Fallen Eagle

Chapter 69: Searching for the Answer

All right, an update in time for Season 7! I'm really happy to see so many people still sticking with my story even though my uploading has been rather slow. Again, hopefully with the return of MLP on weekends, and once I get a normal job, my uploading can resume to normal.

I just want to say thank you to SquirtlePWN for helping me bring this chapter to life. Having somewhat of a Beta Reader REALLY helps to prevent me from putting in anything stupid :P

Gracie Ghost: I can imagine a lot of people held their breath at that moment :D

Monkeyboy0118: Yeah, but I want the best quality for my readers. Imagine if Star Wars was never rewritten in pre-production: Han Solo would be a fishman...But no, Luna only meant she could foresee Ivan marrying Applejack, she never thought he could impregnate her.

axelialea: Nope, she didn't even have morning sickness

Nostalgia Cop: Strong possibility

N1gh7Wolf93: Lol

kalub092: It was supposed to be not only for Ivan and AJ, but for you guys as well! :P

headreviewermk2: Thank ya! As for regular pony or anthro, it's a secret :D

Guest: Nothing will ever make Ivan split from AJ

StacheKing: Hey man, haven't seen you in quite some time! It's cool that you couldn't come back for awhile; real life unfortunately must take over. But as for the depth of feeling for characters, they're evolving, and I wanted to show just how much they've changed since the whole Draconia incident. And Ivan is putting in what he's learned about friendship to good use. I've always aimed to make this a slice of life story, and the characters should have depths for emotions.

Caleb200888: What a twist!

sheppard741: Thank you, especially the part about Flash. I've really enjoyed toying with his character to make him feel like an actual character :P

Furi Poi: Hey Furi! You'll have to find out!

Phew. Without further ado, here's the continuation of Fallen Eagle!

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"Ready, AJ?" I asked with a soft grunt, pushing myself up off my knees yet still holding Applejack's hoof in my hand. The poor mare looked up at me with her big emerald eyes full of confusion and fret before clenching them and nodding. I gently helped her up to her hooves and pecked her forehead for good luck before setting her stetson back on top of her head.

"Thanks Sugarcube," AJ attempted to muster up a smile, but found her mouth faltering; not that I could fault her for that. There was no doubt that we'd have a lot of explaining to do to our friends still holed up in Luna's chambers from my piss poor explanation for why AJ couldn't come out in the first place. Though she'd improved since I talked to her, the aforementioned mare was still shaking and her coat was still fairly pale, just a few other things to add to the list of questions we'd have to face, especially since I was still looking distant and unfocused, but we still had each other to stand beside to face the music.

"Applejack," I said in a defeated tone, softly running my fingers through the back of her mane. "Please forgive me," I begged, knowing that I would have to lie in front of her so we could get past our friends and to the infirmary. The mare quietly exhaled and bowed her head, her hoof slipping out of my hand and gently hitting the floor. With that, I reached my hand over and unlocked the door, trying to open it in a way that wouldn't cause suspicion.

To my relief, and a little bit of surprise, only five were waiting outside the door: Twilight, Spike, Luna, Celestia and Starlight? Thankfully, Applejack continued walking, at least attempting to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Twilight let out a sharp gasp and covered her mouth with her hoof, alerting everyone else in the room.

"AJ?" Big Mac asked fearfully once he locked onto his little sister, trotting past everyone else's shocked faces. I could feel my girlfriend's breathing becoming more sharp and ragged, so I continued to stroke the back of her neck to comfort her. No one dared to get any closer than the dragon, unicorn, and three alicorns already were. For a moment, I felt like a museum display with everyone staring at us, not knowing what to say. I couldn't imagine what Applejack was going through.

Celestia looked so sad as she studied the two of us rather than being shocked or worried like the rest. Finally however, the white alicorn lightly snorted and approached us. "Whatever is the matter, my friends?" She questioned like a concerned mother. "Y-you both look quite ill," she added.

"Please," Luna joined her sister, "is there anything we can do for either of you?" I took a deep breath and prepared to lie to their faces, no matter how much it hurt to do so to ones I trusted so dearly.

"Sorry if we kind of scared you guys," I apologized, "but uh, Applejack isn't feeling very good. She might have a small case of the flu." A tiny look of relief washed over the two alicorns standing close, but that didn't mean their concerns were erased.

"Oh," Luna blinked, "and she just wanted you in there for comfort?" I had to think of something fast since I already explained earlier that AJ didn't like to admit she was sick to anyone. However, since she didn't have chores to do, and we were at a friendly gathering, this might've been a situation where her stubbornness wouldn't shine through as badly.

"Sort of. She didn't want to get everyone concerned, so she asked me to sit and talk with her and see if it would pass over."

"Well, I'm glad that she had you to comfort her, Cougar," Celestia replied, "but Applejack, if you truly are feeling under the weather, don't hesitate to ask myself or Luna to borrow some medicine," she turned to my slightly shivering girlfriend.

