Fallen Eagle

Chapter 71: Behind a Painted Smile

Last time, we left on a cliffhanger of Celestia having a potential explanation for Applejack's pregnancy! Just what could it be? And what will Granny Smith and Applebloom think about another Apple on the farm?

Monkeyboy0118: Yeah, I've noticed I've gotten a lot of emails in my backlog about reviews and also story updates that I had NO clue were going on! Thankfully, I think it's been resolved. Thanks for your continued support!

axelialea: Oh wait and find out, my faithful reader ;)

Anonanon-E-Mouse: I really love how engaged some people are with trying to figure out what's happened and coming up with their own theories :D

chipmunkfanatic: Well, there's also Twilight...though she learned her lesson back during Hearth's Warming Eve.

headreviewermk2: Ah, interesting theory, and good memory!

sheppard741: Let me tell you, that is honestly the best theory I've heard about this since the last chapter came out! Very plausible and well thought out, my friend! ^^

WarHusky2000: Many reasons for the cliffhanger! Everyone seems to be pointing to that theory, well, the majority of people are pointing to that :D

OBSERVER01: *Insert Dr. Evil Laugh* Oh ho ho! Just wait and find out my friend :D

Furi Poi: Well, my schedule has been really compromised ever since December when I picked up more hours at my job. I hate having to wait so long to write out chapters and juggle reviewing new episodes of the show (of which I have only seen up to Episode 8, so NO SPOILERS PLEASE!). But I'm hoping to pick up a new schedule that allows me to work on videos on weekends, and then leave weekdays for the story.

Buda Knight: Ah, always refreshing to see a new face reading my story! I hope future chapters do not disappoint!

That's all for today, readers. Again, another huge shout out to SquirtlePWN for looking over every update for the chapter to make sure it's ready to go!

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"I….I think I know why this happened…."

Celestia's words echoed in the dead quiet infirmary. Yet, the princess sounded like she was ashamed or even frightened as she spoke, not in astonishment or a hushed excitement to have a possible answer for us. Her pupils seemed to shrink; she raised a trembling hoof up to her head. Although Applejack and I were practically finished with waiting, we weren't about to become impatient with our friends, and from Celestia's current demeanor, we had to stay as calm and patient as we'd been with everyone this whole time. "Y-yer highness?" Applejack cautiously stepped forth toward the alicorn.

"Celestia?" I asked with as much attentiveness as I could conjure. "Are you all right?" Still with her hoof clamped down against the side of her head, she ever so gradually shifted her gaze at me and Applejack. Celestia tried to calm herself down by taking a deep breath, but to no avail as she shuddered, and her body continued to tremble.

"P-Please," she stuttered, "do not be livid with me," the alicorn begged. Livid? Why the Hell would we be angry with her? If she knew anything, we wanted to hear it so we can put this behind us and we can focus on more on the future. Unless she had a hoof in all of this…. "I never meant for this to be an outcome," she added in a whisper.

"Listen princess," Applejack stepped closer, offering her hoof to Celestia who honestly was nearly as scared as Applejack was earlier in Luna's private bathroom. "If there's anythin' y'all think might help us shut the door on this here mystery, don't be afraid ta say somethin', right Sugarcube?" She cast a sideways glance. I quickly nodded in agreement, kneeling down next to her to put Celestia at ease.

"If you think you know the cause of this, just tell us," I said so kindly that it would've given Fluttershy a run for her bits. "Besides, why would we be angry with you?" Celestia took another deep, shaky breath and clasped her rattling gold plated hoof around AJ's hoof.

"Because," she paused, biting her lip, "because I may be the culprit behind all of this," Celestia admitted. "And if I am, I'd understand if you both never wanted to speak to me again for being the cause of a life changing event; one that neither of you planned for," she looked down shamefully. Over the course of the twelve and a half months I'd known Celestia, I've seen her go through many displays of emotion. The closest she'd ever been to looking and sounding as defeated, afraid as this was when she admitted she cast a spell upon me when I fell into Equestria to keep me in the infirmary. That was hard to see her like that, but this? She was almost a completely different mare. Yet for Applejack, someone who has looked up to Celestia her whole life and personally served her as an Element of Harmony, it must've been borderline frightening.

"Hey, don't punish yourself," I pleaded, to which Applejack fervently nodded. "Remember what I said about Discord and Cadence?"

"Yes?" Celestia exhaled.

"Good. Because that applies here too if you did have a hoof in this, Celestia. And it sounds like it could've been a complete accident."

Celestia's ears twitched; I could only guess because she was feeling a bit better that Applejack and I weren't interrogating her like a criminal once she gave her confession about her potential involvement. "Of course; precisely as Cadence said."

"Then it wouldn't be fair of us ta get our ropes coiled up over an accident," Applejack smiled. I'd grown so accustomed to Celestia offering comfort to me, my friends, her sister, and nephew that this was an alien feeling to be playing this same game with the roles reversed. Then again, everyone, even those in power like Celestia, needed friends to help them feel secure, just like Luna needed me.

