel better if you would.”

“Then let’s go in.”  Said Celestia.

As they entered, Bubbles face lit up seeing Twi and Celestia.

“My love, is it ok that the princess join us?”

“I would love it.” Said Bubbles.

She looked like she was fighting the discomfort with all her might.  The doctors were coaching her through it all.

Celestia noted an odd look on Twilight’s face.

“Is something wrong my apprentice?”

“No,” answered Twi.  “Well there is only one unimportant thing.  We were so excited that we would be having a foal.  And it was been the thrill of my life being with Bubbles through this.  Watching the foal growing inside my wife.  Having her put my hoof on her belly when the foal was kicking.”

Then looking at Bubbles and taking her hoof.

“Don’t take this wrong, my love, but I am kind of jealous.  I am a mare and part of the joy of bringing in the new life is the birth process.  But the foal is mine, I almost feel cheated.  I know that there is pain, a pain that my love has to endure, but I have always been told that there is joy as well.  A joy I will never feel.” There was a tear in Twilight’s eye.

“Oh my darling!” said Bubbles, taking Twi’s hoof with both of hers.

“I am sorry to act like this, the attention should be on you.” Said Twi, managing a smile.

“Twilight Sparkle,” said the princess.

The use of her full name caught Twi’s attention.

“Are you sure of what you are saying?” said the princess.

“Yes ma’am.  And I am sorry that I brought such petty concerns in here where I should be supporting my wife and not feeling sorry for myself.”

The princess turned to address one of the nurses;

“Bring in another bed.  Put it by this one.”

The bed was brought, Celestia turned to Twilight.

“I can give you what you want, but be warned!  It is not going to be pleasant, get on the bed.”  Twilight got up and was put in the same position as her wife.  “Now take her hoof.”

Celestia closed her eyes, her golden aura covered the two ponies.  Twilight suddenly felt a fullness in her abdomen, something was moving.  She felt her lower belly tighten.  She was not ready for the discomfort.  Both Bubbles and Twilight let out a little cry.  She was feeling the birth!

Celestia then said to Twilight;

“If it gets too hard to handle, just let go of your wife’s hoof.  But remember, she has no easy release!”

Twilight understood.  A side effect of the spell was Twilight was starting to hear/feel her wife’s thoughts.  She had a flood of  memories wash over her.  Memories of loneliness, sadness, mistreatment due to her condition, joy, ecstasy, passion, love for a stallion, horrible horrible loss, and unexpected love.  Through the jumble of memories Twi could feel an anchor that held it all together, what made it all worthwhile.  It has her.  This all happened in just a fraction of a second.

Twilight’s memories were felt by Bubbles as well.  Memories of growing up without friends and thinking that books alone would make her happy.  Memories of excitement of being chosen for Celestia’s School, hard work and study achieving goal after goal and nopony to share with.  Memories of finding a threat to Equestria, being put into a strange circumstance of having to accept friends and drawing strength from them, allowing them to bring out her own strength.  Having to defeat Nightmare Moon, Discord and Queen Chrysalis.  Yet with all these successes and friends, there was nopony to really share with.  Then memories of a wet cold pony at her door one stormy night, the compassion for this one awakened feelings she had never felt before.  The first real kiss, the first taste of love.  For all her knowledge and power, the first time she knew what life was about.  Love for a pony that she saw in something no other pony had seen in many years.  A pony that now would be impossible to live without.

It was a blessing, no words could express what thankfulness there was to be given this gift.

Then the next contraction hit.  It was a big one!  She felt the foal move inside her, moving down.

‘Hang in there my love.’ Twi heard Bubbles in her head.

‘I am here with you, I won’t leave you.’ Twilight thought back.

‘Our love is coming to fruition!’ Thought Bubbles. ‘You being in here is giving me strength.’

The next contraction hit, she felt the foal almost to her opening.

“Now push!”  Said the doctor.

‘Help me my love!’ Bubbles thought.

Twilight centered on the foal she felt and she and Bubbles pushed with all their might.

“Relax,” said the doctor.

‘It is almost there, I can feel it,’ thought Twilight, ‘next time.’

‘Thank you my love!’ Thought Bubbles.

The contraction hit.

“Push hard!” said the doctor, “push, push, push!”

Twilight and Bubbles pushed, it felt like forever, the pressure, the pain!

‘I won’t let go!’ thought Twi.

‘I know,’ thought Bubbles.

Then the pressure was relieved with a feeling of movement out of her bottom.  She felt sore, she felt tired and drained.

‘Where is the joy?’

‘Wait for it, my Darling.’

All at once there was the sound of crying.  Twi’s heart jumped!  Tears of joy flowed from her eyes.  She felt Bubbles feeling the same.

