"Mama!" Sunrise moaned, poking her sleeping mother in the shoulder with a stick, "MAMA!"

Cielle sat up, "Hello? Oh, hey... night..." she fell back down again.

"Mama!" Sunrise cried, falling back onto her butt and starting to cry, "Waggup Mama!"

Still nothing.

Sunrise cried some more, wailing, "Mama!!! MAMA!!"

Ascentia slowly stirred, rubbing her eyes, "Mmm... what is it, precious?"

"Mama... hungwy..." Sunrise sniffled.

"How can you be hungry?" Ascentia asked, "Didn't the babysitter feed you?"

"...What babysitter?" Cielle asked.

"I asked you to call a babysitter before we left."

"...Oops."

"You mean... oh I am a horrible mother," Ascentia groaned, picking Sunrise up and settling her on her hip, "I'm sorry, sweetie. Mama'll get you some supper."

Sniffling, Sunrise snuggled against her, clutching her shirt with her tiny hands. Ascentia made soft shushing sounds as she carried her into the kitchen.

"First week away from Twilight, and already I'm neglecting my baby," Ascentia muttered, pulling a bottle out of the fridge and setting it into a pot of water, turning the stove on to warm up Sunrise's milk.

Cielle came in moments later, "Hey... was something supposed to happen? I feel like I was drunk, but I don't think I was."

"Rainbow came back earlier," Ascentia yawned as she balanced Sunrise on her hip, turning the pot so her bottle heated evenly, "The baby's fine. Well, their's at least."

"Baby? OH MY GOD THAT'S RIGHT!" Cielle burst wide awake, looking wild-eyed, "Holy crap! We gotta go! We gotta go! Gotta go see the little tykie tyke!"

"You go, I have to feed Sunny. She's been left alone enough for the next few years," Ascentia muttered.

"Okay, Asy," Cielle hugged her and kissed her cheek, "Be back later!"

"Cya!" Ascentia called out as she wiped off the bottle and handed it to Sunrise, "Here you go, sweetie. I'm so sorry."

Sunrise smiled, taking the bottle and drinking from it. Ascentia took her back into the living room and sat down in the sofa, snuggling Sunrise against her chest.

"Poor sweetheart, here all alone," she murmured, sniffling as she held her.

After a little while, Sunrise finished and snuggled happily against her. Ascentia smiled sadly and snuggled back against the couch, lying down and settling Sunrise against her breasts. Briefly running her finger over the fading bruises on Sunrise's shoulders, she sighed and nuzzled her.

"I need to know..." she whispered.

"Mama?" Sunrise babbled, making bubbles.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Ascentia smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Mama!" Sunrise giggled, reaching for her hair and pulling it, "Mommy?"

Ascentia hesitated, "Eh... Mommy's not around, sweetheart."

"Mommy?" Sunrise pulled her hair.

Ascentia winced when Sunrise pulled her hair, "She's... at the hospital that Auntie Rainbow was at."

Sunrise looked at her, not understanding. She took some of her hair into her mouth and chewed on it curiously. Ascentia smiled and gave a weak laugh, nuzzling Sunrise's cheek.

"You wanna go see Mommy, sweetie?" she asked.

"Mommy!" Sunrise grinned.

Ascentia stood up and picked up her car keys, "Alright. Let's go see Mommy."

"You have got to be out of your mind!" Dr Wolf exclaimed to an irritated Ascentia, "There is no way I am letting you in to see her!"

Ascentia set Sunrise onto the counter, who immedietly made a serious attempt to eat the security monitor, and grabbed ahold of Dr Wolf's front jacket.

"Don't make me angry, Wolf," she said venomously, "Because I'll beat you senseless."

One of the orderlies made a small noise of disappointment behind her.

Dr Wolf sighed and pressed the switch, and the door unsealed, "It's your funeral."

