How an Orphan Became a Flutter

Chapters

Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three

Chapter One

I couldn't see. My eyes were wide open, but I couldn't see anything. I wasn't blind, but I couldn't see. It was the middle of January, snow and ice was falling down worse than rain in a thunderstorm, and it was 4:00 in the morning. I was outside, sitting in a wet, soggy box in Downtown Ponyville, trying hard to get just a little bit of warmth. Of course, I didn't want to be out in the eleven-degree weather in a box without a sweater. I wanted to be inside my warm house, sipping hot cocoa with my family, wearing a very thick and cozy sweater and cuddled in my mother's hooves, sitting on the sofa next to the fireplace. But the thing is, I couldn't, because I didn't have any of those. I didn't even have a name.

My mother was an alcoholic and a binge drinker, a very bad one too. It seemed like every time you saw her, she'd have a bottle or can in her hooves, just pouring the alcohol down her throat. But, she wasn't one because she wanted to be. Her husband, my should-be dad, married her only for her money, and divorced her when he found a very wealthy mare. To fight her depression, she turned to the bottle. When she was pregnant with me, that didn't stop her from drinking. Thanks to her obsessive drinking, I was born with life-incontinence. Anyway, she tried to fight her addiction, but couldn't, and succumbed to it. When I was born, my mother figured she wasn't worthy enough to be a parent. She figured she would get angry at me for no reason, and would have a hard time taking care of me. Plus, she didn't think I would love her if I knew it was her that ruined my excretory system and forced me to use diapers, so, just when I got out of the hospital, she placed me in an orphanage.

Now, I wouldn't way living in the orphanage was terrible, but it wasn't too enjoyable. I was forced to wake up every morning at 6:00 to do chores, and wasn't allowed to take a nap until bedtime. The food wasn't too delicious, and I only ate it if I was desperate. Plus, just because I was incontinent, they forced me to sleep in the foal room, along with thirty-seven, constantly crying foals, and I never had a good night sleep. Plus, nopony, not even the foal supervisor, would change me anytime I had an accident. Not because they didn't want to, but because I was too embarrassed to tell them, and I just did it myself. Each time, it was incorrect, and I would end up leaking a puddle or dropping a solid right on the floor. If that happened, I was forced to clean it, with my bare hooves, and for the rest of the day, my hooves would smell like excrement,

Plus, the other orphans treated me bad. The older orphans always pushed me around, and the younger orphans stole anything I was playing with from me. Nopony wanted to talk to me, and I didn't even have one friend. But the worst of the bullying was the teasing and name-calling. I was called "chickens**t", "crybaby", "loser", "idiot", and the worst of them all, "rat". Why was I called "rat"? Nopony wants a rat in their home, and sadly, they were right. A rat is a filthy rodent, that urinates and defecates right when it has to, just like I did, and still continue to do to this day. Nopony wanted to adopt me, just because I was incontinent and dirty.

But the worst of it all was that none of the staff wanted to teach me anything. Seriously, I didn't know anything that would normally be taught in school. I didn't know math, I didn't know science, I didn't know anything about Equestrian History, I didn't know anything at all. I couldn't even talk with using proper grammar, and I had to recycle words that I heard at the orphanage, and even used them wrong. Once in a while, I was able to sneak into a class, and get just a little bit of knowledge in my brain. But all of that together wasn't enough. Just one year of sneaking into classes only brought enough knowledge of a kindergartener. Even I spoke like a kindergartener. At least I could count to ten and read very small words.

Unfortunately, I lost my home as well when I was ten. Mother Superior allowed us to play out in the snow for an hour, and for the first time in years, I was having fun. But, I had went outside the gate, and before I could get back in, it was locked, and everyone else went back inside. Either no one noticed I was missing, or didn't care that I was missing. I was afraid I was going to get beaten is I was found outside the gates, so I ran away, and lived on the dirt-paths for one month.

There I sat in that soggy, wet cardboard box, hugging myself hard to try and generate just a little bit of heat. I just watched the millions and millions of snowflakes fall from the sky and onto the ground to join the multiple hooves of snow already there. I had escaped a month previously, and I was so desperate that I had forgotten to grab food or water, but I was still alive, hoping I would stay alive.

I scooped up some of the snow into my hooves and rolled it up into a ball. Instead of throwing it however, I ate it as it melted in my hooves. The snow was my food and water, and it was keeping me alive, only for a while. I knew it was disgusting to eat snow from the ground, but I had no choice. As long as it wasn't yellow, I assumed it was safe. I knew the snow wasn't going to keep me alive for long, but I was hoping it would long enough for me to get a home.

