Author's Notes:

Did you guys think I was gone? NEVAH! MUAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Ahem. Enjoy!

“EVERYPONY GET THE BUCK OUT OF THE WAY!”

In what would later be known as the largest pregnancy-induced hospital takeover in Equestrian history, an entire flight of Wonderbolts, fifty in total, launched into Ponyville General. Ten set up shop in the clouds above, muskets and thunderheads ready to intercept any threats, while the rest practically flocked the outsides of the large brick building. Feathers of every hue were raised into the air, crackling softly with ozone and miniature lightning, bespeaking the tense attitudes of their bearers. Not far behind the Wonderbolts came the ground team; fifty fully armored soldiers of the Aurora Guard, rainbow crests slicked back from the speed of their run, dragging the Royal Chariot through the rapidly clearing lane.

Spitfire and Twilight Sparkle led the way; the former cleared the way with the loud trumpeting of her trained, experienced voice. The latter cleared it with sweeps of telekinesis and judicious use of the Royal Canterlot Voice. Twilight glanced back at a frantic Spike, who was carefully wiping down a panic-stricken Rainbow Dash. The young pegasus was not ready for this, it was quite clear in her wide, red-tinged eyes. Fleetfoot was by her side, a hoof firmly wrapped around Rainbow’s own, a gentle smile beaming down at her love.

“Spike, did you send the word to Princess Celestia?” Twilight called out, forcing herself to sound calmer than she truly was.

Spike, visibly steeling himself, nodded back to Twilight, managing a weak smile as he held out a small scroll, which Twilight quickly levitated up to her eyes.

We’ll be right there.
“Good,” Twilight whispered to herself, allowing herself a relieved smile.

With the Celestial Sisters and their magic present, there would be far less worry clouding Twilight’s mind. At least, for Rainbow’s health. Her defense, however… A grey-blonde blur raced overhead, lightening Twilight’s mood considerably more. Ditzy was outfitted in her Aurora Guard Captain outfit- cyan blue leather, tooled to hug her every curve and contour like a second skin. A sword scabbard hung at her side, the bronzed hilt tooled to match her muzzle and teeth exactly. Twilight had enchanted every inch of her love’s arms and armor with the best defense matrices she could find in her repertoire. Ditzy was probably the best defended mare in the entire Guard, not that that had stopped her from training her body and mind as hard as she could.

“Captain Do!”

With hardly a sound, Ditzy fluttered to a stop in front of her Princess, smiling warmly. While some found Ditzy Do’s mismatched stare disturbing, Twilight Sparkle never felt safer than when she looked into their golden depths.

“Yes, Princess?” she purred-

Enough brain, she doesn’t have to be sensual all the time, Twilight scolded herself sheepishly.

Clearing her throat, Twilight stood straighter, letting the magic flow through her horn and hooves and form the magical circle she would need for her spellwork.

“Iron Wall defense matrix.”

With a simple nod, Ditzy rocketed back into the sky, directing each group of Aurora Sky Guard to their proper positions, co-mingling with the Wonderbolts’ positions. For Twilight, her job was to direct the half dozen unicorn Magic Guard into their places within the spell matrix. Their influx of power, control shared with Twilight, would give her enough potential magical power to stop an entire army of griffons, should they show their beaks here. Dark thoughts swirled to the forefront of the Princess’ mind, and she allowed herself a grim smile. She almost relished the chance.
*******************

“OH GODDESSES GET IT OUT!”

Fleetfoot’s ears flattened as she helped the frantic nurses transfer the writhing cyan pegasus onto the bed. Rainbow’s ruby eyes were bright and wide in pain and abject fear, shaking hooves holding her shifting stomach. She couldn’t imagine her herdmate’s fear right now, but what Fleetfoot could do was try to calm her down. The young Wonderbolt quickly scooted up to nuzzle and kiss at Rainbow, whispering soft, soothing words to her ears.

“Just calm down,” she whispered, gently encircling Rainbow’s left hoof and giving it a squeeeeeeow!

Fleetfoot winced, tears coming to her eyes as Rainbow practically crushed her hoof; the cyan mare leaned in close, teeth gritted tightly.

“GET. IT. OUT.”

Well, at least her spine was coming back! That’s good. Right?
********************************

Nurse Redheart hummed softly as she galloped between the VIP room and her station, gathering the proper drugs into her saddlebags; that poor pegasus was in a great deal of pain, and having the proper painkillers was essential. If she passed out, things could get very bad, very fast, especially with a half-breed birth. In Ponyville, hippogryph children were quite rare- indeed, Redheart had only helped in the birth of one before, a pair of travellers who had been blind-sided by the labor before they could return home. But none of her fellow nurses would ever dare call Redheart a coward by nature, and she would be damned if she didn’t do everything she could for a returned Element of Harmony.

