Bathtime for Original Characters, Extended.

Chapters

Nyx (Co-op with Twilight)
Snowdrop
Fluffle Puff
Corona (when she was still Celestia)

Nyx (Co-op with Twilight)

Nyx is the creation of Pen Stroke. The story of Nyx, "Past Sins" is linked here. Nyx used with permission of Pen Stroke.

Twilight Sparkle very cautiously opens the door for you, “Oh! Sitter it’s you, come on in.” Twilight welcomes you into the library and gestures for you to have a seat anywhere you like. “Sorry for being so cautious sitter, but with all that’s happened recently, there are more than a few ponies that don’t wish Nyx as well as you do. I’m just tired out right now.”

You kneel down beside her and place a knowing hand on her shoulder, “Which is why you need all the help you can get right now. And no one’s better at foalsitting than me.”

Twilight makes you take a seat so you two can discuss this job, “So, to bring you up to speed; Nyx just gave power back to the Princesses a few days ago. Things are just beginning to get back to normal around here. How much do you know about the situation?”

Since you travel through time, you actually know the whole situation, including things that haven’t happened yet. “Everything.”

Twilight understands what you mean as she continues, “This job will be different from your normal ones sitter. Nyx isn’t a foal, per se; she’s already experienced so much. Even when I first found her she possessed more awareness of the world than the foals you usually take care of.”

You interrupt, “Relax Twilight. I know all that. I’m just here to help you both. Besides, it’s only the quality of Nyx’s experiences that make her seem mature. She doesn’t have any great quantity of them yet. She still needs somepony, or somebody, to help her with the little things.” Twilight relaxes herself for the first time in what you can tell has been too long.

Twilight realizes that you haven’t met Nyx yet, “Sitter, would you like me to introduce you to .…”

“YES!” you say cutting her off. You’ve always wanted to meet Nyx personally. Twilight calls for her daughter to come see you, and moments later a tired little black filly walks into the room. Experience has taught her to be afraid of large creatures that suddenly show up at the library, so she hides in the doorway for a moment before walking as quickly as possible to Twilight’s side.

Twilight smiles as she takes Nyx under her front left leg and gestures to you with the other, “Nyx, this is my old sitter. The sitter will be helping us for a day or so. Say Hi.”

Nyx looks up at you sheepishly and softly utters one word, “Hi.” Your heart skips a beat as you confirm the rumor personally, "She does have a voice like a glass harp" you say to yourself. It is at the same time the most beautiful and cute voice you’ve ever heard, and that says a lot coming from you.

You all talk for a while to get to know each other when a very loud series of knocks comes from the front door. They are much too loud and violent to be anypony friendly. Twilight readies a barrier spell for the library before speaking to Nyx in a reassuring tone, “Nyx, remember how I said that the sitter gives the best baths? Why don’t you try one? I’ll be up in a minute.”

You realize that Twilight wants you to stay with Nyx while she deals with this, even if Nyx could technically bathe herself if necessary. “Understood, I’ll be upstairs if you need me.” Being from the future gives you the benefit of not needing to worry about things you know ended well, so you take Nyx up for her bath as Twilight takes Spike and heads for the door.

Nyx’s young mind begins to make her worry even as you tell her about your own adventures. You decide to tell her about bathing Twilight, which finally gets her attention. As you talk, you fill the tub with warm water and the same bubble bath formula that Twilight made you long ago.

As you set her in the tub, you make sure she’s comfortable before getting out the shampoo. As you begin massaging it into her little purple mane, she likes the feeling of precise scrubbing that you can’t really achieve without fingers. It only takes half a minute to fully scrub her little mane, but you drag the process on for twice that long to buy Twilight some time. Your trick doesn’t work well though, as Nyx half cries in her little glass voice, “I wonder if Mom is alright.”

