Night fell again as Twilight paced an all to familiar setting, a hospital room. This was the last place she wanted to be, and she could only imagine what Spike was going through.

Twilight spent this time pacing primarily to berate and chastise herself for the situation she and her friends were in. She effortlessly shouldered the blame in her mind for what she considered a horrible mistake.

Each and every time a nurse or the doctor came in to check on Spike's vitals or do some sort of inaudible assessment, Twilight once again visited the same sharp regretful chant: “If only I kept my mouth shut, if only I had never learned of those stupid books!” She felt thus was a pointless plight from the beginning; an irrational escape from an impossible nightmare.

Finally, as the hall lights began to dim, signaling the closing of all but the ER's reception lobby, Twilight compelled herself to plop onto a cot near Spike's bed and try to let her bloodshot, dry, and tired eyes get some rest. Though she procrastinated, the ticking of the clock, the breathing of the oxygen tank, the paced beeping of the heart monitor, all spurred her brain to whirl around in doubt, angst, and self-loathing again.

In the meantime, a good distance away in the more suburban precinct of Canterlot, sat a modest Inn where Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and the crusaders slept...or at least were getting there.

Rainbow Dash was pulled from her deep sleep by the noise of the fillies coming in and out of the hotel room. She was half-asleep and agitated at the younger ponies who seemed to care less about whether she got some decent sleep or not. She recounted the days events which were anything but stellar, this certainly did nothing to help her find sleep.

Rarity was lying on the bed next to Rainbow's; sprawled out in such a fashion as to prohibit any companionship. The next and final bed over was empty and still in its default condition. Presumably this was to be for Twilight though the unicorn opted to stay by her assistant's side for the night.

Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Applebloom were situated in a semi-circle in a corner of the room. The backs to the wall and their faces towards the beds. They were getting sleepy too, especially Scootaloo who was beyond sore and worn from her unexpected adventure earlier that evening. She and Sweetie Belle had gone and fetched some cookies and juice from the lobby, put on the adult's tab of course. Applebloom staunchly refused repeated offers to enjoy some snacks with the excuse being that she wasn't in the mood. Eventually though, she caved. They now sat quietly, tiredly listening to the sounds of passing ponies in the hallway or the occasional chimes ringing outside due to a light breeze.

Scootaloo finished her juice box and dropped it in a nearby trash bin. Seeing Rainbow Dash on a comfy bed made her yawn; stretching her hooves and popping some tense joints.

“I think I'm gonna call it a night girls.” Scootaloo said drearily.

“I think I am too.” Sweetie Belle followed. Naturally, she yawned as well but was subtle about it as opposed to Scootaloo simply opening up the hatchet nice and loud.

Sweetie Belle hopped onto Rarity's bed and plopped down by her sister. It didn't take long for her to succumb to her weariness.

Scootaloo on the other hand was hesitant to get near Rainbow Dash. She didn't want to sleep in the empty bed, she might get in trouble. She eventually made the leap and curled up in between Dash's forehooves and back hooves, snuggling up to her stomach.

“No.” Rainbow drearily groaned.

Scootaloo reluctantly scooted to the edge of the bed given she didn't have much room. With the lack of body heat beside her she attempted to turn to lay on her stomach but wound up falling off the edge of the bed instead. Surprisingly, nopony was jostled from their sleep by the considerable thud. Rainbow grimaced and peeked over the bed where Scootaloo sulked, curled up in a ball with a look of defeat.

Rainbow wasn't having it. Scootaloo looked down at the carpet as stray tears fell on it. She didn't audiably cry but she certainly showed it every other way. She didn't move, lest she be scowled again for some absurd reason.

Applebloom still sat in the corner. Unable to sleep or even think about such a thing. Twilight was still at the hospital. She hadn't seen the unicorn since they arrived at Canterlot. That sense of worry and angst still plaguing her being. Again, she began to whimper and sniffle. She wanted to see Twilight. Everypony else was asleep however and did not wake despite her fit. Applebloom than simply began to cry. Nothing awful but enough to bring Rainbow Dash back into the waking world.

The pegasus sighed and got off the bed.

“Let me guess,” Rainbow began softly as she approached the filly. “You want to go see her don't you?”

“Mmhm” Applebloom whimpered.

“Alright, hop on.” Rainbow sat down so the filly could mount her back. Once this was done they quietly made their way out of the hotel and towards the hospital.

Canterlot was surprisingly quiet and on some streets, empty during the late hours of the night. The trip from their hotel to the hospital took far less than Rainbow could remember. They came upon the building to find the general visitors entrance was dark and locked.

“Well shit kid—I guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow; we'll all go.” Rainbow resigned.