After eating the snowball, I felt my eyes become heavy. Even though I was sleepy, I didn't want to go to sleep. Every day I was out in that weather, I was afraid that I was go to sleep and never wake up again, or my eyelids would freeze together. If I could've had just one wish, it would have been for a home. A home where I was loved, fed, and changed. I even wished Winter Wrap-Up would happen two months early to give me the heat I wanted.

Soon, I became too tired and gave up. I laid down in the soggy box, cringing my muzzle as I felt my diaper squish under me for the seventh time. My diaper was so full that it was overflowing, and I didn't have a spare diaper. The smell was terrible, and it was leaking all in the box. I also had a very big and infected diaper rash. My bottom felt like it was on fire, and without any rash cream, all I could do was let it get worse. I wanted to take the soiled diaper off, but I felt it would be better to keep it covered other than letting the cold air infect it further.

I prayed just a few more times and finally fell asleep, hoping I would wake up still with my life.

~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up the next morning and gave a loud, but fatigued yawn. I expected to feel the endless wave of cold air again, but instead, I felt the complete opposite. I felt heat, the heat I had been begging for. I tried to open my eyes, but something was keeping them closed. I became scared, thinking my eyelids had frozen together, but when I touched them, I felt something fuzzy. I peeled off the fuzzy thing and saw that it was just a sleepy-time blinder. After throwing the blinder on the floor, I looked around, seeing that I definitely wasn't outside anymore.

I was in a bedroom. A large bedroom, laying in a very warm and comfortable bed, a soft, butter-yellow blanket draped across me. The walls were covered in yellow wallpaper, pink butterfly patterns on it. Several framed pictures of animals were hung up, and heat was blowing out of an air-vent right above me. I sat up, hearing a loud crinkle. I looked underneath the blanket, gasping lightly at what I saw. My diaper was clean. Completely clean and taped up tightly and securely around my waist. It smelled like foal powder and not pony urine and manure. I poked the front of my diaper, loving the dry, warm, snug feeling I felt, as it had been a feeling I had never felt before.

But, the clean diaper didn't matter at that point. What mattered was where I was and how I had got there. What mattered was how I went from laying outside in a box to in a bedroom laying in a nice warm bed. What mattered was how my diaper went from being smelly and overflowing to clean and pleasant smelling.

That's when somepony walked into the bedroom, interrupting my train of thought. I jumped a little, but it was just a mare. A butter-yellow mare, with a light-pink mane and tail, three pink butterflies for a cutie mark, which explained the wallpaper. She didn't seem like a threat.. She looked innocent and kind, but some looks can be deceiving.

"Oh...", the mare said, her voice sounding very timid, "I'm sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to check on you". That confused me a little, but I refused to respond. I didn't know how to speak like a ten-year-old, and I didn't want to sound like an idiot. I hoped she would just lose interest and leave, but that only made her concerned.

"Are you alright, little colt?", she asked. I slowly shook my head. "Is something wrong?" I nodded slowly. "Would you care to tell me?" I shook my head again.

"Well, I can't help you if you don't tell me", the mare said. I was starting to get annoyed at the mare, so I finally sucked it up and talked.

"Cuz... cuz...", I said, my voice low, "Can't... tawk... good..."

"I couldn't hear you", the mare said, "Would you please repeat yourself?"

"Can't tawk good", I said a little louder.

"You can't talk good?", the mare asked, "What do you mean?"

"I not know... how tawk...", I said, "I idiot..."

"Oh my...", the mare said, "Well, I'm sure you're not an idiot. You just don't have much knowledge".

"I not know nothing", I said.

"Uh... what do you mean?", the mare said again. I began to get very annoyed and let out everything that was hurting me.

"You want know why I not know nothing?!", I screamed at the mare. I knew I was scaring her, but I didn't care. "Cuz I nopony! Me mommy no like me, and I got no daddy! My mommy taked me to a bad home and I get picked on! Grown-ups no wanna give me food or change me and hurt me! Grown-ups make me sleep with babies cuz me can't go in potty! I get out of bad home and be in snow! I no loved and me not liked! I... I... I no wanna be born!"

That was it. I had confessed all of my problems to this mare I had never seen before. I began to cry right into my hooves, snot leaking from my nostrils. My secrets were all out, and remembering them made me sad. But then, I felt myself being lifted and set back down, followed by a soft feeling on my wet face. The mare had pulled me into a cuddle in her lap, lightly bouncing me on her hind leg.