I reached out and firmly yet gingerly grasped Celestia's shoulder, "Why don't you just start from the beginning, Celestia?" I suggested. Thankfully, our calming words seemed to help her relax, if only slightly. With her free foreleg, she performed the same maneuver as Cadence and Twilight, bringing the foreleg up to her gold chest plate and inhaling deeply before exhaling and pushing her foreleg away.

"Well," her pupils gradually began reverting to their original state, "I hadn't thought about this in quite some time, and that's only because I felt it wasn't worth bringing up. I was completely lost as well on how you could've possibly impregnated Applejack, but when you mentioned Draconia….." she trailed off. As confused as I was, she was off to a good start; we couldn't break the momentum.

"What happened there, Sugarcube?" Applejack looked to me for an answer. "Y'all just got that scar, twisted yer ankle, 'n dislocated yer shoulder, right?"

"Yeah," I nodded, running my free hand through my hair. "And a black eye, bruised ribs, and some cuts on my arms, but physical injuries can't- oh shit," it dawned on me. "Celestia accidentally blasted me with a surge of her magic!" I exclaimed. "That's how I got separated from the group and was able to find Luna." Twilight has cast a few spells upon me numerous times, and nothing happened. Celestia, however, was considerably more powerful than Twilight, and when that dragon's fire engulfed her horn, she couldn't control how powerful her magic was or how much she could emit.

"No," Celestia stated firmly, shutting her eyes with a frown.

"What?" I asked out of instinct to a straightforward yet barebones response.

"Forgive my bluntness, but that isn't necessarily what I was referring to, though I commend you for still weighing out ideas. You see, Cougar, magic isn't that cut and dry. Yes, it can produce beautiful, horrific, and strange outcomes, but simply being zapped, or blasted in your case, can't alter your DNA or physical form unless performed by a specific spell. And remember, it turned out to be a teleportation spell, thank goodness." I sighed, feeling slightly defeated that we were back to square one yet again for the time being.

"Well, dang," Applejack sputtered. "But what were y'all talkin' about, princess?" She wasted no time in getting right back to business. Celestia suddenly peered over and focused her attention upon Dr. Shots, who, like everyone else in the room, had become deafeningly silent once the alicorn of the sun spoke out.

"Doctor? You do remember what happened upon our midnight arrival home from Draconia, do you not?"

"S-somewhat?" The unicorn rubbed the back of his neck, his ears drooping off the sides of his head as he wasn't prepared to be called on out of the blue. "You all arrived back, and you yourself ordered that everypony who accompanied you be tended to right away. We moved your sister to a more private room, but that's all I can recall until about the time Cougar awakened from his exhaustion."

"Yes, but do you remember anything else about his medical state when I put him in that hospital bed?" Celestia sounded as if she were growing impatient. Dr. Shots tapped his front hooves on the laminate flooring and chewed on his lip.

"Well, Nurse Redheart quickly cleaned the cuts on his arms and I noticed his blood levels were a tad- oh my," his eyes widened behind his spectacles.

"What?" I asked again, this time a bit more frantic. "What about my blood?"

"My friend," Celestia slipped her hoof from Applejack's and cupped it on top of my hand that was still on her shoulder. "You had lost blood from your injuries sustained by Garble. Not enough to put your life on the line, but enough to cause some concern from Nurse Redheart and Dr. Shots."

"Y-Yeah?" I stammered, my eyes darting about as I stared into Celestia's face.

"Because of your selfless acts, I saw absolutely zero issues with giving you my own blood so as to not cause you any health concerns. I never mentioned it to you because it simply paled in comparison to your actions that day. But," she bit down on her lip and exhaled through her nostrils, "please believe me when I say I never thought it could do more to you than keep your health at a premium."

My vision gradually began to glaze over, making the alicorn sitting before me turn into a blur. The entire time I assumed it had to have been a complex spell cast by a friend or at least an acquaintance that granted me the ability to give Applejack a child. And yet, here was Celestia admitting that she had given me a small amount of her own blood to compensate the loss of my own blood from my scrap with Garble. Nothing more than a simple donation of blood is now the leading theory for why AJ is pregnant, silly me. No matter the simplicity, it still seemed rather far fetched.

I blinked until my vision was restored to normal to see an anxious mare awaiting an answer from either me or Applejack. "Wait a second," Applejack's face scrunched up as she was in thought. Normally, I would've found it adorable, but I was a little preoccupied at the moment. "Ah'm not trying to dismiss ya, princess, but is that even possible fer yer blood ta….. manipulate Ivan's like that?" she asked confusingly.

"I do not truly know," Celestia's hoof limply slumped onto the floor, her head seeming to weigh a thousand pounds as her chin collapsed onto her chest plate. "And I'm sorry; I know that's an answer you two don't wish to hear anymore."

I might've been scrambled mentally at the moment, but I was still thinking rationally enough to feel a need to placate my friend who just wanted to make sure I was safe and healthy. "Please Celestia, don't apologize for something you, or anyone else, had no knowledge of," I placed a few of my fingers under her chin and lifted her head up so we were eye to eye.