"Ah'll keep that in mind, princess," AJ gulped.

"Do ya need anythin' lil sis? Ah can make a run ta the market if Luna's cabinet is empty," Big Mac appeared beside Celestia, looking gravely concerned for Applejack.

"Actually Big Mac, I was just going to take her to the infirmary to have the doctor take a look at her," I explained, my grip on Applejack's mane tightening as I prayed this would work out. "Just to see if it's not contagious or anything," I quickly added. A few members of the group looked a bit skeptical at the explanation, knowing that Applejack rarely visited the doctor for anything other than a regular check up, and even then she was stubborn about it.

The answer we received both relieved and worried us. "Would you like a few of us to go with you?" Shining Armor offered with a warm smile.

"That's kind of you, Shining Armor, but really, we don't think it's anything to get too worked up about." The unicorn prince's smile faded into a disappointed frown. "And I'm sure most of you want to come too, but you shouldn't put Luna's baby shower on hold for us."

"Eeyup," AJ agreed.

"We'll just have Dr. Shots take a quick look at her and be back as soon as possible, okay?" I asked from everyone. Nearly everybody exchanged a reluctant look or appeared to be sad that we didn't want them to go with us. I felt so awful having to lie, but this was one time that a lie worked better than the truth, more so since the whole truth was still a mystery.

"If you're positive," Twilight remarked in a low yet sympathetic tone. Without hesitation, AJ and I nodded; my hand relaxed itself yet still held onto the back of AJ's mane. Celestia exhaled and gave us one of her classic motherly smiles and opened the chamber's door with her magic.

"It is unfortunate that you've fallen ill, Applejack, but I wish for you to recover soon," she bowed and stepped aside to clear a path for the two of us. Although a few were a bit disinclined, they respected our wish to go to the infirmary alone and moved over as well.

"Ah-Ah'll be back big brother," Applejack said while we briskly walked/trotted past everyone.

The poor stallion pouted his lip and cast his green eyes down on the floor below before muttering, "Eeyup," as AJ and I walked through the doorway and into the empty hallway outside where I'd just been not too long ago, the door closing with the help of Celestia's magic. The instant the door shut, both of us breathed a massive sigh of relief that our fib had been bought, but that didn't help the guilt welling up within us. We stood in silence for a brief moment, collecting our thoughts on what lied ahead of us in the infirmary.

"So….do you want some more time to-" I began before the mare held up a hoof.

"No," she stated quietly with a shake of her head. "The longer we wait, the worse we'll feel, Sugarcube. Better ta face it now than let it grow into fear 'n have a better time o' controllin' us," AJ snuggled her head underneath my hand and her cheek against my waist. My instincts immediately took over and began to pet at her, granting the two of us some comfort.

"Okay hun," I smiled before we started our journey into a true unknown toward the infirmary. Luckily, I've been to the blasted place numerous times, so I kind of had a bearing on where it was without needing to ask directions. "At least we're not facing this alone," I added.

"That's why Ah wanted ta let ya know 'fore anypony else," the mare craned her neck to look into my eyes. "Ah didn't wanna face this without ya." I truly didn't know what to say to that. Although, to have the mare I loved remind me of how much she trusts me helped cool my nerves. Since I couldn't say anything, I gave her a light scratch underneath her chin, which brought a little smile to her face. "Thanks for talkin' for me, Ivan," Applejack sighed while her stetson once again became lopsided on her head.

"Hey, anything for you, Applejack."

"Heh," the mare chuckled softly, looking back down at the floor. "Ah just wish that we didn't have ta lie in the first place," she muttered dejectedly.

"Come on," I moved my hand behind her neck and began to rub it up and down. "The last thing you need is everyone pestering you with a thousand questions. I'm not about to let that happen to you, AJ," I promised. By a stroke of luck, the mare's downtrodden nature didn't keep her from moving, but it noticeably slowed her pace. With a sigh, I added, "Applejack, I know you're not gonna like this, but sometimes a little lie is better than the truth."

A sad snort from AJ froze my hand in place on the back of her neck. "Besides, not all of it is a lie. We're really going to the infirmary, and you're not feeling well."

"But it ain't the whole truth, Sugarcube," she slowly rolled her head around. The whole truth, her words repeated in my head. This was starting to sound familiar.

"You mean," I swallowed, "just like when you found out I ate meat, and I never told anyone?" From the reflection of the corridor flooring, I could see Applejack's eyes widen plain as day. 'Shit,' I thought. I really needed to be careful of what I said at the moment so I wouldn't make Applejack feel more uneasy and even afraid than she already was. Of course though, that's exactly what our predicament was mirroring.

"Ah'd, uh, almost forgotten about that," she remarked, "b-but yeah, Ah suppose this here situation is akin ta that incident, Ivan. But the point Ah'm gettin' at Sugarcube is as much as Ah hate lyin', Ah can't argue that we didn't have much choice back there." She was starting to talk a little faster at this point, almost in a panicked tone. "Ah-Ah just don't know what else ta do at this point!" She exclaimed. "We'll have ta explain ourselves after this, no matter what the outcome is." I had to change the subject to prevent her from reverting back to her state in the bathroom.

