“Whoo-hoo!” Pinkie shouted as she cartwheeled into Donut Joe’s and all the way to the counter. “I want a dozen frosted, please!”

“Uh, yeah, sure,” Joe responded with a raised eyebrow, “ya sure ya should be havin’ more sugar?”

“Hmm… YES!” She laughed maniacally.

“Pinkamena Pie?!” Pinkie gasped and stood on all fours as stiff as a stuffed doll.
Is that any way to behave in public?”

“N-no, Flutters. I’m sorry,” she said meekly, “I just get so excited over sweets, you know.”

The mares and fillies, plus one awkward dragon, entered the shop after Fluttershy, who was scolding Pinkie along her way to the counter. “Sorry? You needn’t apologize to me, apologize to mister Joe and his customers for that display,” Fluttershy stated as she approached the pink party pony.

Pinkie giggled and jumped under a nearby table. Within two seconds the first of several customers gasped, shrieked, or yelped in surprise as Pinkie appeared next to each one of them, staggered across the restaurant, apologizing to each of them.

Pinkie lastly appeared behind Joe and lay across his back with a grin. “Sorry, Mister Joe-Joe. I didn’t know-know what got into me,” she giggled as she was bucked off his body and to the floor. He turned to yell at her, but she was gone. “So, better, ‘Shy?” Pinkie asked as she stood behind her friends.

“Ran-dom,” Rainbow said with a roll of her eyes as she flew to the counter. “So, I’ll take a six muffins,” she looked back to her friends, “two glasses of juice, a coffee; large, four jelly donuts, a plain bagel, three cupcakes… and,” she tapped a tune on the counter before gasping in delight, “a side of each sauce you have.”

“Um, Rainbow, darling, I appreciate you ordering for all of us-”

“What? Rarity, this’ for me. I’m gonna need shome shnacks tonight too,” she chuckled and rolled her eyes at the silly remark, “hey Joe, box ‘em up, I’ll eat what I need… and mix all the sauces; they’re gonna be mixed anyway,” she giggled patting her tummy. All the others gawked at her while Applejack hid her face behind her hat. “I’ll be at the table, see ya there!”

She flew a little too quickly to a booth table, causing napkins and loose articles of winter clothing to fall to the floor from the tabletops.

The group looked at Applejack as she slunk toward the counter. “Ah-Ah’ll take one apple fritter, please.”

“Make that two!” Rainbow shouted from across the room.

Applejack was visibly embarrassed as her face was turning a shade of pink that was rarely seen by them. “Yeah, what she said… what’s the damage?”

Joe looked at Applejack, to Rainbow, then to the rest of the group… then shrugged. “Thirty eight bits… wait, forty two, with those fritters added on.”

Applejack groaned and reached into her saddlebag, producing a 50 bit coin. “Keep the change,” she smiled, “and have a good’n.”

“Whatever,” he mumbled, “next?”

Applejack trotted toward the table Rainbow had chosen and glared at her. “...What?” Rainbow asked curiously.

“‘What’?” Applejack grumbled toward the floor then looked back to Rainbow, “just that yer eatin’ like a parasprite durin’ the harvest festival.”

“AJ, what’s with all the parasprite-isms?” Rainbow asked as she crossed her forelegs, “run outta other animals ta tease?”

“Hrmph. Who needs an animal when Ah’ve got you?”

“Woah, no pillow talk in front of the gals,” Rainbow winked. Applejack sighed and scooted her way next to Rainbow.

“Rainbow, you feelin’ okay? Like, really? Ah ain’t seen ya eat this much, or anypony ‘cept Pinkie Pie, and it’s startin’ ta show. Ah didn’t wanna bring it up, but yer gettin’ a bit-”

“Pudgy? Yeah, I know. It’s gonna happen; I read so. And before you laugh, I can read more than Daring Do… when I have to,” she dropped her voice to a whisper as the others of the group began filing over, post order placement. “And I’ll just have to work it off a little bit at a time over the next couple weeks.”

Applejack couldn’t let it go that easily and used her hat as a shield to get in a last word. “Darlin’ it ain’t gonna go away easy, slow down on the chow.”

With that she gave Rainbow a peck on the cheek and replaced her hat.

“Well, I must say that your appetite is certainly, voracious,” Rarity said as she sat beside Applejack, “I do hope you aren’t trying to add fluff for the winter chill,” she joked, “our coats are thick enough as it is.” She laughed haughtily.

“Uh, reckon ya got somethin’ stuck in yer teeth, Rarity… best ya check in the mirror.”

Rarity gasped and forced her way out of the booth and nearly knocked Twilight over in her rush to the restroom, her lips pursed tightly.

“So, she was joking gain?” Twilight asked, taking Rarity’s spot, leaving a space between herself and Applejack out of respect.

“Heh, yeah. She’s Rarity, ya know. She’s cool, but sometimes she should think before she talks,” Rainbow said as she laid her chin on Applejack’s shoulder, “right, Fritter?”

