Flashback ( PDFDrive )

that we have to invent ways to survive something that should be
automatic—like what’s happening with your alicorn. You would think
her body wouldn’t have become pregnant with twins unless it could
support them. But . . . sometimes nature needs a little help.”
Sophie couldn’t think of what to say to any of that, so she went with
a nod—and tried her best not to look thoroughly grossed out. It wasn’t
fair to be bothered by something just because it was different from
what she considered normal. But it wasn’t easy when Tarina was using
words like “pods” and “colony” and “implanted”—all of which
sounded like something straight out of human science fiction and
made her think of aliens or giant bugs.
“If it helps,” Tarina told her, “I had a similar reaction the first time
I learned that some creatures have bellies that stretch and bulge as the
baby develops fully inside them, and then the mother has to push the
baby out through a process that looks rather slimy and painful.”
When she put it that way, it definitely didn’t sound a whole lot
better.
“I think I’m never having kids,” Sophie decided.
Tarina laughed. “I’m pretty sure we all feel that way at some point.”
“Probably,” Sophie said, shaking her head to clear away the
biological horror show going on in her brain.
It didn’t matter how weird it all sounded.
It only mattered that it worked.
“Okay, so . . . two questions,” Sophie told Tarina. “Where do we get
the pods? And why was this such a big secret that I had to swear to an
alliance before you’d tell me? Isn’t a lot of what you just explained
something I’ll be taught in school someday?”