Cheating the Cycle of Life- A Padded Pony Collab

To the students of Canterlot High, the teacher in charge of life management, Miss. Chrysalis, was somewhat engimatic.

She always talked about the importance of a love in a household, especially when it came to relationships and raising a child.

To that end, when the time came for the traditional child care assignment, Miss. Chrysalis opted to do something a little bit different.

On the day when the child care assignment began, the students of Miss. Chrysalis’ class were quite surprised at what greeted their eyes.

Instead of sacks of flour or cartons of eggs, boxes of diapers could be found scattered throughout the classroom. There were also a series of bags hanging on a coat rack in one corner of the room, holding clothes that looked like they were designed for teenage sized toddlers.

Just after the bell rang to announce the beginning of first period life management, Miss. Chrysalis strode into the room, a bulging bag slung over her right shoulder, and a bright green wrist watch on her left arm.

After setting the bag down next to her desk and taking roll call, Chrysalis spoke up and said to the students “I’m sure many of you have already noticed the mysterious items laying around my classroom. Rest assured, that you are not seeing things.”

The students all breathed a sigh of relief, before Rainbow Dash asked “So, what’s with the diapers anyway? You’re not actually going to make us wear them, are you.”

Chrysalis smiled and nodded “I am,” and she explained her logic “Far too many schools believe that the old flour sack or egg child accurately prepares students for the demands of a real child, and teaches them how to love and care for a child of their own. So, rather than used that horribly outdated system, I have decided to use a more efficient type of child.”

Fluttershy gulped “You can’t possibly mean-”

“I’m going to break you up into pairs, and each pair will consist of one parent and one baby,” Chrysalis spoke up “The baby shall be dressed up like one, and I expect you to act like one in my classroom and off school property. You will also be required to act like an infant at least once in each of your other classes.”

“You can’t be serious! You expect us to dress up and act like big babies?!” Applejack complained.

“Well, yes. Unless you would rather opt out of the assignment, and fail one third of the entire class,” Chrysalis threatened “This will last for the duration of this month, and midway through, we will switch it up. The baby will become the parent and vice versa. And I want to see how well each of you can take care of a child that will actually need attention at random intervals, not when it’s convenient for you. I’ve already sent notes to all of your teachers, and they know about the assignment. They will report back to me on your behavior, so I know none of you are cheating.”

“So, how are we going to be graded on this assignment?” Pinkie Pie asked “Especially the one who’s playing the baby?”

“The parent will be judged based on how well they take care of their baby,” Chrysalis explained “And the baby will be judged on how much they co-operate with the parent during diaper changes, feeding time, and nap and bedtime. If you want to get the best grade, you will not only have to be a good parent, but a good baby as well. I’ll be timing each of you on how long it takes you to diaper your baby the first time around, and how much you improve by the time your role as a parent is over. I hope all of you will show improvement.” And with that, Chrysalis began to write down the pairs on the blackboard, leaving space to write the time it took each parent to put a diaper on their baby. Hence, why she was wearing a wristwatch.

All of the students in Chrysalis’ classroom suddenly began to sweat drop. This was going to be the most difficult assignment they had ever done.