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Vinyl sat up quickly, the smell of maple syrup and fresh pancakes wafting over from the kitchen. When she opened her eyes, she saw Bonbon standing in front of the stove, working the griddle as she cooked. Lyra sat at the dining room table, sipping her morning coffee as she watched Bonbon cook.

"You're making your special pancakes...what's the occasion?" Lyra asked, curious to know.

"I'm in a great mood, Lyra. Vinyl and I had a wonderful conversation late last night, isn't that right Vinyl?" Bonbon said, having noticed Vinyl had woken up without looking over.

"How does she do that?" Vinyl asked.

"Sometimes I wonder who exactly uses magic..." Lyra said with a small smirk, taking another sip of her coffee. "What'd you two talk about?"

"Oh, you know...life, the universe, everything," Bonbon said as she flipped one of the pancakes.

"That smells amazing, Bonnie. How long 'til they're ready?" Vinyl asked as she got up and joined Lyra at the table. Lyra looked visibly surprised.

"Bonnie? I thought I was the only one who could call you that," Lyra said, looking at Bonbon.

"Well, do you mind that Vinyl calls me that?" Bonbon asked.

"I'll stop if it bugs you, Lyra."

"Hm, I guess I don't mind. I'll just have to get used to you calling her that," Lyra said as she took another sip of her coffee. She looked up, and saw a half-asleep Octavia slowly making her way down the stairs. "Well, look who decided to rise with the sun!" Lyra chuckled. Octavia didn't respond. She simply made her way down the stairs, took the seat next to Vinyl, and leaned against her, still looking for the comfort that her pillow had been giving her only moments before. Vinyl blushed slightly, Lyra smirking and Bonbon smiling warmly.

"How cute~" Bonbon said as she turned back to the stove to attend to the food she was cooking.

"Morning, Octy. Sleep good?" Vinyl asked as she draped a foreleg around her.

"Mmm, I slept alright...admittedly I was a bit lonely sleeping by myself last night..." Octavia mumbled with a yawn.

"Yeah...it was a little weird sleeping alone," Vinyl admitted, leaning her head against Octavia's.

"You two really are such a cute couple," Lyra commented with a smile. "Believe me I know what it's like to sleep without your significant other. It was all I could do to get myself to fall asleep when Bonbon went away to Canterlot before. I just...couldn't get comfortable."

"Same thing on my end. I kept trying to get that feeling that you have when your love is sleeping next to you...and I just couldn't find it. I had never wanted to go home so badly." Bonbon said as she reminisced.

"It was tough...but we got through it. The night Bonbon came home was the first full night of sleep I got since she had left," Lyra said.

"How long was she gone?" Octavia asked.

"About a week and a half," Lyra said. "I slept like a baby that night though," she smiled.

"Food's ready!" Bonbon said, laying the freshly done pancakes onto a platter, picking it up and setting it on the table. She passed out the plates. "Go ahead and dig in! I hope you like them."

Vinyl took a small bite of the pancake, and immediately stopped. "Is...is the syrup IN the pancakes!?" she asked, unable to believe what she was tasting.

"It's my own special recipe. Do you like it?" Bonbon asked.

Vinyl sniffled slightly. "...This is so good it's making me tear up..."

"Oh, be quiet. You are so melodramatic," Octavia said with a smirk.

"You try them! Until you have tried Bonbon's amazing, drug-filled pancakes, you have NO right to call me melodramatic, my dear Octy!" Vinyl yelled, raising a hoof.

"Vinyl, they don't use drugs..." Bonbon said with a confused smile.

"Oh, I know. It's just my brain's way of making sense why they're so good," Vinyl said. She then turned to Octavia. "Go ahead, try them." Octavia did as she was told, and took a bite out of her food. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Bonbon, these are delectable. I cannot say I have ever had pancakes this good, aside from the ones at Sugarcube Corner," Octavia said.

"Vinyl kept mentioning that during out conversation last night. Did Mrs. Cake try out a new recipe?" Bonbon asked.

"It wasn't a recipe, more like Pinkie stole Applejack's prototype apple syrup and put it on the pancakes...what I'd give to have those again..." Vinyl said sadly.

"Apple syrup? That sounds delicious. Any idea on when Applejack is going to market it?" Lyra asked. "I'd love to try it out."

"Well, when we tried it, she said it was still not finished, so I can guess it will be a while yet," Octavia said. She then glanced at the clock on the wall near the refrigerator. "Oh, we need to hurry if we want to take part in Sugarcube Corner's clean-up."

