Rainbow Dash

I sat wide awake at my office desk handling some paperwork for our military acquisitions. So many files, so many signatures, and forms too. We were getting crates and crates of arms from Equestria with tanks and aircraft to boot. We're caught in a warzone all this time and we never knew it. Seems like war always finds a way to creep up on us. The additional soldiers sent in from Equestria help a lot too now that we finally know that the situation back home is all well and good. My nation was finally rebuilding but now our colony dances at the edges of a new conflict. Somepony knocked on my office door.

“Come in!” I saw Fluttershy slowly open the door, “Hey Flutters, is it time for my check up again?”

“Oh yes, come on now. Let's just take some time to relax and unwind. Stress isn't good for the baby you know.”

I felt my son squirm inside of me. I patted my belly and talked to calm him down, “Okay okay I hear ya. I know you don't like it when I sit down like this all day. I'll lay down instead.”

I slid into my bed and laid on my side to give Fluttershy a good examination. She put her hooves on my now swollen abdomen and messaged them around to feel my foal. I started to giggle when I got ticklish.

“H-Hey there! What are you doing now?” I asked as she continued to move her hooves around my belly.

“I'm trying to feel if the foal is in the right position for the birth. It's past your due date Rainbow and you could have this foal any day now. Anyway, he's in the right position to come out head first. It should be all smooth sailing from here,” she stroked my belly softly and my foal gave her a kick, “Aww! Such a sweet little guy.”

“Yeah, if you can get past the mood swings, morning sickness, and carrying this guy around for eleven months. But still, it's the last gift he ever left me and I'll do anything in my power to protect him. Right Jumpy?” like that I felt a gentle bump in response, “That's my baby...”

“Is that what you're going to name him?”

I nodded, “Yup. Jump Jet. I settled on that when he jumps around a lot in here. I wonder what he's gonna look like though.”

“Well I'm sure he'll make a wonderful son. And he'll be just like his father,” Fluttershy gave me a hug and kept petting my belly, “It's really adorable. I think you look really cute with that belly. I want to be a mother like you someday Rainbow.”

“Thanks Fluttershy. Hmmm,” I laid my head down and felt the subtle movements of my growing child as I closed my eyes. It was still a strange yet heartwarming sensation that I had a child to call my own. How he was going to be the closest thing I'd ever get to see Sky Buster again. I grabbed the comforter with my wing and folded it over my belly to protect my child, “I should get to sleep. I've been up all night signing forms and finalizing deals with AnY Corp. The baby and I need our sleep.”

“Okay Rainbow. Do you want me to sleep on the couch to keep you company again?”

“Sure. Good night Flutters,” I turned off the lights and went back to my bed, wrapping myself and my foal in warmth as the winter air filled the outside, “And good night baby. Mommy loves you.”

I kissed my belly and began to sing him to sleep.

“You see me soaring through the sky. I see you below as you walk on by. I can clear the sky in ten seconds flat. Well how about that, how about that. I could be sitting here on a cloud, watching the sun as it starts to go down. The only thing missing... Is you by my side,” I felt my foal curl himself to sleep. I felt myself blush as I found that absolutely adorable. I kissed him again and rubbed gently, “Sleep tight Jump Jet.”

And with that I drifted to sleep. Jet stopped moving and in the silence and tranquility I could feel his heart beating along with mine. I wanted to hold him close and feel him in my arms. I was excited to be a mother after the long wait.

I was in a dream. White fluffy clouds all around me. Bright blue skies for miles around and a crisp cold air that flowed through my coat and feathers. I stood there for a minute in silence before I heard a voice.

“Hi Dashie!” it was Sky Buster, but he was a young colt. I didn't feel sad but more so surprised to see him, “Tag! You're it!”

As he touched my wing I noticed it was awfully short. I was a foal as well. I laughed and chased after him as he jumped off the cloud to fly off.

“Hey-hey! You're not gonna get away from me that easy!” I caught up to him easily and tried to swipe at him with my hoof, only to be dodged with a sudden reversal.

“Na na na!” he teased as he tucked his wings and dove into the clouds. I rolled upside down and followed into the hole in the cloud cover. He was waiting on another cloud that was suppose to be home plate and booped me on the nose, “Boop! Hehehe!”