Ascentia picked up Sunrise and strode down into the Class-F ward, which the floor plan in the main lobby explained was for incredibly high risk patients. Finding the right room, Ascentia peered through the small window on the door to see a disheveled Twilight curled up on her bed, muttering to herself.

Opening the door, she strode in and cleared her throat, announcing her presence.

"Okay, Kitten... I'm getting up... I'll be right there..." Twilight said tiredly, but her tone was absent. She then paused, looked up, and then sat up. She regarded her with an unreadable gaze before she looked down at her lap. "...You shouldn't be here, Kitten."

Ascentia hoisted Sunrise higher on her side, "Don't tell me what to do."

"...Ascentia, please, go back home. Go home and enjoy your life," Twilight said listelessly, but her tone cracked with emotion "Please, just go."

"Ascentia? You just gonna keep switching names?" Ascentia asked, glaring down at her, "I came all this way for a reason."

She held Sunrise tighter as the squirmy little infant started reaching for Twilight.

"...Sunrise has bruises all over her," she said harshly, moving around the bed, "And I know it was you."

"You're right. I did give her those bruises," Twilight looked away still.

"Why?" Ascentia asked, her glare unwavering.

Twilight breathed softly, "I was angry. I was losing my temper, then I grabbed her... you weren't there, and I grabbed her instead. I held her hard, like a stress ball, and when I realized what happened, I put her to bed. She was crying in pain. I tried to comfort her and say I was sorry, but she was terrified of me. After that I left the room, then just... sat there on the couch all night and didn't move from it."

Ascentia set Sunrise onto the table and folded her arms, glaring down at her ex-wife, "...She's just a baby, Twilight," she said, her voice quivering, "I'm bigger than you are. She's... the size of a football."

"I hurt her, I could have severely injured her. Why do you think I didn't even hold or feed her after that?" Twilight sighed.

Ascentia scoffed and lifted Twilight's chin, "Knock off the remorseful act, Twilight! That shit get's old after the forty seventh goddamn time!"

Pushing her hand away, Twilight shook her head, "Then what do you want? You came here to get the truth, and you got it. So now what? What do you want?"

Ascentia stepped away and looked down at her. For the first time in her life, Twilight looked pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. Her sorry-girl act had been worn into the ground and all she could see now was someone who got caught. Like Rainbow. Pulling her wedding ring off, she tossed it into Twilight's lap and picked Sunrise back up.

"Goodbye, Twilight," she said, grabbing the handle of the door.

It was happening so fast. Like lightning, which Twilight could barely comprehend. But all she knew in that moment was the simple factor that Ascentia was leaving. Leaving. Quite possibly for good. No. She couldn't let her just go. The entirety rained down on her head like never before, to which she burst up and stood. Twilight reached for her, letting out a cry.

"Wait! No! Stop! Please, don't go!" She cried, shaking, "Please.. don't leave me! Don't leave me like this!"

Ascentia turned around just in time to see Twilight dive for her, grabbing her by the waist and sinking to her knees.

"...Twilight, get up, try to at least keep your dignity," Ascentia muttered as an orderly was standing outside the door.

Sniffling, Twilight did so, letting her go and standing up shakily, "I can't lose you again... I can't lose Sunny, either!"

"You already did, Twilight," Ascentia said firmly, backing away from her.

"Don't go! Please... don't go!"

Ascentia felt a familiar quiver in the pit of her stomach that she always got whenever Twilight was trying to apologize to her, "I have to, Twilight," she said, her voice cracking.

Twilight reached to her, but her hand fell as tears streamed down her face. "I want this to end. I want to just stop. Please don't leave me, I don't know what I'll do. Just don't leave! Just don't leave!"

Ascentia held back tears as she shook her head, shifting Sunrise so she couldn't see Twilight.

"Ascentia," Twilight uttered, "you won't believe me, but I love you. Just... not enough to stop myself," she sniffled, "I'm a horrible person and a complete psycho. I probably won't change, no, I don't think I'll ever change."

As she said this, she collapsed to her knees once more, shaking and leaning over on her hands.

