Heartache
Pinkie Pie trotted into her house on the edge of the Everfree forest and shut the ornate blue door behind her. It had been quite a while since she had moved in with her boyfriend, and it was always nice to come home to a house that didn't receive the heat from a bakery below. She smiled wearily at the chocolate milk fountain, wondering once more if it was safe to drink... it wasn't exactly refrigerated. So once again, she ignored the temptation, though there wasn’t much point in being careful now.
She wound her way past the oddities of the house, careful not to touch the innocent looking horn with the sign that read "Squeeze Me Gently" attached. Up and up she rose, following the inside corridor of the round tower. There was a cool breeze outside, so she had no doubt that the giant pinwheel on the roof was not moving. She shook her head. It came with the territory. As did... she opened the bedroom door, to see the most comfortable bed in existence... that.
She dropped her saddlebag on the floor rather unceremoniously before crawling onto the yellow top of the cupcake. Her eyes were so heavy, but she tried her best to stay awake. She had to tell Discord when he got home.
It had happened... again.
The thought of it brought her back on high alert, but no tears shed this time. She had cried her eyes out already this morning. Now she was just exhausted. Again.
Why did this keep happening?
Her head rose a little bit when she heard someone enter the house. Discord had been very careful not to flash into the house... to try to prevent anything bad from happening. But it wasn't helping. Nothing seemed to help. His body slowly slithered into view, eyes downcast.
He didn't look her in the eyes, fearing the worst had come to pass once again.
"How did it go?"
The mare shook her head, tears coming forth once more. He came over and curled around her pink form as she began wailing.
"We'll find a way my dear..." He said softly, stroking her mane as she turned into his thin snakey chest.
"Why?" The mare cried out, bawling raggedly, "Why can't they just live?"
He shook his head, sorrow apparent in his features. He had an idea, but would never give up on his woman. Never. So he didn't tell her they weren't compatible. That they would never be able to have children. He made soft cooing noises until his own voice cracked, cool exterior finally breaking under the strain. He was hurting his love, physically and emotionally, but she wanted children so badly and he... he wasn't a stallion. He could never give her children, only heartache. That’s all he felt he could give her lately.
"Pinkie..." he whispered,"I know you don't want to think about it... but... maybe we should at least consider adoption."
Another wail from her as she gripped him, his fur staining with her tears. She wanted his children, why couldn't he see? Adoption meant that they'd given up on giving him a blood son or daughter. It meant fuel for those who still whispered that he was a monster, even after all these years of living together peacefully in Ponyville. She wanted to prove them wrong... to have a beautiful son or daughter to show how truly un-monster like he was. To raise a child that was a part of him, a part of them both. Why couldn’t her body just cooperate?
"I'm sorry my dear..." He whispered.
She shook her head, she knew he didn't want her to go through with this again.
"Did the doctor say..."
"Within the week." She didn’t let the sentence dangle long, thinking of the stillborn she would have. They buried each child that could have been in the backyard, under a rosebush. There were three now, and within the week another would join them.
"Why..." Pinkie said weakly, feeling utterly defeated.
"Maybe its not meant to be... I want this too, Pinkamena . I'm sorry I can't..." His face crumpled and the mare shook her head, holding him closer.
"Don't go there. Not now, please." She mumbled, giving the draconequus another squeeze. He nodded mutely, stroking her hair lightly with his paw. Another fetus to add to the others. The possibility of having children was there but...
They held each other, the spirit of chaos once again going over his options. It wasn't as if he were cold, no. He was tired of his woman being hurt. And though his heart leapt whenever she became pregnant, he knew better than to get hopeful. The first time had been bad enough, he now wouldn't consider himself a father until his child came squalling out of Pinkie. He wasn't a patient man, but he could be for her... which meant she would want to go through with trying again. He could deny her - hardly a plan he enjoyed thinking of, he was still male. He could insist on adoption, or... he could find a suitable stallion. He clutched her tighter in reaction to his thoughts. Another man in his Pinkie Pie? He grit his teeth. Never was his initial thought but now... He looked down at her tear stained face. Now, he was seriously considering it. Not that he'd need to worry about it until her body recovered... which Pinkimena always seemed to rush. She needed something else to focus on, something big... Something...
The idea hit him and he rolled his eyes. How normal... therefore boring.
But it was what she had wanted long before the pregnancy. She hid her disappointment well. He laid her down on the bed, removing himself from her hooves and promising her that he'd return shortly.
He had planning to do. The first stop would be to the jewellery store.
He would have to propose if there were to be a wedding.
Preparation
Pinkie Pie insisted on covering the roots of the rose bush by hand. It was a little colt they buried, and so they used red roses instead of pink. They had a yellow bush for their second miscarriage, because he or she wasn’t developed enough for them to tell. They had two red rose bushes, a pink, and a yellow now. He was really starting to hate those damn thorny plants. As usual, it was just the two of them, getting their hands dirty under a blazing sun. Pinkie didn’t like the idea of having her friends around for the occasion.