“How are you so fast?” I asked and noticed my voice changed to a foal's as well.

“I'm not fast, I'm just agile!” he booped me on the nose again, “Bippity boopy!”

I sat down and watched him dance.

“Watch this Dashie!” he backflipped off the cloud and flew away. I rolled my eyes and followed with a nap.

You became my friend...

I blinked for one second and I heard a loud thud on the ground. I looked around and found myself in a military barracks. There was a locker near the bunk bed and I could hear screaming from somewhere. I threw my blanket off to the side and jumped off my bed to see Sky Buster sprawled on the floor screaming and squirming in mental agony. I was reliving my memories of him.

“DAMMIT! I COULD HAVE SAVED THEM! WHY?! WHY?! CELESTIA DAMMIT WHY?!” he was sobbing his eyes out and wrenching at his chest in pain. He was crying out for his family that was murdered years ago. I watched him like I did during this whole moment as the memory felt so familiar. I made the same choice and approached him slowly. His heartache was unbearable to watch and at that moment I felt the same from my memory. I had to pick him up and save him from himself. I wrapped my arms around him and carried him up.

“You're not alone Sky,” I whispered into his ear and embraced him more firmly. He was still crying but I felt him calm down.

“They're all dead Dash! Every single damn one of them! Mom, dad, brother, uncles, aunts! Dammit! Everypony I knew, dead!”

“Stop!” I only held onto him closer, “This isn't you, where is the happy colt I knew in flight camp? He's still there in your heart somewhere. Listen to my voice, I will never leave your side for as long as we're still friends. No, we're more than friends now. I... I can be your family.”

He shook as the tears fell again. He wiped his eyes and returned with his own hug, “Family...”

“Yeah, It's been a long time Sky Buster. I know you and you know me. I'm the Element of Loyalty and I'll never abandon you, ever,” I laid him on the bed and stroked his mane. I rocked him back and forth as I took him under my wing.

You picked me up when I fell...

I opened my eyes again to see that I was flying. I felt a helmet on my head and in front of my eyes was a heads up display screen. I looked around and found myself strapped to a flying battle saddle, fully armed with rockets and machine guns.

“Angels four, bandits spotted! Yo Dash, your still there?” Sky looked back at me. His amber tinted visor gleamed in the sunshine with a smile wide on his face.

“Yeah! I just spaced out for a minute. What say we take on these Vulcan bastards from the sun?” I felt a zeal wash over me as I nodded to him as my flight leader.

“Hell yeah! Watch this Dashie!” we rolled inverted and zoomed past two Spitfire planes in our dive. I closed my eyes again and felt the rush of wind on my face.

You were always there for me...

Once more, I opened my eyes and felt a soft grass beneath my hooves. I also felt something gently around my back and neck. It was a white wing, Sky's wing. He held me close as we walked on in the peaceful morning breeze.

“The war is finally over Rainbow. Hard to believe that this was once a battlefield huh?” we looked out at the beautiful green valley outside of Ponyville. The trees to the Everfree forest all lovely green pine trees with a mountain in the background. The grass was unspoiled and wet with dew. I took in the beauty and the crisp air that filled my lungs with scents of flowers.

Buster looked at me with his short, handsome red mane flowing in the wind, “What say we get married here? In our own backyard.”

He pointed upward and I saw my house hovering over the field with a huge proposal sign hung right above the door. I nuzzled him and he wrapped his wings around me. I felt myself break down in tears of joy.

“Yes! Sky Buster Yes!” I picked him up into the air and twirled with joy.

Now and forever...

I had the same feeling of joy wash over me as my eyes opened to... The same place where we first played tag! The cloud we stood on was the very cloud Sky had tagged me on in flight camp.

“Tag! You're it!” He smiled and giggled as he poked a hoof to my side, “Happy birthday Rainbow Dash...”

“Oh, that's right! It's my birthday today huh?”

“Exactly why I wanted to fly to Cloudsdale with you, back to our old play cloud all those years ago,” he scooted closer to me and pecked me on the cheek.

“All these years in the blink of an eye?” I looked to my hooves and found something within the cloud. I dug at it and found something red. It was a ribbon, no, a gift! This wasn't in the memory but Sky still smiled and nuzzled me on the nose.

