The sun shone brightly through the window, a bright warm blanket of light draped over the table in the kitchen of Carousel Boutique. To one side sat the alabaster unicorn who lived there; on the other side, the buttercream pegasus who was her best friend. As they sat, they sipped from their cups.

“I do hope it starts raining soon—I’m quite sick of the summer, and the fall’s been slow-going to begin,” Rarity said.

“I’m sure it’ll come soon enough. I know I personally am quite excited to see the leaves turn the different colours. I’ve been enlisted by Pinkie to rake the leaves out in front of Sugarcube Corner—which I wouldn’t do, but I know the twins will love playing in the piles.” Fluttershy smiled.

Rarity let out a little sigh. “Oh, that does sound adorable. You know, someday, I’d love to have kids of my own.”

“Heh, yeah, I think you’ve mentioned that before. For me, I guess... it’s a nice thought, but I can’t really ever imagine doing that—it seems like a lot of work, and I don’t think I’d be all that good at it.”

“Really? I can’t imagine anypony more prepared—don’t you think all your experience taking care of the animals would help you?” Rarity asked.

“Hmm, I’m not so sure it translates directly like that.”

Fluttershy scooted her chair out from the table and stood up, trotting over to the kitchen counter. From the stovetop, she picked up a teapot—an ornate, ancient thing—and started to walk back to the table with the thing between her teeth.

Suddenly, there was a very loud noise. PPPPPPOP...

Fluttershy jumped, startled, dropping the teapot in the process. Time seemed to slow down as the antique china spiralled towards the ground, and—

“I’ve saved the dear from certain doom!” Rarity exclaimed. Fluttershy opened her eyes—which had instinctively snapped shut—to see that, miraculously, the teapot hadn’t fallen to the ground and shattered; it was suspended aloft by a shimmering blue magical aura. Yet even though the teapot was saved, a pool of the liquid had spilled onto the floor, soaking Fluttershy’s hooves.

“See, that’s exactly what I mean,” Fluttershy said wearily. “Imagine that were my poor child, and I sent her spiralling down to near-death... I’m too clumsy, too careless.”

“Oh, nonsense. Absolutely ridiculous nonsense, I say.” Rarity set the teapot down on the table, and then picked up a cloth rag from the counter in her magic. She moved as if to wipe up the liquid, but—

“I agree!” another voice exclaimed. The cabinet beneath the kitchen counter burst open and a smiling pink pony popped out, her mane floofing up as she stood up. “I can absolutely guarantee that Fluttershy is a terrific mom!”

Rarity facehoofed. “And how would you know that? Also, who are you?”

“I... think she might be my daughter...” Fluttershy remarked.

“You’re right on the money, Mom.” The pink pony leapt over to the puddle on the ground, and started licking. “Though jeez, it’s so weird to see you this young. You can’t be much older than me, huh?”

Rarity grimaced; Fluttershy just stared.

“How... how did you get here, uhm, sweetie?”

“Time travel!” the pink pony said with a grin. “And it’s some invention of Auntie Twilight’s, I don’t really know how it works but it’s magic and stuff.”

“Why would she send you back?” Rarity said, skeptical.

The pink one smirked. “To butt into this conversation to make sure Mom figures out she can take care of kids so that I don’t fizzle out of existence!”

A beat. Then, all three of them laughed, uproariously.

“So if I decide I definitely don’t want to have kids, you’ll just... disappear?”

“Yeah, that’s pretty much exactly what will ha—”

And, much as the sun kept shining on down through the window of the Boutique, life went on.