"Shh...", she said, "It's alright, little colt". She grabbed a tissue from her nightstand and held it over my runny nose. "Blow, please". I exhaled through my nose, blowing away the excess mucus from my nostrils. After my nostrils were clear, she folded the tissue and wiped my nose and the tears from my face and threw the tissue in the trashcan next to the bed. "Now, let me try and understand what you said. You said you have no father, and your mother didn't love you?"

"*sniffle* Mm-hmm", I said.

"Alright, and you say that she put you in a bad home?", the mare asked.

"Mm-hmm", I said, "Orf... orph..." I couldn't pronounce "orphanage".

"Orphanage?", the mare asked. I nodded. "Alright. And you say that you were neglected and treated poorly? And you were forced to sleep with the foals because you can't go in a potty?" I nodded again.

"Me inco... incont...", I tried to say.

"Incontinent?", the mare asked. I nodded again. "And that's why I found you out in the cold weather in a box?"

"F... find me...?", I asked, "What mean...?" The mare smiled.

"I found you out in the frigid weather in a soggy and filthy box", she said, "You were laying in your own waste, and I didn't want you to freeze to death. So, I brought you here, changed your diaper, cleaned you up, and tucked you into my bed. I also put a little bit of rash cream on your diaper rash so it would heal faster".

"B-but... why you do that?", I asked, "Why me?" The mare smiled again.

"Because I love and care about everypony in Equestria", she said, "Equestria was founded by two caring Princesses who spent several thousand years creating it so us ponies, griffons, and critters could have a home. To repay them for this, I believe we must be kind to one another, to tell Princess Celestia and Princess Luna we thank them for their kindness toward us. I care about all fillies, colts, mares, stallions, and critters in Equestria". Tears came to my eyes again. That mare's words were so beautiful to my ears. They were words of kindness, and not words of hate.

"B... but...", I said, "W... why...?"

"Why what?", the mare asked.

"W-why care 'bout me?", I asked, "Nopony like me. Nopony want me cuz I inconint". The mare cuddled me tighter, lightly stroking my mane.

"Oh, little one", she said, "I don't mind if you're incontinent. It's simply a medical condition that you can't help. I would never tease a little filly or colt because of a medical condition". I began to cry again and buried my face in her coat. She was saying all of the stuff I wanted to hear, and it sounded so beautiful.

"Shh shh shh", the mare said, patting my back, "It's alright. You're safe now, so there's no need to cry". I sniffled again and for the first time in nearly four years, I smiled, getting a smile back. "You have a beautiful smile". I blushed a little bit as Fluttershy grabbed another tissue and I blew my nose again. "My name is Fluttershy, little one. What's yours?" I frowned again.

"I... I not have name", I said, "I never get one".

"I see...", Fluttershy said, "Well, we'll find out what to name you later. For now, I'll call you sweetheart, alright?"

"Yes, Mr. Fluttershy", I said. Fluttershy giggled very lightly.

"I'm a mare, sweetheart", she said, "You call a mare 'miss', not 'mister'". I nodded. "But, you may just call me Fluttershy". I nodded once more.

Suddenly, a loud growl came from my stomach, and I groaned as I felt pain. I hadn't eaten something real ever since I was a baby. My stomach and pancreas were both very unusually small, my muscles were weak, and my body didn't contain enough fat to function correctly. Every bone in my body could easily be seen, and I'm sure most ponies that saw me thought I was anorexic. My entire digestive system was weak, and I didn't know why I excreted so much if I didn't eat much. Anyway, Fluttershy smiled and rested her hoof on my stomach.

"Are you hungry, sweetheart?", she asked. I nodded desperately. "Well, I'd be happy to make you some breakfast". I almost jumped out of the bed after hearing that.

"Yes! Yes please!", I pleaded. Fluttershy smiled again.

"Well then, let's fill your tummy, shall we?", she said, "Follow me please". I threw the blanket off of myself, only for a wave of cold air to hit me, being deprived of the warmth the blanket was giving me. I began to shiver violently, concerning Fluttershy. "Is something wrong?"

"C-cold", I said.

"Oh my...", she said, "Well, I wouldn't want you to be cold while you eat. Let me see if I have something to warm you up".

