A doorbell rang out through the house. I got up from my position from my couch and walked to the front of my house. 'This must be my first client.' When I walked up to the door and peered out the peephole, something black and green was obstructing my vision. Opening the door slightly, I heard a voice that could only be described as two female voices speaking at once.
The mysterious creature spoke before I could properly introduce myself. "Are you my baby's babysitter? Sorry for being early." Nodding my head, a black horn pushed open the door harshly. I gasped in surprise as I saw a giant bug pony. It crudely resembled a alicorn pony, but that just about it. A short layer of fur covered her hard black chitin. The horn was long and gnarly while her wings were translucent and filled with holes. Just about everywhere she was covered with holes, her legs, tail, wings, and hair.
The bug pony looked at me rudely for a minute before responding. "What? Haven't you ever seen a changeling before?" Shaking my head, my eyes wandered to a basket she was carrying in her mouth. "My name is Queen Pupa. In case you were wondering, in this basket is my only daughter, princess Chrysalis. I need to take care of some issues in my kingdom, but I will be back tomorrow. If you hurt one little hair on my little Bugaboo's head..." The queen's face lowered to mine, her sharp horn sparkling in the window. "I will rip you to shreds and feed you to a manticore." OH SNAP!
Hands shaking, I took the basket from her grasp. "Y-Yes ma'm... I-I will do my b-best."
"Thank you so much." Pupa walked out of my house and took flight. Amazing how she could fly with all those holes. Closing the door quietly, as not to wake the baby, I gently picked up the baby blue blanket and glanced inside the basket. Chrysalis looked exactly like her mother, but instead of mossy green hair, she had turquoise hair. I d'awed after seeing her beautiful green eyes open.
"Excuse me... Mrs. Monkey... but where is my mother?" Her voice was very high pitched, and almost sounded like two people at once.
"I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier to your mother... but I am Samantha Rogers. I will be taking care of you for tonight." She still looked at me puzzled. Suddenly a bulge starting moving around the blanket. 'I thought that she was the only child.'
A black puppy with white ears and paws jumped out of the basket and starting licking my face. Giggling, I placed him on my kitchen table and took a closer look at him. My eyes stared angrily at Chrysalis as I held the puppy in front of her. "Chrysalis what do you see here?" I shoved the puppy in the alicorn's face. I didn't want to be rude, but I had to know.
"Uhhh... my puppy?" This was harder than I thought. "Do you see anything wrong with the puppy?"
Chrysalis slightly shrank back. "No? He looks the same as normal!" I sighed before looking back at the puppy. What made me so upset what that the dog looked very sickly and skinny. It only revived my spirits was that the puppy acted like a perfectly healthy dog.
"Would you like a snack?" She nodded her head. I turned to my counters and started reaching inside. What would a baby changeling eat? Just when I found the perfect snack; some apple slices, a raspy breathing forced me to turn around. Chrysalis was standing on her hind legs over the puppy. He was standing still, but what made me freeze was a thin green mist comming from the dog and entering the Changeling's mouth.
"Wha-What are you do-doing?" When the raspy breathing stopped, as well as the green mist, she turned and faced me. "What? I'm just eating." Crap. I forgot. I told her to stay put for a moment while I rushed to my living room to get a book. There it is. 'Magical Creatures and You'. I was going to read this book before I started babysitting ponies, but never got around to it.
"Let's see... Alicorns... Draconequus... Oops, got to go back... AHA! Changelings." This book was a guide about every single creature in Equestria, and most of the creatures in the book belonged in the Everfree Forest.
The book says that Changelings feed on love, 'So that explains the green mist.' are very proud creatures, and can lock up any living creature in slime to feast on love for later. Wait. What? I check back in the kitchen too see Chrysalis cuddling her dog. She was also rubbing her belly, looking very pleased. Okay..... no green slime. Or being fed any real food.
I was flipping through the chapter about changelings encase I need to know anything else important, but alI I found were a couple pages about their anatomy. Hey, at least I learned the science behind their flying. The baby alicorn came in. "Can I play now?" I live on a farm, but I didn't exactly trust her. Thankfully, I have another plan.
"Yes you may. Just follow me." I walked down to my basement with Chrysalis trailing behind. "Here we go." Her jaw dropped as she looked all around our room. "Do you like it?"
She didn't hear me of course, she was to busy snuggling with a fuzzy giant bear at the moment. I really outdone myself with this room. All around us were toys any age could have fun with. There were swings, tubes, and of course... building blocks. It used to be my daughter's room, and I still have the crib stored somewhere. The yellow paint is chipped on the wall from years of in activity, but now with my new job, I can spruce things up a bit.