“But—But, Ah wanna--” Applebloom stammered.

“Hey, It'll be fine alright? Let's just get back to our room and get some sleep.”

“No.” Applebloom dismounted and sat in front of the entrance with no intention of leaving.

“Ugh, kid, you're being ridiculous. What would Twilight say?”

“Ah don't know 'cause she ain't here, she's in there! Ah wanna be in there with her!”

“I get that but we can't. See the lock? Are any lights on? No. So that means you can't.”

“We can let her in.” Came a female voice. Rainbow turned to see a nurse with a smile on her face.

“I can take her where she needs to go.” The nurse smiled.

“Really?!” Applebloom practically leapt into the air with excitement.

“But you'll have to be quiet. Most of our patients are asleep. Is that okay with you Ms?” The nurse looked to Rainbow who looked herself relieved.

“Yeah. She's here to see Spike. Her—mom is in there.” Rainbow said.

“Okay, we'll go up there okay?” The nurse said to Applebloom who immediately took to the nurse's side.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you ma'm!” Applebloom chanted happily.

The nurse and Rainbow chuckled. “No problem sweetheart, and what is your name?” The nurse inquired playfully as they made their way into the hospital.

“It's Applebloom!” Applebloom answered.

Rainbow could no longer make out what they were saying as they walked in and she walked back towards their room. She was absurdly tired now and was not letting a thing get between her and sleep now.

Now that Dash was gone Scootaloo needed a new place to crash. Twilight's bed was unoccupied but she didn't want trouble. Dash's bed was not an option as the pegasus seemed to revert to disliking her, so it left either the floor, or Sweetie Belle and Rarity.

The orange filly opted the latter and hopped onto Rarity's bed. She again propped herself into a comfy position and was surprised to feel two tired but loving hooves pull her close. Scootaloo turned to see the pony in question; she was met with half-open emerald eyes and a cotton candy mane. Scootaloo couldn't help but smile back as she began to grow tired.

Scootaloo stared out the window on the other side of the room. As the furnace and the baseboard kicked on with a gentle hum, the shimmering bokeh that was her view outside prompted a flash of memories: watching the rainbow pegasus artfully swim in the skies over Ponyville, the attack in the forest and the apology, their platonic bonding from that point to now. A weird feeling filled the filly. A smile grew on her face and she trembled nervously.

Scootaloo was soon nice and snug between two hooves and a maternal kiss was planted on her cheek. The pegasus filly surprised herself and returned the familial kiss to her unicorn companion. Neither needed to say a thing. Both were scared of what was to come, they both were tired and just wanted to be safe, and home. But, they knew that so long as they stuck by the other, they would have some semblance of happiness.

Finally, they gave in to the will of the sandman.

Applebloom found Twilight once again pacing the hospital room. The filly bounded towards her unicorn guardian and squeezed Twilight in an unusually tight hug.

“Applebloom!” The unicorn gasped, “What are you doing here?”

“Ah wanted to see ya Twi....” The filly whimpered.

Twilight sighed as she got back on the cot, another attempt to sleep.

“Fair enough.” She smiled as she motioned for the filly to join her.  

“What happened ta Spike?” Applebloom asked.

Twilight shivered some at the thought of what went down. About the same time it dawned on her: Applebloom likely had no idea what happened yet....at all. This was going to take awhile. .

To say that Applebloom was impressed with Scootaloo, amazed by Twilight and terrified for Spike is a bit of a dodge but it was safe to say her mouth was agape and eyes were wide as Twilight finished recounting the fur-raising encounter.

"Wow.." Applebloom said, "Ah'm surprised Scoots' or Dash didn't say anythin'."

"Knowing Dash that does come as a surprise," Twilight mused, "I guess there's a first time for everything."

The pair was quiet as they looked over at Spike's bed and the equipment around it. Any sign of life aside from the breathing was not available to them so they tried to converse again.

"What are we gonna do now?" Applebloom asked.

"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, genuinely confused.

"Ah mean, bout' that who librarian Equestria thing?"

Once Twilight internally replaced "Librarian" with "Liberate" her mind began to slowly recollect that train of thought that had brought them here. Honestly, Twilight had negated and shelved it considering all of the much more important things that were happening in the present.

Twilight really didn't want to think about that. She knew she'd have to discuss it with the other mares before anypony else. She simply lie down on the cot and pulled Applebloom beside her, hoping this affection would silence the filly. It did.

"We'll discuss those things when we get together with everypony else okay?" The unicorn whispered.

"Kay Twi'." Applebloom yawned.  "Ah love you."