Fluttershy walked into the closet and came back out with a small, yellow pair of flannel hoofie pajamas with a flap in the front for diaper changes, meaning it was for a baby. Of course, I didn't know that. I just allowed Fluttershy to dress me with them. She slid them onto me as I pushed my legs through the leg-holes until they touched the hoofie parts. Then, Fluttershy zipped them up and fastened the buttons to the flap. That's when I felt heat all over. The pajamas covered my entire body, and not a single blow of air touched me. The soft flannel felt so good, and I had even forgotten that I was wearing a diaper.

"There we go", she said, patting my bottom, "Is that better?" I tried to say something, but only a loud sigh came as I loved the warmth, making Fluttershy giggle. "I'll take that as a yes. Now, let's get you some breakfast". Before I could even nod again, Fluttershy lifted me off of the bed and onto her back, carrying me over to the door. Before opening it, she stopped and looked back at me.

"Now sweetheart", she said, "I have some friends that I share my home with, but they will not laugh, I promise".

I nodded as Fluttershy opened the door and closed it back. I very lightly grabbed her mane, keeping myself from falling as Fluttershy carried me down the carpeted stairs and into the living room. Once we got there, I saw something very unexpected. Animals were all over the living room. And I'm not talking about pictures of animals or stuffed animals, I'm talking about real, live animals, of several different species, running around the living room. Bunnies, squirrels, raccoons, skunks, kittens, badgers, possums, ferrets, rats, birds, lemurs, beavers, meerkats, even a few bears were in there. It was like a zoo.

"F-Fluttershy...", I said.

"Yes, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked.

"Why... aminals here?", I asked, mispronouncing "animals". Fluttershy smiled.

"These are my friends", she said.

"You... friends... aminals?", I said.

"Yes", Fluttershy said, "I'm a cottage owner and Ponyville's veterinarian. I take in lost or injured animals and raise them under my supervision".

"So... pet...?", I asked.

"Well... I guess technically", Fluttershy said. I then blushed a little, looking down to the floor. "Do you like animals, sweetheart?"

"Y... yeah...", I said. When I was at the orphanage, animals interested me so much. Sometimes, a rat or a possum would intrude the foal room, I would play with it. And sometimes during "recess", a few birds or squirrels would come into the yard, and I would play with it also. Anyway, Fluttershy smiled.

"I think you'll fit in here just fine", she mumbled, "Alright, let's go. You can play with the animals after you have your breakfast".

I nodded as Fluttershy walked into the kitchen, still carrying me on her back. The table was very long, but there was only one chair, and a highchair, for a foal. And it was a little confusing to me that she had a table long enough for Thanksgiving, but only one chair, and it was hoofcrafted with wood and vines.

"Um... sweetheart?", Fluttershy said, "I only have one chair, since I'm usually alone. But looking at your... body type... you're a little too short to reach the table from the chair, so would you mind sitting in the highchair?" I shrugged without care. The thought of eating was the only thing on my mind at that point. Fluttershy smiled and lifted me into the highchair, strapping me in comfortably, moving the table part up until it was lightly pressing against my stomach. Then, she tied a yellow bib around my neck, brushing it off with her hoof.

"Just so you won't spill anything on yourself", she said, "Would you like a drink?"

"Uh...", I said, "Like what?" Fluttershy smiled.

"Well, I have milk, tea, apple juice, orange juice, and hot chocolate", Fluttershy said.

"What hot chocolate?", I asked.

"It's sort of like chocolate milk", Fluttershy said, "But a bit sweeter and hotter". I smiled.

"I want that", I said.

Fluttershy smiled and walked over to the stove while I waited patiently for it. After making the hot chocolate, Fluttershy went into the cabinet. I was expecting her to pull out a cup, but she instead pulled out a foal bottle and a cap. She poured some of the hot chocolate into the foal bottle carefully and twisted the cap onto the bottle. After shaking it for a few seconds, she placed it it the highchair's table in front of me.

"Here you go", she said, "I hope you don't mind it in a bottle. I still need to do the dishes".

"It K, Fluttershy", I said, grabbing the bottle. It was warm in my hooves, and without hesitation, I began to suckle from the bottle, drawing the hot chocolate into my mouth. It was warm and very sweet, and it felt like Heaven as it filled my empty stomach and parched throat.

"Mmm...", I mumbled, my lips comfortably wrapped around the amber nipple of the foal bottle.

"Aww... how cute...", Fluttershy mumbled under her breath very low. But I was enjoying the hot chocolate too much to care. Fluttershy flew up to the cabinet above the refrigerator. "Umm... would oatmeal be alright? I wouldn't want you to become sick".