The four quickly finished their meals and exited the house. They arrived at Sugarcube Corner within a few minutes, ponies already milling about as they tried to help with the clean-up. Octavia and Vinyl split off from Lyra and Bonbon, going to see how the Cakes were doing.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Cake. What can we do to help?" Octavia asked.

"Oh no, Octavia. I would feel awful forcing you to help," Mr. Cake said.

"What kind of ponies would we be if we asked a pregnant mare to help us out?"

"No need to worry. I feel partly responsible for not trying to stop the girls, and I can still do some things as long as it doesn't require heavy lifting.

"Well...I suppose you can help sweep some of the rubble out," Mr. Cake said. "You can help Big Macintosh with your magic. He's going to be moving a lot of the broken concrete out of the building.

"You got it, Mr. Cake!" Vinyl said with a quick salute.

"I am sorry I cannot help you more..." Octavia said softly.

"It's quite alright, Octavia. It means so much that you're willing to help at all...thank you." The Cakes smiled in unison.

Octavia made her way through the collapsed wall of the first floor, surveying just how badly damaged it was. The cannon had been removed, but the deep crater it had caused had not yet been cleaned out. "I guess I will begin here," Octavia said to herself. She moved past a white unicorn that was using his magic to lift a broken chair and table, a blue earth pony following him with a wheelbarrow full of chunks of concrete and wood, struggling somewhat from the weight of the wheelbarrow.

"Do you need any help?" Octavia asked as she moved up to him.

"O-oh, no thank you miss...I'm doing just fine."

"Come along, Scroll! There's still so much work to be done!" His unicorn friend called out to him.

"Coming, White! Sorry to be so curt...I have to get back to work," He smiled, going back to dragging the wheelbarrow. Octavia shrugged and grabbed a broom, beginning to work.

Vinyl immediately recognized Applejack and made her way over to her. "Heya Applejack! Have you seen this guy named Big Macintosh I'm supposed to be helping?"

"Howdy, Vinyl. Big Mac's mah brother, he's that big feller over there," Applejack pointed. Vinyl turned to look, and her jaw dropped slightly as the red, muscular stallion pulled a huge garbage cart with the yoke around his neck.

"Afternoon," Big Mac said in a thick Southern accent. "Just lift the rubble and put it in the cart."

"Sure thing, Big Macintosh!" Vinyl said.

"Big Mac'll do fine, thanks."

"Okay, Big Mac!" Vinyl quickly made her way over to the pile of rubble, and used her magic to lift what rubble she could manage into his cart. "This okay?"

"Eeyup."

"Cool," Vinyl said as she continued to work. After about an hours worth of work, Applejack, Vinyl and Big Macintosh all sat down for a quick break. "Hey, isn't that your grandma over there?" Vinyl pointed out.

"Eeyup. She's makin' sure the fillies clean-up their mess," Big Mac said.

"Colt howdy I haven't seen Granny Smith so mad since Ah was a filly mahself," Applejack said. "Ah swear Ah thought the barn was gonna come down." Vinyl turned to watch, seeing the elderly mare sitting in her rocking chair, watching the Crusaders work.

"This stinks...it was just an accident!" Scootaloo groaned as she swept.

"Big Sister is still mad at me...she actually told Applebloom's grandma to discipline me how she wanted..." Sweetie Belle said as she used what magic she could muster to move things out of the way.

"Ah don't think Ah've ever seen Granny get that mad at me..." Applebloom sighed as she bucked off broken pieces of wood.

"Ah hear a LOTTA talkin', but Ah don't see NEARLY enough workin'!" An elderly voice said forcefully. All three girls froze in place. "DON'T MAKE ME GIT UP FROM MAH ROCKIN' CHAIR!" The three fillies sped up their pace.

"Y-Yes Granny!" The three said in unison.

"What's wrong with y'all fillies terday!? If'n Ah acted outta line like that when Ah was a filly, Ah woulda gotten the spankin' of a lifetime! Ah didn't raise no delinquents, and Ah sure as hay ain't lettin' mah granchild be friends with no delinquents, so Ah'm gonna fix the lotta ya! If'n yer granpappy wer' still around, y'all would be wishin' y'all wer' dealin' with ME!" Granny Smith yelled from her seat.

"Nothin' like a grandma's fury ter scare ya straight, ain't that right Mac?" Applejack said.

"E-eyup..." Big Mac said with a small stutter and a shiver.

"Yeesh...she MUST be tough if she's got Mac shaking," Vinyl commented.

"Bad memories..." Big Mac said, shaking his head slightly.

