Sprout opened the front door to his home and trudged inside. He shut the door behind him and started to walk toward the bathroom to look at himself in the mirror. After he got jumped by Oscar and Sal, he wanted to make sure he didn’t have any bruises or marks on his face. If his mother saw any, she’d probably freak the fuck out and want to know everything.

His mother….Phyllis Cloverleaf.

While he slowly walked through his home toward the bathroom, he walked past a lot of pictures of himself and Phyllis together. Framed ones at that. Showing many great memories there were between them.

One photo was of him, Phyllis AND his late father, Bright Cloverleaf. It was only now that Sprout realized just how similar he and his father looked. Sprout was literally the spitting image of Bright.

In this very photograph, Sprout was about 6 years old. He and his family had a cookout at the Maretime Bay park to celebrate Equestria’s Anniversary Day. The many, many year(centuries at this point)anniversary of when Equestria was founded by their forefathers. Phyllis had made up two nice salads, while Bright handled the grill with his hayburgers. He even wore the cheesy as hell “Kiss The Cook” apron. Of course, Sprout was grossed out by that(any colt at his age would), while Phyllis just shook her head in a joking manner.

Anyway, Hitch and his mother Gladys were here too. She offered to take a photo of them at the grill. Bright and Phyllis agreed, while Sprout had to be called over. He didn’t exactly like being interrupted while him and Hitch played together. But he did, begrudgingly, and this is the photo today.

Sprout also remembered that this was almost two years before his father passed away so suddenly. Truth be told, he didn’t exactly think about his Dad very much. After the random brain aneurysm, Sprout did what his mother said and chose to move on. To not mourn him forever.

While it is true you can’t mourn somepony forever after they pass, that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t mourn at all though. Sure there were a couple sad talks about Bright here and there, but that was pretty much it. Phyllis was a strong mare. The fact that she didn’t break down and show vulnerability after her husband had passed away so soon, showed her toughness as a mother.

There was another picture next to that one. This one was taken about 5 years later when Sprout was 11. He, Hitch and Sunny were at that year’s Science Fair. The three of them had worked together to build a catapult, which was what they were standing with in the picture. Hitch worked on sawing the wood, Sprout used a nail gun to piece the wood together, and Sunny drew out the plans to make it work. It took a while, but the three of them did create a pretty decent sized catapult.

Only for them to get 2nd place. Sprout was totally bummed when he got the results. Apparently, the class genius, Gizmo Appleton, had created a giant magnet that pulled the metal table up to it. To say everypony was impressed would be an understatement. Sprout, again, was disappointed that he lost, but Hitch and Sunny did comfort and reassure him about how 2nd place isn’t always the worst thing to come in. Sometimes, ponies are just better at things than they were.

Looking back, it was a pretty fun day. He was okay getting 2nd place. At least he didn’t get dead last for one student who literally did not try. There’s not trying and there’s what this one student did. He brought in a cup of dirt. No sign. No plant in it. No colors added to it. Just a plain cup of dirt. He remembered when he heard the colt say “It’s a cup of dirt. Just put an F on it and let me go home.” The teacher did just that.

However, he also looked back on this day with sadness and sympathy as well. Not for that colt, but for Sunny. The reason was because this was around the time when Argyle had started coughing a lot lately. He almost kept himself completely under control here, but there were a few times where he did have a coughing fit. He remembered how worried Sunny looked. How him and Hitch told her he probably just has a tickle in his throat. It’s probably nothing too serious.

Oh, how wrong they were. Not too long after this, Argyle checked himself into a doctor and found out he had cancer. Him and Hitch admittedly felt guilty for telling Sunny that, even if they shouldn’t. They couldn’t have known at the time.

He remembered how Argyle fought this cancer for 6 long years. Chemotherapy, remissions, going through it again, hospitals, doctors giving false hopes and bad signs for the future. That was everything that Argyle and Sunny went through for 6 long years. Until 3 months after Sunny’s 17th birthday. When Argyle ultimately lost his fight.