“Yeah, right,” Twilight droned as she rolled her eyes, “anyway, with the stuff you ordered I think we’ll need another table… Are you two alright? You look, flustered?”

“Meh, we’re fine as ever. Heck,” Rainbow glanced to Applejack, “I think the three of us are doing just fine.” Applejack sniffled awkwardly as Twilight glanced between the two.

“Yeah, I know we’re all fine, but I was asking about you two. I think you’re hiding something, but I can’t put my hoof on it,” Twilight tapped her chin as Fluttershy and Pinkie trotted over, the former doing so backwards.

“Are you talking about the weird way those two are acting?” Pinkie asked as she stood on her forelegs and balanced herself on a large bright ball with a star on it.

They chose to ignore Pinkie being Pinkie, and where the ball came from. “Well, as a matter of fact, I was. Something’s funny and it isn’t the pranks… Ohh, Twilight is understanding now,” Twilight winked at Rainbow Dash, “this’ a prank to make us think you’re trying to get fat. Ha ha,” she droned sarcastically, “but that’s not very funny.”

“Rainbow, I thought you were-” Fluttershy started before Pinkie shoved a cupcake into her muzzle.

“Eat this, you’re cupcake to kindness ratio is way off!”

The mares at the table stared for a moment before looking at Twilight, dismissing the disappearance of the ball and sudden cupcake. “Well, anyway,” Rainbow started, “I don’t know about y’all, but I’m gettin a might famished. Where’s our food?”

“Ugh,” Twilight groaned, “it’s been two minutes and it’s not even a meal; it’s a treat, one that you’re overindulging in, by the way.”

“Bah,” Applejack waved Twilight back from leaning a little too close, “let her eat, ain’t hurtin’ no pony. Hey-a fillies, what’d ya get?”

“We got some donuts,” the crusaders said in unison as they took a seat in a nearby table, “and a couple drinks,” Apple Bloom added.

“Sounds like a good snack, but we gotta think of what ta have fer supper. Chow time’s passed but we’ve still gotta eat a balanced meal,” she looked pointedly at Rainbow.

“AJ, c’mon,” Rainbow sighed, “I’m totally having a salad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t balance it with some sweets.”

“Well,” Rarity said as she approached from the restroom, smiling proudly, “as long as she’s happy then I, for one, don’t mind… would you mind scooting over some, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy nodded and moved further in with Pinkie, making room for Rarity on the end. “And here comes the first of our snacks.”

Rainbow grinned widely. “Nope, just mine… lookit all the boxes,” she pointed and bounced in place clapping her hooves as a unicorn brought our five boxes and two mugs of drinks in his magic to the table. “Ohboyohboyohboy!” She clapped and giggled as the stallion set the drinks and boxes in front of her.

The others looked on, Spike finally approaching and hopping in to sit next to Twilight in the small space she’d left for him. “Wow, Rainbow Dash, you eat like a growing dragon should be eating,” he snickered and ribbed Twilight, getting a scoff in reply.

Rainbow opened the first box and began eating ravenously.

“Rainbow Dash, mayhaps you should slow down? I would like to enjoy my snack with the rest of you.”

Rainbow gulped a whole muffin and smiled as she grabbed a mug and brought it to her lips. “Lighten up.”

“Rainbow, I have to say, I am becoming most concerned! You’re eating is most uncouth and unhealthy, if this is some form of depression we, your friends are all here for you.”

“Grrruh! It’s not a big deal! Can we just drop it,” Rainbow grabbed a donut and balanced it on her nose.

“No, Rarity is right,” Twilight said as she gave a warm smile to Rainbow, “we’re all here for you. You seem to be different, and if you have a problem, please let us help you. Applejack, you’re with her all the time, can you shed any light on what’s making her so hungry and moody?”

Applejack took her hat off and used it as a barrier while she leaned toward Rainbow’s ear. “What in tarnation are ya expectin’ ta say now?”

“AJ, you’re more than capable of blowing them off, just let us eat… she wants sweets, I’m giving her sweets.”

“RD, Ah swear, y’all use her as an excuse fer everything… and what if it’s a colt?”

“Um, I don’t mean to interrupt, but are you both alright?” Fluttershy asked.

Applejack replaced her hat on top her head and huffed. “Reckon it’s my job ta take care’a this, once and fer all. Ah was gonna wait… We were gonna wait, but it’s time ta come clean.” Rainbow coughed violently and began flailing her forelimbs. “Rainbow, drink somethin’ and let me talk… less’n ya wanna?”

Rainbow slumped in place and blushed,her wings opened in her anxiety and she raised her fetlocks to her chest as she gulped her mouth clear. She whimpered and with a last, pleading glance to Applejack, she grinned nervously at her friends around the table, glancing between them all..

“Girls, Spike, fillies… Ah’m a member of the Apple family and, soon enough, Rainbow will be too… and our little one with her.”

“...” The group was silent.

“Ah’m sayin’ that we’re gonna be mother’s, gals. Rainbow’s carryin’ our baby, and we’d appreciate your help and support along the way."