"Ms. Rogers can we play dress up?" I knew it. No intelligent female can resist dress up. I searched through the closet trying to find the perfect outfit. That's it. A sleek turquoise dress. When I turn around, of course she had another outfit on. A ninja. The little ninja was trying to use her wings to fly and hide around the room, but failed miserably.
So instead, she was sneaking around waiting. When she spotted a doll of princess Celestia, (A one I made myself and not Hasbro of course) Chrysalis pounces on it gripping it with her teeth, and shakes the doll back and forth. I don't want her to become too violent, so I take the doll, ignoring her adorable puppy eyes.
Later, Chrysalis wanted to become royalty. Not princess mode. Queen style. She adorned a little plastic black and turquoise crown and gathered up some guard toys to play with. I'm just sitting on the swings watching her, when suddenly the princessqueen starts yelling. She is throwing black and white guard ponies everywhere while making monster noises.
Is Chrysalis going to be this violent when she grows up? I bring her upstairs, besides, it's getting dark anyway. I plop her down in my bed and sigh. I knew I should have gotten that couch that can turn into a bed! Many of my friends come here, but it's been a long time since I had overnight guests.
I guess I will sleep on the non-bed couch to night. Suddenly I hear light snoring. Did Chrysalis fall asleep on my bed? No... This was the cutest thing I have ever seen. The baby changeling was curled into a tiny ball on my old dog bed with her puppy sleeping on top of her. I paused to give her a quick kiss on the forehead. "Goodnight Bugaboo." I whispered.
"Goodnight Mrs.Rogers," Chrysalis murmured in her sleep. Once a wave of nostalgia of having a daughter of my own finished, I quietly climb into bed.
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Chrysalis was a very light sleeper. As soon as I started to make breakfast, she was already there. I placed her fairly light body onto a high stool chair and buckled her in so she wouldn't fall out. "What are you making Mrs. Rogers?" The changeling asked.
I didn't respond but I turned to face her and placed steaming hot pancakes in front of her. Chrysalis sniffed the pancakes before shrinking back.
"Oh... silly you... they wont bite." I chuckled. "However... these are made with love." She nervously took a pancake using a fork and brought it up to her trembling chin.
"Why are you so afraid? I would never put anything harmful inside there." Especial after her mother's threat. Chrysalis took a tiny nibble before her eyes widened. I, in my entire life... have seen any animal, starving or not, eat that fast. Syrup was flying everywhere as she scarfed every pancake down.
"Woah, slow down there bugaboo, your going to give yourself a mighty heart burn." As soon as I said that, she downed down a glass a milk that I just recently poured into her mouth. After she finished I couldn't help myself but laugh. She was completely covered in syrup and milk!
"You know what time it is for." She already knew from my mischievous smile. For an hour, we were running around our house trying to catch each other. She was much more in shape than I was, but she was still a foal, so she tired out quickly. I managed to nab her and bring her towards the bathtub.
Chrysalis in vain tried to to bite my arm but it was no use... I plunked her into the nice lukewarm water. She thrashed around trying not to get wet, but she imminently relaxed. I tried to go easily on the poor princess, but was too hard because she was covered horn to hoof in sticky goodness.
The alicorn's eyes were brimming with tears as I furiously scrubbed her with a bristly brush for what felt like another hour. To cheer her up I poured some bubble mixture in the bath and lightly splashed her. Giggling she splashed water at me, which unfortunately got me soaked. "I'm s-sorry," She whimpered.
I patted her on the head as I gently lathered some lavender smelling shampoo on her body. Her hair was completely the opposite of what I expected it. The turquoise hair was very smooth, almost silky as I threaded it through my hands. I had to rinse out the tub and refill it again after the syrup accident. 'Ugh this is really going on my bill.'
I tossed a rubber duck in the tub before leaving to answer a phone call. It was Queen Pupa, and she was coming in a hour. When I got back to the bathroom, I couldn't hear her anymore.
"Chrysalis honey... are you here? Your mommy is going to be here anytime soon." I peeked inside the doorway, but the only thing I saw was a messy bathtub and a rubber duckie. "Chrysalis?" Sighing I walked out, only to slip on some water outside the bathroom door. Oh... so she wants to play that game huh? I quietly sneak around the house, looking for any soap trails. Unfortunately, they stopped right next to a towel right next to my bedroom.
Suddenly my ears perked up. Was that my voice I'm hearing? I walk up to my front door and I see myself and Queen Pupa sitting on the front porch laughing. The other me was laughing while petting the spotted puppy. When I walked outside, Pupa chuckled. "Did my baby have a good time?" Other me turned into a fiery green column as she turned back into princess Chrysalis.