"Hey, hey, hey," I said gently, slipping my hand underneath her chin and gently lifting her head so I could look in her gorgeous eyes. "I promise you, Applejack, that I'll make it up to you for having to go along with a lie. I can't imagine how awful you feel with that piling up around you on top of everything else."

Ever so slowly, the mare's ears stiffed back atop her head as a sigh slipped through her lips. "Ya don't have ta make anythin' up ta me, Ivan. Just bein' here with me is all Ah could ever need or ask for."

"Are you sure?" I cocked my head to the side.

"O' course Ah Am. Ah'm just a little shook up is all, 'n Ah might be overreactin' a tad," she chewed on her lip.

"I don't think so, AJ. You're acting about as normal as I'd expect from a surprise gut punch like this. At least you're not pulling out a couch and collapsing on it," I smirked. My heart leapt a little as Applejack grinned and let out a genuine chuckle.

"Heh heh, yeah," she held her head up a little higher and her pace picked up to near normal speeds. I was thankful that a bit of humor cheered up the two of us, but I'd be a fool to presume it'd fix everything so quickly. One step at a time, that would be the only way to keep our sanity about this. That left only one option for us to do to help smother the anxiety boiling within us. I was sure Applejack had something she'd want to get off her chest, so why not?

As we rounded a corner and left the corridor that held Luna's chambers, I exhaled and asked, "Applejack, I know I asked this before, but do you have any clue about how this could've happened?" My body tensed up as I braced myself for whatever reaction my girlfriend would have. A shiver suddenly traveled from her neck and down through her spine from my question. "And don't even think about that; it never crossed my mind, Hun," I reassured her by tracing my fingers around her right cheek.

"No…Ah really don't Sugarcube," she sighed and lazily rested her head against my hand, softly whinnying at my comforting touch. "Ah mean, we've done, that, plenty o' times before, especially durin' the Estrus," a faint blush radiated onto her exposed left cheek, "but nothin' happened as a result, ya know, as we expected." That's really where the sickly feeling came from. If say Rainbow got pregnant from Soarin, it might come as a little shock to them since they weren't expecting a baby either, but it'd make sense for them considering they're both ponies. "In fact," she continued, "Ah had my period about two or three days after Estrus was over…."

"So, Luna and Checkered's wedding night," I too blushed a little at the memory of us embracing one another in the shower.

"Eeyup," AJ nodded, her fur tickling the palm of my hand.

"Maybe," I licked my lips, trying to think of any possibilities, "maybe it's a hysterical pregnancy?" Although trying to talk about this had the goal of comforting both of us, I tried not to sound too enthusiastic about the test coming out with the wrong result or her body believing she's pregnant even though she's not.

"C-could be," AJ cocked her head in my hand and gazed up at me with her left eye. "Then again, Ivan, Ah'm no expert in medicine, 'n Ah wouldn't know how common those are for ponies. Ah ain't ever seen a case o' that before."

"I don't know, I was just thinking my reproductive genes might be confusing yours," I added. Applejack pondered for a minute, looking away from me and at the numerous large windows we were passing by.

"Ah get what yer sayin', Ivan, but why did it take this long ta happen, whether it's real or not?" She questioned. "Why not after Hearts 'n Hooves Day, or especially after heat weekend? If any time, Ah'd think it would've happened then." She had a point there. I tried desperately to think of what, if anything, had changed in the last few months up until Hearts and Hooves Day. Even if her body was tricking itself into think she was expecting….why not during the time that made the most sense? An idea suddenly popped in my mind. Unexpected, unusual, almost a little chaotic with what has happening to Applejack….

"You don't think Discord had anything to do with this, do you?"

"Dis- huh?" AJ did a double-take. Strangely, I was more surprised by Applejack's response than she was to my theory. After knowing him for much longer than I have, I easily would've assumed that she'd take this into a little consideration instead of reacting as if I were trying to explain the theory of relativity. "What, ya mean like he did somethin' ta you, me or both of us?" Her left eye squinted as she thought.

"I don't know," I shrugged, "maybe. You know the kind of crazy shit he loves to pull on anyone and everyone for his amusement." Applejack slowly shook her head in disagreement, humming softly.

"Ah know Discord does a lotta things that don't add up, even more so than Pinkie Pie. An' if this was a few years ago, Ah'd bet the farm on the possibility o' that varmint pullin' somethin' like this, Ivan." AJ's left foreleg found itself wrapped around my lower back so that she was now walking on three legs. "But not nowadays."

"Why not now?"