"Big Mac was a might bit rebellious when he was a colt. Granny would come down on him harder than a boulder durin' an avalanche," Applejack said. "When she was still able, her yells made the walls shake. Ponies were made a' tough stuff back then.

"Yeah...grandmas are the one thing you just DON'T mess with..." Vinyl said, remembering back to her own grandmother's special brand of discipline, rubbing her flank unconsciously from the painful memories.

"Well, time ta git back to work," Applejack said, standing up. The other two followed suit, and rejoined the effort to rebuild Sugarcube Corner.

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Octavia took a seat, somewhat exhausted from the work. "Wow...I never knew I was lacking so much energy...well, it does make sense after all..." She said with a small smile, bringing a hoof to her belly, noticing it was a little heavier than before. It was then that a distant memory suddenly rushed to the surface. "Oh no...oh no oh no oh no!" She quickly hurried up off her seat and moved as quickly as she could to find Vinyl. In her rush, she nearly knocked over Twilight who, with the assistance of Trixie, was helping move a large section of wall out of the way.

"Oh goodness, I am so sorry, Twilight!"

"It's alright Octavia," Twilight said with a smile. "Is everything alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost."

"I need to find Vinyl right away," Octavia said. "It's really important..."

"Oh, well let's go find her!" Twilight said, Trixie giving a small grunt of disapproval. The two unicorns moved the broken section of wall out of the way, and the three set off to find Vinyl.

"Trixie doesn't quite see the point of all this..." Trixie started, but immediately changed her tone when Twilight raised an eyebrow. "...but if Twilight Sparkle deems it necessary, then Trixie shall not object," she said with a haughty tone, blushing all the while.

"You know, you're really bad at hiding your emotions," Twilight laughed.

"Trixie is not! Trixie is just trying to be more compassionate and kind to other ponies as Twilight wishes," Trixie said as she made a futile attempt at hiding her blush behind her silver mane. Twilight giggled at this, Octavia shaking her head with a smile.

"Almost reminds me of when I first met Vinyl. I could not STAND her; she was loud, crass, over-active and crude...but, over time I learned to look past it and saw her real personality. If Trixie is willing to go this far to change herself...she must really care about you Twilight," Octavia said with a smile. Twilight blushed hotly at her words.

"Yeah...I know," she said, moving a little closer to Trixie, who smirked slightly. The three found Vinyl talking to Applejack as they took a break.

"Howdy, Octavia, how're ya feelin'?" Applejack asked.

"I am doing alright, Applejack. Thank you for asking...would you mind if I spoke to Vinyl for a moment?"

"Sure thing," Applejack said, taking a step back.

"What's up Octy?" Vinyl asked. She then read the nervous look in her eyes, frowning slightly. "What's the matter?"

"Vinyl, I completely forgot we had an appointment with Doctor Haysworth today! He wanted to see me today to check on the growth of the baby," Octavia said with a sigh. Vinyl face-hoofed.

"I can't believe we forgot about that! There's no way we'll get back to Canterlot in time for-" Twilight interrupted by clearing her throat.

"Sorry about that, but you don't really need to worry. Nurse Redheart's clinic is open today, so you can go see her if you need anything," Twilight suggested.

"You're right! Come Vinyl, if we hurry we might be able to make it in time! Twilight, would you mind leading the way?" Octavia asked.

"Sure. C'mon Trixie," Twilight said.

"You are welcome to come too Applejack," Octavia offered.

"Naw, Ah'm alright. Ah'm sure Mac still needs mah help. Y'all go on without me. Ah'm gonna git back to work," Applejack said. They said their goodbyes and began to make their way towards Ponyville Clinic. After about a ten minute walk, they made their way through the doors and Octavia went up to the receptionist.

"Yes, hello. Is Nurse Redheart in?" Octavia asked.

"Yes she is, may I ask for your name?" The receptionist asked in return, taking a pad and pencil.

"Octavia Philharmonica. I have an appointment scheduled for today for prenatal examinations," Octavia said.

"Alright Miss Philharmonica, just have a seat in the lobby and we'll call you when she can see you, and congratulations!" The receptionist said, handing her a slip of paper with a number on it.

"Thank you, that is very kind of you," Octavia smiled, taking the slip and returning to the waiting area. Octavia and Vinyl sat across from Twilight and Trixie as they waited.

"You really are not obligated to stay..." Octavia said. "I will not be upset if you need to leave."

"It's fine, Octavia. This would be a major learning experience for me, and I'm not one to turn down something as educational as this," Twilight said.

"Trixie is only going along for the ride," she said flatly, to which she received a small nudge from Twilight. "...but Trixie is grateful you are being courteous to her and Twilight."

