Chapter 36

Celestia and Luna trotted side by side into the large cartridge, Strong Shield poked his head in after them

“Will you see Dave?” He asked, his voice almost hinting concern

Celestia smiled “I guarantee it” Strong Shield nodded as he turned to leave “Actually sergeant!”

Strong Shield returned and saluted “Yes your majesty?”

“Come in here” She glanced at her sister “He is Dave’s umm… father”

Luna nodded “Yes he should be there too”

Strong Shield stood confused until the princesses beckoned him in “Should I be informed on something?”

Celestia smiled weakly “Let’s just say that you will be shocked” she nodded to the chief Pegasus

The pegasi reared before flapping their strong wings, they carried the large cartridge into the air and began to fly towards Ponyville

Meanwhile…

Dave walked downstairs and into the kitchen, the ponies and Spike all sat around the large wooden table

“So?” Rainbow Dash tapped her hooves together “What are we doing?”

Twilight looked away from Dave “We are going to keep Luna company while Dave and Celestia go to the hospital”

“So are we going to town now? I imagine the princess would want to get here early” Applejack gave a concerned glance at Dave

Dave sat down and bumped his head against the table “What am I going to do?” he moaned

“Hey cheer up!” Rarity tapped him with a hoof “I’m sure whatever happens you will pull through”

Dave smiled at the reassurance “You’re right I can do this” he looked at his friends “I know this must be awkward for the rest of you”

The girls all smiled “It’s ok we can wait” Applejack chuckled “Ya got a responsibility to deal with first”

Dave nodded “Yeah… well let’s go!” he said eagerly as he headed for the door

“Wait!” Pinkie called “You haven’t had breakfast”

Dave shook his head “I’m not hungry I’ll get something later now come on!”

The girls hurried after and Spike climbed back onto his usual spot on Dave’s shoulder “So what are you going to do if Princess Celestia is pregnant?”

“Umm… Panic” Dave nodded “Definitely panic”

Spike rolled his eyes “And then?”

“Well I suppose I would have to find a way to be closer to Celestia just in case she had the baby” Dave scratched his chin “But that would mean leaving Ponyville”

As the group walked down the road towards Ponyville, Spike watched the skies “I can’t see any cartridges or alicorns”

“What if we are late?” Fluttershy whispered nervously

Dave scratched his head “I might as well head straight for the hospital” He looked at Spike and the others “You all go join in with whatever the mayor has organised”

The girls nodded and Spike jumped to Twilight’s back “Good luck!” the dragon called as the girls headed down a different path into Ponyville

Dave walked around the outskirts of the town until he reached the hospital, a small bench sat outside so he sat himself down, tapping his feet nervously

Meanwhile…

Celestia felt the cartridge tip forwards, her and Luna slid forwards slightly, Strong Shield remained in place

“So you are telling me that Dave might have gotten you pregnant?” His nostrils flared “I’ll kill him!”

Celestia smiled “Now that wouldn’t look good on your record will it?”

“Besides you might have a symbolic grandchild on the way,” Luna said happily

Strong Shield shook his head “I don’t feel right about this”

They all bumped slightly as the cartridge touched the ground, it bounced before the wheels began rolling and the pegasi began to trot slowly

“Can you get the doors?” Celestia smiled to her sergeant

He rolled his eyes as he stepped out first, he looked over the large crowd their beaming faces attempting to look past him

“Ladies and Gentlecolts!” He bellowed “The royal princesses!” his horn glowed and the cartridge walls opened, the walls fell and became steps, the roof stood upright and revealed the royal insignia in a pure gold

The crowds gasped as the cartridge became a small seating platform for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, they both waved and the crowds cheered

“Hello everypony” Celestia quietened the crowds “My sister and I thought that it would be nice to visit Ponyville and see our subjects”

Luna stepped forth “We are also making time to speak with all of you individually” she smiled as the crowds muttered, “Any problems you can think of we shall address fairly and immediately!”

The crowd’s cheers were deafening, Celestia spotted the elements of harmony joining the crowds, and their reassuring smiles were a welcome sight

“Princess Luna will start meeting you all as I have a small… matter to deal with” She smiled at the crowd “But I will return shortly”

Her horn glowed as she teleported leaving her sister behind to deal with the sudden attention, she appeared behind Dave

“Hello daddy” she teased and Dave rocketed off the bench

Dave held his head tightly “Celestia!” he growled, “I am a little on edge at the moment”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t resist” Celestia’s smile fell slightly “And I am a bit nervous going in”

Dave sighed as he grinded his teeth together “Don’t worry I’m sure everything will be ok”

They slowly walked into the hospital side by side, they approached an empty front desk and Dave rang the bell

“Hang on!” a mare called as she hurried through “Sorry I have been left alone while everypony goes to see the PRINCESS?” she gawped as Celestia smiled

“Hello nurse?” Celestia held out a hoof

“Redheart, your highness” Nurse Redheart bowed deeply “H-how can I help you?”

Celestia blushed slightly “This is slightly embarrassing so I appreciate if you could keep this quiet”

“Why of course” Nurse Redheart bowed again

Celestia smiled at Dave “We need to have a scan to see if I am pregnant”

“WHAT?” Nurse Redheart gasped and Dave lunged and covered her mouth

“Listen we need to know NOW!” Dave slowly released the mare’s mouth “it is very important”

Nurse Redheart nodded “Yes right away… follow me” she lead the odd couple down to a small waiting room “If you both sit here I need to make a few adjustments to the machine”

“Why?” Dave sat down beside Celestia as he held her hoof “Is it faulty?”

