The shocked silence after Applejack's announcement was deafening, only broken by the sound of rain on the castle walls. Finally, as Applejack began to look slightly uncomfortable, Twilight spoke first. "Applejack, that's wonderful!" she said with a big smile. "When did you find out?"

"Just earlier this week," Applejack replied, relieved. "Ah haven't told anypony 'sides mah family yet, so Ah'm a little confused 'bout how Rarity knows." She gave Rarity a half-smile. "Though Ah suspect it's got something to do with a certain pair of little sisters. Apple Bloom could never rightly keep a secret."

Rarity, for her part, had an expression that was torn between confused and overjoyed. "While I am ecstatic to hear about your impending motherhood, that certainly was not what I was referring to. I honestly had no idea."

"Really?" Pinkie Pie said, bouncing up and down in her sleeping bag. "'Cause what could be more awesomely fun and surprising than a new baby?"

"Well..." Rarity began, shooting another glance in Fluttershy's direction. Fluttershy shrank down slightly, averting her gaze as she felt Rainbow shift slightly next to her. A moment later, Rarity spoke up again. "You know what, it doesn't matter right now. Perhaps we can discuss it another time."

As the conversation quickly changed over to baby-related topics, with Twilight offering all sorts of advice based on books she had read and Pinkie chiming in with things she'd heard from the Cakes, Fluttershy looked over at Rarity. Her friend had an odd look on her face: a strange combination of wistful, disappointed, and joyful. "Rarity?" she asked softly, so as not to interrupt the conversation. "Are you ok?"

"Hmm?" Rarity replied, before jumping slightly and looking back at Fluttershy. "Oh! Oh, yes, I'm fine, Fluttershy, darling." Her eyes darted away, looking behind Fluttershy for a moment before meeting her gaze once more. "It's just... well, there are a few things on my mind at the moment." Her gaze narrowed as Fluttershy felt movement on the other side, and she turned to see Rainbow getting up and heading towards the door. "And one of them appears to be leaving..." she heard Rarity mutter.

The others had stopped their discussion to watch Rainbow's departure. Rainbow gave them all a smile and said, "Hey, sorry guys, but I'm feeling a little cramped at the moment. Gotta take a quick walk. Congrats, Applejack, by the way. You're gonna be an awesome mom."

As Applejack blushed and thanked her, Fluttershy felt a nudge on her shoulder. Looking over at Rarity in surprise, she saw the unicorn gesturing after Rainbow's retreating form. "Why don't you go with her, darling? I think she could use the company."

Fluttershy's heart, which had finally managed to settle down to her normal nervous rate, leapt into her throat once more. "M-Me?" she said apprehensively. "W-Why me? Wouldn't Pinkie Pie be a better pony to go with her? Or Twilight, or Applejack, or -"

Rarity silenced her with a look of determination. "Fluttershy, I will brook no more excuses tonight." Her gaze softened slightly, and she motioned towards the door. "Please, Fluttershy. Rainbow has something I know she's been dying to say to you tonight."

Her nerves working on overdrive at these words, Fluttershy could only nod in the face of Rarity's insistence. She slowly got to her hooves as the rain outside began to pick up tempo, beating against the palace walls like a frantic drum that matched the tempo of her heart. The others, their attention drawn by her movements, looked at her quizzically. "I-I'm going to go walk with R-Rainbow," she said softly, barely audible over the sound of the rain. "B-Be right back..."

Without waiting for a response, she carefully made her way out of the room. She walked along hesitantly, searching for any sign of Rainbow in the darkened, shadowy halls. "H-hello?" she called quietly, her eyes darting this way and that. Another flash of lightning followed by a roll of thunder caused her to freeze up with a soft squeak of fright, but in the brief glimpse of light, she was able to catch sight of Rainbow's still form staring out of a nearby window.

"Rainbow..." she breathed, uncertain whether or not to approach her friend. Rarity had said that she wanted to say something to her. What could it possibly be?

And was it something that she honestly wanted to hear?

She shook her head, doing her best to push away her worries. She had promised herself that no matter what, she would always be Rainbow's friend. Steeling herself, she slowly made her way over to where that friend was standing, ready to face whatever hard news she was about to hear.

However, the first words she heard Rainbow utter were definitely not ones she expected to hear.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Rainbow muttered harshly, absently scuffing her hoof on the floor with each word as Fluttershy approached.

"What was that?" Fluttershy asked uncertainly, coming up behind Rainbow.

Rainbow started violently, spinning around only to find herself nose-to-nose with Fluttershy. "F-Fluttershy!" she sputtered, jumping back in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Fluttershy shrunk back from the harsh tone in her voice, ears folding back uncertainly. "Umm... you left... and Rarity said you needed some company..." She fidgeted slightly before continuing, her voice trailing off nearly inaudibly. "She also said you had... something to tell me... if you don't mind, that is..."

"She did, did she?" Rainbow growled slightly, looking a bit put out. When Fluttershy let out a soft squeak and huddled down even further, Rainbow immediately became apologetic. "Oh, sorry, Flutters," she tried to reassure her friend. "Not mad at you, promise. She's just been getting on my nerves a little lately, that's all."

Fluttershy perked up slightly at that. "Oh, ok," she replied, as another rumble of thunder rattled the windowpanes, and she shuddered. The two of them stood there for a long moment, the rain pounding the castle the only accompaniment to their fidgeting.

Finally, Fluttershy broke the silence between them, her insides churning. "Um... did you want to tell me something?"

Rainbow shuffled her hooves once more, staring into Fluttershy's eyes, her expression torn between fear and longing. The seconds started to drag by as the two of them stood there, and Fluttershy was just about to apologize profusely and leave when Rainbow shook her head slightly. Her eyes hardened, and she nodded to herself.

Rainbow took a deep breath, and opened her mouth.

Spring: A time of beginnings, of love, of new light.  A time of storms, of growth, and revelations.