"So tell me Octavia, how far along are you, if you don't mind me asking?" Twilight asked.

"Oh, not at all. I would say I am around a month in. I have noticed that I lack the energy I used to have, and I can feel my belly getting heavier."

"How interesting. It seems your exhibiting all the normal signs of a pregnancy, putting aside the unnatural conception of the foal..." Twilight said, her eyes shining at the possibilities of everything she could learn from this. "What about the gender?"

Vinyl and Octavia looked at one another. "Uh, we don't know yet," Vinyl said.

"Is there a way to determine it before the foal is born?" Octavia asked.

"Well, I read recently in the newest issue of Popular Magics that a new spell was created that allows you to see a two-dimensional image of a foal in utero."

"That is absolutely correct, Twilight," Nurse Redheart said as she walked up. "It requires a unicorn to perform the procedure. What happens is the magic permeates the skin, and creates an imprinted image of the foal in the magical field. What happens then is the unicorn draws the magic back out, and displays the image on a nearby wall for the parents to see, somewhat like a projector used in classrooms. It just so happens that we just recently hired a technician as part of our staff, so if you would like he can perform the procedure for you."

"There is nothing potentially dangerous in this, is there?" Octavia asked.

"Absolutely not," Nurse Redheart reassured. "All it does is make an imprint and that's it."

"Hm...well, I suppose that would be alright...I am kind of excited," Octavia smiled. Vinyl was grinning from ear to ear.

"I'm actually gonna see my kid! Ha!" Vinyl said, excited.

"We'll get to that after the examination. Come along, Octavia," Redheart said as Octavia got up from her seat, following the nurse into the examination room.

"So, tell me about you two. When are you two gonna get hitched?" Vinyl asked with a small smirk. Both Twilight and Trixie froze in their seats, their faces turning a deep shade of red at the sudden question. "I can see you two haven't even thought about it. You might wanna start on that- you're cute together," Vinyl said. These two are so easy...

"I-uh-well..." Twilight stuttered.

"Trixie...well...she..." Trixie stuttered as well.

"What, you don't wanna spend the rest of your days together, waking up in bed together, taking baths together.." Vinyl then leaned forward. "...Having steamy moments together?" Vinyl said, raising an eyebrow. The two couldn't even speak from the mental images now surging through their minds. This continued for a good half hour before Nurse Redheart appeared.

"She's done with her examination, and it went very well. Everything is where it should be. If you want to see the ultrasound, now's the time," Nurse Redheart said. The three mares got up from their seats and followed the nurse into the examination room, Octavia laying on the table in the center, soft music playing through the tiny speakers in the ceiling. Vinyl took her place next to Octavia, Twilight and Trixie standing nearby. The door opened and a gray unicorn entered, his deep blue mane offsetting his bright green eyes.

"Alright, Miss Octavia. My name is Ray and I'll be doing your ultrasound today," he said in a kind voice. "I want you to just lay still and I'll do all the work." He then took his place on the other side of her. He focused what magic he could into the tip of his horn, and touched it to Octavia's belly.

Octavia could feel the warm waves of magic sweeping through her, startling her somewhat. Vinyl instinctively moved closer to Octavia, nuzzling her slightly to keep her calm. "It's alright...I'm right here, Octy..." she whispered, placing a hoof on her shoulder. After a few minutes, the unicorn smiled.

"Are you two ready to see your baby?" Octavia and Vinyl nodded, eager to see. The unicorn took a step back, and used his magic to bring the image to life on the wall in front of them: it showed a tiny foal, smaller than they had ever seen, curled up in the fetal position as it slept. Vinyl and Octavia stood in stunned silence as their eyes took in the first sight of their child. It was then that Octavia felt her heart swell- she had fallen head over hooves for the image of her child. She couldn't help but shed a few tears at the sight, pulling herself closer to Vinyl.

"That's...our kid...our baby..." Vinyl whispered, unable to take her eyes off the image, feeling tears threatening to spill down her face, regardless of the smile playing across her face.

"Yes, Vinyl...our baby," Octavia whispered in return. Twilight and Trixie watched quietly, Twilight smiling brightly at the beautiful sight. She leaned her head into Trixie's neck, Trixie smiling warmly as her tail twisted itself around Twilight's.

"I'll leave you four alone..." Nurse Redheart said softly. She quietly slipped out of the room, shutting the door behind her.

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The four mares left the clinic, talking amongst themselves about what they had seen.

"What an amazing learning experience...to think magic has advanced medicine so far is simply incredible," Twilight said as she walked beside Trixie.