Her head buried in one of the medical bags, Nurse Redheart almost missed the stumbling gait of a large stallion, if not for his brown tail flicking in her periphery. Glancing up, the pink-maned mare sighed in relief, setting the major painkiller needle into her bag.

“Dr. Stable, you made it!” she exclaimed cheerfully, “Rainbow Dash is in Room 34, she’s in labor right now. Would you like to help?”

Stable was silent, his stumbling, awkward gait only increasing speed towards Room 34. Frowning, Redheart’s ears slowly laid back.

“Doctor?”

Glancing around slowly, and with a determined flick of her tail, Nurse Redheart reached for the sedative pouch of her saddlebags…
*********************

“You’re doing fine, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia whispered softly, gently nuzzling Rainbow Dash’s mane, her graceful, spiraled horn gleaming softly in the dimmed light of the birthing room.

She and Luna had seemed far more at ease with the situation when they had arrived, having overseen countless births in their lifetimes. Her very presence had seemed to ease the pain coursing through Dash, and her magic worked into her very soul, easing and calming her spirit. Luna had laid her horn over Rainbow’s rotund stomach, eyes gleaming silver as she checked on and guided the infant mind. Despite their bulk, the nurses and doctors were able to work around them easily, ducking nimbly through graceful legs or peeking underneath barrels.

At the window, Spitfire nervously peeked inside, watching the scene closely. The entirety of the Wonderbolts had taken up positions outside Rainbow Dash’s window, all armed to the wings and teeth. Spitfire was supposed to be leading them, but she couldn’t drag her eyes away from the scene. Not a single ‘Bolt minded one bit.

“I-it hurts,” Rainbow wheezed out, “S-spitfire? Fleet?”

“We’re here, Rainbow!” Spitfire called out in an instant, eyes wide, “Y-you’re doing great, hun!”

A brown unicorn stallion in a doctor’s jacket began to trot inside, but a white hoof suddenly dragged him back, and a small, azure blue mare ran inside with a saddlebag, quickly getting to work administering painkillers to Rainbow’s IV line. Spitfire frowned slowly, eying the hallway door. Something didn’t feel right… Maybe she should-

“Captain! A portal!”

Buck.
*********************

Redheart frowned deeply as she dragged a squirming, mumbling Stable away from Room 34’s door. Something /was/ up! Stable’s eyes were clouded and unfocused, but not from drug abuse or alcohol. She had seen enough of that to recognize the signs. No… there was very little of Stable left in those eyes, focused so hungrily on the door.

“Doctor, talk to me!” Redheart hissed urgently, grabbing his chin in her hooves and turning him towards her stern teal eyes, “What’s going on with you?”

“M-must… get inside…” he whispered, struggling against the Earth Pony’s iron-strong grip, “H-have to… must…”

Smack!

Redheart knew her hoof had to hurt like a mother, but she had to do something. This wasn’t like Stable at all… The older stallion grunted at the strike, standing very, very still for several moments. When he turned back towards Redheart, she was relieved to see a good bit more life back in his hazel eyes. He blinked a few times, then his muzzle twisted into a horrific grimace. Light began to spiral from his horn, and he frantically shook his head.

“N-no no no… nononono… R-redheart, ru-”

The sedative needle sank into Stable’s neck, the plunger depressing with a flick of Redheart’s tongue. Trembling in relief, the unicorn collapsed onto his side, the light fading away, and Redheart gave a relieved, if somewhat strained sigh. She would find out what was going on with Stable later. Right now, a foal needed all the help it could get.
***********************

Spitfire and Fleetfoot touched down on the well-groomed grass of the hospital’s front lawn, both mares glaring daggers at the figures stepping out of the shimmering, swirling portal. The first was a massive specimen of the Minotaur race; his body was covered head-to-toe in dull, well-worn armor plates, while his meaty hands clutched at a greataxe as tall as his top horns. Each step thundered loudly, even on the soft grass, and Spitfire could see the gleaming points of his blue eyes beneath his visored helmet. At Fleetfoot’s snort, he slammed his axe handle onto the loamy ground, roaring bestially at the ponies.

At his side stood a griffin, his own body covered almost entirely in plates as well. Well-polished and gleaming in the sun, they protected his chest, withers, and barrel entirely. His beaked head was hidden by a hooked helmet, and Spitfire could spy the razor-sharp wingblades running down the line of his eagle-like wings. The griffin stayed on all fours, but a role of his shoulders made the wingblades hiss ominously through the air.

“Explain yourselves,” Spitfire spat, any decorum she would usually have tossed away in her stress, “Minotaur first. I can have you shot on sight.”

“Go ahead and try, pony,” the Minotaur rumbled, his voice scratchy and deeply baritone, “I will cut you in half before your bullets can break through my armor. I am here to settle the Blood Debt your kind owe mine.”

