Does the Party End with Motherhood?

((Sith_Dreamer) Author’s Note: From here on out this becomes a joint fic between me and my good friend Zev. So if we need a note, we'll list whose note it is and such. I do have a couple of things to address here though: You’ll understand things a lot better if you read “My Old Apple Acres Home” first. Secondly, when it comes to foals, “I was writing them closer to human babies, so despite the recent episode allowing them to walk as early as a month and even briefly talk, I assume they will stay in the foal stage until they are at least two, hence why Applejack’s daughter, Apple Blitz will still not be anywhere near the levels of the show Cutie Mark Crusaders or other fillies. Ok, sorry for this being long winded. Enjoy!)

Chapter 1

Nearly 4 years later…

“Wow, it’s really amazing!” Rarity stood in awe like most of her other friends at the site before her.

With some improvements, Sweet Apple Acres stood before them nearly the same as it was before the fire that had claimed it almost four years prior. The apple trees were still growing but several large ones already stood in place of the ones that had been lost.

“Wow Big Macintosh, Applejack, how in the world did you ever manage the money to build this?” Twilight asked. “ I know you’ve had jobs and all, but with Apple Blitz, and with everything you’ve been helping Fluttershy with Big Macintosh, how did you afford it  or have the time to do all this?”

“Zap Apples!” a bouncing Applebloom shouted to the purple unicorn.

“Huh?” Twilight looked a bit confused.

“Ah helped ‘em too because Granny Smith taught me everthin’ she knew about harvesting Zap Apples  back when I was a little filly.”

“And then ol’ Filthy Rich as well as some other ponies picked up shipments like they used ta,” Applejack continued the story. “Since Zap Apple jam is so rare and expensive, it easily boosted our earnin’s and we’ve been working on it ever since. Especially while you two were off in Canterlot fer a while.”

“I got babysitting duty,” Rainbow Dash sighed heavily, but smiled at the little cyan filly that clung to her back.

The group laughed at her comment.

“Well I knew all about it!” Pinkie Pie seemed to spring into the air from out of nowhere. “It’s all Caramel has been doing when he hasn’t been helping with his family’s business. He’s so amazing sometimes,” Pinkie got tearey eyed for dramtic effect.

Everypony just smiled. It seemed Pinkie Pie would always be Pinkie Pie.

“It’s really great to see it again,” Twilight Sparkle mused, glancing around and the orchard. “What new things did you add?”

“Well, we expanded the bedroom so Dash and I could share the room, as well as move the crib in fer Apple Blitz. We made the normal rooms for Big Macintosh and Applebloom, although we didn’t try to make one like what Granny Smith had. It would’a been too sad fer us,” Applejack lowered her head as memories of Granny Smith flashed through her mind.

Dash knew what was going through her mind. She trotted up next to her marefriend, and wrapped a wing around her. Apple Blitz stood up on her haunches and gave a confused look at what Rainbow was doing.

“Sorry everypony, just getting’ caught up in ol’ memories, that’s all.”

None of the others said much on the issue. Big Macintosh stepped forward to continue the tour of their rebuilt home.

“You ok?” Dash whispered softly to her as the group moved on ahead of them.

“Yeah sugarcube, just thinking about the old days again. Ah miss her a lot ya know.”

“Who wouldn’t,  AJ? She was a pretty amazing mare. She was like, the original cool pony,” Dash tried to cheer up Applejack with her logic.

Applejack laughed a little bit and nuzzled up to Rainbow Dash, burying her head under the cyan wing. Apple Blitz quickly stood up, although a bit wobbly still, and ran across the cyan wing to her mother, latching on happily to Applejack’s neck.

“M-Mommy!” the little filly cried sweetly.

Despite her sadness, Applejack couldn’t help but feel joyous over the sound of her daughter’s voice, and the warmth that radiated from the mare she loved. IT was all the little filly can manage to say at this time in her life, but it meant the world to Applejack. She wanted to enjoy every moment she could.

After a few moments, the two mares and their filly looked up to see a starry-eyed earth pony staring at them from a few feet away. Finally sure they had seen her, Pinkie Pie bounded towards them enthusiastic as ever.

“Awww, you guys are so adorable. Just like you Blitzy!” Pinkie poked the little filly on the snout, making her giggle uncontrollably.

“Well, uh, we were kinda hoping nopony was spying on us,” Dash tried not to sound mean or upset with Pinkie.

