“Welcome home, Pinkie,” Mrs Pie said, hugging her daughter.

“Hi, Mom!” Pinkie chirped, returning the hug, then bouncing. “I can’t believe it’s been so long. I can’t wait to see everypony. Hey, where’re Marble and Limestone?”

Pinkie’s mother chuckled, shaking her head. “They’re still out in the field. Since Limstone's took over all accountancy tasks, the rock farm’s been bringing in more revenue than ever. Blinkie even struck a seam of gems in the last quarter.”

Pinkie bounced a little higher, glad to know her family were doing so well.

“And the prodicle child returns,” a voice said from behind her. Pinkie turned and grinned at the sight of her youngest and older sister.

“Marble, Limestone, how ya been?!” she cheered, pulling the two into a huge hug, to which they returned with small chuckles.

“We’ve been... good,” Marble said, stepping back and pushing a few strands of her grey mane from her face. Her slightly darker-grey fur was covered in splotches on dirt from mining in the fields.

“Hey,” Pinkie asked, glancing around in confusion. “Where’s Maud?”

“She should be here soon,” their mother assured her. “Your pa’s gone to meet her at the train station.”

“Oh,” Pinkie’s form deflated the tiniest bit. “If I’d known Maud was going by train, I’d have stayed there and waited for her. Then we could’ve come together.”

“Well, in the meantime,” Mrs Pie said, turning towards the kitchen. “Pinkie, would you like to help make dinner.”

“Okey dokey loki!” Pinkie replied, bouncing in after her mother.

“We’ll even make your sister’s favorite dessert,” her mother winked.

Pinkie’s grin almost passed the boarders of her face. “Rock cakes! Yipee!” Rock cakes were the only candy Maud liked, not that Pinkie knew she didn't really like candy anyway.

“Maud!” Pinkie screamed with joy, barreling down the path from the house as her oldest sister came into view, walking next to their father. Maud allowed Pinkie to bowl her over and gave the tiniest smile as her sister stood atop her, the widest smile on her own face.

“It’s so great you were able to come!” Pinkie said rapidly, after they got up and headed towards the house. “There’s so much I wanna tell you. So much I want you to tell me. Oh, did you hear that Twilight’s got her own castle now?! I bet you could study some of the crystal in it for your rocktorate in rock science.”

Maud gave a slight nod. “I suppose that might help me along.”

Maud greeted the rest of their family with the enthusiasm she was known for, then the family all gathered in the living room to hear about her studies in rock science and Pinkie’s latest adventures in Ponyville.

“So, have you discovered any new kinds of rock, recently?” Limestone asked, smirking, looking up at Maud from her sit on the floor.

Maud began to shake her head, then stopped. “Well, there is this one rock—”

“Can we see it? Can we see it?” Pinkie asked, her eyes wide with excitement at the thought of her sister having made a new discovery. “Ooh! Is it another rock like the ones for rock candy?”

Maud shook her head, reached into her saddlebags lying on the floor and took out a pink bag.

All Pies raised an eyebrow at her in confusion.

“I found this in the yard of the college,” Maud said, the tiniest of a frown on her face. “A unicorn professor placed it in this magical bag. He said there was some kind of magical aura around it that he’d never sensed before.”

She placed the bag down on the couch and looked to her father. “Dad, I don’t suppose you’ve ever heard such a rock?”

Mr. Pie frowned, thinking. “Magical rocks?” He tapped his chin for a few moments, before shaking his head. “I can’t say I have, dear.”

“Ooh. Shiny.”

They all turned and, in that moment, time seemed to freeze. Lying on the floor was the bag Maud had taken from her saddlebags. However, it was now flat, empty.

Their eyes all fell on Pinkie, who was holding a rock that was glowing with a blue aura. It’s design was almost like that of a dragon’s eyes, with bright blue all around and a slitted black pupil-like thing in the centre.

The glowing aura seemed to pulse, almost like a heartbeat, before Pinkie’s body started shuddering.

Once they finished, Pinkie blinked, confused. “The Doozy? How come I’m getting The Doozy? What kind of doozy could this rock—?”

Maud, for the first time in a long time, wore an expression of horror. But, before she, or any of their family could even open their mouths to shout a warning to Pinkie, the light intensified, blinding them.

From within the light there heard Pinkie give a loud, pained scream.

Her three sisters’ stomachs clenched at the thought of their sister in whatever pain this magical stone had released, but their parents’ stomachs clenched for an entirely different reason.

The type of scream Pinkie released was not one of ordinary agony, but a very specific pain. A scream both new to well, one having gone through it four times and the other hearing it four times.

When the light faded, it revealed Pinkie Pie, lying unconscious on the floor on her side.

They all hurried over to Pinkie, but stopped, their eyes wide. Lying at Pinkie’s side, curled up next to her, was another pony that looked almost identical to her, aside from the fact that her mane and tail were flat, not puffy.

What was more, she was a foal!

All the Pies looked around at each other, flabbergasted. What in Celestia’s name had just happened? Pinkie touches a magic rock, there’s a flash of light and suddenly, there’s a foal that looks almost exactly like Pinkie lying curled up to her?