He remembered that day. The day after him and Hitch had visited Argyle with Sunny for the last time in the hospital, he got a message from Hitch that morning saying that Argyle had passed away. He had come to Sunny’s lighthouse home to comfort his grief stricken friend. He remembered how heartbroken she was, wrapping her hooves around her two foalhood friends and crying like a newborn baby.

While Hitch gave her comforting words, all Sprout did was just let Sunny bury herself into him. Just letting her cry. Just letting her get all her emotions out. He never said a single word to her. Not on that day.

Nor did he at Argyle’s funeral either. He remembered how the three of them had sat in the front pew, facing the altar. While the priest read the memorial of Argyle to the crowd, Sunny was crying her eyes out at the beautiful speech that was being given for her father. She sat between Hitch and Sprout that day. Phyllis sat next to Sprout, and Gladys sat next to Hitch. While Gladys also shed tears, Phyllis did not. Not that she felt no sympathy or compassion for Sunny, but she just had herself under control. Never let them see that they get to you, remember?

Sprout didn’t have tears in his eyes either, but he couldn’t help but feel tremendous pain for Sunny. Losing a parent at any age can be hard for anypony. Especially before they turn 18. Sprout lost his father almost a decade ago by that point, and he knew what Sunny was feeling. He knew how much sorrow she felt in her heart. He empathized with her.

He reached out a hoof and patted Sunny on the shoulder in the most comforting way he could. Sunny looked at him, tears running down her face, while also looking surprised as well. He hadn’t said or did anything during the whole process of the funeral. So, him doing this caught her off guard a little bit.

He gave her a sympathetic look while patting her shoulder. He then looked away, taking his hoof off her. The priest still honoring Argyle’s memory.

Looking back, Sprout wished he would’ve said something. Anything to her. To make her feel like he really cared. Because he did care. He truly did. He just, didn’t exactly show it in the most supportive way.

Again, never let them see that they get to you.

He saw another picture next to that one. This one he ABSOLUTELY remembered. This was certainly a day he would never forget.

This was taken about 5 years ago. When Sprout was almost 20 years old. In this photo, he was standing next to his mother. The two of them were dressed up in a suit(which he HATED) to promote the new renovations done for Canterlogic. Phyllis had decided to make her building bigger. She had added a new cafeteria, a bigger kitchen, made the working areas larger than before, and even added a daycare center for employees who had foals that couldn’t afford a foalsitter. Overall, the renovations were successful for Canterlogic.

In this photo, Sprout stood next to Phyllis with a big smile on his face. Almost a bit too big. What he remembered about that day, however, was this was around the time when Sprout and Hitch had become the law of Maretime Bay. Hitch as the Sheriff and Sprout as the Deputy. When Phyllis found out about that result, she was not very happy at that. She expected it to be the other way around. She wanted her son to be Sheriff. Not taking orders from somepony else. That’s not what a Cloverleaf does. Even if it is from a longtime friend.

After that picture was taken, he remembered how Phyllis told him she wasn’t too happy with what happened. He remembered how he should try to outshine Hitch at any cost to prove that HE was a better Sheriff than him. Why?

Because it would help her business. How great would it be that Sprout, the son of the owner of Canterlogic, be the Sheriff of Maretime Bay? That would make her and her business look great.

That was the day when Sprout started to feel jealous and envious of his best friend. He wanted to make his mother happy. He wanted to make her look good. He wanted to show how great of a son he is. And how did he do that?

He became a delusional, reckless, power hungry dictator who destroyed his best friend’s home. He lost his job, his friends, he lost everything. All because he listened to her.

He’s listened to his mother all his life. He never questioned her. He never mouthed off at her. He never told her No when she asked him of something. He never left her side. He was a Momma’s boy. Plain and simple. That’s who he was and still is.

And now…throughout his whole life, from when he was born to this moment now…he finds out he has an older brother out there. He has a brother, whom Phyllis never told him about. She never told her youngest son, her sugercube, the light of her life…that he has a big brother out there. That she has another son.