"Well, his time with Fluttershy has really helped him ta mature 'n become a much better friend. Sure, he loves ta do things outta the ordinary for the fun of it, but Ah truly believe that he wouldn't dare pull some prank sick enough ta trick somepony into thinkin' their pregnant," Applejack explained. Her voice never once wavered or faltered; it just kept her usual stern and confident tone, so I dared not question her.

It felt nice to have the two of holding each other on our journey, but with my only theory shot down and Applejack not having any ideas herself, we walked on in silence, occasionally passing by a guard or a servant. "Sugarcube?" AJ finally broke the silence when we'd passed Celestia and Luna's private bathhouse.

"Yeah, hun?" I scratched behind her ear.

"Do ya mind if Ah ask ya somethin'….strange?" AJ asked hesitantly, to which I nodded without hesitation. "Ah just feel a lil better talkin' ta ya," she explained before getting to the point. "Let's say Ah really am pregnant, what do ya think a baby of ours would look like?"

Well, she was certainly correct when she said it was a strange question. I was so preoccupied with thinking of how her becoming pregnant could happen, and comforting her, that exactly what a baby from us would end up being. "Uh, what do you mean exactly, Applejack?" I asked curiously.

"Ya know, what do ya think a baby from a pony like me 'n a human like you would look like?" Applejack repeated hesitantly but sounded intrigued at the same time. I had to admit that it was a pretty good question albeit still strange to think about.

"I-I have no idea, AJ," my fingers continued to play with her ear. I didn't know where to even start with what a child from a pony and human would look like. Then again, this wasn't supposed to be possible.

"Hmm, well, it's anypony's guess," the mare peered back up at me. "Ah mean, do ya think maybe it'd just be a human, or just a pony dependin' on whose biology is more dominant?"

"Um, I don't think it'd just be a human or a pony, hun," I scratched the back of my head with my other hand.

"Why's that?"

"You know, Carrot and Cup Cake both had a unicorn and a pegasus babies even though they're earth ponies. Sure, it'd make more sense if they had nothing but earth pony children, but their past relatives were any species of pony except alicorn. I don't think think my human traits or your pony traits would dominate the other, especially considering how radically different we are biologically," I explained.

"Huh," AJ chewed on her tongue. "Well, I never really minded our physical differences, Sugarcube," she smiled.

"Neither have I," I replied, feeling a small blush forming on my cheeks.

"But if what yer sayin' is true, then would our baby look like?" Applejack got right back to the question at hand. "Half o' me 'n half o' y'all? Ya know, somethin' like yer body with hands 'n arms 'n walked on two legs but has hooves instead o' feet like ya have? An' a tail with a pony head?" My eyes widened and my head slowly turned down toward the mare. I wasn't shocked or disgusted at the description of a pony/human hybrid, which actually fascinated me more than anything, but at how much thought Applejack put into this. I know she was just as puzzled as I was about this, but was she hoping she was pregnant? We did tell each other that we thought the other would make a good parent…..

"That uh, could be a possibility," I finally said after a moment or two of thinking about it. If our DNA did mix together and mutate, I suppose that was one possible outcome, kind of like a lion and a tiger mating and producing a liger in nature. Then again, those were felines, and they shared more genetics than I did with AJ. "Or maybe a human with fur on its skin, pony ears and a tail?" I dropped my own suggestion.

"Hmm, Ah think that's more likely," Applejack replied with a slow nod and a cute pout. "What are the odds it'd be exactly half 'o both of us?" She asked. I simply shrugged in response, still thinking. "Ah honestly would like ta see some o' ya in a baby of ours, Ivan," she added sweetly and rubbed her cheek against my side.

"You know, Applejack?" I sighed. "If we are having a baby, of course I'd like to see a little of both of us in it, and I would love it no matter what," I grasped her hoof that was still wrapped around my torso with my other hand, rubbing it gently with my thumb. "Even if our child is a human with fur and a horn, 3 hooves and 1 hand, I wouldn't love it any less, but I'd prefer it to be a pony. Any race of pony, be it an earth pony, pegasus, unicorn, or hell, even an alicorn." I know it was strange to say that after I'd told her that I didn't think we could produce just a human or a just a pony, but since this was anyone's guess, nothing was truly impossible.

Applejack didn't stop walking, but she did take her hoof out of my hand in surprise. "W-what? What makes ya say that, Ivan?" She cocked her expressive eyebrow at me.

"Applejack, you know what I had to go through from a lot of outside ponies when I first arrived, right? And still do today?" Applejack's eyebrows flatted against her eyes.

"Y-yeah?"

"I had the advantage of being an adult to deal with it, even if some of it still hurt. But I would never want a child that was a human or part human and part pony to go through what I did." Her expression gradually regressed to that of sadness as I had to remind her of my early days in Equestria. All the hatred and speciesism that ponies threw on me, some even demanding I be studied by scientists or simply locked away in a zoo, or even worse.

"Ah-Ah really can't argue with ya there, Ivan," she confessed sadly. "But, if we do have a baby like that, the only thing we could do is love him or her," she said confidently after taking in a huge breath.