“I was hoping we could go out tomorrow for dinner. Spike was talking about a new place outside of Ponyville.” Discord ventured as he snapped a watering can to shower the rose bushes. They were already heading inside, but it would not do to let their fetuses’ flowers wilt. That would really hurt her.
“That sounds fine.” Her hair was still not as bouncy as it used to be, but not ramrod straight either. They settled into the kitchen, and Pinkie stared off into space so Discord whipped up dinner. Salad and a cup of chocolate milk for Pinkie, and he snapped a block of meat over the alligator pond. Gummy had grown teeth, and fortunately grew out of his biting tendencies. Unfortunately, he had grown too big for the house. Discord came around the kitchen island to curl around his mare.
“I love you, my dear.”
“I love you too Dizzy.” She smiled weakly, kissing my snout before turning to her salad. He was glad that he had decided to ask for her hoof. She was the best thing to ever happen to me. Why did I balk before? He made sure she ate before zapping upstairs. No need for caution now. She snuggled into Discord as he turned the lights out with a nod. Which is good for her, he thought, she has a busy day ahead of her.
***
“Good morning my dear.” The mare stirred, lifting her head to see her lover’s body in place of the door to the room. She smiled wearily, returning the greeting. Nothing new in that. Breakfast was already prepared when she arrived in the kitchen. Not abnormal, but still highly appreciated. Something else was off.
“Flowers?” Pinkie Pie asked, “What’s the occasion?”
“Can’t a stallion dote upon his mare?” Discord smiled, fluffing the tiger lillies.
Not without hope of getting something, Pinkie thought playfully. She responded favourably though, and sniffed the blooms appreciatively. She thanked him, ate, and headed to work. When she got there though, the Cakes told her to take the day off.
“Nothing for it Pinkie,” Cup Cake said, “Not enough customers.”
Indeed, there were hardly any ponies in the store, and though Pinkie was sure it would pick up... well, she could use a day to herself. She smiled softly, thanking Mrs. Cake for the offer, and shouting goodbye to Carrot Cake who was busy in the backroom.
No sooner did she leave the mysteriously vacant bakery than Fluttershy appeared.
“Oh, um, hello!” The rose pink-maned pony smiled, “Um, would you care to join me at the spa?”
“That sounds great Fluttershy. I... I had to plant another rose bush.”
“I heard.” She replied softly, hugging her pink friend, “Listen, uh, I know it won’t help much, but you’ll feel a bit better, I promise.”
Pinkie nodded, and followed her friend toward the spa. Aloe and Lotus Blossom were there to serve them, and Pinkie didn’t notice the quiet way Fluttershy asked for deluxe treatment for her friend, pressing extra bits onto the table. The twins nodded, smiling. Pinkie was eased into a mud bath, soaked in a hot tub, and seated in a steam room before the twins began their work. Hooficures, face masks and a light brushing before the massage began.
“Fluttershy?”
“Mmn?” The pegasus responded from the other bench, enjoying the feel of another pony’s hooves on her back.
“I can see why you like this so much.” The pink mare smiled, despite her recent trauma. Her friend smiled, even if they couldn’t see each other. There was nothing else to be said.
When they finally finished their ablutions, they felt refreshed and renewed, happy with their service. As they left the building, they ran into Rarity, looking frantic.
"Oh my gosh, Pinkie, can I get your help? I need a model for my new collection, and everyone else is busy! This is the. Worst. Possible. Thing!"
"Of course," Pinkie nodded, "I guess Fluttershy doesn't want to go down that path again huh?"
The yellow mare nodded, mumbling something about sick animals before trotting off.
"So you'll help me?" Rarity asked, eyes wide.
Pinkie nodded, and before she knew it she was trying on different dresses, getting things sewn on and torn off what she was wearing...
"Perfect." Rarity stepped back, "This was a prototype, but I want to see what ponies say about it... would you mind wearing it for me today? Just to see what somepony else thinks?"
Pinkie nodded, it was a light airy fabric, billowy without being ostentatious. The colour was a creamy off-white, and it hid her distended belly quite nicely.
"It feels perfect for this weather."
"My thoughts exactly!" the fashionista exclaimed, "I'm so glad you think so too!"
"I better get going, before everypony goes home from market if I'm going to showcase this one. Are you sure you can't take a break?"
A hoof went to the white-coated mare's forehead, "Alas, a slave to my art."
Pinkie smiled, giving her a hug before exiting. She walked in place a bit, to make sure that the dress wouldn't snag if she turned too quickly. Once Pinkie was sure how to walk in it, she headed back to town.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were just around the bend when she came up to Sugarcube Corner, and their eyes went wide.