As Sprout kept staring at this photo, he felt his emotions come boiling up. His grip on the photo tightened. His hooves were shaking. His lip was quivering. His breathing was heavily. His eyes were watering with angry and sad tears. His throat was choked with a sob.

“You fucking bitch.” He whispered.

Then, everything inside had come out. All the boiling emotions had exploded out of him like a volcanic eruption. Sprout took that very photo of him and his mother that day 5 years ago at Canterlogic…and smashed it on the ground.

“YOU FUCKING BITCH!” He screamed in complete rage. “YOU FUCKING BITCH!” He was now stomping on that very photo, not even caring he was getting broken glass in his feet.

He then went to the kitchen, got a hammer from one of the drawers near the stovetop, and came back to the now damaged photo.

“FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU!” He was screaming as he slammed the hammer down on the damaged photograph. What also was coming down were the tears coming from Sprout’s angry and hurt eyes as his meltdown continued.

“YOU! FUCKING! BITCH!” He said, as he stopped hitting the photo with the hammer. He just threw it to the side, not caring where it landed.

He was huffing and puffing now, looking at the damage he had just done. A broken photograph of him and his mother. Broken glass all over the floor.

A broken stallion. A broken son. A broken friend.

As he gave one last stomp to the photo, he saw something else as well. Something else that was broken.

A broken bond between a mother and her son.

Sprout just sat on the couch, not bothering to clean up the mess he made. With his bloody hoof, he just layed down and let his emotions out. He sobbed and cried for the next hour or so.

All because of Phyllis Fucking Cloverleaf. All because of his mother.

“You Fucking Bitch.”

“Hitch, what is going on here? Where’s my son?” Phyllis asked impatiently, while the two of them were standing in an interrogation room together.

“He left just a little bit ago. He’s probably at home.” Hitch said in a low tone.

“Why was he here? Is he in trouble or something?” Phyllis asked, sounding worried. “Why did Zipp attack my son? I saw the video.”

Hitch sighed at all of Phyllis’ questions. She had a right to ask them, due to her probably not knowing what the hell all was going on in Maretime Bay these past few days. Especially involving Sprout.

So, Hitch decided to just tell her everything. Hopefully, she’d be willing to talk after this as well.

“A dead body showed up on the beach two days ago.”

Phyllis felt her eyes go wide and her heart tighten at the statement she just heard.

“What?!” She said in disbelief.

“There was a dead body that was found by the Pippsqueaks. Glory, Seashell and Peach Fizz. Those poor little fillies found a dead body.”

“Oh….” Phyllis felt so bad for those three little ones. They must’ve been so terrified finding something like that.

“The body was in bad shape. Whoever did this completely brutalized her. It was sick.” Hitch said.

“What does this have to do with my sugercube?” Phyllis asked desperately.

“I was getting to that.” Hitch said, kind of cutting her off. That made Phyllis be quiet.

“My ME pony Charnelle found a partial match of Sprout’s DNA at the crime scene.”

“Oh no.” Phyllis said, her inner terror rising in her heart. “Please, don’t tell me my boy is being framed. I know he messed up, but he would never murder somepony.”

“That’s what Zipp thought. She lost her temper and emotional control and accused Sprout of being the murderer. She tackled him to the ground, and he punched her in the face to get him off of her.” He said.

Phyllis didn’t look too happy at that statement. “Is that why Zipp is in jail?” She asked, causing Hitch to nod his head.

“Good.” She said, rather cold hearted.

“So, after that, I had an interview set up with Sprout.” Hitch said, now with a grateful smile on his face.

“After him and I talked, we hugged each other and cried like foals. I’m glad him and I are friends again.”

Phyllis felt her heart warm hearing that. “You really did that?” She asked.

“Yeah. Him and Sunny reconciled too. We’re all friends again.” He said, almost getting choked up.

