Young At Heart

Young At Heart
by milesprower06

Applejack Investigates

As hard as she tried, Applejack was having difficulty grasping the fact that her marefriend, the most brash and egotistical pony in town, had a side to her that wanted nothing more than to be treated like a foal.

She had, of course, gone through the cycle of possibilities. She just wanted to freak AJ out... It was some kind of prank or joke...

...Or it was for real.

It didn't take her long to realize that of course it was for real. She had slept with Rainbow in her room several times since they started seeing each other, and she always saw that combination lock on the top dresser drawer.

This was a lot to wrap her mind around, and she wasn't going to be able to get to the bottom of it by herself. But who could help?

Needless to say, things were awkward with her and Rainbow right now. They hadn't seen each other in a week, ever since she took off from her room. She saw her around town handling the weather, but Rainbow always kept her distance, so AJ knew she was still embarrassed.

She considered Twilight for a few moments, but their relationship was known to their best friends, so she didn't dare give them the slightest hint of Rainbow's kink. She began to think something was a little wrong when AJ returned the balloon that night, instead of the next morning like she had planned.

'Where does she get those supplies? I'm sure they have to know at least a little about it.' Applejack thought to herself. She didn't have the best photographic memory, but she was pretty sure she saw 'Silly Filly' on the front of the diapers and foal powder. It was a foal care supply store right here in town. Was that where Rainbow was getting these things?

It only took another day of Rainbow ignoring her during weather duties for her to make up her mind and go get some answers.

Applejack found herself walking in the marketplace of Ponyville the next day after work. She had never been to the Silly Filly store. When Apple Bloom was just a foal, she got what she needed at Barnyard Bargains. Filthy was more than happy to give the family a discount, due to their history, as well as the fact that their mom had died during childbirth. So needless to say, she had to do a little searching. After going up both sides of the street, she found it; the store's signage was rainbow-colored and playfully shaped. She walked in the double doors, and recognized the cashier, Gentle Care, a regular customer at her apple kiosk. His wife, Soothing Care, was doing inventory of an order behind the counter before stocking the shelves.

“Hello. Ah, Applejack! You're not someone I would expect to see here.”

“Yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'm not knocked up or anything. I just need some... Advice.”

“What can I do for you?”

Applejack took a quick look around, making sure there was no one else in the store, before leaning on the front counter.

“There's no way to put this delicately, so I'm just gonna come out and say it. The other day I was at my marefriend's house. She said she had something to show me. She showed me diapers from your store, and they were in her size... Adult size. Things have been awkward between us since, and I'm... I'm just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this, and I had to talk to someone.”

Gentle turned to his wife.

“Get the sign, hun.”

Without a word, Soothing came around the counter, and flipped the sign on the door from OPEN to CLOSED, returning to her husband's side, and prepared to help explain things to Applejack.

“You're closing shop just to talk with me?”

“Privacy is the first thing I give my special customers.”

Applejack slowly nodded.

“Alright, first things first, I suppose. Chances are, your marefriend is an adult foal.” Soothing began.

“Adult foal?”

Gentle nodded.

“A stallion or mare who likes to act like a foal, or sometimes a bit older, like a filly or colt. It usually involves items you associate with foals, most commonly diapers, but it also branches out to bottles, pacifiers, and even a crib and other related furniture.”

“Why is she like this?”

“That could be any number of reasons. It could be an event that happened around that point in their lives, or something else entirely. For some it's just a way to relieve stress and unwind from everyday life.”

Now she was starting to get somewhere.

“So how do they know that this place has things in their size?”

“At first they don't. But I've found it's helpful to be forward with them. If I see an adult with no accompanying foal wandering the diaper aisle for any prolonged length of time, I simply come up to them, and ask if there's anything I can help them find. I ask if the right size is on the shelf or if they need something bigger. It's small hints like that that get them to open up. If they ask how big, I casually say our sizes range from foal to adult. Sometimes they decline at first, walking out a bit embarrassed, but most of they come back, either hours, days, or weeks later. When they realize that they're not alone, that there are enough adult foals around to warrant a supply store that caters to them, they feel much better. We even offer discreet shipping services so they don't have to come in all the time.”

“How do you know all this?” Applejack asked the mare.

“Well, because I am one.”

Gentle came up next to her.