"And I would, Applejack," I swore, offering her my hand once more. She took it without even blinking, curling her hoof as hard as she could around my fingers and giving the top of my hand a loving nuzzle. "….Still," my eyes drifted downward.

"What is it, Sugarcube?" Applejack had detected my wariness. One thing, besides trying to figure out the cause of this situation, was trying to face the reality, our reality, if this was all true. Nonetheless, we wouldn't have a better time to talk about this like we currently did.

I pursed my lips tightly until they hurt before lifting up my gaze back at AJ. "Even if it does turn out to be a normal earth pony, things will be different. Some ponies will always treat a baby of ours different all because of me." I hated to say it like I was ashamed, but it was the truth.

"Ivan please," she begged, "don't say anythin' like that. Ah can't predict the future or even know if Ah am pregnant, but I do know this," she slowly trotted in front of me, walking backwards so she could look directly at me. "If we do have a baby from this," she pointed at her belly with her free foreleg, "or if we adopt a colt or filly, it'll always have a strong daddy ta turn to when they need to. It may get teased simply because o' who their father is, but if you just give it an apple seed's worth o' love that you already give me, Ah know that it'll be able ta overcome anythin' that comes its way," she lightly pressed her hoof right over my heart, "just like its daddy always has," AJ gave me an encouraging smile.

"A-Applejack," I said, almost speechless. I knew how much trust she had in me, but damn. Was she really this ready, or was she just trying to make me feel better like I was doing to her in the bathroom?

"An' besides," her hoof snaked its way up to my cheek, "our own friends might start havin' kids o' their own too. Our baby would already have its own set o' friends fer support, especially Luna's colt," she reminded me.

"….You've really thought a lot about this, haven't you?" My fingers played with a loose strand of her mane above her forehead. Applejack snickered and smiled bashfully.

"Well, Ah didn't want ya ta feel like Ah did in Princess Luna's bathroom, Ivan, but y'all know me. Ah know ya'd do anythin' fer a child of ours," she repeated. Still, however, I was giving somewhat of an incredulous look. It's not that I didn't believe her, but there was a question that was burning its way through my mind like a wildfire.

"Applejack?"

"What is it, Sugarcube?"

I gulped, trying to prepare myself to ask her. I closed my eyes and put my forehead against her own, rubbing it before looking up above Applejack. On the wall behind her was the sign that informed anyone in the castle that the infirmary was around the corner of the corridor; we were closer than I'd realized. "Thank you," was the only thing I could say as I gently kissed her. I knew we would have time to discuss what was on my mind in the privacy of Dr. Shots' office, whether or not she was expecting.

"Aw, nothin' to it, Ivan," Applejack pulled away with a small grin on her face. "Y'all put me at ease in Luna's bathroom; Ah'm more than glad ta return the favor fer my special somepony," she rubbed her nose against mine.

"We're just about there," my eyes peered around her head to the sign on the wall. Cocking her head, Applejack turned around to follow my line of sight and stared at the spot on the wall for a moment. "Hey, whatever happens," I placed my hand on her left cheek, slowly turning her back to face me, "I'm with you every step of the way."

"One step at a time, Sugarcube," she repeated verbatim the mantra I told her back in Luna's bathroom as I gently set her down onto the ground, my hand behind her head and petting her silky mane. Together, we walked/trotted around the corner and came face to face with the castle's infirmary entrance. We took a simultaneous deep breath before I reached outward and opened the door.

We were surprised to find the receptionist's desk empty except for a sign that read: Out to Lunch. With nothing stopping us from entering the main area of the infirmary, AJ and I entered through the second door, only to have a strange feeling wash over me. "Huh," my eyes scanned the sterile room. It was quiet in here, a little too eerily quiet for my liking. "I never realized how big this room actually is." Other than Nurse Redheart, who was restocking tongue depressors and tending to a pegasus guard with what appeared to be a broken right hind leg, and Dr. Shots, there were no other ponies in the room.

"Oh!" Dr. Shots looked up from the other side of the prostrate guard. "Cougar and Applejack, what can I help you with?" He levitated his penlight back into his lab coat pocket and trotted his way over to us. "Is Princess Luna okay? Does she need help with anything?"

"She's fine, sir," Applejack reassured the doctor. However, that didn't satisfy the mocha colored unicorn completely. Without warning, he cupped his hoof underneath Applejack's chin, studying her.

"Forgive me, Ms. Applejack, but are you feeling all right? You seem pale," Dr. Shots commented before releasing AJ's chin.

"Ahem," AJ cleared her throat from the sudden contact, "w-we've got a strange problem that we'd like yer help with, Doc." The good doctor smiled warmly at us.

"Of course!" He beamed before returning his gaze to AJ. "What can I help you two with today?" I quickly stole a look back at Nurse Redheart and the injured pegasus guard just a few feet away. Despite them being the only other souls in the room, I wanted to keep this between just myself, AJ and Dr. Shots.