“Well? Go ahead Dashie. Open it.”

And so I did, it was a light that shined so bright and engulfed me in a warm silken embrace. I felt Sky's brilliant white wings wrap around me again in warmth. I heard him whisper.

“I will never leave you Dash. I love you...”

-Day 349:

I woke up sobbing and found a single long, white feather that tickled my nose. I stared at it for what seems like a lifetime and gently grasped it in my hooves. I wanted to cry so bad, I miss him so much. I held onto the feather that once belonged to my husband and felt my heart sink into sadness. Tears flowed onto my cotton pillow before I felt a bump from inside of me. I was reminded that I was still pregnant and had a future to look forward to. My foal moved slowly, like he was nuzzling me to cheer me up.

“Thanks buddy,” I kissed my belly and spoke to him, “Mommy's gonna be okay. She just misses daddy...”

I pulled myself from the blanket and caressed my child. I hovered up into the air and sat down at the edge of my bed as I tucked the feather behind my ear.

“So whatcha want for breakfast little dude?” he gave a gentle buck upwards, “Okay, waffles with mustard it is.”

I flew downstairs and saw Fluttershy already up.

“Good morning Rainbow Dash!” she greeted me with a smile. Jet bumped inside of me again and I gave an oof, “And good morning to you too Jump Jet. Is there anything you want to eat today?”

“He's been bugging me for waffles dipped in honey mustard. This is even weirder than what Sky used to cook,” of all the seafood, strange mollusks, and food my husband has served me over the years I still wasn't used to all the cravings the baby wanted. I sat down as Fluttershy used the waffle iron to make us some breakfast.

“So what's the agenda for today General Dash?” she placed the waffles on a plate and slid one to me. I took the bottle of mustard and covered it with the delicious yet slightly off tasting sauce the baby wanted me to eat.

“I'm suppose to inspect an arms shipment today. Let me get into my uniform after this,” I stuffed the waffles messily into my mouth and ate it all. I smiled silently and pet my belly as I continued to eat. I could feel my baby wiggle in delight, “Hmmm, you like that don't you?”

“Awww! That's so cute,” Fluttershy gave a little squee and helped me up from the table, “Okay, let's get you into your uniform General.”

“Flutters, although I may be the leader of the colony's military you don't have to call me General all the time. Just between you and me, caz you know, we're friends,” we flew upstairs and back to my office. She helped me get dressed in my formal Equestrian Air Force uniform. Although there was one thing added to it to make it stand out. At the shoulder was our new symbol for the space colony military: a white four pointed star in the middle of a white outer circle.

“Your necklace Rainbow,” Fluttershy draped the emblem necklace on my neck, “You look lovely in uniform. I didn't fit it too tightly for the baby did I?”

“No no, Fluttershy. He's pretty comfy in there. He's all snuggled up and warm,” I giggled and smiled into the mirror. I looked pretty and ready to take on the universe.

“Let's proceed General,” Fluttershy donned her uniform as well as her emblem necklace. The necklace signified us as top military staff.

“Let's,” we trotted outside and saw New Ponyville as a city with over a hundred thousand ponies. This wasn't our only colony now, there were plenty of cities on this planet now. They're all self sufficient and one city, appropriately named New Cloudsdale, was a floating battleship that hovered over the planet to guard all of us.

“Hard to believe it's only been almost one year huh?” Fluttershy gazed at our beautiful city all filled with happy ponies that called it home.

“Let's get focused Flutters,” we hopped into my jeep parked out in front. Fluttershy helped me to get in as my giant belly made squeezing into things a little difficult, “Thanks for the help.”

“You're welcome!” she smiled to me and drove us to the space port. The newest arms shipment arrived in an earth pony dropship that landed right on the helipad by the checkpoint gate.

“Morning General!” a soldier greeted us as he opened the gate, “How's the foal doing today ma'am?”

“Good, keep up the good work Gryph,” I saluted to the dark haired navy stallion as we drove into the base and parked next to the dropship, “Flutters, help me up please.”

“You got it Rainbow,” she plucked me from my seat and placed me down on the ground, “There you go.”