‘You can let go now my dear,’ thought Bubbles.

‘I don’t want to!’

Then she heard with her ears;

“If you don’t let go,” said Bubbles, “you can’t hold our foal.”

Twilight opened her eyes, Bubbles was all smiles.

“What is it doctor?” asked Bubbles and Twilight.

“It is a filly.”  Said the doctor.

“And?” Asked Bubbles, “unicorn or pegasus?”

“Both, an alicorn!”

“Alicorn!” Bubbles and Twilight exclaimed, then looking back at Celestia.

“Luna and I suspected as much from the beginning, due to the special method of conception.”  Said Celestia.  “You two are truly blessed.”

The nurse had finished cleaning and wrapping the infant.  Then brought the new foal to Bubbles.  Twi had recovered enough to get off of bed and come to her wife’s side.

“Look at our daughter,” said Bubbles in a voice that had no hint of the ordeal she had just passed through.

Twilight’s horn glowed, the blanket drew back and Twilight saw what she knew to be the most beautiful foal she had ever seen.  She had Twilight’s color but Bubbles mane and tail.  The foal stretched, her little wings shook then turned her head and opened her eyes.

“She has you eyes my dear,”  said Celestia to Bubbles.

“Oh I hope not!” said Bubbles frantically.

“No my child,” said Luna with a smile, “they are the same beautiful color.”

It was the first time Twilight realized that both Luna and Celestia were in the room.

“Have you thought of a name?” asked Celestia.  “The doctors will need to know.”

As organized as Twilight was, she had never thought to talk to Bubbles about names.

“Darling, I have thought of one, if I might suggest.”

         Twi meekly nodded her head.

“I am glad that the princesses are here because they have been so important to you my love.  And so, by extension, to me as well.

Celestia is the day, Luna is the night.  You my darling are the twilight.  So what do you think of Dawn Sparkle?”

Twilight never could remember seeing either princess cry before.

“I think Dawn Sparkle is perfect.” Said Twilight.

“We concur,” said Luna trying to hide a tear.

“Alicorns are special and rare.” Said Celestia, “you will need special help in bringing up this special foal, therefore, whatever help we can render is yours.”

“You have free access you us whenever you need.” Said Luna.

Bubbles and the foal were brought into a room.  After Twilight had helped her wife to settle in and feed the foal.  Twi and Bubbles’ family and friends were allowed in, a few at a time.  First were Dinky, Sparkler, Twilight Velvet, Night Light and Dr. Hooves.

Sparkler and Dinky were first.  Dinky was so happy to see her new sister, she was now a big sister!  Sparkler, being a nanny, could not wait to get the chance to take care of her new little sister.

It was a real trouble trying to let anyone hold Dawn, Twi Velvet had decided that she could not let the little precious foal  out of her sight.

The friends were allowed in next.  They came in, in shifts, as not to take up too much space.

Rarity held Dawn, and A.J. held Rarity.  There was something in their eyes, as they gazed at the little foal.  A deep look of contentment.

Of all their friends, the one who made the biggest fuss was the one they expected least.  Rainbow Dash.  Since the day she discovered Bubbles at Twilight’s, Rainbow had become more interested in personal relationships.  In fact if you had to take stock, in the little over a year and a half, Rainbow could have been counted as Bubbles and Twilight’s best friend.

A nurse came in and told everypony that the foal needed to rest and be fed, they could all come back later.  As everypony filed out, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, who had been quite subdued, asked if they could stay to ask one thing.

“Of course,” was the reply.

Once the last pony left, Pinkie spoke up.

“You see,” said Pinkie as if uncharacteristically choosing her words with care.  “Dashie and I have a favor to ask.”

“What is that, Pinkie?”

“Well you see, Twi,” said Rainbow, looking at the floor and shifting one foot, “we need to see if there is a permanent way to allow earth ponies to walk on clouds.”

“Rainbow, are you holding your tail out more than normal?”

Rainbow blushed.

“Dashie asked me to move in with her, if it could be done.” Said Pinkie. “I have my whirly-gig to get up to her cloud house.  But I would like to stay once I am there.”

Bubbles and Twi smiled.

“You remember the Best Young Fliers Competition?”  asked Twi, “I gave Rarity wings that would only last three days.  But the walk on cloud spell, it did not have a limitation.”

“You mean, all this time we..............” Rainbow stopped.  “Thanks, we will talk to you later!  Come on Pinkie!”

“Congrat’s on the foal,” said Pinkie being dragged by the tail out the door.

Bubbles and Twilight laughed long as Dawn started to nurse.

Bubbles kissed Twilight deeply.  It still took Twilight’s breath away.