Oh! The discomfort was growing. She had forgotten about this part, forgot that there was a period where she just felt uncomfortable in her own skin. Well, last time she had been so focused on being worried that she was going to lose the baby and now, well… all she had to worry about was the father of this child finding out that she was only having it to keep him happy!

No, no. She was only allowed to have those thoughts at night. She was limiting herself to focusing on the dark in the dark. The rest of the time, she could be the happy, in-love mare that was having her second child! And it was easier to do that when she had a distraction - her favourite distraction being her friends.

It was easy to forget how terrible she was being when she was happy around them. Many didn’t even know the news and now that it was becoming quite obvious, Alysanne knew it would look strange for her to hide it. Even with her wings resting on her sides, they stuck out just a little more than usual.

Her walk, however, was delayed by the necessity of having a serious discussion with her unborn foal, who had taken to kicking rather harshly. Not being very nice to mommy! Mikey tried to sooth the foal - oh what would it be, a boy or a girl? - with his deep voice, singing to it softly. He always got his way and sure enough, the kicking settled down. He was going to make a wonderful father, wasn’t he? As the truth threatened to bubble out of her, Alysanne took her leave of their usual sleeping spot - careful to show affection by pressing her muzzle at length to his neck in goodbye.

A deep breath when she turned away steadied herself and the black and white mare set out to see who she could find. She hadn’t gotten along very far when thoughts of Resplendence popped in - it had been a little while since she had last checked in on the sweet mare and a visit was certainly due.

It was with delight when she did not find her friend hidden in the canopy - but out and enjoying a walk. Lately her always-present smile had been mixed with a false one but not now, there was no need to pretend how happy she was to see this friend! “Res!” Hemlock hooted his greeting as well, flying ahead and circling the pretty pink mare a couple times before returning to land upon Aly’s head. He really did seem to take a shine to her female friends, didn’t he? “How are you, my dear?” Closing the gap between them and reaching out to greet her warmly with a bump to the muzzle, Alysanne could see for sure that Res was looking much better than the last time they met. Well, what could be better than that?