At just that moment a familiar purple glow telekinetically lifts some water washes through Nyx’s mane rinsing out all the suds gently, and the voice of the one it came from comes from the doorway, “Yes Nyx darling, I’m okay.” Nyx is just glad Twilight is fine, but you are worried about her. Twilight comes in and has a seat next to you as she tells her side of the story, “Just a trio of jerks that didn’t know what they were talking about. Nothing a barrier spell and some dragonfire couldn’t fix. I really didn’t mean to rope you into this sitter, I just ...”

You aren’t going to let her finish that thought, “That’s why I’m here Twilight; don’t worry about it. Would you like to wash her tail now?” Twilight smiles at the thought and nods in agreement. You pour some shampoo into your hand which Twilight immediately takes from you telekinetically and begins scrubbing into Nyx’s tail. You aren’t sure whether or not they appreciate this. Since Nyx isn’t Twilight’s biological daughter, Twilight missed out on the tedious yet precious activities that foalsitters are paid to do. You know this will be a cherished memory for both of them someday.

As Twilight magically rinses all the suds out of Nyx’s tail, she turns to you and gestures for you to unplug the tub. You remind her that she forgot something important, “What about her wings?”

Twilight realizes that she knows nothing about cleaning wings, “Well, um, well could you just shampoo them, I guess?”

You realize that you really need to be here, “Twilight, regular shampoo is bad for long term use on wings. It makes them overly oily and slowly breaks them down. You have to use feather shampoo and preen the wings with it or they won’t be as strong, healthy, or clean as they should be.” Twilight and Nyx both look baffled, they didn’t know. You silently celebrate for knowing something Twilight didn’t, but to be fair she never had much reason to look into it before.

Since you are the expert, you take over the preening process. You show both Nyx and Twilight the proper way to clean wings, and also point out from experience that Nyx’s wings have bat-like leather underneath the feathers that will someday be visible, and teach them how to clean that too.

Once the lesson is over, you scoop up some water and pour it over the wings. It takes only three rinses per wing before they are clean. You explain that they rinse faster because pegasus are both aero and aqua dynamic.

With the bath over, Nyx heads downstairs to talk to Spike, leaving you with Twilight. “Thanks for the lesson sitter. Firsthoof, uh… firsthand experience in your case, is better than just reading a book.”

You look back to Twilight, “Most ponies find these tasks tedious; but Twilight, you should treasure this. The little things mean the most later on.”

Twilight smiles warmly, “I already know sitter. I already know.”

Author's Note

Nyx is the creation of Pen Stroke. The story of Nyx, "Past Sins" is linked here. Nyx used with permission of Pen Stroke.

This chapter is published in sync with a pure, "Nightmare Moon" chapter in the main story. They are meant to be read together. I will add a link once the story is up.

Link to Nightmare Moon Chapter

P.S. I decided to set this chapter after Past Sins, because it would muddle the story if it was during Past Sins.

Snowdrop

For those of you who don't know Snowdrop, here is a link to her video and source. It will take less than 15 minutes, and you will love it. I know, I made a wish a a winter snowflake that you would.

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You have already become a familiar sight in Cloudsdale after all the jobs you’ve had there, but you are once again getting some unnerved looks from the locals. After all, on a timeline, this is the first time you have been there.

You return to the house of your client, Primrose (Snowdrop's mother), having picked up everything she needed. Primrose welcomes you back and thanks you for being such a big help since you arrived. You assure her that it’s what you do, but she still looks worried. Primrose calls out for her little Snowdrop, even though she is on the way to go pick her up. This is to let Snowdrop know where her mother is, so as not to startle her with a sudden approach. Primrose brings little Snowdrop to you for introduction.

You don’t want to scare the little blind filly, so when you speak, you do so in as calming a voice as you possibly can, “It’s nice to meet you little Snowdrop.” Snowdrop hides under her mother at the sound of something unfamiliar, her little ears swiveling in your general direction to check for you. Primrose gently guides the little one in your direction and you all spend the afternoon becoming acquainted.