“Oh nonononono, I wasn’t spying. I was just waiting patiently for you to finish whatever you were doing! And now you are done so we can talk!”

“Well you are right Pinkie but-“

“The other night Caramel and I were out, when he asked me about doing stuff with our friends and I told him I never thought about it but it’d be like when more people show up to a party and its even more fun! And then I thought I’d ask you two, and Twilight and Rarity, and Fluttershy and Big Mac and we can have a big date as friends somewhere!” Pinkie finally stopped to breath.

“Heh, well Pinkie, if it’s this week, Ah think we’ll have ta pass fer now,” Applejack told her, “We’ve still got a lot of work ta do on the farm before it’s ready. Plus we ain’t got no one ta watch little Apple Blitz here.”

“Oh, alright,” Pinkie didn’t look down for long. “I’ll go ask Twilight and Rarity, and see if they feel like going. They already have so little time together they need it! Or Fluttershy and Big Macintosh! I know wedding bells are for sure in the air for them!” Pinkie continued on, hopping circles.

Apple Blitz tried to bat at the cotton candy-like mane that swopped past her every few seconds as the pony it was attached to celebrated nothing more than still having other ponies to ask, Every so often a few  strands of hair would fly out of Pinkie’s mane and Apple Blitz would wrap herself in them playfully. Soon after though, Pinkie knew she had to reach the others before they made plans. Pinkie Pie dashed in the direction of her next target as quickly as she could.

“Sorry Pinkie, but I can’t. I have a huge presentation to give to the Canterlot School Board on how to better manage their funding for the year. I can’t miss anything when it comes to what, even for a few hours,” Twilight Sparkle told her.

“Alright,” Pinkie spoke softly, a little more hurt that things we’re not going her way.

“I-I wouldn’t mind going. If… if you don’t mind,” a sweet, timid-sounding voice spoke up.

“Oh hi Fluttershy! I was coming to ask you next. You and Big Mac need to come for a fun filled night out with me and Caramel!” streamers shot from behind her seemingly from nowhere. “You really have to!”

    The timid yellow Pegasus moved toward the others from the apple tree she’d been relaxing under, waiting for her coltfriend to finish some work he had had to do for the day.

“Oh well, I’ll have to ask Big Macintosh first. But um, it sounds like it would be a really nice time,”

Fluttershy squeaked.

“This’ll be so great then! We never get to spend anytime together anymore and when you do have time you usually spend it with Rarity when she has time and then none of us have any other time and it is really sad when that happens!”

“A-alright Pinkie Pie, I’ll let you know as soon as I talk to him,” Fluttershy smiled sweetly.

    With a huge grin, Pinkie Pie bounced off to find her own coltfriend, who had gone to help Big Macintosh in the orchard for the first time in a long while.

    After Pinkie had gone, Fluttershy stopped Rarity and Twilight from heading back into Ponyville right away.

“What’s the matter Fluttershy?” Twilight asked, a look of concern spreading across her face.

“Yes darling, you know you can tell me anything,” Rarity assured her.

“Well, um, Big Macintosh and I had decided…oh I don’t know if I can say this,” she kicked her hoof in the dust, trying to build up her confidence.

    The other two waited patiently, knowing Fluttershy would always have her troubles expressing herself, even around her closest of friends. The yellow Pegasus sighed, and took a deep breath.

“Well, we haven’t made any wedding plans or anything, but with everything finally getting back to normal, and all, Big Macintosh and I have been talking about…foals,” the last word she nearly whispered, causing her friends to lean closer.

“What was that Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.

“Foals,” she said slightly louder.

“Foals?!” Twilight said in surprise. “Did I hear you right?”

    Fluttershy made an eep sound and dropped to the ground. She nodded as a means to answer Twilight’s question.

“Oh Fluttershy, I think it’s marvelous. Marriage and all that is so old fashioned anyway, and I can tell you two are made for each other!” Rarity nudged Twilight hard in the side for how she’d acted.

“I’m sorry Fluttershy, it was just a bit surprising is all. Of course Applejack having a foal was quite a surprise too, but look how well she’s taken to motherhood. Even Rainbow Dash has adapted quite well.”

    Fluttershy picked herself from the dirt, flapping her wings to blow the brown dust that had clung to her coat.

“Well…we’ve got an appointment with a doctor that’s making a special visit from Canterlot tomorrow,” Fluttershy blushed before she said the next part, “We’ve already been trying, and nothing has happened so far.”

