“So how’re the girls?” Ascentia asked as she sat at the bar, accepting a grasshopper from Sunset.

“Better, actually,” Sunset replied as she glanced up toward the window, “I think this entire process has really brought a lot more… hope to the family. It’ll be great to focus our attention on something like that, you know?”

“Something like what?” Ascentia asked, looking confused as she drank her grasshopper.

“Well…” Sunset smiled a little more, “It just so happens that we’re going to be adding to our little family, actually.”

Ascentia chuckled, “You guys plucked another girlfriend off the street or something?”

“Nope!” Sunset laughed, shaking her head, “Sonata is attempting to get pregnant. We managed to retrieve stem cells from Mom’s placenta, which was converted to sperm.”

Ascentia’s jaw dropped as her drink fell out of her hand and clattered to the counter, “...Dafuq?”

“Oh, dear…” Sunset took a cloth and proceeded to clean up the mess, “Yes, you heard me right. We’re trying to have a baby.”

“And… you did it… without needing a donor?” Ascentia asked, looking dumbstruck.

Sunset nodded, giving a smile, “Yeah! I know, it’s very surreal, isn’t it? But I was doing some research some time back, and in the past few months, stem cell research managed to achieve that process. It’s been tested on numerous patients, and it works. It’s not absolutely perfect, but it’s achievable. Sonata was willing to get a donor, but I figured it would be nice if we tried this option, you know? So I had to make sure that Mom’s placenta was preserved at the hospital she’d given birth at.”

“Whoa…” Ascentia whispered quietly, “That’s… that’s amazing, Sunset. I’m so happy for you!”

She reached over the bar and wrapped her arms around Sunset’s bare shoulders, squeezing tightly.

“Really, I am,” She cooed, “If one of my daughters could have come from both me and Twilight, I’d have been overjoyed!”

“Thank you, Ascentia!” Sunset nuzzled her and hugged her back, “I know it’s what Mom would have wanted. Sonata most especially is thrilled to have a baby shared with Mom’s DNA. So… hey, if you two ever decide to have another baby, it might just be possible.”

“Oh no,” Ascentia giggled, patting her flat stomach, “Once this one’s out, that’s it for us. Already got the two, plus this one. And Fluttershy’s been itching to have a daughter.”

“Oh my!” Sunset laughed, “Looks like you guys are having a fuller house!”

“Oh yeah!” Ascentia nodded, “Sunny just found out that I’m pregnant and she’s over the moon about having a new baby sister.”

“Awww… That’s so sweet!” Sunset giggled, clapping her hands, “I can imagine she must be excited!”

Ascentia nodded and took a sip of her fresh drink, “Mmhmm. Keeps asking me ‘Mama, when’s my new sissy coming?’”

Sunset chuckled as she hung the cloth up to dry, shaking her head, “Poor kid, she’s going to have to wait a little while.”

“A long while,” Ascentia snickered, patting her stomach, “Oh boy, I’m gonna balloon like Fluttershy in a wasp’s nest.”

“O-kay…” Sunset was slightly weirded out by that, but waved it off, “It’s funny, I never pictured you getting pregnant. But life sure is full of surprises!”

“Neither did I. I was told my whole life I was infertile,” Ascentia shrugged, “Either the doctors were wrong, or Rainbow really does have a magic cock.”

Sunset laughed, “Actually, there are chances that someone infertile can become pregnant. It’s very rare, but… it takes one egg, one sperm, and there you go.”

Ascentia nodded, “Yeah, I know that. Nothing’s ever one hundred percent. I guess this means I have to start using protection once this little munchkin’s out.”

“You may very well have to,” Sunset agreed, whistling, “Wow. That’s a lot of protection, considering how much sex you all have in the house.”

“Oh boy,” Ascentia winced, “Maybe I’ll just get my tubes tied.”

Sunset cringed, holding her hands over her crotch, “That works, too.”