She had a sad look in her eye as she stared back at me, but Celestia swiftly licked her lips before continuing. "You are already aware of the immense power alicorns hold, correct?" A quick raise of my eyebrows illustrated my piqued interest. "Then it's highly likely our blood could be as well, or at least contain certain elements that mutate cells due to the recipient body's reaction. Throughout Equestria's history, alicorn blood has been highly sought after for healing purposes, but….." she paused, finally lifting her head off my fingers and standing up with a tired grunt, "well, you've been at the center of many firsts since you arrived," was all she said with a minute smile.

"So…that's also why you gave me your own blood," I mentioned quietly.

"Yes, but I never expected this to be an outcome, Cougar. Of course, donating it to other ponies never even gave us the thought of any side effects."

"Well, don't forget, it's only a theory as far as we know," Twilight spoke up, being only the fifth to do so since Celestia's realization. "At least until Dr. Shots and Dr. Whooves analyze your blood that is." I knew she just wanted to help Celestia stop placing a guilt trip on herself, and I couldn't blame her, but she was also right. It was our leading theory, no matter how much it sounded like the plot to a B science fiction film from the 1950s. Applejack then gently pushed her hoof into my side, looking up at me with concern in her eyes.

"Then, there's only one way to prove it," I muttered, locking gazes with both doctors. I gave them a short, simple nod while lightly stroking AJ's cheek to at least help me think straight.

"Uh, princess?" Applejack's foreleg snaked around my waist before she tightly pulled me against her. "If yer blood did do this ta Ivan's blood, th-then what else could it do ta him?" Her foreleg's grip became even tighter, and her voice quaked with the same concern her eyes were filled with. I could even feel her heartbeat pounding faster and faster from where her chest was pressed up against me.

"That was another worry of mine, Applejack," Celestia replied solemnly. "However, on a positive side, it has been several months since, and nothing else drastic has appeared to have happened to him," she said, trying to sway the mood to a lighter one. My main concern was still on the how, and of course, my and AJ's future once this was all solved. Any other side effects, well, were a non-issue to me, but it did scare Applejack, so cheering her up was more important than the what ifs now.

"Yeah," I patted her shoulder, "I don't at least feel any different, and my body hasn't rejected Celestia's blood or had any physical side effects," I did my best to show AJ that I still felt completely normal.

"That still doesn't make me feel any less concerned, Ivan," Applejack retorted, her head moving down until her cheek rested on top of my hand.

"Which is why a simple DNA test isn't enough now," Celestia added.

"Princess Celestia?" Dr. Shots asked in disbelief.

"Testing his DNA will only tell us what we are already aware of, doctor. You will be able to detect that my blood has indeed been mixed with his own, but while it's not a guarantee that that is the reason Applejack is now pregnant, it is a strong possibility. It's also possible it could be doing something else to his body, and I wish to make certain of what else it could be," Celestia cast a comforting glance towards me and Applejack.

"Does that mean you and Twilight will have to scan me like you did with Applejack?" I asked, Applejack's grip on my waist never loosening, even with Celestia wishing to help us. The Princess of Friendship's ears twitched at the mention of her name; she looked between us and Celestia, waiting for an answer from Celestia. The older alicorn closed her eyes and gracefully bowed her head toward Twilight and turned her attention back to us.

"Yes, but I'm almost certain that if anything else within you has been altered, it's nothing fatal or too serious," a true, classic, heartwarming Celestia smile appeared on her muzzle just as Twilight briskly trotted her way to Celestia's side.

"Then let's do it," I declared, tired of being in the dark and constantly having to be held back from the truth. Of course, I really wanted to do this just so Applejack wouldn't worry about my health or anything bad happening to me, but if it would also answer if Celestia's blood was the reason I impregnated AJ, then so be it because after this, we'd have some explaining to do to Granny Smith and Applebloom back home. But, after all that's been thrust at us today, I just wanted to crawl in bed with Applejack and hold her close.

The orange earth pony mare reluctantly dropped her foreleg from my waist as both Twilight and Celestia readied themselves before me, the same as I felt when it was her turn to be checked out by the alicorn duo. "Are you ready, Cougar?" Twilight asked with her horn becoming enveloped with her magenta aura.

With a small purse of my lips, I gave the two mares the okay and braced myself for what was about to happen. I knew it wouldn't hurt, but it was still a strange sensation that I only felt when Twilight gave me the ability to walk on clouds. Suddenly, the inside of my body began to tingle and vibrate as if my cells were going through a microwave. Celestia and Twilight's golden and magenta streams of magic intertwined and danced around me before mixing together until all other colors were washed out of my vision.