“Thanks again,” I looked to the shipments being offloaded. There was a jet, a tank, and crates of small arms being offloaded from the massive transport.

“Officer on deck!” the soldiers guarding the craft stood at attention as I made my approach.

“At ease. I've come to inspect the arms shipment from the home planet. Whatcha guys got?”

“Well General, everypony back home is pitching in with the defense of the colonies. We got a Stallionrad MiG-21X, an Equestrian M551 Sheridan, and crates of German small arms from AnY Corp. What do you wish to inspect first General Dash?”

“Hmph,” I smiled and looked at the plane, “You know me. I'd like to see that plane first.”

“Yes sir! This here is a Stallionrad MiG-21. Heavily modified to incorporate Avali and Human stealth technology and avionics systems, hence the X designation,” he went on as I inspected the ailerons.

“Why are there gemstones on each of the control surfaces?” I noticed each had a tiny gem that glowed with magic to give the plane some sort of enchantment.

“Space capability sir! Magic will make this plane able to maneuver in space just as well as it would in atmosphere. We also swapped out the engine for the magic sound based thrusters used in our spacecraft.”

I noticed a note attached to the plane and read it out loud, “Best regards on the new foal-Nuke Fire and Peace Walker.”

I smiled as I remembered the two Stallionrad engineers who sent me this plane.

“Thanks guys,” I folded the note and placed it in my pocket, “Also, what's up with all the weird angles on the access panels?”

“Planform alignment. Each angle is set the same as another part of the aircraft to defect radar. You can thank your buddy Zero from Neighpon for that innovation. The Avali just provided us with the materials to build it,” the officer continued to explain.

“Yeah I remember Zero. He was always quite the maverick inventor. I find this plane kickass Lieutenant. Onto the tank if you may,” I pointed to the Sheridan.

“This is a not-so-standard M551 Sheridan airborne tank made in Equestria. The low velocity gun is replaced with magic enhanced railgun technology donated to us by the Avali. Requires no external power source as it draws electricity from a charged gem inside the turret. Carries the standard twenty rounds of ready use kinetic armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot shells. And just in case it's still able to fire the standard Shillelagh missiles out of its main gun when need be.”

“Did you do anything to the armor?” I tapped the hull and put an ear to it.

“There wasn't much we could do with the armor. But what you can see is that we replaced all the smoke grenade launchers with something called a hard kill defense system. Basically once the automated system detects an incoming large caliber munition it fires off an interception warhead that will detonate the enemy munition at a safe distance away from the tank. We wanted to keep all the weight down for your battle doctrine ma'am!” he saluted again.

“It wasn't my battle doctrine. It was from my late husband,” I sat down on the tank and rubbed my belly as Jet started to stir again, “He wanted to emphasize on the effective use of air cavalry and rapid deployment with total air superiority. With the Avalis help and tactics that we adapted to our own uses the drills have gone very successful so far. If anything hits this planet, they'll be in a world of hurt. Hey! Ow!”

Jet started to jump.

“You okay General?” the officer cocked his head to the side.

“Yes yes, I'm fine. Just the foal kicking. Anywho, what about the small arms you brought in?”

“Well General, these are crates of G3 assault rifles provided to us by Prince AnY's family business: AnY Corporation. 7.62 caliber and augmented with synthetics to be as light as possible. Each rifle also has an enchanted gem embedded into the stock that allows the bullets fired an elemental property. Things like fire, shock damage, frost spells, you name it. Just press the gem to change up the magic charge.”

I picked one up in my wings and sighted it to my eye, “Perfect. Say, what about some anti-ta-AH!”

I cupped my stomach and felt it twist in pain. This wasn't right. I screamed out as Fluttershy caught me.

“Rainbow! Are you okay?”

“I-I dunno Fluttershy! Ooooooh!” I felt a pop from inside of me and fluid ran down my back legs. I started to breath more rapidly as another wave of pain hit. I knew what this meant, “THE BABY'S COMING!”

“Oh my! Quick, we have to get you home,” Fluttershy and the officer pony helped me into the jeep as I was incapacitated by pain. I had my wings and forehooves wrapped around my belly as I hissed in agony, “Lieutenant, if you would be so kind to dispatch MPs with sirens to lead the way to the General's house.”