“Did I pluck a nerve with that?” Ascentia asked, giving a tiny chuckle.

“Not really,” Sunset chuckled, “Back in high school, I took the AP Biology class. One of the things we learned was the reproductive cycle in women. And sadly, one of the video segments was detailing certain ovarian procedures, including getting your fallopian tubes tied… and hysterectomies. I swear I felt my vagina going numb and dropping to the floor during those videos.”

Ascentia shrugged, “Maybe back then I’d be squeamish about it. These days, I’ve become rather desensitized to most surgeries.”

“Lucky you,” Sunset pouted, “I’m just praying Sonata won’t need a C-section…”

“Squeamish at that too, or just don’t want anyone cutting open your baby?” Ascentia asked.

“I’m mostly squeamish about it overall, but I know it’s not as risky as it used to be,” Sunset said, shaking a little, “But oh yes, I don’t like the idea of them cutting open my baby. She’d probably be so scared! And I don’t know if I’d be able to help her like I’d want to. I want to be there for her and I would, but, I just don’t have the same touch Mom had. If Mom were there, she’d lull Sonata to sleep to soothe her.”

Ascentia nodded, “When Fluttershy had to have her C-section, Rainbow was a complete wreck. Pacing around the waiting room, constantly anxious, and then Cielle decided to pull a cruel prank on Fluttershy after she woke up. Hoo boy, I did not envy her.”

“That’s terrible…” Sunset pouted, “If anyone did that to my baby, they’d have to count themselves lucky Mom isn’t around.”

“Oh I bet you’d be pretty scary if you went full Mama Bear,” Ascentia giggled, “I can already see it brimming up on ya.”

Sunset giggled a little, smiling, “Thanks. I hope I can be. I might be younger, but I want to protect Mom’s babies. Although now they’re my babies, too.”

“Awww!” Ascentia cooed, clapping her hands together like a child, “Sunny’s their new Mommy!”

“Well, they have taken to calling me ‘Mom’ and ‘Mama’ lately,” Sunset smiled, “I’m so touched that they are. I didn’t think they would, which I was fine with. But it’s a really sweet gesture. I can see why Mom loved it so much.”

Ascentia nodded, “Twilight always thought it was adorable. She always wanted to come down to see the three of them shortly before we got married.”

“Wow… That was long before I came around,” Sunset whistled, “At least to the extent that I eventually did. That was actually how I saw Twilight for the first time, in fact.”

“Oh yeah! You were delivering a pizza the first time we were here, weren’t you?” Ascentia smiled, patting her shoulder.

“Mm-hmm, I was,” Sunset giggled, “Even with her short hair, I still thought she was so beautiful. I couldn’t take my eyes off her… And when, well, Mom was in the room at the time, that’s saying a lot.”

“Wow… you had a gorgeous older woman in the room and you were still gawking at my wife,” Ascentia giggled proudly, “And I’m married to that!”

Sunset laughed at this, nodding, “Yep! Twilight surpassed her! Oh yeah, I was smitten right away. And when I found out she was officially coronated as a Princess; seeing her all over the news, I swear it just skyrocketed.”

“Nice,” Ascentia giggled, “What about when… you know… news got out?”

This made Sunset bite her lip as she hesitated, “It’s… hard to say. I mean, I didn’t want to ignore the facts, and yet… I just couldn’t find it in myself to hate her for it. I guess I was a little too smitten to give a proper response. But I guess I was just wondering if there was some reason behind it all. I just wouldn’t let myself believe she was some kind of heartless, wife-beating monster. I didn’t want to trivialize what you went through, though. So I didn’t even really know what to think. I just… wanted to hug her and let her know she could be okay.”

Ascentia nodded, “I knew what was behind it all. I always hoped she’d get better. And she has for the most part,” she smiled brightly, laying a hand over Sunset’s, “You know… you and I were the only ones who ever really believed she could overcome all of that…”

“That’s a good way to put it,” Sunset patted her hand with a smile, “I believed she could overcome it. So many other people around me at the time were convinced it was some kind of life sentence. I know for some, yeah, it can be. But I believed in her, you know? I always just… remembered her as the sweet, awkward teenager with punky hair.”