"Please don't go... I need you...!"

Ascentia knelt down and took Twilight by the shoulder, gently lifting her to her feet as Sunrise babbled and reached for her. Once they were standing, she wrapped her free arm around her shoulders, gently hugging her.

"I believe you, Twilight," she said softly, kissing her cheek before she pulled away, "Get better."

Twilight reached out, then sniffled as she lowered her arm, "...I'll try."

Ascentia turned around and opened the door, stepping outside before closing it again. As she and Sunrise retreated back down the hallway, she heard the unmistakable sound of Twilight breaking down into tears in her room.

"You did what?!" Rainbow yelled, as Sunrise cried in her highchair, "You went down there ALONE?! Are you shitting me?!"

Ascentia didn't say anything, letting Rainbow lecture her as she did her best to soothe Sunrise.

"What were you thinking?! I want her to get better as much as the next guy, but you can't keep doing shit like that! And not alone, either! You can't just go there alone!" Rainbow uttered, then held her head, sighing heavily, "Don't do that again. Just... don't do that."

"Rainbow... it's a hospital filled with security staff," Ascentia argued, "There's not a single place in Canterlot less dangerous."

"It's not just that," Rainbow sighed heavily, "You can't trust her right now. We don't want you falling into another hole again."

"Relax!" Ascentia sighed, then smirked at her, "I have new holes to fall into."

Looking upward, Rainbow chuckled lightly, managing a small smile, "Yeah, you got that right. Well... I gotta go, time to bring things back over there."

She winked, giving Ascentia's rear a slap, then pinching it. Ascentia chuckled and watched her leave.

"She's got a pretty cute ass too," she smiled, turning back to Sunrise, "C'mon sweetie, open up. You gotta eat something."

Sunrise giggled and pushed the spoon away with her hand, "No!"

"Yes!" Ascentia said, scrunching up her lips and pushing the spoon against Sunrise's mouth.

"No!" Sunrise pushed it away, grinning.

"Yes!" Ascentia pushed it back, "Don't make me do the noise!"

Sunrise looked at her with a giggle, as if daring her to. Ascentia shrugged and squeezed her own voice box and let out a blood curdling banshee-like wail.

"Baaa!" Sunrise took the food off the spoon with her mouth, giggling as she did so.

"Finally," Ascentia sighed, picking up another spoonful and offering it to her.

Sunrise took the offering, with some of it dribbling down her chin. Ascentia scooped it back up into her mouth and giggled.

"There's Mama's messy little angel," she smiled, kissing her forehead.

Giggling happily, Sunrise reached out and booped her nose with her palm. Ascentia laughed and offered her another spoonful.

"You're just an affectionate little one today," she grinned.

Closing her mouth around the spoon, Sunrise looked at her, and then didn't pull her mouth away. Ascentia gave the spoon a tug, but she was holding onto it with her gums.

"Okay, now what?" she asked.

Sunrise smiled around the spoon, blinking her eyes a couple times.

"C'mon sweetie," she said, giving the spoon another tug, "What's wrong?"

Letting it go, Sunrise giggled, "No!"

"No what?" Ascentia asked, scooping up another spoonful.

"No!" Sunrise giggled.

"I'm just going to assume that's cute baby for 'I love you, Mama,'" Ascentia smiled, setting the spoon down and lifting Sunrise out of her highchair and into her lap.

"Baaa!" Sunrise giggled, snuggling into her.

Ascentia snuggled her, nuzzling the top of her head, "Mama loves you too, Sunny-baby."

Sunrise bounced in her lap happily, nuzzling into her chest. Ascentia smiled and kissed her cheek, "You bein' a little horse rider?"

"No!" Sunrise beamed.

"Then what are you doing?" Ascentia giggled brightly.

"No!" Sunrise touched her cheeks with her little hands.

"Just gonna keep being a little booger?" Ascentia poked her in the nose.

"Mama!" Sunrise giggled, waving her arms happily.