"I love you too Applebloom, I'm glad you're at least okay." Twilight wondered for a moment why she chose those words, they seemed a bit pessimistic. Regardless she let the stillness of the room around her and the peaceful fitly beside her draw her into sleep.

Rainbow came back to a quiet room. She was pleased to see her bed was clear, though that selfish warmth came to an abrupt end when she remembered why. She glided to her bed and lay there. Instead of looking out of the window which sported a lovely series of blurred colors and shimmering city lights, she looked at an orange filly who was at peace.

She couldn't place why she was so bothered by the sight of her. This odd feeling that seeing that filly now reminded her of herself in more ways than one. A chill crept up her spine as a thought occurred to her. One of those memories you suppress as time goes on, to the point that you fail to even acknowledge its occurrence.  

As she continued to look at the filly, that horrid thought came back to her. It was so potent because if it was indeed true what she was thinking, there would be no forgiving herself for anything she had ever done to that filly.

Rainbow Dash managed to push that aside and find some sleep herself. She needed it, she had a feeling tomorrow was not going to be the best of days for more reasons than one.

The dream came to Rainbow, that pesky memory triggered by the tormented filly apparently was going to giver her a vivid flashback of depressing proportions.

It was Dash's senior year in flight camp. She already staked out her home in the sleepy town of Ponyville, now she just needed to finish some endurance tests among other things. For herself and the other students it was a cause for celebration. A large party was underway at a residence which, in the memory bore no name with ponies that shared the same anonymity.

The atmosphere was fun, gleeful, and reckless. Stallions and mares were frisky and frivolous in their rampant and often short-lived pursuits of a special pony to "make some magic" with. Though for Rainbow Dash, she was an exception. For the life of her the stallion she was with, she could not remember his name; even the day after she could never place his face to a name, nor could she confirm the face in her mind was the one before her eyes the night prior.

Regardless, they danced, they drank, and then they were off to a private room at an inn in South Cloudsdale. Following the inevitable intercourse, they went their separate ways, too in the moment of their own achievements and raw bravado to consider the possible implications of their actions.

Flash forward a few months to the Ponyville Hospital. Rainbow was having an examination as was required for new residents of Ponyville. All seemed fine. Vitals were perfect, no signs of any illness, however the doctor took slightly longer than was normal for such minor checkups and physicals. He came in with a straight face and a manilla envelope.

"Ms Dash, the good news is you are as healthy as anypony can be." The doctor stated.

"So...what's wrong then?" Rainbow asked, anxious.

"Well..we checked, and checked again just to be sure," he began,

"For what?" Dash was scared now, this did not sound good.

"Rainbow Dash...you're two weeks pregnant."

Silence ruled for a long time. The adventurous pegasus was beyond stunned.

"T-there must be some kind of mistake." Rainbow stammered.

"I'm afraid not Ms Dash." The doctor replied coldly. "There are some options available- but it is entirely up to you."

Rainbow knew what he was saying. It wasn't too late, and quite honestly, she was far from ready from dealing with the responsibility of a child.

"I'll do it." Rainbow said. "I'm not ready for a kid doc."

"Very well then," The doctor began, "We will need the father's consent first."

"But..I don't know who the father is." Rainbow pleaded. "Please! I'm training to be a Wonderbolt someday, I can't be tied down by some foal!"

"I'm sorry ma'm but without the father's consent we cannot go through with an abortion."

"Aw come on doc! I'm the one that has to put up with this, not him!"  Rainbow was desperate.

"The law is the law Ms." The doctor seemed unmoved. "We can however do what is called a "blind birth"."

"And that is?" Rainbow inquired.

Turns out a 'blind birth' is the process of blindfolding the mother and magically disrupting their hearing during the final phases of delivery. Thus the mother does not see the foal and therefore will not recall its appearance. It is a very controversial method that was permitted throughout Canterlot decades before. Dash went through with it. She never saw the foal she gave birth too and it was handed off to the Ponyville orphanage.

Following this, Rainbow honed in her dream of becoming a Wonderbolt, anything to distract her from what she had done. Eventually, years went by, Twilight came into her life, and all the adventures that followed successfully pushed this cold memory into the banks of darkness and silence.

The only possible way Rainbow Dash could identify her child is by a magically revealed pattern present in the pegasus' feathers. Much like a fingerprint, it identifies the mother by similarity. Rainbow wondered if Twilight was capable of such a thing. Though the thought of confirming her worst fear was more than enough to silence that desire.

Dash awoke again, abruptly from this dream. And before her again was Scootaloo. That dreaded feeling came about her again as she watched the filly sleep. Next Chapter: Little Fish, Big Fish, Swimming in the water... Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 47 Minutes