"Could we talk with you in your office about this please, doctor?" I asked as kindly as I could. "Alone?" The doctor seemed perplexed for a brief second, but he brushed it off bowed his head politely.

"Absolutely, Cougar. I do respect the confidentiality between patient and doctor," his horn lit up and opened up his office door across the room. "Or in this case, patient, special somepony and doctor," he winked and whirled around. "I'll be just a few minutes, Nurse Redheart."

"Take your time, doctor," the mare smiled. "I don't think we'll have to worry about anything here."

"All right then, after you two," Dr. Shots grinned, holding his foreleg out for us to take the lead. Lightly gripping Applejack's shoulder, we followed the unicorn's offer, ready to discover the truth behind our predicament.

(Dr. Shots' office; Ivan's POV)

"…." Dr. Shots sat in his chair on the opposite side of his desk from me and Applejack. His mouth was agape, and he was motionless, as if frozen in time or petrified after AJ and I revealed the truth behind our presence in his office. "I-I apologize," he finally budged after sitting silent, "but you'd like me to what?" The unicorn asked in astonishment.

"Ah know it's comin' from plum outta nowhere, Doc, but we're tellin' ya the truth. Ivan 'n Ah just want an answer ta all this, a medical one from y'all," Applejack reiterated what she just told the doctor. "Ah might be pregnant, but we aren't completely sure." Shots' eyes shifted their way back to me as he peered over the top of his glasses, blinking several times.

"Ehh, and you're supposed to be the father, Cougar?" He pointed at me with his hoof. There was no way it would be fair of us to get angry at Dr. Shots for asking that.

"If Applejack is pregnant," I swallowed, putting my hand onto the mare's knee, "then yes sir," my lips tightly pursed together. Applejack took the medical expert's moment of contemplation to interject.

"Ah'd never let another stallion touch me in that way, Doc," she shook her head to and fro, her mane swishing from side to side in the process. "Except Ivan." Her hoof rested upon my hand that had given her knee a gentle, loving squeeze. The unicorn sitting across from us chewed on his lower lip as he hummed, tapping his front hooves on the surface of his desk.

"Please forgive my skepticism, but this is one of the strangest medical cases I've ever been asked to take on," he requested quite apologetically, trying to not upset either me or Applejack.

"Strange doesn't even come close to describing this for us, Doctor Shots," I lent him an understanding smile, or at least the best one I could conjure up with the anxiety on my and AJ's shoulders continuously growing.

"Eeyup," Applejack concurred. Dr. Shots audibly clicked his tongue several times before crossing his forelegs together and leaning against his desk closer to us.

"I gave you two my word I would help you, and I intend to keep that promise. However, may I ask what exactly brought this idea to the attention of both of you?" For what seemed to be the thousandth time today, AJ and I gave each other a nervous look as I slipped my hand into my pocket, producing the used pregnancy test that I swiped in case anyone used Luna's bathroom after us.

"Well, this for starters," I held the test in the palm of my hand. The idea that AJ relieved herself on it was such a minute issue to me that I didn't care about it touching my hand. Nevertheless, I didn't want to seem rude to the doctor that was willing to help us find an answer and keep this confidential between the three of us. The stick suddenly glowed the same color aura as Dr. Shots' magic before floating its way over to the unicorn.

"Ugh," Applejack groaned, rubbing her hoof down the length of her face slowly. "Ah feel so bad about usin' one o' Princess Luna's tests without askin' her."

"Come on," I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, "I'm sure once we get an answer and explain ourselves to everyone, she'll understand, hun," I reassured her with a gentle kiss to her ear.

"Hmm, you're not sure if you're actually with child, correct?" Dr. Shots asked as he looked at the positive plus sign on the stick.

"Nope," Applejack shook her head again. "We were kinda thinkin' that maybe it's a false positive or my body might be trickin' itself, Doc."

"I see," he nodded. "And uh, what makes you think your body might be confusing itself for being pregnant? When was your last recalled menstrual cycle?"

"Uh…." Applejack blushed at having to talk about her periods, but she shrugged it off. "About a day or two before Princess Luna 'n Checkered Flag's weddin'."

"Ah," the stallion pushed himself up and exited his chair with the test still levitating next to him. "And when was the last time you two, ahem," he cleared his throat. Both AJ and I turned red faced for a minute and exchanged glances before turning back to the doctor.

"L-Luna 'n Checkered's weddin' night," Applejack stammered.

Dr. Shots took a mental note of that and replied, "Hysterical pregnancies are not extremely common, but they can happen, Applejack," he assured us. "Whether or not you are expecting a child I shall help you two solve," he grinned.

"Thank you, doctor," I leaned over and shook his hoof. "We talked about it, and we were hoping you could give Applejack a second test, just so we can be sure."

"I could take a blood sample from your marefriend and test that. It's much more accurate than an over the counter home test." That was pretty much a knee to the face.