"Nnnnn," I groaned from the sensation shooting around through my veins. It felt a little more invasive than the other spells that have been cast on me, like I was being pinched from the inside but only lightly. Twilight and Celestia's pupils seemed to vanish, leaving their eyes with a singular color as if they'd been possessed. Nevertheless, I kept my own eyes opened and peered back over at Applejack who still had a worried frown on her face as she waited for the process to finish. Although I couldn't reach out to her, I held my hand up as if I was about to put my palm on the underside of her hoof to let her know I was okay. She took a few steps forward, chewing on her bottom lip with her front right foreleg hovering a few inches above the floor.

And then, it was over. All colors in the room returned to normal in sync with Twilight's high pitched gasp. "Ivan?" Applejack was immediately by my side, holding my hand with her hoof. I shook my head until the light feeling went away, though the top of my skin still felt like there were millions of needles sticking inside.

"I'm…I'm okay, Applejack," I assured her, squeezing her hoof. "That was just a little more intense than I thought." I knelt down and wrapped my arms around her, holding her close.

"Ah never thought ya wouldn't be," AJ tried to sound more upbeat and like her usual self.

"Sister?" Luna's voice shattered our little moment. AJ and I separated halfway with one of my arms still around her as we turned to Celestia and Twilight for a judgment. "What is the matter?"

Both the white and purple alicorns stared wide eyed back at me, their mouths agape with awe. "Extraordinary," sun goddess remarked breathlessly.

"I…I don't believe this," Twilight added, just as astonished as Celestia.

"It was yer blood, wasn't it, princess?" Applejack asked, not wasting time beating around the bush to ask. "Th-that's why Ivan got me pregnant?" Celestia focused her attention on my girlfriend, or at least as best as she could, and audibly gulped.

"Yes, but there is something else that's happened, unprecedented side effects," the alicorn put her hoof to the side of her head, massaging her temple. I could feel my heart sink in fear of her words. Is her blood slowly poisoning me? Will it one day burn my insides from how much magic it contained? Would it turn me physically into a pony like all of my friends? I turned to the large gaggle of my friends that had remained silent throughout Celestia's talk of her blood, bar Twilight, Luna, and Dr. Shots. I sincerely didn't know why I did; perhaps I was hoping for one or more of them to say something to get rid of this damn silence that was beginning to get at me, or maybe I was just hoping for some comfort in the form of an encouraging or supportive smile from at least some of my friends.

One friend in particular copied what I was doing. Rarity was still sitting on her haunches, but she was intently looking between everyone else in the circle, her mane swaying back and forth gently with each twist and turn of her head. The strange part was she appeared to be losing her patience with each second of silence that passed by. Finally, she audibly scoffed and turned to Celestia.

"What kind of side effects are you referring too, princess?" She questioned with a hint of fear in her voice. "Twilight?" She added, hoping for a quick answer. Nearly everyone still remained silent, unable to think of what else they could say or add to what was going on.

"Celestia? W-what's going to happen to me?" I bluntly inquired, completely ignoring the fact that we had an answer for how I got AJ pregnant. Staring back at me, unable to blink, Celestia turned to none other than her former protege to answer my question.

"Cougar," Twilight inhaled deeply, "it's not what's going to happen to you; it's what's already happened to you."

"He's gonna be okay though, right?" Applejack quickly asked barely a second after Twilight concluded her sentence.

"Yes, but," the bookworm pursed her lips, "he's actually going to be better than okay."

"What?" My eyes squinted in confusion.

"When Celestia's blood was donated to you, it not only gave you the proper amount of blood your body needs to survive and the ability to father foals with mares, but it also, for lack of a better word, enhanced you."

Now Applejack and I joined the rest of our friends in confused silence. "Your reproductive organs weren't the only things that were mutated," Celestia delineated. "Your strength now rivals that of an earth pony's; your senses and reflexes are at pegasus levels; and you have the aggression of a unicorn, but no magical capabilities."

The way Celestia was wording all of this made it sound like I was injected with the same serum that was used on Captain America. Though, since we were talking blood out of an all powerful god-like alicorn that could move the moon and sun at will, and whose blood granted me reproductive abilities with a different species all together, I saw no need to question her on the probability of this. However, one question did enter my mind, and apparently a few other minds as well.

"Hold on," Spike pointed a claw at the four of us, "if Cougar has all of that in him now, why haven't we seen any signs of it yet?"

"Well, he's always been pretty strong since we've known him," Cadence chimed in.

"And he was a flyer back in his world, so his senses and reflexes were always top notch, right?" Rainbow asked. I could only nod my head at the moment, but she was correct. In order to fly a multi-million dollar jet, pilots had to have the best senses, and reflexes in the world, so that makes sense if I never noticed that before.

"Plus, he's had no reason to lose his temper lately," even Fluttershy came to my defense for an explanation.

"W-well," I said shakily, still holding onto Applejack, "up until today, everything has been going pretty smooth since we got back from Draconia," I admitted. "Though, I don't see myself losing my temper over this; I'm still just…shocked by it."

"And you and Applejack will not be the only ones, my friend," Luna's wing draped itself over my shoulder. "However, now you two can rejoice in the beautiful miracle of your child, knowing how it has happened," she smiled warmly. It was very odd. Now that everything had been answered, at least the questions pertaining to how Applejack is pregnant, the overall mood in the infirmary gradually started to return to normal.

