Braeburn was going to make a wonderful, single mother. He'd made sure he'd bought a bunch of baby books, food, and other items a newborn baby might need. Though as his pregnancy continued, things got tougher and tougher.
For one, he couldn't afford to let anypony see his now bulging stomach. So seeing as he really didn't leave the house anymore, he actually arranged with one of the nearby shops to bring food to his house and he'd pay them generously. But being almost entirely alone was starting to take a toll on poor Braeburn.
Braeburn was use to flappin' his gums to anypony who would listen. And he really enjoyed socializing with other ponies and making friends. But in this condition it was difficult. He could barely even walk right anymore given how big, bulbous and heavy his stomach had gotten. He more or less had to waddle everywhere.
But that was just one of many problems. Another, how was where was he going to give birth? Being 6 months into the pregnancy now, he'd noticed a change in his body. He'd grown a false uterus complete with marehood just below his arsehole, which pushed hisdick and balls about 2 inches forward. It wasn't usable though. He'd tried, just to see, but nothing came out, no urine, no sperm, it was just an empty gate way for the baby to pass through. He really hoped it would disappear after the baby was safely out.
But he wanted to give birth in a hospital, or at least have a professional aid him. There was no way he could go to a hospital. And there was no pony he trusted enough to act as a mid-wife. Not even his own family.
He'd thought before about contacting Apple Jack and Big Macintosh or his parents or some other member of their large family. But he knew better. There whole family was rather religious and made sure to obey Princess Celestia's laws. His cousin Apple Jack was even an element of harmony. Besides, he'd already been disowned by the stallion he loved; he didn't want to be disowned by his family too.
More time went by. Braeburn was 7 ½ months into pregnancy now. And instead of being bright and happy like he once was, he was paranoid and depressed. He didn't know what he was going to do. He was so close. He was so close to becoming a proud parent. But what was he going to do? If ponies asked about where the child came from, and they will ask. Should he make up some story about having a girlfriend who left their baby with him or something? No, that wasn't very believable. Or what if somepony found out about him and Soarin and that Soarin was the father? What if Princess Celestia found out? What would she do to him and his child? Banish him to the Everfree Forest, lock him away to rot in a dungeon, send him to the moon? And Luna only knows what Celestia would do with his child.
Braeburn had to face it. He was all alone, confused, and scared. With nopony to help him, nopony he could rely on. He'd always have to live in secrecy. He'd have to spend the rest of his life protecting himself and his unborn child. What would she think of him? His child, what would she think of him, the world, and other ponies? Would she face discrimination or worse from her peers and Celestia?
How could he have been so foolish? To think that everything would be fine and dandy after he let his child into the world? He'd thought that Soarin would be happy, and look how that turned out. Imagine how wrong he might be if he really let an unnatural into the world and thought that he could protect them.
He began to panic and tears welled in his eyes again. He'd been crying quite a bit since Soarin left. But what else could he do? Everything had really been going down hill ever since he found out that he was pregnant. He loved his unborn daughter, but it might be better if she never existed. And maybe, if Braeburn never existed too. He had nothing without Soarin, except for his daughter, and without his daughter, he had nothing. That was it then, the answer to his problems.
Braeburn stood up and left out the back door and headed North. Walking all day and night into the mountains.
It had been 3 days now. And nopony had heard of neither hide nor hair from Braeburn. He didn't even eat the food that was left on his door step for him. Some ponies were starting to grow a bit worried. As was Sheriff Silver Star. He asked some of the buffalo if they'd seen the normally bubbly stallion but they hadn't seen him either. It was then that Soarin flew back into Appleloosa. Despite everything he'd said, he actually came back. And he felt just terrible. He regretted what he'd said to Braeburn and about their child. He regretted that he'd left the stallion he loved all alone when Braeburn had needed him the most. And after months of long and hard contemplation, Soarin had finally accepted it. He'd decided that he did want to be a father, and he missed the hell out of Braeburn. Every day was hell when he couldn't wake up and see that big, goofy smile and those beautiful emerald eyes of his. But was he too late?
Soarin went to Braeburn's house. He found uneaten food on the front porch, which was odd. "Braeburn?" He knocked on the door and went inside, of course Braeburn still never locked the doors. He trotted inside and looked around. The house was a tad darker than he remembered. Well, not exactly darker, just, less bright and full of life. "Braeburn? Are you here? Babe…I…I'm so, so sorry for what I did and what I said…I really want you back. I want both of you. Please Brae, I know I don't deserve it…but just hear me out?" The only response Soarin was meet with was spine chilling silence. "Brae?" He called again, still no answer.
Soarin walked all through the house. He checked everywhere, but Braeburn wasn't there. Maybe he was in town?
Soarin left the house and asked the first pony he saw. "Excuse me miss, do you know where Braeburn is?" She blinked. "Oh, Braeburn? Haven't you heard? He's gone missing! Nopony's seen him for 3 whole days now. I do hope he's alright…" She excused herself and continued forward while Soarin was left stunned. Braeburn was missing, his Braeburn was missing? Not only that, but so far along in the pregnancy too! He had a bad feeling about this. He spread his wings and took to the sky. Scanning the rigid, dry mountain areas, desperately searching for his love. "Braeburn!"
While Braeburn, absolutely famished and exhausted, finally reached it. The cliff's edge. It'd taken him 3 long days under the blistering sun without food or water. But Braeburn had finally made it to the cliff. Nopony would think to look for him here, and better yet, nopony would think to look for his corpse here.