"Trixie must admit that she was impressed as well. Trixie has never seen magic used in such a way," Trixie added with a small smirk. "Trixie can only wonder how pleased the mothers are."

"You've got no idea Trix," Vinyl said. "I mean...how would you feel looking at your kid for the first time?"

"'Trix?' Trixie has never been addressed in such a way..." Trixie said, unsure of how to handle the new nickname.

"Well, forget about that for now. Just think about what I said- imagine your kid with Twilight," Vinyl blurted out loud.

"Vinyl! Stop embarrassing them! You do not know what Trixie and Twilight have planned," Octavia said. She was absolutely right- Trixie and Twilight looked at one another for a brief moment, blushing hotly. Trixie began to imagine what their child would look like: she imagined a small foal with bright lavender eyes, a blue coat, and a silver mane with a bright pink stripe. Trixie found her heart racing at the mental image of her child.

"Trixie...uh...Trixie gets what you mean..." she said softly. Twilight was a stuttering, blushing mess, Vinyl's question having turned her mind upside down.

"U-Uh...w-well..." Twilight stammered.

"Relax Twi, I was just kidding," Vinyl chuckled. "You two are almost as easy to rile up as Octy over here."

"I am not easy to 'rile up' as you say, Vinyl. I take your comments in stride," Octavia said, raising her chin slightly.

"In stride? I've got the scars on the back of my head to prove otherwise," Vinyl said.

"Oh, I am certain that was not me. I am also certain they dropped you on your head as a child," Octavia said with a smirk.

"Hey, that only happened once!" Vinyl returned. "It was an accident, and I only fell two hooves!"

"Two hooves or two yards?" Octavia asked. "Judging by the way you think, I am willing to bet the latter."

"That's mean, Octy. You're mean. Why are you so mean to me?"

"I am not mean, I am simply stating the truth," Octavia said with a small smile.

"Well, if I was dropped on my head, you were born with a stick in your rump!" Vinyl accused, causing Octavia to blush in embarrassment. Trixie snickered slightly, Twilight looking away while trying to hide her laughter.

"I was NOT born with a stick in my rump! You are such a child!" Octavia said, her face a deep red.

"I may act like a kid, but that doesn't change the fact you were born with a stick in your rump," Vinyl said with a small laugh.

"Then you wonder why I hit you," Octavia said.

"A-HA! So you admit it!" Vinyl said, pointing an accusing hoof at her. She then turned to Twilight and Trixie. "You see how she abuses me? Not only was she born with a stick in her rump, but every now and again she takes it out and hits me with it!" At this point, Twilight was laughing outwardly, Trixie restraining her laughter as best she could.

"Vinyl..." Octavia growled.

"Oh, please Miss Octavia, don't hit me anymore!" Vinyl said, pretending to shake in fear. Octavia suddenly smiled, which Twilight found very strange.

"Octavia...are you alright?" Twilight asked.

"Oh...fine. Vinyl, would you come here for a moment?" Octavia asked sweetly.

"Sure thing!" Vinyl said, following Octavia out of their line of sight. Both Trixie and Twilight winced when they heard the familiar sound of hoof hitting skull. A few moments later, Octavia and Vinyl returned, Octavia's expression having returned to normal, Vinyl rubbing the back of her head. "...One day, you're gonna take my head clean off," Vinyl muttered.

"I wonder if I should take up martial arts...what do you think Vinyl?" Octavia asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh...no thanks...I like my head where it is," Vinyl said.

"Then don't test me," Octavia said in a threatening tone. "As much as we would love to spend the rest of the afternoon with you, we really need to get to our new house and begin the preparations for the move."

"It's fine, Octavia. Trixie and I really should get back to the clean-up. We'll see you later!" Twilight said as Trixie followed her.

"Take care," Octavia called after them. The two made their way back towards Lyra's house, stopping in front of the house next door.

"So this is the place, eh?" Vinyl said, looking up at it. The house was narrow, but tall. It had two stories, and several windows around the front.

"The mayor said it had three bedrooms- one on the first floor and two on the second floor. What we can do is take the first floor room, and once the baby is born the baby will stay in our room. Once it is old enough, it can take one of the rooms upstairs and the other room will be a guest room," Octavia explained.

"Sounds good to me," Vinyl said as she waited for Octavia to open the door. Once Octavia got the door open, they both entered. The house was in much better condition than expected- the wood floors looked like they had been laid down recently, and the scent of fresh paint lingered slightly. "This is pretty nice..."