He snorted loudly, hot mist curling from his helmet slit, “You lead the attack of the camp. You will duel me to the death.”

Spitfire blinked slowly, mouth quirking before she could regain full control. Clearing her throat, she slowly turned her head to the griffin.

“And you?”

The griffin was silent, head tilted as he seemed to be waiting for- A low wail, the high-pitched whine of a newborn, rang out from Rainbow’s room. Both ponies tensed immediately, torn between a desire to rush to Rainbow’s side, and the need to face down these intruders.

“I’m here for the foal,” he replied finally, his voice a smooth tenor, “As he is my blood and clan. Clear a path, if you please.”

“Thaaaat… would be a no,” Spitfire replied slowly, smirking as she looked both males over, “On both challenges. We don’t negotiate with terrorists, and Equestrian officers don’t duel to the death. Sorry. Now-”

A loud hiss interrupted Spitfire, and she tensed at the cruel smile on the face of the griffin, his body already beginning to launch forward. From the portal, grey smoke roared out like a tidal wave… only to curl and spread up and around the hospital, a faint purple dome glimmering on the edge of Spitfire’s vision. The surprise on the griffin’s face when the smoke didn’t obscure his vision was almost comical… till Fleetfoot roared forward, teeth bared in a vicious snarl. Spitfire beat her wings once, launching herself into the sky, just as the Minotaur’s axe sang through the space she had just vacated. Oh, it was on now.
******************

Lightning Dust started awake at the first scream. During one of her lucid moments, the injured flier had begged the staff to bring her to a room as close to Rainbow Dash’s as possible. Lightning knew she had little reason to think she should get to see Rainbow’s foal- she had messed up bad during the Academy, and never had the chance to apologize before Rainbow’s capture. But… she had hoped to get a little glimpse, at least, especially now that she was feeling better. Well… somewhat.

The buckshot had ripped through her uniform and upper chest, nicking her lungs and tearing out a good bit of flesh and muscle. The doctors had told Lightning that it would take a good deal of physical therapy to get back in flying form again. It… stung, but if that was what it took, then Lightning would do it. Flying was her life. Flying, performing, protecting…

Protecting…

The scream rang out again, and Lightning sat up with a pained yelp, eyes wide. That scream had obviously been from Rainbow, judging from the scratchiness and the horrified, pleading tone. She could hear words, but the thick door obscured them. Something was very, very wrong… Lightning Dust peered down at her bandaged hooves and scowled, swinging them over the side of the bed. She could already tell this would be painful; exceedingly so. But she nearly died protecting Rainbow. If someone had gotten into the hospital… She hopped down.

“Nnnnnnngh!” Lightning Dust screamed, doing her best to hold it behind her clenched teeth, tears misting her eyes.

It felt like she was being shot all over again, and each tottering step forward only added to it, like salt on the wound. Lightning’s breath hissed out in loud huffs, and she could barely hold back the pained squeal as she reached up to turn the door handle and tug it open. On the floor in front of her and Rainbow’s rooms, Nurse Redheart was laying in an unconscious heap beside Applejack, both of them bleeding lightly from gashes on the back of their heads. And standing in the doorway was a pony; a unicorn, in fact. A dark red stallion, his mane cut short and colored blue. He was dressed in a doctor’s uniform, obscuring his cutie mark. And he was holding a revolver to the head of a newborn foal.

“If I sense magic from any of you, the foal is dead,” the stallion was saying, the revolver’s hammer ominously clicking back as he began to slowly step through the threshold, the foal squalling and flapping its still-wet wings.

Over his shoulder, Lightning could see the stricken faces of Rainbow and her friends, tears streaming down Rainbow’s cheeks, while the Princesses had risen to their hooves, murder in their radiant eyes. Luna took a step forward, and the stallion ground the barrel against the foal’s forehead, making her squall louder.

“Don’t,” the stallion hissed, “Or I swear-”

Screaming from the agony of the motion, Lightning Dust launched herself against the stallion, teeth clamping firmly to his horn. Her wings burst out from her back, batting the revolver out of the surprised unicorn’s grip and launching the foal back towards the bed. Twisting her head and back, and ignoring the lava flow of agony that the action brought, Lightning let out a violent twist, her sharp teeth grounding on the horn.

Crunch.

The pegasus fell heavily to the floor, practically deafened by the shrieks coming from the de-horned unicorn, his shattered horn still gripped in Lightning’s muzzle, leaking golden fluids. She glared daggers at the stallion, even as the Princesses’ magic slammed him against the wall with bone-cracking force. Finally, she had done something right. Lightning let the horn drop free with a shudder of disgust, closing her eyes as the blackness set in. She thought she could hear somepony calling her name.

Later. Gotta sleep first.