Ascentia couldn’t help but laugh, “She looked so silly when she was dressed like that.”

“She did,” Sunset giggled, “Mom showed me some photos, and I thought she was so cute and silly in those outfits. I dressed like that too, when I was in high school. So did Aria… We all had some exchanges of who looked the stupidest. I won!”

“I bet you looked the cutest,” Ascentia smirked, winking at her, “In a contest of who looked the worst in school, I would certainly win that. I once shaved my head.”

“No way!” Sunset laughed, slapping the bartop, “All I did was get a mohawk!”

“Oh yeah! Complete and total buzzcut,” Ascentia giggled, “Don’t ever tell Twilight about that. She had a panic attack when I cut my hair short one time.”

Zipping across her lips, Sunset winked, “Don’t worry, I won’t. Ooh, according to Sonata, she once cut her hair when she got bubblegum stuck in it. She cut it to about here,” she indicated just barely along her shoulder, “and when Mom came home… She freaked out and was so upset she cut her pretty hair!”

“Sounds just like what Twilight did,” Ascentia laughed, “The both of them loved their girls with long, flowy hair.”

“Sure sounds like it!” Sunset winked.

Ascentia raised her glass, “To our crazy wives.”

“To our crazy wives!” Sunset took an empty glass and clinked it against hers.

As if on cue, Ascentia’s phone started buzzing in her pocket. She drew it out and put it to her ear, “Hello? Oh hey Twilight I… whoa whoa whoa, why are you crying? What do you mean you’re sorry? I’m not even there, what did you do? Sorry for everythi-put Fluttershy on… hey Fluttershy, what did you do? I dunno, you have a habit of accidentally triggering people… oh don’t give me that! Just shut up and tell me why my wife’s crying! Oh ha ha ha, look who’s being a smartass… put Rainbow on the phone!”

Ascentia covered the mouthpiece, “I love that woman but she drives me nuts.”

Sunset rolled her eyes, picking up a glass and wiping it dry, “I just hope Twilight’s okay…”

“It’s probably nothing,” Ascentia shrugged, “Hello, Rainbow? Yeah, what’s wrong with Twil-no I didn’t yell at Flutter-no that’s not what I… You know, as fun as this back and forth is, maybe you could just… put Sunrise on the phone.”

Ascentia drew her hand over the mouthpiece and took a deep breath, “Happy place, Kitten… happy place…”

She put her mouth back to the phone, “Sunny? Yes, what’s wrong with Mommy? Oh, is that it? Do me a favor, sweetie. There’s a red pill bottle in the medicine cabinet. It has Mommy’s name on it… Twilight Sparkle… grab that and bring it to Mommy, and then get her a glass of water… thanks sweetie, Mama’ll be home soon.. okay, buh-bye.”

She put the phone down and sighed.

“I was right. Fluttershy was trying to find Spectrum and said ‘the phrase,’” Ascentia sighed, “Twilight broke down again. She’ll be fine, I just gotta get Spectrum a bell to wear.”

“Okay, so she’s just having a nervous breakdown,” Sunset said, though was still concerned, “At least she’ll be okay, so that’s good to know.”

“Oh yeah, she’s just gotta take her meds and snuggle with Sunny,” Ascentia smiled, standing up and popping her back, “Well I gotta go take care of my wife, tie a bell to my nephew’s neck, and hit my girlfriend with a pillow. It was nice talking to you, Sunny.”

“Nice talking to you, too,” Sunset smiled, giving her a wave, “Tell Twilight I said hi, okay? And give her a hug for me.”

“Sure thing. I’ll bring her with me on your next topless weekend,” Ascentia winked before heading out the door.