Although there was still a LOT left to cover now that we understood everything behind Applejack's pregnancy, most everyone was happy enough to have had that answered for now. Everyone gave us their official congratulations and said they would be there with us 100% for any help we needed, even if their spirits weren't their usual selves from this mind boggling turn of events. Well, almost everyone. Cheerilee was of course happy for us, but Big Mac still had that same flat, and indiscernible look on his face that he had ever since it was discovered that his sister was carrying his future niece or nephew. He did offer his, "Eeyup," when Cheerilee congratulated us, but that was it.

"Well," Applejack said to me as the last congratulation was given to us. "W-we're gonna parents, Sugarcube," she stammered through her grin. "Y-you 'n me as a mommy 'n daddy, can ya believe it?" She asked me nervously, though that was to be expected from how big of a step we were both taking.

"Y-yeah," I took her hoof in my hand, forcing a smile to my lips. "It's great, Applejack," I leaned forward and nuzzled my forehead against hers. "I wouldn't want to start a family with anyone else than you," I said before our lips touched. "I-I can't wait to see you holding our baby."

It hurt to say all of this to the woman I loved, even if it was all true. I wanted to see a baby of ours being held in her forelegs; I wanted to imagine the three of us out in the fields of the farm playing or doing chores; I desperately wanted to be happy and show it to Applejack, but I couldn't. I was as frightened as a newborn puppy. And it wasn't just because of having to explain this to Granny Smith and Bloom, but there was so much that could go wrong in AJ's life now; I didn't want to ruin it or her family's lives. "I love you," I added for good measure. I'd stick by her side until the end of time; nothing would change that, but I just couldn't feel happy or excited right now with the anxiety taking over, so I had to hide it behind my painted smile.

"Ah love ya too, Sugarcube," AJ replied, kissing me back.

---

(Ponyville Later That Night; Ivan's POV)

The atmosphere surrounding our group of friends failed to revitalize to its high spirited self like it was at the start of Luna's baby shower. Applejack and I weren't the only ones this bombshell took a mental toll on. Not that I could blame any of our friends for that; Hell it might take a day or two before it sinks in for everyone.

Needless to say, the shower was cut short not too long after we found out that Celestia's blood was the reason I impregnated Applejack. No one was truly bothered by it anyways, not even Pinkie Pie, though I had to give that mare credit; she tried her damnedest to lighten our spirits up on the train ride home. It helped a little bit, and she even managed to make a few of us crack a smile, AJ included. Yet, the ride home was relatively quiet with only the clicking and clacking of the wheels and the refreshments mare filling the void of silence.

There was just so much racing through my head that I wanted to talk to Applejack about, but as much as I could've used any advice or support from my many friends, it had to be in private with my girlfriend. It also didn't help that once again, I was the only thing Big Mac was paying any attention to. Once the train had pulled into Ponyville station, it was around eight o' clock at night, and everyone was ready to go home to refresh their minds over quite the eventful day.

We all parted and went our separate ways like normal, but I certainly didn't feel normal. The winding dirt road that lead to a place where I felt comforted, loved, and happy now felt like I was heading toward my execution. I still had absolutely no idea what Big Mac's opinion was on his little sister becoming pregnant; Applebloom would no doubt be off the walls excited to be an aunt and for AJ and I to be parents, but there was no guessing how Granny Smith would react. The elderly mare was definitely old-fashioned in a lot of ways, yet would she reprimand us (me mainly) for this while we weren't even close to discussing marriage? She was okay with us making love as long as it didn't interfere with chores or Applebloom couldn't stumble upon us, but this?

"Hey, it'll be okay, Sugarcube," Applejack offered me her left fore-hoof for comfort. I didn't mean to become so silent on the walk home, but again, I could barely think clearly once she told me she was pregnant. I blinked away the excess thoughts as best as I could and took her offer automatically, squeezing my fingers around her calloused hoof.

I sighed and said, "Sorry I haven't been very vocal lately, hun," I apologized, allowing my fingers to gingerly graze over her rough, cracked hoof from years of farm work. Besides snuggling up and holding her close, this was the one thing that could help quiet my anxiety.

"Aw shucks, Ivan," AJ squeezed my hand back in response, "ain't no reason ta apologize. Ah ain't been real talkative myself either; besides, it's not like there's really anythin' else we can say right now," she admitted. 'Maybe not right now,' I thought. There was plenty we needed to discuss, but she was also correct in the sense that walking down a dirt path without having time to collect our thoughts wasn't the best time to talk about it.

"I-I know, it's just…." I trailed off as my eyes slowly drifted down to my feet.

"You're a little apprehensive about telling Granny Smith?" Cheerilee said what I couldn't. My silent gaze toward the maroon Earth Pony was all she needed to know my answer. "I understand," she patted my back. "If you'd like, Big Mac and I can stand with both of you for support, though I don't think anything bad will come of it, right Big Mac?" She said soothingly and asked the red stallion.