"Yeah, but blood tests take much longer than we have time to be away from our friends," I grimaced, hoping to not sound ungrateful at his willingness to help. "We don't want them to get suspicious of why we're here."

"Huh," the pony tapped his hoof against his chin. He turned to face the door to his office, his ears suddenly straightening up. The used test within his magic was dispensed into a trashcan concealed by his desk. "We too happen to have several over the counter tests in case any maids or female guards require it," he explained. "I'm afraid with your time restrictions, this may be your only option," he forewarned, facing us again.

"We just want ta know, doctor," Applejack replied tiredly, her hoof reaching up and squeezing my hand. "Ivan 'n Ah….we just want ta know the truth; we don't care what it is." I couldn't help but slowly turn to face my girlfriend. It hurt to see and hear her so afraid of an answer, the truth, being obstructed, but I honestly felt the same way she did. Were we ready for this if she was pregnant? I didn't know, but there was no way could prepare for it if we didn't know what to prepare for.

"She's right," I agreed, kissing the freckles on her cheek. Applejack looked up at me with a somewhat placated smile and continued to rub her hoof on my hand.

"Very well," Dr. Shots exhaled. "I'll go and fetch a fresh test for you, Applejack," he smiled.

"What about Nurse Redheart?" I questioned just as the unicorn cracked open the door. "Won't she ask you what you're helping us with?"

"I'll tell her what you two told me at first," he turned back at us. "And I'll be sure to grab a few other items to she won't be none the wiser. But you have to understand that I can't forbid her to ask questions."

"We understand, doctor, thank ya," Applejack said, allowing the stallion to leave so he could grab what we needed. The door shut quietly, leaving me and Applejack alone in his office, still holding each other close. Applejack's soft breathing as she held my hand down and nudged her head against my neck was rather soothing, but I still had that same question from hallway burning in the back of my mind. I didn't expect Dr. Shots to be very long; this was the best opportunity to ask her while we wouldn't be disturbed.

"Hun, I need to ask you something," I stated instead of requesting to ask her like I normally would. She slowly pulled away and stared back at me, perplexed but not timid or worried.

"What's that, Sugarcube?"

"Look, this was something I wanted to ask you before in the hallway, and I want to let you know that I won't be angry, upset, or disappointed in whatever your answer is, okay?" I asked sweetly, rubbing my free hand up and down her back.

"O-okay," she said in a small voice.

"You were really eager about talking of the prospects of me being a dad," I recalled her stance about me being a strong father to a child. "Whether or not you're pregnant or we adopt child."

"Yeah? Ah told ya before that Ah'd think y'all would make a great daddy, 'n y'all said you'd think Ah'd make a good mom, remember?" She asked with a curious twitch of her ears.

"Of course I do, AJ, and I still believe that, but I just want to know one thing. Are you hoping that the second test will come back positive too?" Even holding her like this, I could feel her heartbeat being to increase tenfold, and her ears steadily flatted against her head. "I'm just curious, Applejack," I tried to reassure her by moving my hand up to cup her cheek.

The orange mare sighed loudly as if deciding that there was no point in beating around the bush. She took in several deep breaths and put her forelegs onto my shoulders. "This is a good o' time as any Ivan. Ah was mainly tryin' ta keep yer spirits up because ya tried yer damnedest ta keep my own up, but a part o' me does hope it's another positive, Sugarcube," she confessed. "Helpin' Granny Smith 'n Big Mac raise Applebloom just has a special place in my heart. 'Course a part of it was hampered by the pain o' losin' ma 'n pa in the process, yet it put the idea in my head o' bein' a mom; raisin' somethin' so little 'n innocent that Ah couldn't wait ta do it with a baby o' my own. Ah just never found the right stallion 'til ya fell into my life, Ivan," the mare leaned forward and smooched my cheek, even giving it a few flicks with her tongue.

"O-oh," I blushed from the extremely affectionate action, but I also wasn't expecting an elaborate answer such as that either.

"If Ah really am carryin' our child, Sugarcube, it'll have a great daddy ta raise it alongside me," she added, cuddling up close to me. The need to be there for Applejack was as strong as the Death Star's tractor beam, but the second question that was burning in my mind suddenly flared up as the first one had been extinguished. 'Are we really ready for this in our relationship?' I couldn't foresee a child ruining our relationship, but would there even be enough room in the farmhouse for another pony? And not only that…..what about becoming more than just parents? I'm sure Applejack's upbringing or family wouldn't allow her to be a mom without first getting married.

Nonetheless, that was only a possible future; right here, in the present, Applejack needed me and I needed her until we had a full understanding. With a gentle stroke behind her mane, I hugged her tightly and replied, "No matter what that test says, AJ, I'm never leaving your side," I swore to her.

"Ah love ya," she quickly whispered, her hoof touching my cheek.

"I love you too," I replied just as the door to the office opened, and two pairs of hooves scrambled inside.

"I've got-" Dr. Shots began before he saw us holding each other closely. "Oh, would you two like another minute?"