Finally, Snowdrop stands up, balancing herself on her Mom, and reaches out in the direction of your voice. Primrose marvels momentarily at the scene before alerting you, “I think she wants to, ‘see you’ now.” You sit still on the sofa (which you are all sitting on) and gently encourage her so that she can find you. Even sitting down and leaning over, with her standing on your legs, she still doesn’t reach all the way up to your face. Her hoof gently rests on your ribs.

It is the most gentle touch you have ever imagined, like if she stepped on a bubble it wouldn’t pop. Her little ears droop slowly. She hadn’t realized you were so big in comparison to her. As you gently guide her hooves up to your face, you can see wonderment forming in her little silvered eyes. She’s never found anything like you before. She feels and sniffs you for a while, a smile ever growing on her face. Once she has examined you, she gives you a little kiss on the nose (it was intended for your forehead but she was too small). Primrose laughs sweetly, “I think she likes you.” The sound of her mother’s voice draws the little one back to her snuggly spot.

Primrose now appears saddened, “Well at least that will make your job easier sitter. My Snowdrop, she really hates baths. I don’t think she understands what’s going on. She’s in water all of a sudden and something is scrubbing through her mane. She’s timid enough as it is. If she could talk now I could explain it to her and she wouldn’t be afraid but …. It’s just hard sometimes.”

Your heart gives out at the sad moment, but resolves that you will help them. You draw a bath for the little one later that night and make sure everything is ready. As you head out to look for Snowdrop you notice that she is playing outside. ‘Playing’ may not be the right word. She’s actually finding her way around. You go out and get her back inside. It’s way too cold to be out right now anyway. You take her to the tub and set her on the mat. Primrose walks by and sees that you’ve gotten started, and worries. You ask her to close the door so that the hot air doesn’t get out. She leaves things in you capable hooves, or hands in your case. The ponies never can get used to your weird human phrases.

This will be tricky, but little Snowdrop deserves to not be afraid. Rather than placing her in the tub all of a sudden, you set her on the rim and hold her tightly so she doesn’t worry about falling. You then let her test the water. She doesn’t like water, but the nice warm water on her cold hooves relaxes her. Part of loving cold weather is knowing you have a warm place to return to. Winter is almost never the favorite season of those left in the cold. Here is a little filly that will grow up to love winter, and the best way to contribute to that is to let her know she can always come in and warm up.

You gently guide her towards the water without forcing her. Finally, she accepts the warm tub and snuggles in. She has never had a bubble bath before, and is astounded by these, whatever they are. She touches the biggest bubble she can find and examines it. Well, what do you know?! Her touch actually is so gentle she can handle bubbles without popping them.

Not wanting to start with shampooing, you begin combing her mane to get her comfortable with you touching it. After a while you choose the sweetest smelling shampoo you have, since color is useless here. You massage it into her scalp as delicately as possible. She trembles the whole time, not in fear, just uncertainty. You wait for her to stop before you rinse, which you do slowly, starting at the bottom of her mane. Rinsing from the bottom may not be the most efficient way to do the job, but dumping water on her head would only scare her.

When this is done, you gently lift her to her hooves and do the same thing to her tail. A look of realization comes over her face. She doesn’t know what a bath is or its purpose yet, but she has just realized what’s generally going on. She isn’t scared now. She doesn’t move (bouncing around has never paid off for her) but she is clearly celebrating. As you rinse her tail you have to give her a gentle push to let her know she can sit down now. She does.

You now get out the feather shampoo and begin lathering into her wings. Once they are lathered, you begin preening them carefully. Another revelation occurs to Snowdrop. She may not know what a bath is, but preening is instinctual, even for foals. You are cleaning her, that’s what’s going on! That’s why they put her in the tub every night! She understands now and her fear melts away, just like your heart.

