Applejack stands up straight, a broad yet slightly forced smile on her muzzle. She doesn't look surprised by the question; more resigned, if anything, with the way her gaze splits between Rarity’s horn and face. It’s not that she doesn’t want the unicorn to join; Doug enjoys her company, and Rarity loves her family’s cooking as much as anypony. But she wishes she had more time to get to know the fashionista, even if they did grow up together. Or, at least, in the same town.

Rarity also has a slight look of trepidation, her normally steady gaze occasionally flickering to Doug. Yet she keeps her confident smile, her straight stance, like she knows she is on display and wants to keep her best hoof forward.

Off to the side, Rainbow Dash sits up to watch the formalities. Her smile slowly spreads, watching her friends commit to each other. She wants that same bond, the comradery of having another pony there with you, who is as dedicated to you as you are to them. Yet she hesitates at making the same pledge, the thought of giving up her dream as a Wonderbolt leaving too bitter a taste in her mouth.

“Rarity,” Applejack begins, her tone formal. Every syllable is carefully enunciated, even in her southern twang.

“Do I get a say in this?” Doug says. He eyes Rarity with a calculating gaze, one hand briefly stroking at his chin.

“O-of course ya do,” Applejack says, taken aback. Her ears lay flat against her head just for a moment.

Rarity seems to deflate just slightly. She gulps, still holding her head up. But the slight quiver in her throat belies her mounting anxiety, especially if the test result turns up positive. If Doug declined her invitation now? She could see herself walking out. She wouldn't want to herd up with a stallion who was only with her because of her foal.

“Rarity,” Doug starts off, taking a deep breath as he pauses. The suspense is clearly hurting the unicorn, and he doesn’t care for it. “If I was back home, I would have said no. Two weeks, or even three, isn’t enough time to get to know somepony. Especially after…”

Rarity bows her head; not far enough to take her eyes off him, but enough to notice.

Doug nods, his mouth pursing. “I feel like there are a lot of things I don’t know about you. Important things; how many kids… foals you want. What kind of vacations you like to take. How you handle money.”

Rarity nods, bringing her head up to where it started.

“But,” Doug continues, standing up and squaring his shoulders, “we aren’t back home. You all expect, and receive, a level of trust and honesty - really, all of your tenets of harmony - that I would have thought untenable. But between ponies, and especially between friends, you hold fast to those tenets.”

Rarity looks up, meeting his eyes, as Doug looks down on her.

“Knowing that I am not a pony,” Doug says formally, “will you hold to those tenets with me?”

“I will,” Rarity says formally, slightly dipping her head.

“And I will with you,” Doug says in return, nodding his head. He turns to Applejack, extending his hand. “I welcome Rarity joining the herd.”

Applejack smiles, without reservation this time. She states in a formal tone, “Rarity, Doug and Ah are glad to welcome you into Herd Apple.”

Rarity takes a step forward, exchanging a quick kiss with Applejack, then steps back.

“Wait,” Doug says, slightly astonished. “That was it?”

Applejack and Rarity both nod. “Why, ya expect more?”

Doug ponders this for a moment. “Well, um, I guess. We’d have a big party, invite all our friends, that sort of thing, when someone got married.”

“Oh, that’ll be tomorrow,” Applejack says with a wink. “Tonight’s our night.”

“Ah,” Doug says, smirking. “I see.”

Rainbow Dash sighs, a part of her wanting to join those festivities, and that part just grows larger with time. Her eyes trace over Rarity’s much more shapely flanks, wishing they were her own, and tries to keep herself from looking at Doug’s stallionhood. After all, it’s the reason she’s in this mess in the first place! Well, she played a small part in it, too. Doug takes a long look at Rainbow Dash, and she gets the feeling that he’s thinking the same thing. That he wants her to join, to be whole, a family.

It’s tearing her up inside.

“But first,” Applejack says, her composure nearly buckling as she turns to the southeast, “Ah gotta know.”

“And I as well,” Rarity says, taking off at a swift trot towards the hospital.

“You coming?” Doug asks as Rainbow Dash takes another look at the horizon.

“Heh, I guess,” Rainbow Dash says brashly. “Gotta see how screwed you are next year, am I right?” She shakes her head, smirking. “Three foals? Whew!”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine,” Doug says, chuckling as he follows the other two mares. “They won’t be that bad, right?”

“Scooting around with you all day?” Rainbow Dash snorts loudly, getting Applejack and Rarity to glance back. “They’ll be Tartarus for everypony.”

“Eeyup,” Applejack echoes, tossing her mane in the air as she laughs.

“Absolutely,” Rarity agrees with a grin, the four of them jogging towards the hospital.

Rainbow Dash notices three Wonderbolts flying towards Ponyville; if she’s not mistaken, it’s Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Sight Seer. But they aren’t heading towards the four, instead flying up to the weathermares high above them. They meet up with Fluffy Clouds, the stallion pleasantly surprised to see them, some sort of discussion taking place among them. She puts it out of her mind as they get closer to the hospital. Dr. Sharps is standing outside, chatting with Nurse Tenderheart.

“What’s the news?” Applejack asks as she skids to a stop next to the two, grinning hopefully.

“Well,” Dr. Sharps says, with a slight frown, “I’ll lead with the… I suppose I shall call it strange news. You two still show up as not pregnant on the thaumic scan.” He takes a long look at Doug, frowning. “It’s never been recorded before. Though, then again, neither have you.” He sighs as he looks again. “But, there is an abnormal amount of pooling in that area, like you are still recovering from the end of your heat, or a spontaneous abortion.”

“But!?” Applejack nearly shouts. “Please tell me there’s a but!”

But,” Dr. Sharps dutifully continues, “the other test confirms that you are pregnant.” He looks at Rarity, “Both of you." Then Rainbow Dash. "Well, in fact, all three of you, I suppose.” He nods to himself. “Congratulations.”

Applejack leaps up, radiating pure joy as she wraps her hooves around Doug. Rarity joins just a second later, pulling Doug down for a long kiss.

Next Chapter: Ch. 74 - Dreamfeather Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 56 Minutes