“Well I’m sure everything will turn out just fine my dear. I can’t imagine a better father than a big, strong stallion like Big Macintosh,” Rarity reassured her.

“If you don’t like what that doctor tells you, I’m sure Princess Celestia could get you seen by even better doctors. I’m sure any problems might even be  able to be fixed by the Princess herself.”

  Fluttershy smiled at her friends, relived to not have to go into any more detail on the matter.

“I admit Fluttershy, if anypony is cut out for motherhood, it’s you. The way you deal with animal and pony alike is astounding. I’d bet a foal wouldn’t be a huge change at all,” Twilight said honestly,

“Although one might give Big Mac a run for his bits.”

The three ponies had a laugh at her comment, enjoying the brief moment before they would each have to return to the things they had to do.

When Fluttershy found Big Macintosh in the orchard, Pinkie Pie was there too, chattering like mad to him and Caramel. It seemed Pinkie had already mentioned the night out to the red stallion, and he seemed generally happy to take a night out. Fluttershy knew Big Macintosh wasn’t a pony who cared for much away from the farm and work, like the nightlife of Ponyville or fancy food brought from Canterlot. Still even he needed a day out and it was always better with the mare he loved.

“Oh Fluttershy, I know you were going to ask but Macintosh was right here and I was already talking to Caramel and guess what? Caramel mentioned it too! And he said yes! So you should like totally be getting ready and they’ll be done soon and get ready and I’ll go get ready too and we’ll all meet here.

That’s where we’ll meet, I had a feeling it was!”

Every time Pinkie rambled ,the words ran circles around her head and made her dizzy. She managed to nod, and keep herself from dropping to the ground.

“Oh, what if, after we went out, we had  a party! That would be so awesome, it’d be like a night out after-party!” Before anyone could answer her, Pinkie dashed off, either to get ready or to plan a party, nopony could be sure.

“How do ya ever put up with her, Caramel?” Mac asked, himself a little overwhelmed by Pinkie’s antics.

“She’s a really sweet pony,” Caramel smiled as he spoke, “She’s a handful, but she always means well. And I gotta say, she kinda balances my personality out a bit.”

Fluttershy nodded, not quite sure what he meant.

“Um, Macintosh, I've gotta go feed the animals now. They're probably already getting hungry.” Fluttershy said lightly, and motioned towards the sun in the sky.

“Ah’m sorry Caramel, Ah completely forgot Shy needed mah help . Ya mind takin’ these apples up ta the barn fer me?” Mac asked.

Caramel nodded. He watched as the couple trotted off to the road that led into town. He wondered where they were off too, but he loved how happy they looked going. He couldn’t help but wish Pinkie could be so calm once in a while.

Later that evening, Celestia’s sun began to set, casting slight darkness over the world as Luna’s moon took place. Over by the apple orchard stood Pinkie Pie and her coltfriend, playing a game by one of the trees as they awaited for their friends to show.

“37 times in a row... how are you so good at this game, Pinkie?”

“I played this game a lot with my sisters, silly! It was one of the only games that we could sit around and play,” Pinkie exclaimed as she looked up at her coltfriend. Not long after could they hear the sound of hoofsteps in the grass not far from where the two were sitting. Caramel looked over the pink mare to see two ponies trotting towards them; Fluttershy and Big Macintosh.

“Sorry if we’re a little bit late,” Fluttershy called over as they trotted closer to the couple by the tree.

Caramel couldn't help but notice both ponies looked so happy together. Having cleaned up and put on clothes for their night out, the couple seemed to shine. Caramel smiled, but kept his thoughts to himself.

“Nah, you guys aren’t too late,” Caramel waved a hoof dismissively. “But we should probably start heading to this restaurant now before it gets too late.”

Pinkie suddenly was jumping around Fluttershy and Big Macintosh as she spoke, “Yup! If we don’t get there soon then it could close and then that would mean that we couldn’t have this double date and then I would be sad because then all four of us couldn’t spend the night together and have fun!”

     Fluttershy and Big Macintosh were caught off guard by this act of excitement from the pink pony. Big Mac tried to look over at Caramel, giving some odd expression. Caramel just shrugged and motioned for them to follow him. The four of them trotted through Ponyville, on their way to their desired restaurant. Pinkie couldn’t contain her excitement, as she bounced around the group the whole way to the restaurant,  getting weird stares and glances from other passer-bys. A few minutes had passed since then, and the four finally made it to the restaurant.