“Look at this photo on Asy’s facebook,” Sonata said, turning her laptop and showing a very dishevelled looking Fluttershy, captioned ‘BEGUN THE PILLOW WAR HAS!’

“Pillow fighting, haven’t done that in ages,” Aria chuckled, shaking her head.

Sunset turned her tablet around, “Look at this one from Rainbow’s facebook.”

There was a photo of the two kids, Cielle and Rainbow ganging up on Ascentia with pillows, captioned ‘ONCE MORE THE CUSHIONS WILL RULE THE GALAXY!’

“Hee! Super Mega Ultra Pillow Fight!” Sonata giggled, “I’ll bet there was feathers everywhere! Unless they were made of foam…”

Sunset flipped through and found one of Fluttershy spitting feathers out, “Yeah, they’re feather pillows.”

“Oop! Gotta go!” Sonata dashed into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

“There she goes….” Aria chuckled, looking back at the spread of photos. The last one was of everyone, minus Cielle (probably taking the photo) laying on the floor on and around cushions, laughing, “Looks like they had a blast.”

Sunset looked down and saw that Sunrise was away from the rest of them, cuddled up with Twilight, who was smiling albeit looking exhausted, “Aw, she’s feeling better already…” she smiled.

“That’s good to hear,” Aria chuckled, “Guess that’s just what she needed. An entertaining pillow fight.”

Sunset giggled adorably as she continued to sift through Ascentia’s older photos, showing her, Twilight and Sunrise, “Ooooh… they’re so cute! I hope we’re this cute when our daughter’s born!”

“Hard to say,” Aria poked her nose playfully, “But if I know Sonata, she’s gonna want all kinds of pictures of little Dagi.”

Sunset grinned and nuzzed Aria’s cheek, “Oooooh! I can’t wait! I want her to be here now!”

So do I,” Aria ruffled her hair, “Aw man, now we really sound like expecting parents!” She turned toward the bathroom, “Anything yet?”

“Hold on!” Sonata called from the bathroom.

Inside the bathroom, she sat anxiously on the toilet, shaking the pregnancy test in her hand. The little display screen showed an hourglass, much to her chagrin. Sonata sighed, leaning back a bit and looking up.

“I hope this works, Mommy…” Sonata murmured, clutching the stick a little tighter, “I don’t know what I’ll do if it doesn’t.”

After a few moments, she glanced down, turning the stick to face her. The result was one simple word.

Pregnant.

A huge smile broke out on her face, to which she covered her mouth and giggled happily. “Mommy…! It worked! I’m pregnant! I’m pregnant! I’m really having your baby! Oh my gosh!” She squealed, doing a little dance.

The bathroom was silent as a churchmouse. Usually Sonata would often swear she could hear Adagio’s laughter at times like this. When she was undergoing the procedure, it felt like something was squeezing her hand while the doctor inseminated her. But right now she heard nothing.

“Sonata, come out here! You gotta see this!” came Sunset’s voice, “Sunrise is beating her mother with a pillow!”

Sonata sighed, listening once more. Nothing. Holding the stick tight, she left the bathroom. Even with that, it didn’t ruin the joyous moment. She went over to Aria and Sunset, giggling as she saw them laughing over the latest photo.

“Look at that,” Aria snickered, pointing to the photo, “Isn’t it a scream?”

“It sure is!” Sonata giggled, admiring the photo. She then produced the stick for them to see, “Well, great news! Look!”

Sunset glanced at it, “Cool,” she said, turning back to the laptop. After a solid five seconds, she did a double take and ripped her head back to the stick, “Wait, what? HOLY FIERY GRASS BALLS!”

Although Aria already guessed, she took a look anyway, and grinned, “Oh my god! It worked?! Holy shit, I think I’m gonna faint! I can’t believe this is happening!”

“I know!” Sonata squealed, bouncing up and down, “I’m soooo happy! We’re having a baby! Baby! Mommy’s baby!”

