Bittersweet Memories

~22 years ago~

"Push, Mrs. Life, Push!" said the doctor. Life was screaming at the top of her lungs as she was lying on her back on the hospital bed. "I can almost see the head."

Life's husband, Luck, stood next to her bed, letting her hold onto his hoof with hers. Surrounding the bed were three other nurses. One was patting down the sweat coming down Life's forehead, and the other two were assisting the doctor, who wore a white lab coat. In the back of the room was Life's mother, who stood patiently with a smile on her face.

"Just breath, Honey." Luck said to his wife. Life squeezed Lucky's hoof extremely tight as she pushed with all her strength. Lucky grunted with pain.

"Almost there Mrs. Life, just one more push." The doctor yelled over Life's screaming. Life took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she could. "Nurse, we need to get this filly into the surgery stat."

"What's wrong with my baby?" Life asked, completely exhausted. The nurse rolled in through the doors a small metal crib. The doctor used his magic to lift the child into the crib and he and two of the three nurses rushed her out of the room. "Where are you going with my child?" Life yelled. "Honey, go see what's wrong with her."

"I'm not leaving you." Luck said, who was now holding Life's hoof.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Life." Said the remaining nurse. She was a white earth pony with a red cross for a cutie mark. "Your baby will be fine."

Life was afraid. More afraid than she ever been in her entire life. Her body was shaking and sweat began soaking the bed.

An hour past before the doctor came back in. Life quickly sat up. "How's my baby? Where is she?"

"She's fine." Said the doctor, "She's just fine."

"What happened?" Luck asked, very concerned for his new born filly.

"She wasn't breathing and for a moment her heart stopped."

"Oh my gosh." Life said, tears falling from her eyes onto the blanket.

"Luckily we were able to get it starting again and her breathing is normal." the doctor said. "Now from the lack of oxygen and the fact that her heart did stop, her brain might have suffered minor damage. The effects of this will show over time and hopefully it's nothing too severe."

"Can I see her?" Life asked.

"I'm afraid not." the doctor said. "But while I'm here, may I ask what name you have decided to give your new daughter?"

"We really haven't thought of it." Life's husband said. "What do you think, honey?"

"I...I don't know." Life said, still i shock to find out that her daughter had stop breathing and was dead for a short time.

"Well we have to name her something." said Luck.

"How about Bon-Bon?" Life's mother said. She was still standing in the back in the room with a smile still on her face.

"Why Bon-Bon?" Luck asked his mother-in-law.

"Because, it's my favorite candy."

"What do you think, Life?"

Life's eyes were closed, but she spoke. "I think it's beautiful."

Later that night a unicorn nurse brought a sleeping Bon-Bon back into her mother's room. Her coat was a light cream color and her hair was a mix of both pink and navy blue. Life opened her eyes and caught a glimpse of the crib. "May I see her?" Life asked.

The nurse nodded and the sleeping filly, all wrapped up in a pink blanket, was gently lifted from the crib and moved over to her mother's arms. She was so small. Barely bigger than Life's hoof.

"She's beautiful." Luck said, looking down at his new child. He changed his gaze from his daughter to his wife. "I love you." He said. Life looked up at her husband and smiled a tired smile. They kissed and once the kiss was broken Life fell asleep, still holding Bon-Bon in her arms.

The nurse's horn glowed and the sleeping filly lifted from the sleeping mothers arms and was laid nicely in the crib. Luck nodded at the nurse, who nodded back. The nurse left the room.

The next morning, around eleven, a young filly at the age of five galloped into the hospital bedroom. "Where is she, where's my new sister?" asked the child with much excitement and energy.

"Settle down, Starlight." Luck said.

Life was still in the bed, smiling at her joyful daughter. "She's in the crib." Life said, pointing her hoof at the crib in the back of the room. Starlight dashed over to the crib and stood up on her back hooves, just barely able to see Bon-Bon.

"What's her name? What's her name?" Starlight asked.

"Bon-Bon." Luck said.

"Bon-Bon?" Starlight repeated. "That's stupid."

"Starlight!" Life exclaimed.

"What? Why can't we call her Ruby or Sunflower or Starlight Jr."

"You're grandmother suggested it." Luck informed. "And here she is now." Starlight turned around too see her grandmother just walking into the room.

"Grandma!" Starlight shouted excitedly and she zipped fast as lightning towards her, giving her grandmother a tight hug.

"Starlight," said her grandmother. "How are you? Have you seen your new sister yet?"

"Yeah, but why is her name Bon-Bon?"

"Well, Bon-Bon's are a type of candy and they're simply my favorite."

"That's strange."

"Maybe right now, but I think it'll grow on you."

There came a sound of crackling and then it turned to crying. Starlight and the rest of the family turned to look at Bon-Bon. "I think somepony's hungry." Luck said. He walked over to the day old child and picked her up and laid her on his shoulder. He carried her to the bed and give her to her mother. Life proceeded to breast feed the baby.

As Bon-Bon drank from her mother's breast she proceeded to fall asleep.

"Come on young one, lets go downstairs and get something to eat." the grandmother said.

"Ok Grandma." Starlight said and the left the room.