“Right away Miss Fluttershy! Hey! Get those LAV-150 Commandos to escort the General back home! She's having her baby for Celestia's sake!” he shouted to his troops. Fluttershy rubbed my back to comfort me.

“Don't worry Rainbow Dash, it normally takes hours for the delivery to take place,” she patted my belly as I recoiled in pain.

“OOOOOH! But I can feel the head!” I was hyperventilating as Fluttershy felt around for the foal.

“O-Or I could be wrong and that baby is coming out! Quick please!” she shouted, or what passed as a shout, to the soldiers driving up to us.

“Got it, just follow us Miss Fluttershy,” the large armored car wailed on its siren and drove us back to my house past the traffic of cars and carriages. The few minutes it took felt like torturous eras as well pulled up to the house. Fluttershy and the Lieutenant helped me onto my bed and curled me up in pillows.

“Thank you so much sir. May I ask that you come with me to gather our Princess?”

“Yes Miss Fluttershy! Hop to it squad!”

“Hey,” Fluttershy gave me a big hug, “I'm going to get Twilight to record the birth. If all goes well just like it did with Pinkie you should have nothing to fear. Just hang on and resist the urge to push until I get back. And don't cross your legs either or you might crush the baby.”

“I-I'll remember that. OOW!” another contraction shot across me. Fluttershy kissed me on the forehead.

“I'll be right back. Hang on Dashie,” she closed the door behind her and I was left to my own with my colt coming out of me. I moaned, hissed, and rocked in pain trying to find comfort in any position.

“J-Jet!” I caressed my belly and spoke to him, “You're gonna be okay... Mommy is here little guy. Just-just AHHH!”

I could feel my abdomen contract and my foal moved lower. I could feel him squeezed by my labor and he squirmed in panic. I continued to talk to him.

“You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay Jet. Momma's here. Shhh, shhh. Don't panic, you're OOOOOOO,” I wrenched at my side with another contraction. I piled on my pillows but nothing was working. I wanted to push so bad but Fluttershy still wasn't back yet. I don't think I've ever been in so much pain. Finally somepony burst through the door. It was Fluttershy and Twilight dressed in their lab coats with plenty of medical tools in tow.

“How is she Fluttershy?” Twi asked as another contraction set in, this time getting closer together.

“She's well within the second stage of labor. She might have been asleep when the first stage hit last night. Rainbow is a heavy sleeper and she might have just experienced the pain in a dream. Everything should be all set for the birth,” Fluttershy explained as she went over to check on me, “Now Rainbow, where do you feel him?”

“Coming... He's coming out!” another contraction. I bit my lower lip in pain.

“Okay Dash, I need you to push as hard as you can once another contraction hits. Twilight I'm going to need your help in pulling out the foal.”

“Got it Fluttershy, same thing we did with Pinkie. Just as long as it's safe for live birth I can call this experiment a success,” Twi patted my swollen belly with her wing, “We're right here Rainbow. We're gonna help you get through this.”

“AHH! I need to push!” I curled into my belly and pushed.

“Okay! Keep pushing until I stop: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! Good good! He's coming along just fine,” Fluttershy counted me on as pain tore through my body. My wings jutted out and hit Twilight in the face as she attached some wires to my tummy.

“Twi,” I breathed in and out, pained, “What are you doing?”

“I'm getting a heart reading on the baby. Just in case. There we go! Looks like he's doing just fine,” the machine started to beep with the familiar tone of a heart rate monitor. Only it was beeping rather fast.

“Don't you worry about the beeping Rainbow, Jet's just a little stressed. He's probably going through just as much pain as you are,” Flutters held my hoof. I looked to her with sweat running down my face.

“R-Really?” I squeezed her hoof hard as another spike of pain made the both of us squeak.

“Ouch! I mean, yes. You two have to stay strong now. Another push! Okay: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten! You got it Rainbow!”

I felt another painful pop from below. This time it was solid and squishy.

Twilight gasped, “Oh no! Looks like the heart rate is dipping.”

“Then we have have to act fast. Help me pull on the legs!” they both moved around to my butt area and they were both blocked by my huge belly, “No magic! You could hurt them both if you pull too hard.”