It took Big Mac some time to think before looked sideways at me and said, "Eeeeyup," but in a more drawn out way instead of his normal quick and chipper sense, which didn't help how I felt at all.

I swallowed and replied, "I don't think anything bad will happen either, Cheerilee, but thanks," I tried to give her a smile to show my gratitude, but all I could muster up was a Mona Lisa smile.

"Ah'm mighty nervous about tellin' Granny too, Ivan, but all we have ta do is be purely honest with her 'n Bloom; be up front 'n firm without beatin' around the bush. Ah know it's gonna be a heck of a shock fer both o' them, but we'll feel a lot better once we get it off our chests," she nuzzled her nose against the top of my hand.

The brushing of her fur on my hand forced a small chuckle out of me. "Heh. AJ, I know we're in this together, but how were you wanting to do this?" I asked as she pulled away from my hand. "Did you want to do all the talking, or did you want me to do it since you're pregnant because of me?" I know it was a combination of Celestia's blood and me that got AJ pregnant, but still, if we hadn't even started a relationship, she wouldn't be carrying our child.

Applejack looked off to the side, biting her lip and hummed as she thought. "Well, Ah always thought we'd just go with the flow. If y'all feel like ya've got somethin' ta add, then go on ahead, Ivan," she turned back to face me, an encouraging look in her eye. "Or if Granny wants ta ask ya somethin', then o' course answer away," she explained.

"I think that sounds good," I gave her hoof another gentle squeeze. I loved the idea of being upfront with Granny and Applebloom. At this point, there was no reason to dance around the subject to ease into it.

"Plus, you two look like you need rest," Cheerilee pointed out how exhausted Applejack and appeared ever since we were in the infirmary. "I didn't want to say anything, but I think both of you would benefit from a good night's sleep to recharge," she explained as if she were talking to her class. "After you tell Granny Smith and Applebloom of course," she grinned nervously.

Oh God, curling up and falling asleep with Applejack sounded like heaven right now, but we had more pressing matters to attend to at the moment, and even more in the next few days and weeks until we had a firm grasp on what to do. "GRANNY! THEY'RE BACK! THEY'RE BACK!" The four of us heard Applebloom's shrill cry. Huh, our short conversation sped up our trek home; I didn't even notice that we were a mere few feet from the house.

The filly in question was trying to contain her excitement from the doorway, waiting for us to get inside and no doubt beg us to talk about how Luna was. Even from the dirt lot in front of the house, I saw Granny getting up from her rocking chair in the living room through the window. 'Straightforward,' I repeated silently what my girlfriend instructed of me. "Hey, big brother!" Applebloom squeezed Big Mac's foreleg when he entered through the door. For the first time since this morning, Big Mac finally had a different expression on his face other than an indiscernible stare.

"Well, Ah was a wonderin' when y'all were gonna git back!" Granny exclaimed, slapping her hoof onto my back. "How's Princess Luna doin'? That poor mare should be ready ta squeeze out her first youngin' any day now right?"

"Uh, Luna's fine, Granny Smith," I rubbed the spot on my back that she had slapped from her greeting. "The doctor says her foal is coming along normally." Applebloom began to hop around excitedly after giving AJ a hug. Seeing her chipper little self perked me up a bit after not being able to see her all day. Why not take just a quick second to feel better?

"Do she 'n Checkered know kind o' pony it's gonna be?" She questioned as I bent down and ruffled her mane.

"Nah, they were wantin' ta keep that a surprise fer now, Applebloom," AJ chuckled. "Ah'll admit it's a little strange, but hey, it makes it a bit more excitin' when the day comes, right Sugarcube?" She looked right at me.

"Yeah," I stood up and folded my arms across my chest, waiting for the right time to tell Granny and Applebloom the big news. I knew we had to be straightforward, but we couldn't just come right out and say it like dropping a bomb.

"So did y'all git somethin' ta eat fer supper yet?" Granny Smith scratched at her white mane and started to head for the kitchen.

"Nope," Big Mac shook his head before once again casting that same look in my direction. I didn't know what the hell he wanted from me. If he wanted to punch me for getting his sister pregnant out of wedlock, a part of me just wanted him to get it over with.

"Oh, well Applebloom 'n Ah didn't eat too much; there's plenty o' leftovers if y'all have a hankerin," Granny continued. Applejack and I exchanged a quick questionable glance before the mare reached out and touch her grandmother's shoulder, only forcing my heart rate to rise ever so slightly.

"Granny?"

"What is it, Applejack? We also got some fresh cider in the fridge if that's what yer worried about." Applejack groaned tiredly, removing her hoof from the elder pony's shoulder and her stetson from her head before laying it down on the table.

"Listen Granny, we ain't too hungry right now. At least Ivan 'n Ah aren't," she looked up at the elder mare with somewhat of a guilty look on her face.

"Applejack? Are ya okay?" Applebloom took notice of her sister's unenthusiastic attitude. Normally, I'm positive that Applebloom would've asked that only because AJ said she wasn't hungry, but thankfully Applebloom could see there was much more to it than that. Granny saw it too, though that didn't surprise me at all.