Phyllis did tear up a little bit. “Oh, I’m so happy you and Sunny didn’t kick Sprout out your lives. Thank you for giving my boy another chance, Hitch.” She said, sounding truly grateful. Which made Hitch smile in appreciation for her thanks.

However, he knew what he was here for. So, that very smile went away, and was replaced with a disappointing frown. Making Phyllis look confused.

“That’s where you come in, Phyllis.” Hitch said in a low, slightly intimidating tone. Phyllis didn’t like that. Not at all.

“W-What do you mean?” She asked, sounding worried.

“Well, after Sprout and I reconciled, I urged him to take a DNA test to prove his innocence. And you know what: He agreed to it.”

Phyllis froze.

“And just now we got the results. Thankfully, Sprout is in the clear. He didn’t murder that mare. But, you wanna know what IS a problem?” Hitch asked, now feeling cross with her.

Phyllis didn’t answer. Her body was still frozen in place.

“Well, Charnelle told me that Sprout and our murderer have the same DNA. And that it was a stallions DNA as well. So, you are in the clear too. But, I was wondering, Sprout was too, about how that could be possible? I mean, there isn’t another Cloverleaf out there, right?” He asked her, his frown still there and his cross feelings growing.

Phyllis felt her lip start to quiver. Her body started to shake. Her breathing was getting heavier and heavier. It was almost as if she was having a panic attack.

“She then said, and I quote, “I’m not talking about your mother. I’m talking about your older brother.””

Phyllis’ legs felt like rubber. She lowered herself to the ground. With a terrified look on her face.

“So, I’d like to know, Phyllis, why? Why would you keep something like this from everypony else?” He asked, looking down at her with a stern expression.

No word was said for about a minute between the two of them. Hitch just looked angry with Phyllis, while she stayed low to the ground, looking like a filly getting caught doing something bad.

“Phyllis.” Hitch said. “I need to know.”

He heard Phyllis mutter something under her breath. It was silent, so he couldn’t make out what it was she said.

“What was that?” Hitch asked.

Phyllis looked up at Hitch with a pleading look. “Hitch, please.”

His face still kept that serious, no bullshit expression. He wasn’t screwing around here.

“It would ruin Sprout’s life if this got out. It would ruin my employee’s lives as well. Don’t make me do it.” She said, looking on the verge of tears.

Hitch looked surprised to hear this. “How would it ruin their lives?” He asked.

Phyllis finally stood up from her pleading stance. “Look, it happened years ago. Years before I met Bright. I was a young teenager.”

“Do you know where your other son is?” Hitch asked.

“No. And, honestly, I don’t even care where he is. As long he’s not here.” Phyllis said in a very uncaring voice.

Which surprised Hitch. Sure Phyllis had shown sternness before. And she showed a no-bullshit attitude as well. But this….this felt different.

“Why do you feel that way?” Hitch asked.

“Like I said, I was a young teenager, and the piece of garbage who impregnated me left me high and dry.”

“Where is the father?”

“Don’t know, and don’t care. I hope he’s dead. Hell, I hope he died a horrible, painful death wherever he is.”

Like earlier, Hitch thought he was looking at somepony else who just so happened to have Phyllis Cloverleaf’s face and body. After hearing her uncaring and hurtful words about her other son, he felt it stronger now. This did NOT feel like the same Phyllis he grew up knowing for years.

“Why’d you give up your other son?” Hitch asked.

“He looked exactly like his father. I hated his father, and I hate that thing too.” Phyllis said in her cold blooded tone.

Hitch just gave her a look of disbelief and disgust.

“You don’t know what happened to me.” Phyllis said flat out.

“What’s your other son’s name?” Hitch asked.

“I didn’t give a name. The nurse who operated on me gave me the first name she could think of and I just took it.” Phyllis said. Hitch could tell she wanted to get out of this interrogation room. She wanted to both find her son AND get out of this conversation.

“What name?” Hitch asked, looking cross with her.

“Bud. Bud Bloomington.” She said.

“Bloomington is your maiden name?”

“Yes. But I don’t use that name for anything anymore.”