He walked slowly to the edge and peered down. It must've been at least 100, maybe 150ft. down. 150ft. of darkness for him to plummet into. And at the bottom sweet sweet Death was waiting to embrace him like an old friend. Braeburn smiled sadly. "I'm sorry deary…but it wouldn't be right a me to let you into this cruel, unforgiving world. Both of us are better off this way. Please forgive me." A single tear rolled down his cheek as he walked over the edge. He fell quiet rapidly, the wind hitting his face harshly. But it would all be over soon. In 5…4…3…2…1…
OOOOFFF! Braeburn felt a hard smack to his chest and partially his stomach. Was that it, was he dead? Shouldn't it have been more painful? He slowly opened his eyes. His vision was a bit blurry, but he could clearly feel the blowing through his mane and his fur. Only this time, it was coming from a different direction. And he was laying on something. Or, more accurately, somepony.
"W-what's going on?" He screamed and tried to look at the pony he was riding on. But he could only see the back of that pony's head. Though in a minute they landed to safety, back on top of that cliff. The pony who'd saved him was panting and set Braeburn down gently.
Braeburn's eyes widened, he recognized this pony. It was Soarin! "Soarin? W-what the hay are you doing here?" He suddenly felt hurt, betrayed, and angry all over again. "I could ask you the same thing, what the fuck is wrong with you?"
"What are you yellin' at me for? You said you were done and you weren't comin' back!" "Yeah, I said I wasn't coming back, I never said you should go kill yourself!" "What do you care? Why are you even here? You should be happy, I'm going to die and I'm taking our child with me!" He ran towards the edge again, about to jump.
"Oh no you don't!" Soarin quickly leaped ahead and blocked Braeburn before he could go over the edge. Braeburn pushed his hooves against Soarin, trying to push him out of the way with tears coming down his cheeks. "Let me go! I want to die!" "No, Braeburn, listen to me, you have to live!" "Shut up, I don't want to hear any of your shit!" He continued to struggle against Soarin until Soarin slapped him hard across the face. "Snap out of it and listen to fucking reason!" Soarin yelled angrily and Braeburn, forced back about a foot by the slap, just stood there stunned and stopped struggling. His eyes wide, until his face contorted and he dropped to his knees, hunched over and sobbing.
"W-why…? Why are you here? What do you want from me…?"
"I want you to live Braeburn. I don't want you to die. And I want you back…"
Braeburn just blinked. "W-what? What are you talking about…?" "I mean I want you! Ugh, Brae, I've really missed you…and that bundle in your belly, I've missed her too." Soarin smiled sadly and wiped the tears away from Braeburn's eyes.
"But no…last time you said…you said…" "I know what I said. And I'm sorry. More sorry than you can imagine. I wasted so much time being a dick and only thinking of myself when I should have been thinking of my family." He rested his forehead against Braeburn's. "Can you ever forgive me?"
Braeburn's eyes widened. Soarin's words, they sounded so sincere. And Celestia and Luna know that he missed the hell out of him too. "I…y-yes Soarin, I forgive you!" Braeburn threw his arms around Soarin's neck and hugged him tightly, as though his life depended on it. Soarin smiled and hugged back, a few tears of his own trickling down his face. "I missed you so much babe…I'm so sorry. I promise, I'll never do anything to hurt you ever again." "I know…I know its ok." Braeburn smiled and they embraced for awhile, letting the feelings of love between them flow.
Though the sweet, tender moment was interrupted by the sound of Braeburn's stomach grumbling. RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE.
Braeburn blushed out of embarrassment. "Sorry, haven't eaten a bite in 3 whole days…" Soarin nodded. "I figured as much." He picked up Braeburn without permission and started to fly, though with a tad bit of difficulty. "Jeez, you're a lot heavier than I remember." Braeburn glared. "Well you wouldn't exactly be fit as a fiddle if y'all were almost 8 months pregnant now would ya?" Soarin chuckled. "Good point."
Soarin brought Braeburn back home and set him down once they were inside. "You got sit on the couch and rest babe, I'll make a nice quick, daisy sandwich for ya." Braeburn huffed. "I'm pregnant, not handicapped, I can make myself a sandwich." But Soarin wasn't taking no for an answer and just plopped Braeburn on the couch. "I'll be back in a minute with the sandwich."
About a month later, it was time. Well, it was getting close to being time. Braeburn was due any day now. And Soarin and Braeburn were having a serious discussion about where he should give birth. "Well from what you've told me, I think the safest place for you to be is in Ponyville with your cousin Apple Jack." "I know but…I really don't wanna tell none of my family about mah 'condition'." Braeburn sighed. "You said Apple Jack has plenty of experience rearing children from all of the litters that her dog Winona has had, right?" "Yes but still…" "Babe, we're out of time, we don't have a choice." Braeburn sighed. "I know…" So they packed their things, and went to the station to take the train for Ponyville. (Braeburn went in disguise.)
In about half a day they made it. It was past noon by then and Braeburn still wore his disguise even when they reached the farm. He knocked on the door and Apple Jack answered.
"Braeburn! Mighty nice of ya to visit cousin! Though you usually don't drop by unexpectedly, what's the occasion? And what's with that get up?" She was referring to the large overcoat Braeburn was wearing to hide his stomach. "I'll tell ya in a minute…but can Soarin and me come in and talk to y'all for a bit?"