"I must say I am impressed. We will have to repaint, however. I am not fond of such dark colors for a house like this- it needs brighter colors," Octavia said. She began to walk around the living room area, getting a feel for the space. "I think the sofa will go here...coffee table here..." Octavia mumbled as she moved. Vinyl simply watched, bored out of her mind.

"You know, I think the clean-up is more fun than this," Vinyl said flatly.

"Vinyl, this isn't supposed to be fun, this is important! We also need to create the music room- in essence, where I keep my instruments and where you keep your mixing equipment," Octavia reminded.

"Wow, you're right! I'll get right on that!" Vinyl rushed up the stairs, and across the hall. She found the two bedroom doors, and opened them both. "Not gonna lie...I'm a little creeped out being alone up here..." she mumbled to herself. She walked through each of the rooms, examining them closely. She tapped her hooves on the ground a few times, checking for proper acoustics. "...Yeah. This one will work," she said as she exited the room closest to the staircase. As she made her way down the hallway towards the stairs, she stepped on a loose floor board, creating a hollow thump that echoed behind her.

Octavia looked up as she heard Vinyl let out a screech, rocketing down the stairs like a bolt of white and blue lightning, cowering and shaking behind her. "Vinyl, what has gotten into you?!"

"...That scared the buck outta me..." Vinyl mumbled.

"What in Equestria could have possibly scared you up there?" Octavia asked.

"I dunno...I heard a noise from behind me, and I was the only one up there...this place had better not be haunted..."

"Haunted, Vinyl? Really? The mare who stared down a stallion ready to KILL her because she is dating another mare, and she is afraid of ghosts!?" Octavia said, unable to believe what she was hearing. "...You truly are a special one, Vinyl..."

"Hey, don't come crying to me when the ghosts get you- oh wait, you won't be able to because you'll be DEAD!" Vinyl yelled, still quite shaken.

"If it makes you feel better, we will prepare the upstairs together, alright?" Octavia offered.

"I wasn't gonna do it without you anyway, so that just makes my life easier," Vinyl said with a sigh. As they headed up the stairs, Vinyl stopped halfway up.

"What now, Vinyl?" Octavia asked.

"Just gimme a minute," Vinyl said. She took a deep breath, and stepped back up onto the second floor, standing next to Octavia.

"See, there is nothing to be afraid of. This house is not haunted, and your irrational fear of the supernatural is rather endearing," Octavia said.

"...Can we just get this over with please?" Vinyl said, feeling rather uncomfortable. They began to make their way towards the bedrooms, and Vinyl stepped on the same wooden plank that was loose, causing the loud thud once more. Before Octavia could look up, Vinyl had vanished from sight, hiding behind her.

"Vinyl, relax! Do you know what caused that noise?"

"...What?" Vinyl looked around nervously, paying attention to Octavia. Octavia raised her hoof and brought it down on the loose plank. Vinyl watched as it slowly raised up and fell back down, creating the same noise that had startled her before. "Oh...well, I knew that! I was just messing with you Octy," Vinyl said, boosting herself up with false bravado.

"Right, of course," Octavia said, letting Vinyl have her moment. Octavia quietly lifted the plank that was loose and brushed Vinyl's tail underneath it, letting the plank fall on top of it, causing it to pull on her tail.

"GAAAH! OCTY HELP ME THE FLOOR'S GOT ME!" Vinyl yelled, every trace of the previous bravado having vanished. She managed to free her tail, and looked over at Octavia, who was banging her hoof on a nearby wall as she nearly laughed herself silly.

"Oh, oh you should have seen the look on your face, Vinyl...absolutely priceless!" Octavia laughed, having enjoyed that moment of it.

"This is totally you getting revenge for what happened earlier, isn't it?" Vinyl asked flatly.

"Absolutely," Octavia said, wiping away a few tears. "That aside, we have work to do."

The two then continued about their duties, making sure that the house was fit and ready for use. The pair found the house very much to their liking (and very much not-haunted), beginning to make long-term plans as well.

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"Well, that should about cover it," Octavia said with a satisfied sigh. Each and every spot that she felt was an appropriate place for furniture had been marked with an "X" made out of duct-tape.

"Uh, Octy...you completely emptied the roll of tape. There are marks everywhere," Vinyl said as she looked around. "Where are WE gonna fit?"

"Vinyl, we will have space, do not worry," Octavia said as she took one last look around. "What a lovely little home we have here, Vinyl..." she said as she made her way over to Vinyl, gently nuzzling her.

"Yeah, I've really grown to like this place," Vinyl smiled, returning the nuzzle. "You're being strangely affectionate."