“Why?”

“None of your fucking business.” Phyllis was getting really agitated now.

Hitch himself felt agitated too. “What did you do with Bud?”

“A few days after I brought that thing into the world, after I was able to walk around without help, I dropped him off at the first orphanage I could find. Somewhere in Clopton. I just wanted to get rid of that thing.”

Hitch shook his head at her. “What happened to you, Phyllis? How could you be so cruel?”

“No!” She yelled. “I will….I will never….NEVER speak of that THING ever again. I don’t EVER want to talk about it. Not to you. Not to Sunny. Not to ANYPONY.”

“What the hell’s your problem, Phyllis?!” Hitch angrily yelled at her.

“YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE! AND YOU NEVER WILL!” Phyllis literally screamed at her son’s foalhood friend.

After a brief few seconds of silence between them, and with frustrated tears in her eyes, Phyllis spoke again.

“I couldn’t stand looking at that thing. It made me sick. Even now, it still disgusts me.” She said, wiping away tears with her hoof.

“Do you think Bud knows who you are? That you’re his mother?” Hitch asked.

“I don’t see how. I only had him for three or four days before I got rid of the abomination.” Phyllis said sadly.

Hitch paused for a brief second before continuing. “Phyllis, I’ve known you ever since I was a colt. How could you never tell Sprout about this? I mean, you should’ve seen him when he found out the news.”

Phyllis looked away in self disgust from Hitch. Apparently, she had spent years keeping this secret from her son. Never wanting him to find out. Now, he knows about Bud Bloomington. He must be devastated.

And probably angry with her as well.

“Oh, and two of your employees assaulted Sprout after they saw the video.” Hitch told her, making Phyllis look at him in surprise.

When she saw he was being serious, she now looked pissed off.

“Who?” She asked.

“Oscar and Sal.” He told her.

Phyllis let out a growl. “Well, since you’re the Sheriff, I want you to relay those two a message: tell them they are FIRED.” She yelled out the last part of that sentence.

She turned around and headed for the door. “I’m done here. I need to see my sugercube.” She said, wanting to get out of there.

“Phyllis, no pony is gonna judge you if you had a foal when you were a teenager.” Hitch said, while her hoof was at the door.

“I’m not talking about this anymore, Hitch.” She told him, while turning the door knob.

Just as she was about to open it, Hitch said to her, “It’s okay. You were young, and you and that guy chose to ha—“

“I DID NOT—” She angrily yelled at him, cutting him off. She stopped herself from finishing that sentence.

Hitch looked surprised. She did not what? Why didn’t she finish her sentence? He was about to ask her what she meant, before Phyllis lifted her hoof up at him, signaling she didn’t want to hear it.

“Go to hell.” Phyllis muttered loudly for him to hear, while she finally opened the door and walked out.

Hitch just stood there for a minute, before deciding to follow her. He wanted to know what she was about to say. What did she mean by she did not? Did not what?

As he walked into the lobby, Zipp still huddled on the jail cell bed, he saw the door had just closed. She must have just walked outside. So, he decided to go after her.

However, when he opened the lobby door, he was greeted by the presence of two older ponies he knew very well. They were around the same age as Phyllis is. And now his problems were just about to get worse.

“Sheriff Hitch, is my daughter here?” Queen Haven asked him, while Alphabittle Blossomforth stood right by her side.

Hitch let out a groan. He wanted to ask Phyllis more questions. He wanted to know more about this Bud Bloomington. Who was he? Who was the father? And why did she look so scared or reluctant to talk about it?

Either way, now he had these two to worry about now as well. He knew there was gonna be more drama to deal with now more than ever.

He just wondered what Sprout was gonna say to Phyllis when the two would meet again. He did have this one feeling though:

Nothing was gonna be the same after all of this. Never again.

Author's Note

Thank you all for reading this chapter. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far.

If you DO like my story, then make sure to comment, like, favorite and follow for future updates. Thank you all and goodnight everybody.