“Table for-”

“Table for four!” Pinkie jumped in front of Caramel, getting right in the waiters face as she yelled. The waiter jumped back, completely not expecting the sudden act of the pink mare just before him. Caramel face hoofed as Fluttershy and Big Macintosh gave awkward smiles to each other and the other ponies staring at the group.

“Uh... right... uh right this way,” the waiter tried to recollect himself as he picked up four menus from nearby and motioned for the other to follow him to their booth.

Pinkie, as always, was bouncing around as she followed the waiter. Pinkie was the first to jump into her seat at the booth, as the other three slowly shifted their way over. The waiter placed the menus in front of each couple and seemingly took off with a bit of haste. Caramel noticed this and glanced over as the waiter took off to tend to other customers. He shrugged this off, thinking nothing of it and picked up his menu to find something to order. Pinkie slammed her menu done, seemingly ready to order, and startling the rest at the table.

“This is so great, you guys! We finally get a time to talk to each and catch up because before we were all so busy helping Applejack and we spent a lot of time with our partners and I was sad, but here we are now, getting together and finally being able to talk for a while!”

“Oh... um... yes, this is nice.” Fluttershy managed to squeak out, still slightly startled from Pinkies sudden outburst.

“Yes, it’s been a little while since we last talked, Caramel,” Big Macintosh noted. “How’s that job of yours been?”

“Busy as always, I’ll tell you that,” Caramel stated as he put down his menu, shifting closer to Pinkie. Pinkie rested her head on Caramel’s shoulder, keeping the large smile that was plastered across her features.

“I always thought the both of ya made a great couple,” Big Mac stated as he took a sip of his water glass. He placed a hoof on top of Fluttershy’s, whose was already laying atop the table they were sitting at. Fluttershy looked over at Big Mac, a smile creeping on her features.

“I thought the same about you two,” Caramel smirked as he responded. Big Mac just shrugged, looking back at his marefriend.

The four of them sat there, chatting for what seemed like hours. Pinkie did her job at keeping the situation itneresting, switching from one topic to the next, until they ended up on a topic that seemed to hold all four ponies' attention.

“I’ve always thought about having a foal at some point,” Fluttershy stated.

“I’m sure you’d be a great mother, Fluttershy! You’re always so kind and always taking care of animals that it wouldn’t be too much of an issue for you!” Pinkie nearly yelled out across the table. She was bouncing in her seat as the thought of Fluttershy made her a bit excited.

“Well... yes...we've...well, we've been trying,” Fluttershy looked down, her usual look of embarassement growing across her face. Big Mac placed a comforting hoof on her shoulder.

Fluttershy went on to explain the things she'd already told Twilight and Rarity. Pinkie grinned from ear to ear the whole time, while Caramel just sat and nodded, interested but indifferent emotinally.

“Well that’s just super amazing! I bet it'd be super cute and then I could baby sit like when the Cakes- ”

Pinkie tried to keep rambling, but was stopped by the waiter who trotted by to drop off their bill.

“I got this, don’t worry you guys,” Cararmel exclaimed as he put down the bits to cover the bill.

“We should probably head out too, it’s beginin’ ta get late,” Big Macintosh stated as he shifted out of his seat. Pinkie and Caramel just nodded and followed suite. The four of them stopped in front of the restaurant to say their goodbyes to each other and then parted ways.

The walk from the restaurant was unusually quiet, especially for Caramel who’d rarely known silence while in the company of the pink party pony.

“It’s pretty late out, do you mind if I stay with you for the night, Pinkie?”

“Of course it is!” Pinkie exclaimed, embracing Caramel. Caramel returned the embrace and kissed Pinkie on the cheek, making her giggle.

Pinkie kept thinking back at how Fluttershy had told them about wanting a foal. She could see a perfect image of a happy family between Fluttershy, Mac, and a foal, and thought it was just adorable. She hoped Fluttershy would get her wish. Pinkie hated to see her friends sad. She had been happy for Applejack, and loved everytime she got to see little Apple Blitz. She loved everytime she got to see and play with foals. Pinkie just couldn't iamgine herself with one though.

Caramel could tell that Pinkie had something on her mind, but wasn't sure what it could be. Not knowing what to say, or if he should say anything,  he pecked her on the cheek again, causing Pinkie. to smile at him like she always did, before they continued on their way back to Pinkie’s.