Octavia simply shrugged. "I just felt like being affectionate, is all...do you have a problem with that?" she questioned.

"No way...to be honest, I think it'd be great if you did it more often," Vinyl said.

"Hmm...maybe. If I feel like it," she winked. Octavia began to make her way towards the front door and ran her tail down Vinyl's back, sending a small chill up her spine. "Well? Are you coming? We have done all we needed to do here for today."

"Uh...yeah..." Vinyl said, "Right behind you..." Vinyl said with a small blush as they left the house. When they stepped outside, they discovered that the sun had already set, and most of the shops in the market were closed for the evening. "Wow...we were in there for a lot longer than I thought."

"Well, we probably would have finished sooner if you were not absolutely terrified of the second floor for the first hour and a half we were there," Octavia said.

"How was I supposed to know it was just a loose board?" Vinyl asked defensively.

"It is called 'looking down,' Vinyl. You should try it sometime," Octavia snickered. Vinyl then began to move her head around Octavia's rear, even going as far as lifting her tail slightly. "VINYL! What is the MATTER with you!?" Octavia yelled, embarrassed as she immediately recoiled and covered herself.

"Oh, just checking to see how far the stick in your rump goes," Vinyl said, sticking her tongue out at Octavia as she walked past. "It's so far in I can't even see it anymore," she chuckled.

"Oh, ha ha, Vinyl. Very funny," Octavia said, feigning laughter. "I wonder when that filly I saw in the house will be back..."

Vinyl froze in her tracks. "...W-What filly?"

"You mean I was the only one who saw her?" Octavia asked, a surprised expression on her face.

"Octy, quit it..." Vinyl said, feeling a cold chill run up her spine.

"It was very peculiar...she had white fur and big blue eyes, a short, blond mane. She said, 'Wait here, I'll bring more friends.' She walked around a corner, and when I went to follow her she was gone..." Octavia said, recounting her 'tale'.

"...Octy...seriously...stop it..."

"I am simply stating what I saw, Vinyl..." Octavia said, turning to leave, hiding her smile. Alright, I'm done messing with her for today. Vinyl quickly approached Octavia, moving as close to her as possible, her eyes wide and fearful. "No need to worry, Vinyl..." Octavia started. "...I am sure she was friendly." At this point, Vinyl gave an uneasy groan, and Octavia simply smirked. Okay...NOW I'm done... The two entered Bonbon and Lyra's home, finding the two sitting on the couch, reading two separate books.

"Oh, hello girls," Lyra said as she looked up from her book. "Everything go okay next door?"

"..." Vinyl simply walked past them. "...I'm going to go take a bath..." Once she was out of earshot, Octavia began to laugh.

"What's so funny, Octavia?" Bonbon asked, curious.

"Well, Vinyl was dead-set on proving to Twilight and Trixie that I was born with a stick in my rump, so I decided to get back at her by telling her I saw a ghost in the house as we were preparing it," Octavia said as she took a seat in one of the chairs.

"Vinyl's afraid of ghosts?" Lyra asked, somewhat stunned. "Somepony like her? Wow...kind of unexpected."

"You have no right to talk, Lyra. I remember the one time you saw a mouse in here you were practically hanging from the chandelier in fear," Bonbon laughed, to which Lyra blushed.

"Bonbon! I thought you said you would keep that a secret!" Lyra said in protest.

"Oh, come on, Lyra. I thought you were so cute the way you hid behind me until I swept the mouse out of the house," Bonbon said as she gave Lyra a quick peck on the cheek.

"See? Bonbon understands. It is simply a harmless trick," Octavia said. "I think I might join Vinyl on the couch tonight, though..." Octavia then blushed. "...I do not feel comfortable sleeping alone..."

"Aww, how sweet," Bonbon said. "Well, whatever you feel most comfortable doing, Octavia." Bonbon then thought of something. "Oh, I'm such a foal! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Lyra, get up for a minute."

"Um...alright," Lyra said, doing as she was told. Lyra took a few steps back as Bonbon moved over to the side of the couch and pressed a button. She removed the cushions from the couch, and pulled out what appeared to be a bed with a folding mattress from within the depths of the couch. "Oh yeah! I totally forgot we bought a couch with a retractable bed. See, this is why I keep you around," Lyra joked.

"Keep me around? Honey, you WANT me around," Bonbon winked.

"Yeah, you're right," Lyra said as she trotted up to Bonbon and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"I'm going upstairs for the night. Have a good night Octavia," Bonbon said. "...I'll be waiting, Lyra." She flicked her tail slightly as she disappeared from view. Lyra stared at the empty spot where she was standing before, and then looked at Octavia.