"Now, hold on a minute here, youngin'," the green mare mirrored her granddaughter's actions and put her own hoof on AJ's shoulder. She cocked her head from side to side and squinted her left eye. "Ya ain't told me that since y'all were Applebloom's age 'n had yer first monthly." Applejack didn't even blush from the embarrassing memory.

"Ah…Ah know, Granny," she replied flatly.

"Well, what's eatin' ya then? Are any o' yer friends hurtin'? Are y'all feelin' well, Sugarcube?" Granny Smith's expression lightened from suspicious to concerned.

"N-no, everypony else is fine, but there is somethin' Ivan 'n Ah have ta tell the both o' ya," Applejack looked from her grandmother to her sister, who both turned their attention to me when Applejack mentioned my name. I tried to remain as calm as possible, but I was sure they could see straight through me.

Applebloom's reaction, however, was one I was definitely not expecting. The small pony gasped as if she were witnessing one of her friends being beaten, slapping her hooves to her mouth. "Y'all aren't breakin' up, are ya?!"

"What!?" Applejack and I exclaimed simultaneously. "Where would you get an idea like that, Applebloom?" I asked, my mouth slightly parting in disbelief. Having been indirectly told that her fears were incorrect, Applebloom breathed a loud sigh of relief and lowered her hooves from her muzzle.

"Sorry, it's just that the last time y'all were in the kitchen with somethin' important ta tell us, it was when ya told us y'all were together," she explained sweetly.

"Oh, right," a genuine grin appeared on my face at the memory. I could understood where her fear came from, though. Our attitudes certainly weren't very positive.

"No lil sis, Ivan 'n Ah ain't splittin' up any time soon, that's fer sure," Applejack firmly stated, looking up at me. "But it does impact our relationship, 'n everypony here even," AJ motioned for me to come closer. My grin soon went away, reverting back to the half smile half frown my lips formed. I did as she wanted if only because I didn't want to be away from her when we dropped the news.

"Well, all right then, spit it out then, Applejack," Granny blurted. "Y'all shouldn't be so shy ta tell family somethin'," she added, unknowingly helping us get through this quickly. One brief glance at Big Mac told me that she was only partially correct. Applebloom's cute, innocent smile and nod in agreement with Granny Smith somewhat fixed that.

Applejack snaked her foreleg around my waist, and I curled my arm around her neck. The two of us pulled together and held each other close as Applejack sucked in a deep breath. There was no turning back now. "Applebloom, Granny Smith," she exhaled, tightening her grip on my waist. Both members of the Apple family leaned forward at Applejack's pause, one waiting in anticipation, and the other wanting us to get to the point. "Ah'm pregnant," AJ said bluntly without missing a beat.

Granny and Bloom stood without their faces even twitching as if they'd become statutes whilst taking in what Applejack had just dumped in front of them. It took what felt like a decade going by before we got any sort of reaction from the two. Unfortunately, they didn't exactly have the same reaction, which concerned me. Granny's pupils shrunk as her jaws nearly became unhinged. Applebloom's pupils expanded with twinkles in them as an ear to ear grin spread across her cheeks. Her tiny body began to shake before a high pitched squeal shot from her mouth.

"AHHHHHH! AH'M GONNA BE AN AUNT?!"

"Y-yeah," I replied with a flinch from her squeal. "You're going to have a little niece or nephew, Applebloom," I tried to make it sound as positive as possible. It honestly felt good to have this positive of a reaction to our revelation, but at the same time, AJ and I expected this from Applebloom. The yellow filly excitedly latched onto Granny Smith, shaking the elder mare vehemently as she continued to squeal and cheerfully celebrate that she would be an aunt.

Except, Applebloom's zealous celebration ceased as quickly as it started. She gently released her grip on her grandma and stared back at me and her sister, a puzzled looked carved on her face. "W-wait, how in the name o' Princess Celestia did this happen?" She asked with a cock of her head. I thought for a succinct moment that one of us would have to explain to her how kids are made.

"You guys didn't-"

"She knows where babies come from, Ivan," Applejack shot out of the corner of her mouth, to which I accepted her answer without question.

"Ah mean, Ah thought if y'all wanted ta have a baby, ya had ta adopt? 'Cause y-yer not a pony?" Applebloom scratched the side of her head before pointing back at me. AJ and I looked at each other to see who'd be the one to explain Celestia's blood to her. After a quick second, I gently squeezed Applejack's shoulder and sighed.

"Well, it wasn't supposed to be possible, Bloom. The only reason we're able to start a family is because Princess Celestia donated her own blood to me after our rescue of Princess Luna," I explained with a quick ruffle of Applebloom's red mane. "It mixed with my own blood and just, changed some of my biology, most obvious being how I can reproduce with mares now," I concluded with a quick rundown of what happened. It was far too late to go into detail about this; and I was exhausted, plus I'm sure it would've bored Applebloom.