“Right, I see the legs,” I felt them grab my colt and he stirred in protest.

“Rainbow, push with the contraction now! One, two, three,” I felt an unbelievable surge of pain as every muscle in my body twisted and tore as my foal moved outward, “Four! Five! Six! Seven! Eight! Nine! Ten! Good good! Don't panic Dashie!”

I could hear the heart rate monitor dip again. It was hard not to panic and I started to cry. I curled into my belly and spoke to Jet.

“Jet! Don't give up, you're one of the only things your father left for me! Baby, don't die, please don't die,” I yelled to him as I sobbed into my coat. Another contraction, surging pain, and tears, “AAAHHHHHH!”

“He's coming right out! Come on Rainbow! You can do it!” Twilight cheered on.

“And come on Jet! Don't leave your mother so soon! You're the only thing left that she's got. Come on, push! One! Two! Three! Four! Five! Six! Seven-” Fluttershy cut out as I felt Jet slide out of me and the heart rate monitor went to a flat tone. I looked to my side and stared at the machine.

“No! No...” I looked at the flat line and started to cry. My heart was breaking all over again as all those months carrying my foal were for nothing. I took one of my pillows and sobbed uncontrollably into it, “JET! MY LITTLE FOAL NO!”

Silence filled the room. All I could hear were my sobs and the occasional burst of pain from my now empty womb. My yells muffled by the pillow and my cries of agony and grief to the loss of my baby whom I worked so hard for only to perish in birth. What happens to me next?...

“Rainbow!” Twilight tried to stir me, “Don't cry! Listen!”

I heard a wet cough followed by crying. Something wet and squishy was laid on my belly and I removed the pillow from my face to find... My baby...

“Congratulations Rainbow Dash. You just gave birth to a healthy eight pound five ounce pegasus colt,” Fluttershy came around and stroked my mane. My heart with filled with joy, relief, and love for my new son crying on my tummy.

“B-But, the heart monitor!”

“Well, that only measures when he's inside of you and not when he came out,” Twilight wheeled away the machine.

“Oh, and sorry for being quiet all this time, I was concentrating on removing the sac from his cute little nose so he could breath. Take a good look at your son Rainbow, he looks a lot like this father,” Fluttershy explained.

“Like his...” I looked to my child now curled into slumber. His coat blended into mine with the same shade of light blue. His mane a brilliant red like that of Sky Buster. With the wag of his tail I could see the familiar banana shape of my late husband's tail but instead of the banana butt yellow it was a rainbow, like my own, “father...”

Fluttershy cleaned him up and wrapped him in soft cloth before giving him to me again. I wrapped him with my wings in tender loving embrace as he gave a gentle coo. I nuzzled his tiny nose and my heart exploded with cuteness as he gave the most adorable little sneeze. I ran my hoof through his mane which reminded me so much about his father. Then I remembered. I still had the white feather tucked into my ear all this time. Something compelled me to give it to Jet so I set it close to his muzzle. He opened his beautiful green eyes to look at me and smile. He was adorable and I couldn't help but blush.

“Go on,” I nudged the feather closer to him. At first he eyed it in curiosity before sniffing at it. Again, he gave another gentle sneeze and blew the feather to my face. I giggled to him and blew the feather onto his face. He gave a blissful yawn and took the feather in his mouth, “There you go little guy.”

“There you go Rainbow. All done. You get plenty of rest now and I'll be here for you if you need anything at all,” Fluttershy smiled to me and I looked to her.

“Thank you for delivering my baby,” I whispered as my child slept with his father's feather tucked into his mouth.

“I'd say this experiment was a success. You go ahead and take the whole week off to bond with the baby. I'll let our friends know everything went a okay,” Twilight packed her things and sat next to me, “I wish Sky Buster could have seen this.”

“I,” I was reluctant to say a thing, “I'm sure he did, wherever his soul may be.”

“We're just gonna leave you alone now. Again, congratulations Rainbow. Good bye,” Twilight exited my house and Fluttershy sat on the couch listening to the radio. I continued to caress and envelop my foal as he slept soundly in my wings. I gave him one more kiss and joined him in sleep.