Twilight and Shining Armor's parents were hugging each other and crying. The waiting room was empty except for the group waiting for news on Twilight. Hours passed and Shining Armor began to fear the worse. He didn't know if Twilight or the foals were alive. Waiting, not knowing, had everypony on edge.

Pinkie Pie was curled up on a floor cushion, Rainbow Dash wrapped around her. The party pony's pink mane was flat. Rarity and Applejack sat next to Fluttershy, quietly talking her through another panic attack. Celestia was pacing the room with Spike on her back, Luna watching her.

Shining Armor sighed and Cadence leaned into him. They sat watching the door. Everypony perked up as the sound of hooves approached them. The doctor walked into the room, extremely tired. He was immediately crowded by the group. Everypony spoke at once.

"Is she okay?"
"Did the foals make it?!"
"Let me see her!"
"Where's my daughter?!"
"Is she alive?!"
"Please tell me she's okay. Please please please!"

The doctor held up his hoof, quieting everypony down.

"Both Ms. Sparkle and the foals are alive, but they are not in a good condition."

The stallion flipped open a folder.

"The newborn filly, Scarlet Lily, is on a ventilator. Her lungs are not fully developed. We've got an IV in her, if she survives till tomorrow, we can start pumping her full of steroids. Hopefully it'll force her lungs to develop completely. She's small, but not terribly so.""

The doctor closed the folder and opened another one.

"The newborn colt, Forest Oak. . . "

The stallion rubbed his face, and Shining Armor's worry grew.

"Look, I'll be frank. The chances of him surviving is slim to none.I'm surprised he didn't die in the minutes after he was born."

Celestia looked sad, but she had to ask.

"What's wrong with him?"

"Everything. His lungs are underdeveloped, he has a hole in his heart, his esophagus doesn't connect to his stomach. Cleft palate, Anemia. And he's blind. We've got him hooked up to every single machine, but. . . there's nothing we can do. He'll die within the hour. I'm sorry."

Pinkie Pie started to sob, Rainbow Dash pulled her close with her wing. Fluttershy was shaking her head back and forth, whispering no no no no no no no. Shining Armor felt as if he had just been punched in the gut. His nephew was going to die, and his niece may follow her brother into death. Shining felt his eyes start to sting, but he rubbed at them defiantly.

"What- what about Twilight?"

"She. . . just got out of surgery. We went in to stop the bleeding from her uterus and to remove the placenta. . . when we found another foal."

Nopony spoke, hoping, praying for good news.

"I'm sorry, but she was stillborn. From what we can tell, the foal died about a week ago."

They all sat in silence as the doctor went on. Words like malnourished and healed wrong circled the air. The stallion led them to a room where the foals were. Twilight was still being treated, but they were allowed to see the foals. Celestia was the first to step into the room, three clear plastic boxes held three foals. Two of the foals were hooked up to machines that beeped and wheezed and showed charts on them. The third had nothing around it and the foal tucked under a white sheet. Shining Armor went to the third foal while the others cried over Forest Oak and Scarlet Lily.

Shining pulled back the sheet and gazed at his niece. She was a light gray earth pony with a bright magenta mane and tail. She was curled up on her side, hooves bundled up against her underside. If it weren't for the unnatural stillness, Shining Armor could almost believe she was asleep. He pulled the blanket back up and placed it under her chin.

For a couple minutes, Shining Armor did pretend that she was just sleeping.

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait, and I'd like to say I have a good reason. Or a longer chapter, but I don't. I was just bored and didn't feel like writing. Sorry again.