"Sunny!" Ascentia giggled, taking her by the hands and bouncing her in her lap.

"Babababa!" Sunrise laughed, happily babbling in time to the bounces.

Ascentia started humming a bouncy, upbeat tune as she bounced Sunrise higher, tickling her tummy. The baby giggled and wiggled against her, so happy.

"That's my sweet little Princess," she smiled, "If only your mother could see you now..."

"Baba!" Sunrise snuggled closer, closing her eyes.

"Baba," Ascentia smiled, kissing her forehead, "Mama loves you so much, Sunny."

Yawning squeakily, Sunrise closed her eyes and placed her thumb in her mouth. Ascentia smiled and held her tightly, "You're such an adorable little bug." Settling back against the chair, Ascentia smiled and rocked her daughter to sleep.

"Oh..." Fluttershy lifted her eyes open, groaning and holding her head. When did she even fall asleep? How long had she been asleep?

Feeling around her stomach, she squeaked, wide-eyed.

"...Where is he?" Fluttershy struggled to sit up, "Where's my baby?"

Rainbow laid a hand on her shoulder, looking worried, "Whoa whoa, Fluttershy! Calm down... what baby?"

"Our son, he was... where is he? I-I saw him, they showed him to me when he was pulled out!" Fluttershy uttered, panting a little.

Rainbow chuckled a little,"Boy, you've been really out of it. We don't have a son. That's absurd."

"What?!" Fluttershy looked around in horror, "No no no... how can that be?"

Rainbow looked concerned as she stroked Fluttershy's hair, "Shy, you've been out of it for a while. After the-"

The door opened and another Rainbow walked in, carrying a tray of coffee in her arms.

"Hey doc, where'd ya... Cielle what are you doing in-I TOLD YOU NO!" Rainbow said, rushing over and batting her in the back of the head, "Get out, go back downstairs and scare the kids!"

Cielle giggled and trotted off, "Toodles, Shy!" she said, vanishing around the corner.

"Sorry about that," Rainbow sighed, "She wanted to mess with you a little when you woke up. I told her not to."

Panting heavily, wide-eyed still, Fluttershy sank into the pillows, clutching her chest, "...Why would she play such a cruel joke..."

"Because she's a cruel person?" Rainbow shrugged, "I'm sorry Shy. I wanted Asy to keep an eye on her, but she rushed off to Canterlot."

"...Right..." Fluttershy sat up a little more, rubbing her head, "Is he all right?"

"Who?" Rainbow asked, before slapping herself in the forehead, "Right, Spectrum. Yeah, he's fine. He's sleeping in the ICU right now."

"I-ICU?" Fluttershy looked shocked, "W-Why? What's wrong with him?"

Rainbow waved it off, "He was having rapid eye movement while he was sleeping, so they wanted to take a precaution. I suggested he's dreaming, but apparently that's abnormal in babies, so it couldn't be the case," she scoffed.

"O-Oh..." Fluttershy murmured, biting her lip worriedly, "I hope he'll be all right... When can I see him?"

"When they let him out, or you can walk. Whichever comes first," Rainbow smiled, kissing her forehead.

Nodding, Fluttershy opened her arms for a hug.

"Aw, there's my Shy," Rainbow grinned, kneeling down next to her bed and wrapping her arms around her shoulders, "And no more big belly... kinda miss it."

Giggling softly, Fluttershy smiled, "No, but I still have the baby weight."

"But without the baby, it doesn't fit properly," Rainbow stuck her tongue out, "Like wearing a really big shirt without the adorable look of socks on a rooster."

"Oh well, maybe the next time we have a baby," Fluttershy giggled, kissing her cheek.

Rainbow grinned and kissed her forehead, "I love you, Fluttershy."

"I love you too, Rainbow," Fluttershy beamed, nuzzling her cheek. Next Chapter: Pretty Girls Always Cheer Boys Up Estimated time remaining: 11 Hours, 5 Minutes