"N-no Doc, Ah think Ah'm good," Applejack sneakily pecked my lips and clambered down from her chair, sucking in a deep breath. "Ah'm ready," she added firmly. There really was no chance that she'd be uneasy about this since it's what we decided to turn to for help. Dr. Shots gladly handed over the box that contained the test over to AJ while his magic opened up the private bathroom within his office.

"I don't believe I'll need to explain anything," the unicorn gave a small grin and took his seat right behind the large desk.

"Ah'll be out as quick as Ah can, Sugarcube," Applejack rubbed her hoof on my knee.

"No need to rush yourself, AJ. These don't take very long," I smiled as she turned tail and trotted into the bathroom, and Dr. Shots' magic shut the door gently behind her. My gaze was fixated on the door for a second or two after it shut, separating me from Applejack, before I leaned back in my chair, cupping my hands over my mouth, waiting. Awkward did not come close to how I felt being alone with Dr. Shots right now; I didn't really know what to say to him, but I wasn't about to force him out of his own office. "Doctor?" I mumbled out the word through the slits between my fingers.

"Yes, Cougar?" He adjusted his glasses while occupying himself with a bit of filing.

"Thanks again for helping us." It was about the only thing I could think of to say to the stallion. "I know this is about as big of a mind fuck to you as it is to us." Shots hesitantly chuckled, his magic sorting the small stack of files into order.

"Yes, I suppose you could call it that," he cleared his throat before sitting back down across from me. "I hope you know that my lips shall be sealed about this if Applejack does turn out to be with child until you two are ready to reveal it to your friends. And that I won't wish any ill will toward you or your marefriend," he removed his glasses.

"Th-thanks," I reiterated.

"You know, there is another way I could help you if you'd like," he suddenly added. I gave him a questionable look in response. "I know you two stated that only wish to know whether or not Applejack is pregnant, but I'm positive that's not all you want to know," he explained.

"Now that you mention it, doctor, there is something else we'd like to know," I admitted.

"I hope I'm not crossing any sort of line here, and please alert me if I am, but would you like me to take a DNA sample from your blood or saliva so we can pinpoint if your genetic makeup is closer to ours than we originally thought?" He offered, and my heart jumped.

"Yeah, o-of course!" I grinned, feeling a tiny amount of weight lifted off my shoulders. "That's the other thing we were trying to figure out on our way here."

"Well, I'd be happy to help you with that, and naturally I'd keep it hush hush." He added.

"I appreciate that, but Applejack and I hit a roadblock trying to figure this out. You see, even if my reproductive cells could mix together with Applejack's, she pointed out that we spent the Estrus together, but she still had her period about two days afterward, and that was the last one she could recall before Luna and Checkered's wedding night."

"Oh….well that is peculiar," Dr. Shots' eyes expanded. "However, while the Estrus is the most likely time for a mare to conceive a child, it's not always a 100% guarantee."

"Right," I sighed before being silenced by the creak of a door.

Creak

"AJ?" I whirled around in my chair as my girlfriend slowly trotted out of the bathroom, test in her front left hoof, though I noticed it was upside down so she couldn't see the result.

"Ah uh tried ta dry it off as best as Ah could, Doc," she grinned timidly.

Dr. Shots chuckled and levitated the test from her hoof over to him. "It's quite all right Applejack; I've dealt with far worse before. Did you happen to see the result?" He questioned. Applejack sat down on her haunches right next to me, laying her chin on my lap while I put my hand on her neck and began to pet her.

"N-no, Ah'm a bit nervous," she said shamefully. "Ah'm wantin' ta know as bad as Ivan, but Ah couldn't look it at, Doc."

"Completely understandable," the unicorn still had yet to take a peek himself. "Were you wanting Cougar to read it or myself?"

"You can read it off; I don't think I'd be able to say anything to be honest," I quickly retorted, feeling my own heart rate skyrocketing.

"Very well," the test slowly overturned in the unicorn's levitation, and his glasses returned to his face. He sat there in silence, not blinking once as he studied the stick. This was it, possibly one of the biggest changes of our lives was about to read to us. The fear I felt when I wanted to tell Applejack I loved her back on Christmas was nothing compared to this.

"W-well Doc?" Applejack gulped, squeezing her hoof around my hand so hard that it went numb.

"Positive," Dr. Shots stated flatly. I swear my heart stopped beating. "Applejack, based on a second positive and the fact that you haven't gone through your cycle in about six and a half weeks, I truly believe you're pregnant with Cougar's child."

"WHHHAAAAATT?" An all too familiar shrill, muffled shriek came from the other side of the office door.

---

So, just in case anyone is wondering, yes, Applejack IS pregnant, that's confirmed. As for how, that will be revealed in the next chapter, as well as a confirmation for the other characters. And as for what their baby will turn out to be, that will be kept under wraps.

Again, a HUGE thank you to SquirtlePWN for assisting me with this chapter. You rock bro!