You now rinse out the wings with little effort and give her the toys. She spends some time examining them, but doesn’t get the point of them at all. She pushes them aside and goes back to studying these things called bubbles. She may not understand toys, but playtime she understands all too well.

You let her know you are opening the door so she won’t think you’re leaving her, and call out for Primrose in a calm tone. Primrose comes running, sure that something is wrong. You ask her if she can finish the bath from here, saying that you have to step out for a bit. Primrose nods and steps through the door. She freezes in place at what she sees. Her baby is laughing, enjoying herself, and not afraid anymore as she tries to pop a bubble but is to gentle to manage it.

Warm happy tears pour down Primrose’s face, “My little Snowdrop… is okay now. She isn’t afraid anymore. Bless you! Bless you sitter.” You won’t cry, much, more, until later.

You nod to her, “This is her first good bath. As much as I want to see it, I know you should be the one to enjoy it, not me. And, I wasn’t lying about having to step out. There’s something I have to do.” Primrose wipes away happy tears that are instantly replaced before going to savor her baby’s first happy bathtime.

“It’s just liquid pride”, you assure yourself before heading out. There really is something you have to do.

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You arrive in the present, not wanting to waste even a second of time. You run as fast as you can to find Princess Luna, so fast her guards have to pin you on approach. Luna orders them to stand down before inquiring why you are in such a rush. “Luna, do you remember Snowdrop?” Luna’s face immediately confirms that she does. “I can’t take you to see her as a foal, but I could let you have a day with her after … you know.”

Luna can’t even fathom the idea, “But… but you’re not allowed.”

You set the time machine, “The boss will forgive me as long as we follow a few simple rules, but we have to hurry this. Sorry this is short notice but that’s kinda the point.”

Luna immediately removes her regalia; this isn’t going to be a formal visit. Her guards become worried, “Princess, you have a meeting with the dignitaries later today. How will we explain this to Celestia and the others?”

Luna looks at them with the happiest face she has dawned in over a millennium, “Tell her I am off to undo one of my greatest regrets, and that I will be dinning with my dear friend.”

Luna runs into the time machine as you fret, “I hope I don’t get fired for this.”

Luna stomps her hoof, “Your boss will have to fire ME for this if anything more than a scolding befalls you. I’m going to see my dear old friend.

Author's Note

As I said at the top, here is a link to the best little blind filly. Snowdrop is a creation of the affliates linked here, not me. P.S. if you didn't see the video, you missed something wonderful.

(sniff, sniff) "Now... now that I've pumped all the sad out of you, let's see if I can pump some happy in. When I wrote this chapter I knew I would need to immediately follow it with something wonderful in a funny and happy sort of way. I like to cry happy tears but I'm not a monster that would leave you teary without giving you something bright and happy right after it. Don't worry, this next chapter should be just what you need now.

Fluffle Puff

For those of you who don't know Fluffle Puff, here are some short videos of her. Enjoy.

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You are holding on to the side of Celestia’s flying chariot for dear life, “Couldn’t we just teleport there Celestia?” Celestia gives you a pitying look; she would have thought you were used to being up so high after going to Cloudsdale so many times.

“No sitter. I could teleport, but you would be woozy if we teleported such a distance, and you will be needing your full concentration for this job. You see sitter, the Fluffy Ponies are by far the rarest tribe of Ponykind, much more so than even the Crystal Ponies. I received a notice yesterday that a great dust storm got out of control of the weather teams and headed straight for them. I fear this will be a task for the ages, almost like Winter Wrap Up. We will need someone to organize.”

You look up at Celestia, if only so that you don’t have to look down, “Why don’t you just get Twilight to organize?” Despite asking, you’re pretty sure the boss arranged this as your punishment for letting Luna use the time machine.

Celestia looks baffled, “Why would I let Twilight handle such a big job? She’s just a filly after all; she only started my tutelage a while ago. Besides, you are the expert of bathing sitter, not her.” You mentally scold yourself for not realizing that Twilight would have still been a filly at this time, and Celestia makes efforts not to ask you about how her student will turn out.