"Go," Octavia laughed.

"Thankyouthankyouthankyouuuu!" Lyra said, rushing off upstairs.

Octavia climbed onto the bed, grabbing the sheet that was folded up in the center of the bed and laying it out, grabbing a few of the cushions for pillows. A little while later Vinyl headed back downstairs, and blinked in surprise when she saw Octavia laying in bed, waiting for her.

"Enjoy your bath?" Octavia asked as she looked up at Vinyl.

"Uh, yeah...that shampoo Lyra and Bonnie talked about is awesome! My mane feels like it's made of silk!" Vinyl headed into bed, laying down next to Octavia. "Go on, feel!"

Octavia then surprised Vinyl by nuzzling her instead of using her hoof. "They were not kidding. That really is good...I may start using it myself."

"Octy...why are you being so sweet with me all of a sudden?" Vinyl asked, raising an eyebrow. "Who are you and what have you done with Octy?"

Octavia laughed. "Vinyl, I assure you that nopony else has taken my place," she said as she leaned in and shared a gentle kiss with Vinyl. "Now, we need to get to sleep...Good night, Vinyl."

"Night Octy..." Vinyl said, laying down with a smile. The two snuggled into bed together, quickly falling asleep.

*~*~*

Several hours later, Vinyl rolled over and discovered there was a lack of a body. She opened her eyes and looked around in the darkness, and saw the front door cracked slightly. She slid out of bed and made her way to the front door, and opened it. She found Octavia sitting on the bench on their front step, just looking out at the night sky. "Octy...you alright?"

Octavia looked over at her, and smiled softly. "I am sorry I woke you, Vinyl...no need to worry. I am alright." Vinyl made her way over to Octavia and took a seat next to her, watching her as she stared out at the moon.

"Something on your mind?" Vinyl asked. Octavia sighed, and gave a warm smile.

"I am simply reminiscing about all the times you and I have had together...the trip to Echelon Gardens...the trip to Hoofington...the first time coming to Ponyville, the party, all the different memories we have made along the way since we found out I was having a baby...it is incredible to think back to the terribly sheltered life I lived before I met you..." Octavia then looked over at Vinyl, her violet eyes looking at her lovingly as they twinkled in the moonlight. "...If not for you, I would not be moving forward to what I am coming to understand will be the most exciting part of my life...and it is all because of you, Vinyl..." Octavia then leaned into Vinyl's shoulder. "Thank you," she said in a soft tone.

Vinyl blushed at Octavia's words. "Octy...I knew from the moment I met you that you were special. Yeah, you were snooty. Yeah, you had an attitude. Yeah, you were stuck up...but you know what? I know that that's not REALLY you. That was the 'you' that you created, to survive in a place like Canterlot, where everypony expects the best out of you," Vinyl said. "Me? Nah...I don't care about all that stuff. I just want to live my life the way I want..." Vinyl then focused her vision on Octavia. "...I don't wanna live my life any other way than the way we are now- traveling all over the place, meeting new ponies...and with you next to me," Vinyl said with a warm smile. "Especially after today...I mean, we got to see our kid, Octy...our baby..." Vinyl blushed as she brought a gentle hoof to Octavia's belly. "I discovered something today, Octy..."

"What did you discover, Vinyl?" Octavia asked as she placed her own hoof over Vinyl's.

"...After seeing our baby for the first time...I discovered that, well...I think I'm ready to be a mom," Vinyl said softly. "I was excited before...but now? I'm counting down the minutes until our baby arrives." Octavia felt tears well up in her eyes. She had never heard Vinyl say sweeter words. The fact that Vinyl had come to such a profound conclusion on her own eased her heart in ways she previously thought impossible.

"Vinyl, you have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say that...I have been so worried about how I am going to handle being a mother, about if I will be taking care of the baby right, and-" Vinyl cut her off by bringing her other hoof to Octavia's mouth.

"Don't worry...we'll get through it. You'll always have me," Vinyl said with a smile. Octavia pushed past Vinyl's hoof, pressing her muzzle to Vinyl's, completely swept away by Vinyl's words. After several breathless moments, they separated, and Octavia wiped her face clean of tears.

"I know...and that is why I love you so much," Octavia said as she leaned her head against Vinyl's neck, closing her eyes.

"I love you too, Octy..." Vinyl said softly, closing her eyes as well. The two sat together on the front porch, enjoying every moment of being in each other's grasp as Luna's moon bathed them in its beautiful white light.