"It K, Fluttershy", I said, finally ungluing my lips from the bottle after drinking half, "I eat what I get". Fluttershy blushed with flattery.

"Well, aren't you a grateful little colt?", she said, "Alright then". Fluttershy grabbed two packs of plain oatmeal and filled a small pot with water. She then opened the packs and poured them into the water, setting the pot on the stove. After covering it with a lid, she walked back over to me.

"It'll be ready in forty-five minutes", Fluttershy said, "It has to be perfect". I nodded. "Well, while you wait for your breakfast, would you like something to do in the meantime?"

"Like what?", I asked.

"Well, do you like to draw?", Fluttershy asked, "I have some crayons you may use". I happily nodded as Fluttershy smiled and walked out of the kitchen, returning with a small stack of paper and a box of ninety-six crayons tucked into her wing. I smiled, staring at the large box of crayons.

"That lot of crayons", I said, pointing at the box. Fluttershy smiled again.

"I know", she said, "They were a birthday present from my friends. I really love color". She set the crayons on the table. "Alright, you have your fun, and I'll sit at the table and watch. Would you like some more hot chocolate?"

I nodded as Fluttershy grabbed the bottle and carried it over to the stove to refill it. But, even though I liked drawing, my mind went blank, and I didn't know what to draw. I just sat there, lightly stroking the end of a crayon on the paper, trying to think about what to draw.

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked, setting the now-full bottle back on the table.

"I not know what to draw", I said, putting down the crayon. At that same time, a white bunny hopped into the kitchen and onto the table.

"Oh, good morning, Angel Bunny", Fluttershy said, "Did you sleep well?" The bunny nodded. "I'll make you breakfast after I'm finished with him". The bunny turned and looked at me.

"Uh... hi...", I said, timidly waving at him.

"Oh, right", Fluttershy said, "Sweetheart, this is Angel. He's my little cottage helper". I looked at him and smiled.

"Fluttershy", I said, "I draw Angel?" Fluttershy smiled.

"That would be nice", she said, "Angel Bunny, could sweetheart have a picture of you?" Angel's face went from straight to worried as he quickly shook his head. "Oh my... no no, not with a camera, Angel. He wants to draw you with his crayons". Angel gave a sigh of relief and nodded at me. "I apologize for that, sweetheart. Angel has bad memories with cameras".

"It K, Fluttershy", I said.

"Alright, Angel", Fluttershy said to her bunny, "Turn toward him and smile so he can draw you". Angel did as I picked up a crayon.

"Uh... I not know how draw good", I said, "Please no get mad if you no like". Angel shrugged and modeled for me. For a solid five minutes, I took my time, carefully drawing the bunny the best I could. After I was finished, I turned the paper toward him.

"Uh... here", I said. He looked over the paper as I hid my face behind my bib. I expected him to wad it up into a ball and throw it at me or rip it to pieces, but when I looked up again, he was smiling big over the picture.

"I think he likes it, sweetheart", Fluttershy said. Angel happily nodded, agreeing with Fluttershy as I smiled, very flattered.

"Thank you, Angel", I said. He then started pointing frantically at the picture. "What?" He kept pointing, trying to tell me something, but I couldn't understand him. Then, he started pointing at the crayons and paper.

"He wants another drawing", Fluttershy said. Angel smiled and pointed at Fluttershy, as if to say "What she said".

"Oh, K", I said, readying another piece of paper. But before I could start, Angel hopped onto the paper, stopping me. "What?" He quickly hopped into the open refrigerator and grabbed a carrot. After that, he hopped back onto the table and laid on his back, placing the carrot into his mouth like a cigar. I giggled a little and drew him like that. After finishing, I gave it to him, getting the same reaction as before.

"He really likes your drawings, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "It's no mystery why you like it so much". I blushed.

"Thank you", I said, "But... I can't write good... and read..."

"I understand", Fluttershy said, "It is a little harder to read and write and to draw". I looked up at her with a pleading look.

"You teach me...?", I asked. Fluttershy smiled.

"Sure", she said, "I could do that, or I could do a little something better".

"What?", I asked.

"Tomorrow, the school reopens from winter break", Fluttershy said, "How would you like me to enroll you?" Just hearing the word "school" excited me. I didn't know much, but I knew school was a place for learning, and one of the things I wished for was an education. I wanted to catch up and get to the level I was supposed to be on.

"Yes! Yes please!", I pleaded.