“I've always had an inner need to care and nurture somepony. When we met each other in Fillydelphia, we slowly opened up to each other, and I was understanding all the way through, knowing that it was meant to be. When we discovered that there were others like her, we decided to start a business, and sell foal supplies for ponies of all ages.”

Applejack's expression changed from bewilderment to sadness.

“I wasn't understandin' at all. I was so stunned by it that I didn't say anything for so long that she snapped and ran off... I mean it was so unlike her everyday self that I didn't know what to think.”

“Yet here you are, getting more information, so you can better understand.” Soothing replied.

“So what do I do?”

“Well, you should understand a few things. Adult foals are almost always very, very secretive of this side of them. If she was brave enough to show you, then that means she has a great deal of trust in you. Know that it's a part of who she is.”

Applejack nodded.

“Secondly, since you're her marefriend and you two are already close, she may want to involve you in this. Sadly, that is an element that a lot of adult foals are missing; a caretaker. So few of us get to share this fantasy with somepony else who understands. Do you think you could treat her like a foal if she wanted you to?” Gentle asked.

“I... I honestly didn't think of that.”

“If that is what she wants, know that it will make her the happiest mare in the world if you can bring yourself to do that comfortably. Again, it's a fantasy that many adult foals have unfulfilled. But also as her marefriend, don't forget the 'adult' part of adult foal, if you catch my meaning.”

Applejack nodded again.

“Can... Can I see what you have?”

“Certainly. Right this way.”

The farmer was welcomed around the counter into the back storeroom. There was all manner of supplies. Boxes of diapers, both cloth and disposable, individually packaged pacifiers, bottles, and sippy cups. Jars of baby food, sets of plastic bowls and feeding spoons. Containers of wipes, bottles of foal powder and oil; things necessary for changes.

All these things were sorted in different sizes, and in the very back, were the adult sizes. Everything you could imagine for a foal, except bigger.

Applejack slowly scanned the shelves with her eyes.

“Any more thoughts on your mind?” Soothing asked.

“The diapers, they... They use them?”

“It depends on the pony. Some just like wearing them, some only wet them, and others use them for both, like full-on foals. Then some even use them for number 3.”

“Number 3? You mean...?”

She nodded.

“Yes, it is a sexual fetish for some. It's not that farfetched, when you consider the area diapers are wrapped around, and that we're mature stallions and mares.”

Applejack slowly nodded, taking all this information in.

“Yeah... So, her birthday is next week. I think... I think this may be the best way to apologize. How do I know what to get?”

Soothing smiled.

“Well, go off on what you saw, and didn't see, in her drawer when she showed it to you. Were the diapers cloth or disposable?”

“Disposable.”

“Alright. Those are more convenient than cloth, and if she has room, the more diapers, the better. Anything else?”

“Yeah, a bottle of foal powder and a foal bottle for nursing.”

“Well, it sounds like you could help her complete her foal experience. Some mashed food, spoons, formula, bowls... I think two weeks is enough time to get some special things made, if you're interested.”

Rarity was engrossed in her sewing machine when there was a knock at her door.

“Just a moment!” she called, turning her sewing machine off and going to the front display floor, opening the door.

“Oh, hello there, Applejack. I trust your day is going splendidly. What can I do for you?”

“Hey there Rarity. Listen, I need Rainbow's measurements. I thought you might have those from when you made our gala dresses.”

“Yes I certainly do. One moment.”

Rarity disappeared into the back room. Applejack could hear drawers opening and closing. Two minutes later, she came back up front with a single sheet of paper.

“Here you go. Planning on making her something? I'm not sure if I should be offended that you're going to somepony else!”

“I hope you don't. Yes, it's a birthday present, and it's a bit more on the personal side, so if you'll be excusin' me. Thanks!”

Rainbow's heart ached as she came in for a landing on her front step. The last two weeks hadn't been easy. Sooner or later, she was going to have to get over this and confront Applejack, regardless of what she thought.

Before heading inside, she checked her mailbox, and found a letter. There was no address or stamp, so someone must have dropped this off personally. She tore the envelope open and unfolded the letter.

Hey hun,

Regardless of how you're feeling about just leaving me in your bedroom like that, I don't think we can avoid each other forever, especially not with your birthday coming up tomorrow night. I've got it all planned out, so meet me at the farmhouse tomorrow night at 8:00.

Love you always,
Applejack