Pupa nuzzled me on the neck. "Thank you so much. Chrysalis here was telling me what a good time she had. Maybe next time when I have problems, she can come over." The baby alicorn and puppy hopped into the basket. The family was now walking down my gravel driveway while I was waving goodbye. 'Aren't they going to take off?"
Pupa paused a minute before looking around. Suddenly she grasped a baby chimpmunk in her magic and slowly, a green goop surrounded it. Ah. So that's what it looks like.
It's been a couple of days since I have babysitted Chrysalis, and I am mighty happy. I now have fifty dollars in my pocket. Hopefully Queen Pupa spread the word about me nicely. The phone on the wall starts ringing. 'Is that a new client?' When I pick up the phone, I hear a tired female voice. 'Seems about she is a housemare of three.'
"Mrs. Rogers?" The voice drones. "I need you to babysit my youngest daughter Pinkie Pie. Her other sisters are too busy with there jobs right now so that they have no time to care for her. My husband and I have to go to an important rock convention this night. Could you watch Pinkie?"
"Of course ma'm, and may I ask what job your whole family does?"
"Rock farming." Oh. As she gave me instructions I noticed that's it is on the other side on Ponyville from where I live. That should be easy enough to bike to. As I was riding to the other side of town, ponies were waking around and gawking at me. I guess ponies haven't seen a bicycle before. Besides, the vehicle is for bipedal animals only. A couple foals and their mothers trotted up to me.
"Hello Samantha." A white and pink unicorn was the first to speak to me. "I'm Velvet Sparkle, I was wondering if you could babysit my daughter Twilight Sparkle. She would be so happy." Pupa DID spread the word!
"I would love to, but right now I have a job to do." I waved as I biked faster through the town. The farther I rode from town, the more dead and barren the land looked. By the time I reached my destination, the land looked like it had been struck by a nuke. Everywhere it was grey. The sky was grey. The ground and rocks were gray. Even myself and the ponies were grey!
Man, is it winter already? Shivering, I approach an elderly mare and stallion talking to a horse-drawn taxi. "Good, your here. PINKAMENA DIANE PIE! Get your lazy butt here now!" A dull pink filly with strait hair walked around a corner carrying dull purple rocks.
"He-Hello... Ms. Rogers," she mumbled. Pinkie's head was smacked by her mother. "You idiot! Speak clearly and look at the kind human when you are addressing her." The mom turned to me. "I'm sorry for her rude behavior. I'm still teaching her... some manners." She glared harshly at the nervous Pinkie.
"Go ahead, please take her. Remember, don't be afraid to punish her if she misbehaves." The parents hopped onto the taxi and drove away without looking back. 'The poor filly...'
"C'mon, let's leave then." I carry the silently crying filly to my basket on the bike. "Bye Inkie... Bye Blinky..." Pinkie called weakly. I followed her gaze to two older fillies groaning under the strain of rock carts they were pulling. Inkie and Blinky didn't even acknowledge their youngest sister. We rode away quickly; I didn't want to be in this gloomy place any longer.
Instead of odd looks at my bike, ponies across town were giving me angry looks. They thought I was responsible! My eyes soon told them it wasn't me that was causing Pinkie's misery.
Pinkie was in my wire basket staring at the moving cobblestone and dirt floor. I gave her a sympathetic smile. "Pinkie, please look at me. It's going to be okay." As soon as the town starting regaining it's color, the filly managed to look up. 'She's warming up already.'
As we arrived at my house, it starting snowing. I leaned my bike against my porch while the pink pony hopped out. She stalled a bit when I opened the door, so I had to lightly nudge her in. I turned on the lights. It was good to be home. Suddenly my eyes adverted to the shivering filly. I know what this calls for!
Pinkie followed me to my living room. I carefully lit a match and placed it on some firewood I recently chopped up. I sighed as I flopped onto my couch. Pinkie walked up close to my fireplace and slowly stopped shivering. I quickly rushed to one of my closets and grabbed a red blanket, which I wrapped it around Pinkie's body.
I knew the perfect thing that would lift any spirits. "Would you like some hot chocolate?" As soon as she nodded her head, I went into the kitchen. Hmm... Pinkie Pie needs something special. I placed two of my favorite toppings inside her mug. "Perfect." I passed a mug filled with hot chocolate milk, (It's awesome living on a farm. You have the freshest milk you can get.) whipped cream, and marshmallows.
Pinkie took a tiny sip before rearing back. "Oh silly, it's hot. You have to wait. Here, let me help you." After blowing on her mug for a while, the filly gulped it down greedily. "So... how was it?" She didn't speak, but by the grin on her face, this was the best day she ever had. Was it me, or is her hair frizzing up? "Samantha?"
"Yes baby?"