“No not at all” Nurse Redheart smiled nervously “It’s just that it has never been used for a pony the size of Princess Celestia”

“We understand but please be quick” Celestia smiled as Nurse Redheart hurried into the room “How are you Dave?”

Dave was already rocking back and forth again “I’m fine,” he said quickly “How are you?”

“As nervous as you are” Celestia kissed Dave’s cheek “Everything will be ok”

“But what about my harem?” Dave turned to the white alicorn “I had just sorted it out and then this!”

“I admit if I am pregnant it may affect the plan I had of you keeping them as friends by spending time with each of them” Celestia hummed

“Affect it?” Dave said irritably “It will have to go! I gave you up to make you happy but I am not giving this child up!”

Celestia sighed, “I know it was tough for you to leave me but know that I love you”

“That’s helpful” Dave fell back into his chair “The one that I love that might be pregnant also loves me, but I was forced into a group relationship with passing flings!”

“Listen I might not be pregnant!” Celestia almost raised her kind voice “And I know you must have had some attraction to the others if you were going to mate with them!”

“I tried to fight them off” Dave pleaded

Celestia chuckled “What with? Your d…” she was cut off by Nurse Redheart returning

“Umm… you can come in now Princess Celestia,” Nurse Redheart said nervously

Princess Celestia sighed before standing up, she smiled reassuringly at Dave “I will see you in a moment” she trotted in and the nurse closed the door behind them

Dave sat alone staring at a clock, he twiddled his thumbs and tapped his feet on the clean floor, and his attention was drawn over to a pile of magazines

He picked one up at random and looked at the front image, it showed a mother and father smiling happily at a newborn that slept in a crib

Annoyed Dave threw it down and picked up another, the title said ‘family matters’, Dave opened the magazine and skipped to an article halfway through

“The average family is normally a mother, a father and at least two children or more…” Odio read aloud in Dave’s head “Hmm… could be twins”

Dave hit his head with the magazine before dropping it back on the pile “This is insane”

“You’re telling me, I would have never guessed that Celestia could get pregnant” Odio chuckled “Or she might not be, who knows?

“You do!” Dave growled as he glared at the clock, the seconds ticked past like minutes

“Oh yeah so I do” Odio laughed but then he turned serious “But she will say she isn’t”

“Why would she say that?” Dave frowned at the door

“Think! If she is pregnant you will say ‘fuck the harem’ and the elements of harmony will stop being friends and then Equestria is in danger” Odio swirled in his own genius “If she isn’t then she can keep avoiding you”

Dave tapped his fingers together “I see what you mean”

“From what I learned from the elements and their memories it almost worked before” Odio tickled Dave’s mind “A being called Discord reversed their minds and they fell out”

“What happened?” Dave’s attention was slightly distracted from the door

“Friendship prevailed” Odio gagged at the words “the elements always find a way and Discord didn’t do it right… he never did”

“You sound like you know him” Dave leaned forwards “Were you friends with this… Discord?”

Odio roared with laughter “Oh no… me and Discord never met” he chuckled a little more “I do have a curious tale to tell you at some other time”

“Fine but can you keep quiet I am really nervous” Dave wiped a drop of sweat from his head

Odio laughed slightly “Why are you worrying? It’s not like you want to be a dad with Celestia…” Dave rolled his eyes awkwardly “Oh my… YOU DO!” Odio yelled in shock

A flash of light beside Dave caused him to fall out of his chair and Odio to retreat into his mind, Luna stepped forth and sat in a chair

“What has happened so far?” she asked as Dave crawled back into his seat

Dave looked at the clock “She went in a few minutes ago” he looked at the dark alicorn beside him “Where are the crowds?”

“Oh I said I had to use the little filly’s room” She chuckled weakly “I left Twilight Sparkle in charge”

“Fair enough” Dave shrugged

“I hope everything is ok” Luna placed her hoof on an armrest

“Listen Luna I have to ask you something” Dave picked up her hoof “If Celestia is pregnant… are you out of the harem?”

Luna gazed into Dave’s eyes “No… I will stay, granted things will be a bit harder but me and the others will all help”

Dave kissed Luna gently “Thanks that means a lot… considering I may technically be related to you but… meh”

Dave felt something strike him over the head and he turned to see a frowning Strong Shield “Hello son” he growled

“Oh… hey dad” Dave smiled nervously as Strong Shield sat the other side of him “How are you?”

“Angry” He frowned harder at the door than anypony could hope to rival “That I might be a grandfather and not know about it”

Dave placed an arm around the cross unicorn “I know you are happy really”

Strong Shield cracked a smile “Alright I am a little excited” his face frowned again “But if my position at work gets affected because I am the father-in-law to Princess Celestia”

“Father-in-law?” Dave frowned in confusion “Why would you be that?”

“Well you can’t have a child outside wedlock, especially with Princess Celestia” Strong Shield chuckled

Dave’s mouth dropped “If she is pregnant I have to get married?”

“Yes… You didn’t think that far ahead did you?” Strong Shield stared disappointed at him

“Oh bollocks” Dave sighed as he buried his face into his hands again, Luna and Strong Shield shrugged

All three gazes were turned to the door as they heard it unlock, Nurse Redheart opened the door and Princess Celestia stepped out

“Thank you for your assistance” She smiled to the white nurse before turning to see Luna and Dave’s eyes and Strong Shield’s one eye fixed on her

“Well?” Luna said excitedly as Celestia took a few deep breaths