Inside a cramped hospital room, several nurses rushed around a bed where a mare was ready to give birth any minute. A doctor walked in and pulled a mask over his mouth, “has she been given any pain killers yet?” He asked as he walked up to stand in front of her.
“We were not sure if we should, considering its very early doctor,” a nurse said to him as she wiped the mare’s head with a cloth.
The doctor leaned close to the mare, “do you understand what is going on right now?” The mare looked up at him weakly, scared. She nodded slightly, her gaze never leaving his, “I will do my best to make sure this goes smoothly, you have my word.”
The mare smiled weakly, “thank you doctor.”
The doctor nodded and stood up straight, “alright everypony, we are going to be having a foal that is going to be a few weeks premature so, let’s look alive.”
The nurses finished getting everything together as a stallion with a black mane hurried into the room, “honey?!” He rushed over to the mare’s side and grabbed her hoof gently, “honey are you alright?”
The mare smiled up at him, “yes dear, I’m just a little scared about…” she went quiet at the thought of what could happen.
The stallion leaned over and kissed her head, “everything will be fine, I just need you to be strong honey.”
The doctor looked up at the stallion, “I take it you are going to be the father?” the stallion nodded,
“well be aware that I will not let anything happen to this foal.”
The stallion smiled but it quickly faded as the fear of what was happening began building up inside of him, “thanks doctor. After today I could use the good news.”
The mare tightened her grip on the stallions hoof as a wave of pain shot through her. The doctor looked at her, “it’s time everypony,” he bent down to catch the foal as it came out, “that’s it, one more good push.”
The mare screamed as she pushed the foal out, which the doctor waited for with a warm blanket. His expression went from soft to concerned instantly, “we need to get him to intensive right away.”
The color drained from the stallion’s face, “doctor? What’s wrong?”
The doctor ignored him as he hurried out of the room carrying the foal out. A nurse walked up to the couple, “please be calm for a few minutes, the doctor…”
“Where is my foal?” The mare asked, sounding desperate.
The nurse looked at her sadly, “there was a small problem with the foal and he wants to make sure that…”
This time she was interrupted by the stallion, “what’s wrong?”
The nurse took a deep breath trying to figure out the easiest way to give them the news when the doctor walked back in smiling at the foal who was reaching up at his face, “doctor?”
The doctor glanced up at the foals parents and his expression fell, “I will not lie to you, I cannot believe how physically strong he is being more than a couple weeks early, but…” he fell silent but the couple sat looking at him expecting the worse, “here I’ll let him explain.”
He gently handed the foal to the mare who smiled at the foal. The foal smiled back at her and opened his mouth and let out a large breath. The mare looked up at the doctor her expression a mixture of confusion and sadness, “why is he so quiet?”
The doctor looked at the floor, “there is a possibility that his vocal cords have not developed right or, they simply don’t work. It’s hard to say but the full outcome is that he will be silent or mute.”
The mare took the news hard as she couldn’t stop herself from crying so she brought the foal up to her face as she cried into the foal who silently squirmed around and reached up at her. The stallion looked at the doctor feeling defeated, “is there nothing we can do?”
The doctor looked up to him, “there isn’t a lot known about his condition. You should do whatever you can to make him comfortable and help him along the way.”
The stallion leaned over and kissed the foal gently on the head, “but… I don’t…”
The mare nuzzled the side of his head, “Backlash, we will find some way to help him. Please, I need you to be strong, not only for my sake but Golden Tune’s as well,”
Backlash shook his head, “I’m sorry Sweet Song it’s just that… wait, Golden Tune?”
Sweet Song smiled down at Golden Tune, “do you like it? I can’t help but feel that it somehow fits him.”
“Honey, it’s perfect,” pulling them into a tight hug, “just like the two of you,”
“Alright I understand that you two have a lot of planning and issues to attend to, but I still need to make sure that both mother and foal are fit enough to go home tomorrow,”the doctor said as he worked his way around to her side.
Backlash kissed her on the cheek, “I will head home for now and get everything ready for you two for when you come home tomorrow,” He leaned down and kissed a now sleeping Golden Tune on the head causing him to squirm a little, “I will be back first thing in the morning to get you buddy.”
Backlash exited the room and walked into the waiting room where a couple of his good friends were waiting for him. A white unicorn with a blue mane and tail walked up to him concerned, “Backlash is everything ok?”
Backlash took a step back in surprise, “Lieutenant Shining Armor! What are you doing here?”
Shining Armor placed a hoof on Backlash’s shoulder, “Backlash, you are not only one of my soldiers but you are also a good friend. Now is everything alright?”
Backlash sat down and hung his head, “I… I don’t know Lieutenant. Everything was going fine till…” He looked up into Shining Armor’s face, “he can’t talk Lieutenant.”
A yellow pegasus cocked his head to the side, “don’t all foal’s not talk when they are born?”
A purple colored pegasus smacked the yellow one upside the head, “I don’t think that is what he means.”
Backlash’s eyes drop to the floor again, “what I mean is he can’t make a sound. The doctor said he was mute.”
Shining Armor placed a hoof up to his chin, “I have heard of it before. It is a very rare disability.”
The yellow pegasus took a step forward, “Redline’s newborn filly has an issue as well.”
Backlash looked up at the yellow pegasus surprised, “Redline’s new born has a problem as well?”
The yellow pegasus frowned, “yeah, and from what I understand, from a pegasi point of view, a filly that might not ever be able to fly is pretty bad.”
Backlash stood up his eyes wide now, “how is he?”
The purple pegasus smiled softly at him, “he took it kinda hard like you, but if you two keep acting like you did back in the academy you should make a full recovery and quick,” she shifted uncomfortably, “there is some bad news though.”
Shining Armor lowered his head and the yellow pegasus just looked away sadly. Backlash looked at each of them, “what’s wrong? Will the filly be alright?”
The purple pegasus smiled a little, “apart from her wings not being properly developed she will be fine,” she looked down at the floor, her smile faded, “but Flare Chaser has a condition that she…” she took a deep breath and looked up at Backlash as a tear rolled down her cheek, “the doctors gave her three years at best.”
Backlash took an unsteady step back, “what… why… why am I just finding out about this now?”
Shining Armor placed his hoof on Backlash’s shoulder again, “you know Redline better than any of us. Do you honestly think he would come out and tell you his problems?”
Backlash knew that Redline would never say that something was wrong with him no matter how bad it was. The purple pegasus looked at Backlash her expression unchanged, “he is also moving down to Ponyville as well. He told me to tell you that it might be awhile before he can finally meet your wife.”
Backlash dropped his gaze and shook his head sadly, “tell him not to worry about it, we have all the time in the world for that. He needs to attend to his family first and foremost.” he started to walk towards the door slowly.
The purple pegasus reached out to him, “Backlash?”
He turned his head a little but never made eye contact with anyone of them, “I’m sorry but I just need to be alone right now.” he turned his head back to the door, “I have a long night ahead of me so please let me be.”
They watched him walk away sadly feeling like that what he needed was good news not a plate full of bad. The yellow pegasus glanced between the purple pegasus and Shining Armor, “I… I think we should have told him later and just supported him with the problem he already has.”
Shining Armor was still watching the door, “perhaps, but not knowing would have been worse,” he glanced back at the other two, “come on, I have to give a report to the Princess before tomorrow,” they nod and follow Shining Armor as he exited the hospital.