Finally you arrive in Ponyville, it looks subtly different, but that’s to be expected. The ‘library’ is the biggest tree in town, but it’s not big enough to hollow out and make the library out of yet. The future mayor comes to greet the Princess, but at that time she was just a young mare who was helping organize this event. Most of Ponyville has come out to greet their Princess, but nopony notices you until you stand up and step out of the chariot. Upon seeing you half the town smiles and greets you, “Hi sitter, welcome back!” You had never realized that you were a celebrity.

Celestia consults the future mayor, “So, where are they?” The future Mayor points over to what looks like a dusty pink wool avalanche heading straight for you, attracted by the sight of Celestia’s chariot. There are only about as many fluffy ponies as there were clones of Pinkie Pie when she dabbled with the magic mirror pond, but with all that fluff it’s going to be a serious problem. You can’t believe you are actually wishing Discord was here right now, you could really use his power to turn dirt into soap right now.

Celestia steps over beside you, “So, what now sitter?”

You take a moment to get out the onyx shampoo that you used on Sombra, and use it to paint black lines under your eyes like hoofball players do. “Ok team, we’re going to need to split this job up. Whether team, you’re in charge of rinsing. Once we get them sudsy, cause a concentrated downpour. Be sure to reserve a few of your ponies to manually go over and make sure that all the suds are gone. Celestia told me that she reserved the Ponyville spa, use those as bathtubs. Apple family, you’re in charge of rounding up anypony that strays, I know how much some ponies hate baths. Everypony else, get some shampoo and a brush, you’re on the lathering team.”

The half of Ponyville that knows you salutes and set about their tasks, the other half notices that Celestia is nodding and does the same after a moment. Celestia fly up, “Then I will give the rainwater the necessary heat and water pressure for the rinsing team.”

You nod, satisfied that everything is going well. You turn around and trip on something, landing face first in a fluffy pony foal. You can’t believe this foal’s fluff was enough to keep either of you from getting hurt in the exchange. The little fluffy pony smiles once you sit up, and nuzzles up against you, obviously liking you immediately. “Well hello little one. What’s your name?”

“Her name is Fluffle Puff, she doesn’t talk” Comes a voice you know all too well. You look up to see a slightly younger Queen Chrysalis approaching. The young Fluffle Puff pounces up and snuggles up against Chrysalis’s neck. Celestia however has also noticed the Changeling Queen and approaches with every intention to protect Ponyville from her.

“What are you doing here Changeling?”

“I’m here because the sitter’s boss told me I was the only one that could get Fluffle Puff here to get a bath. Not to mention that these furballs are essentially pure love in fluff form. Just helping out today will feed my hive for a year!” Chrysalis’s guards return to her side at the sight of Celestia, but pass into a love comma just from Fluffle Puff noticing them. While they are asleep, Fluffle pets their tails.

The two sovereigns lock aim on each other and ready their strongest magic. You do what any good sitter would do, “Girls! Not in front of the foals. Play nice.”

Two accusing hooves are raised against the opposing sovereign, “She started it!” Two royal voices shout together.

“And I’m ending it! I’m the sitter, there are foals present, and we’re all going to behave.”

Two disappointed royals sigh and speak in unison, “Yes sitter.”

Now that there is no danger of the foals seeing something above a ‘G’ rating, you realize what you just did. You just bossed two royals around, and they took it! You didn’t even realize you what you were doing, your foalsitter instinct just kicked in on its own. You turn around to notice everypony in Ponyville is standing with a dropped jaw, unable to believe it.

Uncomfortable with the situation you pick up Fluffle Puff and turn to Chrysalis, “Well Chrysalis, prepare the washtub. You and I are doing this as a team.”

Chrysalis is only here for the free love, “Can’t we just pass her off to the others?”

