It made sense that the little colt was so desperate, Sugar Belle never let her son witness her fainting spells, which were made less constant by the medicines she went through, but they still happened.
"Mommy wake up, someone please help me, help!" He screamed amid cries, which, despite the commotion of the party still going on, reached Lil' Cheese's ears, who also left the party and followed her friend's screams, also despairing when she saw his mother passed out on the floor.
"Oh my gosh Lil' Mac, what happened with aunt Sugar Belle?" She asked, equally afflicted.
"I don't know, I came to deliver a piece of cake to her and I found her like this!" He answered between loud sobs.
"Stay calm, your mom will be fine, okay?" She assured him. "I, I'm going to get help!"
"Fine!" He replied, while hugging his mother's head and pressing his cheek to her face. "Please wake up mommy!"
Time skip ...
Sugar Belle was rushed to the city hospital, where it didn't take long for the doctor to give news about her to the family, who were waiting in the waiting room.
"So, doctor? How's my wife doing?" Big Mac asked, longing for answers about her.
The pony gave a sad sigh and took off her work hat.
"I'm not going to lie to you. You have to be strong, she doesn't last this night!"
At the last visit to the doctor, he said Sugar Belle wouldn't be past Friday and she was doing very well on Saturday. This gave hope to Big Mac that his wife was healing and the two would spend their entire lives together and die many years after old age still together.
That news hurt more than any injury that was caused during his hard work days on the farm. Although it was the reality that they'd have to face, he couldn't accept that the love of his life had her minutes counted.
"Miss, is my mommy going to die?" Lil' Mac asked, as tears of sadness welled up in his eyes.
"Unfortunately, yes, dear!" The doctor replied. "Would you like to say goodbye to her?"
Before he answered, his father hit the hooves on the floor, scaring everyone in the room.
"No, no, Sugar Belle can't leave us!" Big Mac said, running to the room where she was.
"Oh sour apples, I hope my brother will be fine!" Applejack said, while hugging and comforting her nephew.
"Yes he will, he's in a state of denial, it's completely normal for a person who's about to lose someone they loves!" The doctor replied.
"Do you want to say goodbye to your mom, sugarcube?" She asked him.
Lil' Mac cleared the runny nose and nodded.
"Come on, I'll show you where the room is!" The doctor said, accompanying him.
Once there, her heart rate became weaker by the minute, but the whole time she had a smile on her face.
"My love, I'm not ready, please don't leave me. I don't know what my life will be without you!" Big Mac said between desperate sobs, holding her paw against his face.
"My love, I love you so much!" She whispered, using her last strength to say the last words.
"I love you too!" He replied, struggling to smile.
"My life was amazing, because you followed a lot of it with me, but just because I'm leaving, it doesn't mean that your life will end too. We have 2 beautiful children and they'll need you a lot when I'm not here anymore. So I need you to promise me, that your life will continue, even without me here!"
He knew he'd never feel able to make that promise, but he'd make an effort for his wife, after all, it was a request on her deathbed.
"... I promise, sweetie!" He replied, the most difficult words he has ever had to say.
Sugar Belle smiled gladly and looked at her son, who was looking sadly at her, with his paws resting on the edge of the bed.
"My baby, unfortunately I won't be able to see you and your sister grow up, can you please forgive me for that, dear?" She said, she was so weak that her voice came out almost in a whisper.
"None of this is your fault, of course I forgive you!" He replied in a tearful voice.
"Thank you so much. Never forget that I'll always be with you my love, even when you won't be able to see me, okay? I love you!"
"I love you too, mommy, I'm gonna miss you so much!"
Sugar Belle smiled and slowly held out her paw, holding her son's.
"Honey, do you know if Marble came too? I'd like to see her!" She asked her husband.
"No, Applejack told me that she went to take her parents to her house!"
"I'll not live long until she arrives. Come closer, dear, please!"
Big Mac complied with her request and approached, with the ear close to her lips he'd never again have the joy of kissing.
"Tell her that ... Although I hurt her and I'll never forgive myself for that ... She was the best friend anyone could have. And I also asked her to take care of our two greatest treasures ..."
After that, nothing was heard in the room but a constant "pi". She seemed to be sleeping beautifully, a sleep from which she'd never wake up.
"Sugar Belle?" He called out to her, starting to cry compulsively when she didn't respond, hugging her lifeless body tightly to his, While Lil' Mac never let go of his mother's paw.
It was hard to get them away from the body, several nurses had to hold both while the body was removed to be taken to the morgue.
Time skip ...
The only thing now that worried Big Mac, was how he would tell his little one-year-old daughter, who was completely happy celebrating her birthday party, that her mother had died.
She was too small to understand that death, especially that of family members, was a very bad thing. But surely Sugar Belle's death would have a big impact on her life when she was older.
"Don't worry big brother, I told Rainbow Dash that I'll have to stay here for a while to help you take care of things!" Applejack said. "Oh, I have to see if Apple Bloom can stay here too!"
"You don't have to do this AJ, you two have your own lives to live!" He replied.
"Hey, nothing's more important than our family and you're my family. We're going to be glued to you all and I don't want an excuse!"
"Alright then, thanks sister, I love you!" He said, pulling her in for another hug.
"I love you too, I'm sorry again!"
In the house, Brieburn was taking care of the little girl who had just woken up and was crying a lot.
"I think she misses you!" Their cousin said it out loud so that his voice would rise above her crying.
As soon as she saw her father, Apple Belle immediately stopped crying and smiled, reaching out to him.
"Papa!" The filly baby said.
"Hi my darling!" He said, taking her in his arms and looking affectionately at her with eyes that were swollen and red from crying.
The reason the baby unicorn had her mother's eyes, almost made Big Mac cry again and lamenting why the world was so cruel in taking away one of his greatest treasures.
"Where's my mommy?" Apple Belle asked innocently.
Big Mac had to try not to start crying again and explain to her what happened.
"Honey ... Your mommy made a very long trip. She went to heaven!" He replied. "But don't worry, 'cause me, your brother and our whole family will take care of you, ok? You'll never be alone!"
"And when will she be back from there?" She asked, which was too much for him.
"Please take care of her!" He said, holding back the tears as he gave his daughter into her aunt's arms and ran to the bedroom to cry until he couldn't take it anymore.