"Well looky here, if you ain't the darn cutest thing in all of Equestria!"
"Wow Pinkie, you look awesome!"
"Thanks girls! Wow, I'm running into everypony today!" Pinkie smiled, getting a hug from both mares.
"Where are you off to looking all fancy?" AJ asked, joining me as she walked.
"I was just heading home, the Cakes gave me the day off but I keep running into everypony."
"Did Rarity force you into that?" The rainbow pony asked
"No, I actually quite like it. It's a prototype of one of her designs, and she wanted me to show it off... see the reaction, you know? Maybe I'll wear it to dinner tonight."
"Where ya'll goin'?" AJ asked, moving us through the centre of town.
"Oh it's called ClearWater. Dizzy said he heard about it from Spike."
"What about Spike?" the three of us turned to see Twilight carrying a stack of flowers.
Rainbow Dash made a quick summary of the conversation, and the veronica pony nodded.
"ClearWater is a pretty nice place. Uhh, here!" Her horn glowed, and a bunch of flowers came off the stems to attach themselves to my hair.
"Aww thanks Twi," Pinkie sniffed, "Everyone's been so nice today, thank you."
All four mares came together in a hug, and the stayed that way until Pinkie shifted.
"Thanks girls."
"No problem, and hay," Rainbow said, "Let me walk you home."
"Dizzy? I'm sorry I'm a bit late, I got to gabbing with AppleJack and Rainbow Dash!" the pink pony called upon opening the door. Discord leaned out of the kitchen, looking his girlfriend up and down.
"You look beautiful..." It came out as a murmur, and he came out to meet Pinkie, kissing her forehead. "I was hoping we could go on a short walk before dinner, if you think you're up for it."
Pinkie Pie nodded, "I want Rarity's dress to get some more limelight anyway. I promised her."
After deciding that heading through town to ClearWater was the best way to show off the dress, they headed out. Discord complimented the flowers in Pinkie's hair and she went on to proclaim Twilight as being super duper sweet and thoughtful.
The walk through town was quiet, seemed like everyone was taking a night in. Perhaps they were doing an early dinner too. The sun was lazily making its way to meet the horizon, and the couple made their way through town much the same. It wasn't long before they reached the edge of town once more.
"I love you." Pinkie murmured, glancing up at her man, "thank you for taking care of me. I know I push things too hard... I just want them so badly."
"I know, my dear." He leaned down to give her a hug, "But maybe we should wait before trying again, hm?"
"...maybe." Her voice was watery, holding back tears Discord thought.
"That's my girl. Now, I think you'll like dinner -- but first I have a surprise for you."
"A surprise?" She looked up at me, liquid eyes clearing up, "What kind of surprise?"
"Now, now, now, what kind of surprise would it be if I told you?"
She hiccuped a laugh, not paying attention as we rounded the corner -- "I suppose you're right. Where?"
"Take a look." he gestured to the pasture, and her eyes got wide in surprise as she saw what was in store for her.
The field was graced with a single walkway, lined with white lilies and pink roses. Petals of the flowers ran up the walkway, where - it appeared - the whole town stood either side of. The walkway ended with a simple but beautiful archway done in wooden logs and a strip of white silk that fluttered slightly in the light breeze. All her friends stood up at the archway, smiling at her. And wearing lilies in their manes. That matched their summer dresses. It wasn't a walkway. It was an aisle. She tore her eyes away from the scene and looked at her boyfriend.
"Dizzy, I -I don't..." tears welled up again as he sunk to one knee.
"Pinkie Pie, I know I can be a difficult man to live with. You take all my eccentricities in stride and even - chaos knows why - enjoy them. I can't promise that everything will be sunshine and daisies -- but I promise to always try to make you happy. I will try to for the rest of my life, if you'll have me."
He produced a ring. A simple band with her cutie mark on it.
"I don't have a cutie mark, but seeing as I'm devoting my life to you I thought that you should be on the ring. For you are everything." He leaned in, "Plus I didn't think you'd want my mug on your ring."
She barked out laughing, smacking his shoulder.
"Give me the ring you weirdo! Of course I'll marry you!"
His grin widened and he poofed to the end of the aisle.
"Come and get it."
She laughed, tears finally leaking from over-filled eyes. Their day had come. She could hardly believe it. Apple Jack had come down the aisle and proceeded to walk her down it.
"I'm sorry, I ain't a substitute for a father-"
"You're better, you want to be here." She hugged her friend tightly, "Thank you so much AJ."
"It ain't no thing, sugarcube." She pulled back, wiping her friend's face, "Now let's go lasso you a man."
Pinkie laughed, and nodded. This was really happening.
Author's Note
Hi ya'll! :D