You respond in a scolding tone, “No Chrysalis. She’s far too small to be bathed in those huge tubs at the spa, this will require personal attention. Besides, you are the only one that can get Fluffle Puff to bathe.”

Chrysalis sighs in defeat and magical summons a large washtub. The weather team pours you some hot water from a cloud before you can add the bubblebath. Not wanting to waste water, you get Chrysalis to put Fluffle in anyway. Immediately Fluffle absorbs the water like a sponge and become a giant ball of wet fluff. The bath water however essentially turns to mud. You can’t believe any part of this, “How much dirt was in her fur!?” If a dust storm really did sweep over the entire fluffy pony community then Celestia wasn’t exaggerating about this job being equivalent to Winter Wrap Up.

You pick up the little foal, which is much, MUCH harder than it sounds. With all that water in her fur she weighs at least three times more. You pour out the muddy bath water and comb the obvious dirt out of Fluffle’s coat. This time you add some off Twilight’s bubblebath formula to the tub before asking the weather teams for a refill. Apparently they are getting that request a lot because it takes a while for them to arrive. Once you finally have Fluffle in the bath properly, you think of how you are going to do this.

Your normal strategy is useless here, so after a moment of thinking, you throw Chrysalis a whole, unopened bottle of shampoo, and get another for yourself. “Chrysalis start at her… tail? I guess, and work your way to the head. I’ll start at the head and work my way to the tail. Between the two of us, we should be able to do this.”

You start to pour some shampoo into your hand, but realizing the futility you just pour the whole bottle over the little pink pony. You get out the softest brush you have; you’re going to need to scrub hard, so you make sure the brush won’t hurt her. As you start brushing, you try to figure out where her body is under all that fluff, you want to scrub all the way down to the… is it still called a scalp in this case? Either way, you brush as much as you can.

On her end, Chrysalis is magically blasting Fluffle Puff with Shampoo like it was a pressure washer, churning it into her wooly fluffy fur with power like a whirlpool. You scold Chrysalis for being rough, but Fluffle Puff really doesn’t seem to mind. In fact, the whole time Fluffle Puff is merely amazed at the sight of a bubble, brokenhearted when it pops, and forgets about it completely when she sees a new bubble, and is completely mesmerized all over again.

You both continue your style of cleaning until each of you is where the other one started. You are slightly surprised that Chrysalis was careful enough not to get any soap in Fluffle Puff’s eyes. You step back to admire your work, and are slightly terrified at the pony you see.

Or more specifically, don’t see. What you are seeing is a washtub with a fountain of suds pouring out half as tall as you are. You know Fluffle Puff is under all that because you can occasionally hear her gasp with excitement every time she sees another bubble, which happens frequently.

With the scrubbing finished, Chrysalis magically lifts Fluffle Puff out of the bath and sets her on a nice clean spot (You assume that’s what happened, you can’t actually see Fluffle Puff to make sure). Once the weather team finally gets around to you, they let loose a waterfall of hot water at point-blank-range to clean out all the suds completely. Now rinsed, Fluffle Puff has straight pink flowing hair covering her whole body several times over. This hair style might have looked good on her if you could actually see her.

You walk over to ask her how she’s feeling, but Chrysalis tells you that you are talking to her right side before directing you to where her head is. You don’t know how she can tell. You get out a manedryer and begin drying the little one. This part is actually pretty relaxing, until you notice Chrysalis getting to a safe distance. You realize way too late, as Fluffle Puff’s fur, now dried, explodes back to its normal puffy state. Fluffle Puff is so happy she wants to hug you, if she can find you. Chrysalis helps pull you out of the fluff and even asks if you are ok. “It was so fluffy I thought I was going to die!”

Chrysalis smiles, “Well at least you’re both alright. Just don’t pet her for a while.”

You frown, “But she deserves to be petted. Why not?”

Fluffle Puff hiccups, and the sheer static friction in all that fur shoots out a thunderbolt that fries a nearby apple tree. You faint as Chrysalis answers, “That’s why.”

