Fatherhood


                                            "Will you quit zooming around and sit still for one minute so we can talk?"

                                            >Dash rolls her eyes and gently lands on the ground in front of you, careful to keep her belly from hitting the dirt.

                                            >She looks at you impatiently. "Fine. ONE minute. Then it's back to my training."

                                            "You can't keep this practice regimen up."

                                            >"What?" she yells. "Why the heck not? I can't stay the fastest flier in Equestria if I slack off!"

                                            "Dash, you're 40 weeks pregnant."

                                            >"So what?"

                                            "So what? So you're bound to go into labor any day now!"

                                            >"Psssh, you humans. I won't be foaling for another month! Shows how much you know. Seriously, Anon, how do you expect to be a good dad when you don't even know the basics?"

                                            >That last part wounds you a little too much.

                                            >Almost as soon the words leave her mouth, she bites her lip in instant regret, seeing the dejection wash over you.

                                            >"Anon, I—"

                                            "Do you really think I won't be a good father?"

                                            >"No!" She moves closer to you, wrapping a hoof around your leg reassuringly. "I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't thinking."

                                            >You look down at her. Oh, how quickly her arrogance turned to vulnerability.

                                            "I know I'm not like any of the stallions here..."

                                            >"I don't care about that! I didn't fall in love with you 'cause of your species. I fell in love with you 'cause you're the coolest. Better than any stallion I've ever met."

                                            >You drop to your knees and sink your head despondently.

                                            "But maybe you're right. Dash... I don't know if I have what it takes."

                                            >"Hey. Look at me."

                                            >She grabs ahold of your head with both hooves and makes you look her straight in the eye.

                                            >"When you wanted to try for foals, and I was afraid it wouldn't work, afraid I wouldn't be enough for you if I couldn't be a mom, what did you say?"

                                            >You'll never forget that day.

                                            "I said that it didn't matter what would happen. Because I would never stop loving you. I would always love you. Because you're awesome, and you'll never stop being awesome, because you're Rainbow freakin' Dash."

                                            >"And then you told me that you wanted these foals because you wanted to bring more of that awesomeness into this world. That it was better to have hope than to just give up without trying. And then..." she laughed softly. "Then you dared me to try and get pregnant."

                                            >She gives you a quick kiss, and you smile at the memory.

                                            "I knew you couldn't resist a challenge."

                                            >She pauses and rubs her swollen womb fondly.

                                            >"I can already tell these lil' guys are the awesomest in all of Equestria. But y'know, they're only half me. Half of their awesomeness comes from the coolest dad in Equestria."

                                            >You give her a tender smile.

                                            "So, will you please cool it with the crazy flying? You know I worry."

                                            >She scoffs teasingly. "Alright, big guy, just 'cause I love you, no more stunts. But I'm still going for my morning sprints!"

                                            >You chuckle, knowing that's as much as you're going to get from her.

                                            >You scoop her up lovingly in your arms and carry her home, showering her belly in kisses. All the way, she laughs and squirms, trying to get free.