Maud picked up the rock, somehow knowing it was safe to touch. It’s colour had faded, the blue turning into a very dim grey and the glow was gone. It was no more than a plain old rock now.

Pinkie opened her eyes, blinking in confusion. She was lying in her old room.

She sat up, looking around. She was the only one in the room and, for some reason; the old crib she and all her sisters had used as foals was lying next to her bed.

She frowned. She could hear breathing and it wasn’t hers. Slowly, she looked over the edge of the crib... and cocked her head in confusion. She was lying in the crib.

But, I’m not in the crib, I’m right here, Pinkie thought, scratching her head. And that me’s a foal, but I’m not a foal. I’m a mare. How...?

At that moment the pink foal gave a loud yawn, opened her eyes and stared up at Pinkie.

Pinkie stared back, not sure what to do.

They stayed that way for several moments, before the foal smiled and held her forelegs out.

Pinkie hesitated, unsure, then leaned in and scooped up the little foal.

As soon as she did, the foal snuggled into Pinkie’s chest, a contented smile on her face.

Pinkie just sat there, unsure what to do. She felt a warmth inside of her that she never had before and couldn't explain.

“I see you’ve woken up.” Pinkie looked up as Maud walked in, a small, warm smile on her face. “Have you thought of a name?”

Pinkie blinked, then cocked an eyebrow. “A name? Why would I have thought up a name for her?”

Maud gave a tiny grin, something Pinkie hadn’t seen in years. “Because she’s yours, Pinkie.”

Pinkie stared at her sister for several minutes, then laughed lightly. “Good one, Maud. I told the others you have a great sense of humour. How could I have a foal when I don’t even have a boyfriend? ”

Maud shook her head. “I don’t know, myself. I’ve sent the rock to your friend, Princess Twilight, to see if she can understand how this happened, but she is your foal, Pinkie.” Her tiny warm smile returned. “Why do you think she snuggled up to you the moment you held her?”

Pinkie’s face paled a little as she slowly looked down at the foal sleeping against her chest.

For several moments, the room was still, with only the sound of the three ponies’ breathing to be heard.

Then, slowly, a warm smile came to Pinkie’s face. “My foal,” she said, leaning down and nuzzling her. “My little...” a twinkle appeared in her eyes, “Surprise.”

Celestia sighed, lifting her cup of tea to her lips with her magic. Nothing calmed her more after a stressful day than a nice cup of jasmine tea—

“He-llo, Celestia!”

Celestia jumped at the loud voice, her cup flying up to the ceiling and smashing against it, her tea gently raining down on her as she deadpanned at the draconequus standing in front of her, holding a claw over his snickering mouth.

“Is there any reason you decided to so suddenly drop in on me, Discord?” she asked, trying to appear polite and not let her annoyance at the situation be heard. Thanks to all her centuries of practice, she managed, though Discord always made it harder than others.

Discord disappeared, reappearing in the portrait of Celestia and Luna standing in front of an open field. “Oh, nothing really,” he said, changing the Celestia in the portrait’s mane to brown. “Just an odd little bit of magic I sensed a few hours ago.”

Celestia’s eyes instantly narrowed. “Odd magic? Hours ago?” she stood up straight. “You didn’t think to inform me of this the moment you sensed it?”

Discord clicked his claw, vanished from the portrait, Celestia’s mane returning to normal, reappearing by the window looking out over Canterlot and beyond.

“Well, I had to investigate it, didn’t I?” he said, cracking his back. “Don’t ask me how it happened, yet, but our dear Pinkie has now become a mother.”

Celestia blinked, both in confusion at the sudden change of subject and surprise at what she’d heard. “Pinkie Pie? A mother?” She smiled. “When is she due?”

Discord chuckled. “Oh ho-ho! That is the most interesting part, Celly. The foal is already born.”

Celestia blinked. “Um, pardon?”

“Not only that,” Discord turned around, grinning. “The foal is the part of Pinkie that got locked away after she learned how to smile.” He chuckled. “She called her Surprise. Rather appropriate, don’t you think?”

Celestia frowned. The part of Pinkie that got locked away after she learned how to smile?

Discord shook his head. “Don’t worry your pretty little mane, my dear princess,” he bowed to her. “I’ll learn what I can, but I’m sure this was nothing. Just a random, happy accident... that I Pinkie Promise I had nothing to do with,” he added when Celestia raised an eyebrow.

With that, he clicked his claw and vanished with a pop.

Celestia sighed, massaging her forehead. Even if Discord had said it wasn’t anything to worry about, there was still a chance, so she, as princess, had to consider it. This was going to be a long night... especially since her tea was now just a small drying puddle on the roof.

Author's Notes:

Well, there's chapter one.

So Maud found a stone that made Pinkie's inner self, the part that is Pinkamena, come out and now she's named Surprise? Hmm. wondering which other ponies will be at my mercy for foalifying?

Well then, just go straight to chapter 2 and you'll find out.

Til next time, later everypony