The filly's orange eyes ballooned, "….Wow," was all she could stutter. "It's a lil miracle!" She exclaimed and gingerly grazed her hoof over her sister's belly which hadn't yet begun to enlarge.

"Yeah," AJ couldn't help but chuckle, "Princess Luna already went over that with us," she gave me a warm smile. "It's a real kick ta the gut, Applebloom, but Ivan 'n Ah'll get through this," the mare touched my arm, "together," she added.

"Always," I replied, feeling enough energy to give a genuine smile before the haunting thoughts of the unknown future would cloud my mind. One thing concerned me right now, however, beyond starting a family with Applejack. Granny Smith was still standing in front of us with her mouth wide open; she hadn't moved or made a sound since we admitted what was happening.

"….Granny?" Applejack asked with caution. Even from Applebloom's quick shake, Granny Smith had yet to move. She seemed lost in a trance, hypnotized almost, and staring straight through us into space. My worry began to gradually increase, but not from fear of a negative reaction. Of course, this was completely shocking, but at her age, sudden shocks could be hazardous.

"….." Our worries were squashed, however, with a gulp and a slow blink from the green pony. She smacked her lips from how dry her mouth had become and shook her head from side to side, her white bun flopping about on the back of her head. "S-say again?" She dug her hoof around in her ear, turning to the side and squinted her eye at us again.

AJ had already said it once, so I chose to say it for her this time. I squeezed her shoulder and repeated, "A-Applejack is pregnant, Granny. We're going to have a baby." With another blink, her eyes returned to normal size. She had a very puzzled look on her face as she darted back and forth between us.

"Yeah, that's what Ah thought ya said," she swallowed again.

"Well?" Applejack questioned when her grandmother still didn't say anything about the reveal. "W-what do ya think, Granny?"

Narrowing her eyes once more, Granny Smith sternly replied, "What do Ah think?" Oh shit, she wasn't happy! If I was lucky, all I'd get would be a thorough tongue lashing about waiting until marriage to start a family or- "Ah think it's about Celestia damned time y'all started pumpin' out great-grand foals fer me!" The elderly mare giggled happily.

"Excuse me?" Cheerilee's mouth dropped open.

"Well o' course! Ah ain't gettin' any younger, 'n both o' ya are well into yer twenties," she jutted her hoof out at Big Mac and Applejack.

"Yer not mad at either of us?" Applejack was just as shocked as I was.

"Ah ain't exactly thrilled that y'all did this before gettin' hitched, but then again, not everythin' can go accordin' ta plan, Applejack." She explained both firmly yet softly. "There's just a couple things Ah want y'all ta know," her hoof jabbed me in the stomach and AJ in the chest.

"What's that, Granny?" I asked, still feeling shocked at how well she was taking this.

"Number one, Ah'll be glad ta help the both o' ya from time ta time, but Ah won't be the one ta raise yer baby. This is yer responsibility ta take care of." AJ and I nodded in concurrence. Of course, neither of us expected to to just dump this on Granny. "Good. Number two," she looked be square in the eye, "y'all better stick by my granddaughter's side through this, or else," she curled her hoof around the collar of my shirt, yanking me down to her eye level.

"U-understood!" I exclaimed. "I'm never leaving Applejack for anything," I assured her. The mare eyeballed me for a brief moment before letting me go, a smug smile on her mouth.

"Good," she retorted before throwing her forelegs around us. "Ah know how much of ride this'll be fer the two o' ya. Ah'll be here fer anythin' ya need, but Ah know the both o' ya well enough ta know that y'all can pull through anythin', 'n that ya love each other. Just remember that that's all that matters."

Not wanting to let this sliver of joy slip by, Applejack and I took advantage of the moment and hugged Granny back. And before we knew it, Applebloom, Cheerilee, and Big Mac joined in. "Thanks, Granny," Applejack cooed as she hugged her even tighter, but not enough to hurt her.

"Ah know Ah've said this before, Cougar, but welcome ta the family," AJ, Applebloom, and Big Mac's grandmother said to me. My heart leapt. All four of them had already accepted me as a member of the family when I worked hard on the farm and began a relationship with Applejack, but now that I would be starting a family with AJ, there was no denying that I was an Apple now.

"Thank you," was all I could say as Applebloom wedged her way in between us and gave me a hug of her own.

"Yer gonna be a great daddy, Cougar!" She praised. For a small sliver of time, and before we had to sit down in private and square everything away, Applejack and I relished the fact that we would be parents. Too bad that vanished like smoke in the wind when Big Mac and I made eye contact. The stallion's smile morphed back into the same confusing look he'd been giving me all day. I just wished he'd tell me what he wanted from me; it wasn't helping my attitude, and not even Applejack telling me to come to bed so we could relax could distract me from his hollow stare.

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End Chapter 71

So, now it's confirmed that Celestia's blood is the culprit for Ivan's reproductive abilities with mares. And now that that's squared away, what could Big Mac possibly want from Ivan? And just what else is going through Ivan's mind about the future of his relationship with Applejack?