Author's Note

Fluffle Puff is very hard to provide a good link to. No one place accurately portrays her. So I reluctantly Linked you to various videos of her. Sorry.

Her Original creator, as well as the source of all Fluffy Ponies however, can be credited to Mixermike622 from Deviantart.

I considered calling this chapter, "Fluffle Puff, (Co-op with everypony!)" to stress how big a job this was going to be, but I know not everypony would like that. And While Chrysalis helped the most, everypony did their job, it wouldn't be fair to only mention her. Hence, Fluffle Puff it is.

Well everypony, I'm tired. I'll continue this series, I hope to do Corona from the Lunaverse someday, but not now. I am an editor you know, and I think I go edit some other peoples' stories for a while, it relaxes me. On another note, I'm not really up to speed on many OCs but I always take requests if possible. However, if you follow the link to my other story you will see I've already bathed A LOT a ponies, so make sure it's one I haven't done already. Momentine (it means take it easy).

Oh yeah, Click here to recommend somepony if you want.

Corona (when she was still Celestia)

Corona is the creation of RainbowDoubleDash as is the entire universe she is set in. Namely, the Lunaverse, a parallel Equestria where it was Celestia, not Luna, who became corrupted. In addition, Trixie is Luna’s student the same way Twilight was Celestia’s, and there is a whole different cast for the Elements of Harmony. Description intentionally left wanting so as not to spoil too much. Links to the stories are included.

Here is where the story starts on a timeline.

But here is the first written story.

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You finish filling up the tub with nothing but the hottest water the tap would produce. Thankfully your boss had provided you with some magic-infused gloves for this job. They are similar to dish-washing gloves, but thinner, softer, and totally resistant to heat. Your natural foalsitter instinct makes you a little worried about making the water this hot, but that’s the way she wanted it.

You had tried to wash the parallel versions of the two royal sisters together, and had already done so multiple times. However, like the Celestia and Luna in the world you are used to, the sisters liked their bath to be drastically different. Luna liked a bath that was, ‘just hotter than too cold’ whereas Celestia liked her bath, ‘turning to steam’ implying that the bath water shouldn’t even be liquid anymore at the temperatures she preferred. Being in sync with the sun just had that effect on her. The Celestia you are friends with had always been compromising, willing to take simple, warm baths. But the Lunaverse version of her, Corona-to-be, insisted that you get the water at least as hot as the tub would allow.

You had also had to ask Twilight (the one you know, not the one from this world) to make you another magic bubblebath formula, which had ended up costing slightly more than this job was going to pay, and that was with the ‘we’re friends’ discount. Still, you have to admit, Twilight did a great job. The bubbles in the tub as constantly popping and reappearing, making the tub look like it is literally boiling over. This is only the magic bubblebath at work, but it looks real enough to worry you, and hopefully real enough to get Celestia to take a bath (you give everypony the benefit of the doubt, so you decided to refer to her as Celestia, or even Tia, but never Corona).

You call out for her to come get her bath, but you get the wrong pony. Little Luna come running at the sound of your voice. You give her a caring pat on the head, but tell her that her bath will be next. Upon seeing the bath, Luna is REALLY glad this one’s not for her. You chuckle at Luna’s cuteness, but sigh at Celestia not coming. You should have known she wouldn’t just come when called. Oh well, being a foalsitter requires tactic, “Celestia, the bath is boiling hot. It’ll be cold if you wait till later.”

Moments later a tiny Celestia rounds the corner, slightly grumpy that she has to play by your rules. You pick her up and slowly set her in the tub so she can test the water. This is all done instinctually however, because in reality you couldn’t possibly have made the water too hot for her. Sure enough, she is greatly disappointed that the water isn’t actually boiling, but she does seem impressed that you managed to make it look like it is.

