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“Today my wacky superstars… we will be mothers!”
“What?”
‘What?’
Even hearing that word made Ragatha uneasy. Her hands instinctively clutched her dress.
“Yes, that’s right Jax. Mothers! Isn’t that fantastic?” Caine chirped, patting Jax on the head as if this were perfectly normal.
“Caine, what do you mean by that?” Pomni asked, brows furrowed.
Caine cleared his throat dramatically, though everyone was already staring at him.
“For the next two hours,” he announced, “each of you will care for a digital NPC child! Whoever ends with the happiest baby… wins!”
“Got it?” he added proudly.
“…No?” Pomni replied.
Caine glanced around. The others didn’t look any less confused.
“Well! That’s too bad!” he said brightly. “Let’s get this show on the road!”
With a snap of his fingers, five babies appeared before them.
In front of Kinger, a tiny chess piece.
For Zooble, a mismatched triangle creature.
Gangle received a small baby wearing only a mask.
Pomni’s was a little clown, complete with a tiny hat.
Jax got a baby bunny.
And Ragatha…
A small doll, trembling slightly.
A timer flickered into existence above them.
“Good luck! Remember what I saaaid!” Caine called, vanishing just as suddenly.
Silence hung for a moment as they all stared at the babies.
Kinger was the first to move. He gently picked up the tiny rook, which remained perfectly still and peaceful.
Zooble’s baby suddenly let out a piercing wail.
“AGH—what the f#ck Caine?!” Zooble shouted, clamping their hands over their nonexistent ears.
The crying didn’t stop.
Grumbling under their breath, Zooble scooped the baby up and awkwardly tried to swaddle it, wincing the entire time.
“Oh thank god,” they exhaled when it finally quieted.
“Parenting, am I right?” Kinger chuckled, rocking his silent rook.
“Easy for you to say…”
“I don’t know,” Gangle said softly, smiling as she cradled her baby. “I kind of like it.”
Meanwhile, Jax stared down at his bunny with visible irritation.
When he stepped forward, it hopped back.
“…Seriously?”
It squeaked as he reached for it, then darted away.
“Oh come on—!” Jax snapped, immediately chasing after it.
Pomni and Ragatha watched, still trying to process everything.
“…This is weird,” Pomni muttered. “Why would Caine want this?”
Her gaze drifted to her own baby, now quietly stacking blocks it had somehow found.
Ragatha let out a small laugh, though something about this situation stirred an unfamiliar feeling in her chest.
“I’m not sure… but it’s not so bad,” she said.
Her eyes shifted to the little doll.
The moment it noticed her looking, it flinched, hiding its face.
That feeling again.
A strange pull in her chest, something protective… and scared. Like she might hurt it without meaning to, even though she never would.
Ragatha took a slow breath in.
’Mom’s… not here. I’m not her.’
Carefully, she stepped closer, then sat down a short distance away. From her pocket, she pulled out a small horse plush and held it up with a gentle smile.
“Hey, little one,” she said softly. “Do you like horses?”
The doll peeked at her, still cautious, but curious.
Ragatha made the horse trot along the ground.
“This is Rarity,” she continued. “She’s pretty… and very shiny. Do you want to pet her?”
The doll hesitated, fiddling with its hands.
“…Can I play?” it asked quietly.
“Of course you can,” Ragatha replied, holding the plush out.
The doll slowly took it, and smiled.
It began to play, its earlier fear softening into something lighter. Pomni glanced over, gently holding her own clown baby.
“You’re really good with kids,” she suddenly said.
Ragatha blinked, caught off guard.
“Oh—uh… I used to babysit a lot, so…” she trailed off, a little embarrassed.
Pomni smiled.
For a moment, things felt… calm. Then Ragatha felt small arms wrap around her.
She froze.
“Little one?” she asked softly.
“I’m scared… Mom.”
The word sent a chill through her.
’Mom? Me? I…’
She looked down dazed, her body suddenly heavy and cold.
But slowly, carefully, she wrapped her arms around the doll, holding it close.
Like a protective shield.
Like something inside her, aching, was finally allowed to exist.
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “Mama’s here… I’m here for you…”
Only then did she realize tears were slipping down her face.
The doll looked up at her.
“Mom? Why are you sad?”
Ragatha quickly wiped her eye.
“It’s okay,” it said softly. “Rarity’s here. She can kiss it better.”
The doll perked up, pressing the plush horse gently against Ragatha’s forehead. She let out a quiet laugh.
“I think it worked,” she said.
And for the rest of the game, she stayed there, playing happily.
Somewhere deep inside her, something that had been hurting…
Finally began to heal.