Sunset almost upturned her laptop as she lunged over and wrapped her arms tightly around Sonata’s neck, squeezing as she flat out tackled her to the couch and peppered her face with kisses, “Oh my god! Oh my god!”

“Sunny!” Sonata giggled, nuzzling her back, “Awww, I’m so glad you’re happy, too!”

“Are you kidding? This is terrific!” Aria leaned over the back of the couch, chuckling at the two, “Having a baby in the house would’ve been all well and nice, but this is Ma’s baby. I can’t even describe how incredible this is.”

Sunset squeezed tightly to Sonata and giggled happily, “Oh my god! I love you girls so much!” She practically squealed as she buried her face into Sonata’s hair.

“I love you girls, too,” Sonata nuzzled Sunset’s head and sighed wistfully.

“And I love you girls,” Aria smiled more, “Way more than I can say.”

“I just wish Mommy was here… she’d have been over the moon…” Sonata murmured.

“I’m sure she is right now,” Sunset grinned happily as she kissed Sonata’s cheek, squeezing her hand.

“I think so, too,” Sonata giggled.

“Heh, I’ll bet she’s doing her happy dance right now,” Aria snickered.

“Heh heh,” Sunset chuckled, “That dance was funny…”

“So funny!” Sonata agreed, giggling.

Sunset glanced up to the shelf, where Adagio’s urn sat next to the box containing what was left of Timbre, “I’ll bet she’s so proud of you, Sona…”

Looking over at the urn, Sonata sighed wistfully as she nodded. Tears gathered in her eyes as she attempted to fight them back, stroking Sunset’s hair, “I’ll bet she is…”

“...Did they ever find out who hit her?” Sunset asked quietly.

Aria shook her head, “I don’t think so. That other car got away so fast, nobody managed to get a license plate number. All they knew was that it was a silver Mercedes.”

Sunset sighed as she sat back on the couch. And then…

One interesting thing about Sunset that made her a great bartender was her eidetic memory. She could recall even the tiniest details. Almost as if examining a photo a second or third time. Her mind flashed back to just after Adagio’s funeral, when she’d had to forcibly remove Aria’s mother from the club. Aria had stumbled, drunk, into her car… a silver Mercedes with it’s front ended dented to an absurd degree.

“...No way…” Sunset whispered quietly.

“What is it, Sunny?” Sonata said, gently poking her cheek.

“Aria, what kind of car does your mother drive?” Sunset asked, looking straight ahead.

“She drives a silver merce-” Aria stopped cold mid-sentence, “...No…”

There was a dead, chilling silence filling the room as realization set in. Neither of them could speak as the truth weighed on their minds. It was a feeling akin to when they’d found out Adagio had died.

Sonata broke the silence as she snarled, trying to free herself from Sunset’s grip, “That CUNT! She killed Mommy! She killed Mommy! She killed Mommy! Lemme at her! Lemme at her! I’ll get her for this!”

Sunset didn’t have the strength to hold on to Sonata and let go of her, falling back onto the sofa as she contemplated what she’d just realized. She glanced up to Aria, almost pleadingly, “...Why?”

“...Drunk driving…” Aria guessed, shaking a little, “But she still… she… she…”

Bursting into tears, Sonata ran into the bedroom and shut the door. Muffled screams against pillows were then heard, along with the sounds of punching and tossing pillows.

“If… if I ever… if she ever sets foot in here again…” Sunset started shaking, tears pouring down her face as she curled up into a ball, burying her face in her arms.

“I’d kick her ass… beat her half to death…” Aria uttered. She sat beside Sunset and hugged her, shuddering, “If she comes in here, I’m taking her to court and putting her away forever.”

Sunset whimpered and leaned in against Aria’s neck, wrapping her arms around her shoulders. In the span of about ten minutes, they’d gone from the happiest moment of their lives to the very worst. Celestia only knows what Sonata was doing amidst all the smashing and screaming in their bedroom. Next Chapter: Like A Rubber Band Estimated time remaining: 23 Minutes