You get out some magic shampoo that you requested specifically for this job. ‘Magic’ is accurate, but ‘fireproof’ is more specific. When her hair is washed with this, she can’t make her mane turn to fire. She hasn’t demonstrated that power yet at her age, but you don’t want to take a chance. You reflect on the thought of a bottle of shampoo being all it would take to stop Corona, but you know it would only stop her mane fires. Though it may be funnier imagining Corona with a soapy mane, giving “I am the rightful ruler!” speeches while trying to keep the suds out of her eyes until it was washed out.

Thankfully, you have been washing ponies so long you can think all this even while massaging the suds into her currently cotton-candy pink mane. Even Celestia likes how good you are at this, but gets annoyed once you get sidetracked in thought and accidentally wash her mane for two whole minutes. You apologize and get out the crystal rinsing dish. You really don’t want to handle the scalding water more than you have to after all. The hot water does make rinsing the suds much easier than normal though, and in only five rinses her little pink mane clean, naturally flowing back.

You now ask her to lift her tail for you to wash. She doesn’t like this part, but the alternative was to wash it herself, which as a foal, she is no good at, so she reluctantly complies. You get another handful of shampoo and begin combing it through Celestia’s tail. Her tail is long and full for her size, but ‘her size’ happens to be no bigger than any foal. Her entire tail fits in your two hands, so it only takes a half a minute to scrub it. It never fails to amaze you how delicate these ponies are, yet how much potential is stored within them. Though perhaps the same could be said of all children.

Not waiting to be rinsed, Celestia sits down. You know the scalding water will get the suds out, so you forget it. Normally the bath would be over at this point, but Celestia is pure white, and even a tiny amount of dirt really stands out on her coat. You get out the brush and pour some regular soap onto it. Celestia HATES this part, and holds out her front right hoof as if telling you to stop and desist. You shrug and take the opportunity to scrub that hoof and the leg it is connected to. This provokes a, “You’ll pay dearly for this” look from Celestia, which in turn provokes a, “I’m not even slightly worried” look from you.

After a minute of scrubbing, you offer Celestia some bath toys. Celestia takes them gladly at first, but the bath water is now only warm, so she decides to go play somewhere else and get this bath over with. You let her out and unplug the tub. You remove the gloves and get out a nice clean towel to dry her with. She smiles warmly at you, grateful for the bath. Despite all her pouting, it was just the way she liked it, and she appreciated the effort.

You head out into the hall, where Luna has been waiting for her sister the whole time. You set Celestia down and let the two play a bit. Celestia runs down the hall to play, and is quickly followed by Luna. You start to call Luna back, but decide that it will take a while to get her bath ready, so you let her go play. Besides, this will be some of the best times she will have with her sister.

Even you, who are from the future, do not know for sure if Corona will ever be redeemed, if there is even anything left to redeem. But you see her now, as a foal, completely innocent (though a bit spoiled). You worry as any caretaker would, but children have an effect on you, an effect that gives you hope. You can’t be sure things will get better, but you can be sure that Corona was once pure, and that is enough for now.

Author's Note

Here is where the story starts on a timeline.

But here is the first written story.

Now that credit has been given where it is due, my obligatory author's notes.

I wrote a chapter for all of the Lunaverse Elements of Harmony in the main story

Bathtime for Ponies Part 2

The only Element I didn't write a chapter for was Lyra. As much as I would have loved to, Derps already wrote her a chapter long before I took over the series, and I'm not rewriting anypony until I'm sure there are no other ponies to be washed.

The sole exception to that was Ditzy Doo. Derps already washed Derpy, but I like to consider them two different ponies.

Even if you don't have time to read my whole series, you should at least read the Ditzy Doo chapter, it's one of my best.

P.S. I know this is more of a Original Series, rather than Original Character, but Corona HAD to be washed. The Lunaverse is tied in first place as my favorite Parallel Equestria and fanfiction. I can rest easy now knowing I've made it a tribute. Starry out.