"Your the bestest friend I ever had." Pinkie had whipped cream all over her face and it formed a mustache and beard. Before I could get a napkin, the earth pony licked all of the cream fairly quick with her tongue. Her hair was frizzing up! The filly's hair by now looked like someone dumped cotton candy on her head and tail. Her coat was also a brighter shade of pink, almost pepto bismol color.
I plopped her right beside me. She was too exhausted to have any fun at the moment. Oh well, we can try tomorrow. I grabbed a book from the nearest shelf. "'The Runaway Rainbow.' Pinkie, would you like me to read it?" She only managed a yawn before resting her head on my lap.
The story was a little darker than I thought. A group of ponies had to catch a runaway rainbow before all color would be drained from the land. As I read the story, Pinkie falls asleep on my lap, and soon my eyes drooped.
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Pinkie's eyes opened to my giant head. "Hello Pinkie! Are you ready to have fun?!"
"Well... it's been such a long time since I had fun. Mostly I carry rocks from one field to another. If I don't make the quota for the day, I don't eat dinner and mommy slaps me." This poor pony doesn't deserve such a terrible family. I wish I could sweep her away, but I don't have a lawyer for me to take full custody. I guess I will make her life worth while.
"Pinkie stay here for a moment. I need to get some supplies. Help yourself to the refrigerator." When I returned to the house, it was still in order. Except the kitchen. Everywhere food scraps and wrappers littered the floor. Wrappers? My candy!
The earth pony was currently gorging, but when she heard me enter the room she shrunk back. "Don't punish me! I'm so sorry! It's just that it's been a long time since I had a good meal. Don't tell mommy! I don't want to be chained up in the bedroom again!" I was stroking the wailing filly.
"Why would I ever do that?"
"Well... (Sniff) this happened once with another babysitter. Instead of candy, it was apples. While you were comforting me, she punished me like mommy asked her to. She tied me up in her basement and hit a whip across my back." Pinkie showed me her back. It was hard to see at first, but I could see tiny lines streaked across her spine.
"Just when I was bleeding from everywhere, she stopped. She said when I am a foal, I have only so much skin, and can tolerate so much pain. Next time she would babysit me, I would be big enough for her to punish me more. I was supposed to go to her yesterday, but the babysitter was in Trottingham." I was in a lost for words of what just happened.
I brought her real close to me. "Don't worry. I know a way to protect you. But first, open the box. Let us remember the good times." When she opened it, she gasped in surprise. Inside the package were balloons, streamers, and everything a party would need.
"You spent all this money... just to make me happy?" I tied some balloons around her waist so she started floating.
"All parties are celebrated for a special occasion. This occasion is you being with me. Let's go Pinkie. We're going to spruce this place up." We threw confetti everywhere as we partied hard. I gave Pinkie the rest of my candy. She deserved it. After three hours of nonstop partying, the phone rang. Literally, everything stopped.
I placed a hand on Pinkie's shoulder. "I'm sorry, but it's time to go home." With that statement, the earth pony's hair immediently straitened out and took on a duller sheen. The mother demanded that I returned her daughter.
"She still has her chores to do, not to mention the daily quota. Besides, you were supposed to bring her home to hours ago!" The mother said nothing like that. "And you keeping her longer distracts her from her job. I nearly called the cops because I thought that you would take her away from me. Everyone under my authority needs a punishment. Your's will be that you receive 25% of your original pay."
I actually need that money to eat and pay my bills! "Pinkie, C'mon. I don't want to be later than I already am."
"But... but... I don't want to go." The earth pony started clinging to my leg. I scooped her up before whispering. "Shhhh... I have a plan."
As soon as we arrived on the colorless farm, the mom was tapping her foot impatiently. She grabbed Pinkie's ear with her mouth. "You are two hours late. You hear me?! TWO HOURS LATE! AND YOU!" Her voice was dripping with bloodlust as she stomped up to me. "It's your fault that she is late. I never should have hired you. I'm going to make sure you're never taking care of a foal again."
That was the final straw. I batted a hoof coming towards me away. "You're the one blaming me? Back where I come from, we lock up ponies who abuse their children. Look at you! You're a disgrace to your species. And if you lay another hoof wrong on this poor defenseless filly, I'm getting a lawyer and pounding your face into the ground."
My ranting was enough to shut her up. She stared furiously at me before spitting near my shoes. "Fine. Just get of my farm now."
This whole time, Pinkie was watching me with amazement plastered on her face. I bent down to her face. "Remember from the story, 'After we find the special rainbow, color will be restored.'" I needed her to have hope in something. A rainbow was an obvious choice. I kissed her on the forehead before the father could come out with a shotgun.
Just before I reached my house, a white light blinded me. Those were my last thoughts as everything went dark.