"Alright, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "Tomorrow I'll get you in school, I promise". I smiled proudly, so much excitement in me. That's when Angel held his carrot out to me, confusing me a little.

"What he doing?", I asked.

"He's trying to give you his carrot", Fluttershy said, "Whenever he does that, it means he's giving you his gratitude, meaning his friendship". Angel nodded, agreeing with Fluttershy. I smiled and happily took the carrot.

"Thank you, Angel", I said. He smiled at me and hopped back into the living room, carrying his drawings in his mouth.

"Sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "May I ask you something?" I nodded as Fluttershy blushed a little. "Would you mind drawing a picture of me? Just so I could hang it up?" I opened my eyes a little wider in surprise.

"I draw you, Fluttershy?", I asked, "But... what if... too hard?"

"It's doesn't have to be perfect", Fluttershy said, "Just try your best, like you did Angel". I nodded.

"K, Fluttershy", I said, "Please no get mad if you no like".

"I won't, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "I promise". She kissed my cheek to prove her promise, making me blush. She then pulled the chair from the table and turned it toward me. She sat down in it, crossed her hind legs, and rested her front hooves in her lap. "Like this, please".

I nodded shakily and carefully drew Fluttershy the best I could. In the position she was sitting in, it was a little hard, but I did my best. After a full ten minutes, I was finished drawing. But, I decided to add a little something extra to make sure she would like it. I drew a long horn at the base of the forehead and colored it in. After that, I gave the drawing to Fluttershy, who gasped lightly.

"I draw you Princess", I said, "Like Princess Celestia and Princess Luna".

"Oh my!", she said, admiring the drawing, "I love it! I love it so much!" Another deep red blush spread across my face. "Thank you, sweetheart". She hugged me. I smiled and hugged her back. That's when a small hissing noise was heard by the both of us, soon increasing in volume. I didn't know where it was coming from, but Fluttershy sure did.

"Fluttershy?", I asked. "What that?"

"Oh my...", she said, "Sweetheart, I think you're making an accident in your diaper".

"Huh?", I asked, really not wanting to believe those words. I shifted a little bit and sure enough, I was. I felt my diaper becoming warm, wet and heavy, and I wasn't able to stop it. A tear came to my eye, but before I could start crying, Fluttershy hugged me again.

"There's no need to be sad, sweetheart", she said, "You're incontinent, and you can't help it. I'm not disgusted, and you have no need to be either". I smiled, once again loving her kind words as the loud hissing noise became quiet, then silent. "Now, let's go get you changed". Fluttershy undid the straps and lifted me out of the highchair. After that, she carried me back upstairs to her bedroom and laid me on the edge of her bed.

"Alright", she said, "I'll try to be as gentle as I can be".

I nodded as Fluttershy changed my diaper. I really didn't care how she did it, as long as it was correct. I was so annoyed every time I leaked, and I didn't want it to happen again. I just kept looking at the ceiling, letting her do what she had to, but I jumped and looked up when I felt something ice-cold touch my bottom. Fluttershy was wiping me clean with a foal wipe that she had just pulled out of the pack.

"Oh, I'm sorry if that's a little cold", she said, "I have to get the tinkle out of your coat before I can put you in a new diaper". I nodded and laid back again, letting her finish. With a few puffs of foal powder and a crinkle, Fluttershy had placed a new diaper on me and snapped the buttons to the flap of my onesie back together, patting my bottom lightly.

"Thank you, Fluttershy", I thankfully said.

"You're welcome, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, again kissing my cheek.

"Um... Fluttershy?", I asked, "Why you have diapers? You no inconint".

"Of course not", she said, "But I sometimes foalsit my friend's little sister, and she needs them while sleeping. I keep a few spare ones over here just in case. I nodded.

"K", I said. That's when another growl came from my stomach. Fluttershy smiled again.

"I think a certain little colt is ready for his breakfast", she said. I happily nodded. Once again, Fluttershy carried me downstairs and into the kitchen, strapping me again in the highchair. After that, she walked over to the pot of boiling oatmeal and tasted a tiny spoonful.

"It's perfect", she said. She then looked over her shoulder at me. "Just sit tight, little one. You'll have your breakfast in a few minutes".

I nodded and waited patiently. I didn't care if I had to wait another full hour for it, as long as I knew I was getting something to eat. Fluttershy poured the hot oatmeal into a small plastic bowl. After that, she added a bit of milk to soften it up and some honey to sweeten it.

"Would you like some bananas and chocolate chips to add to it?", she asked. I nodded as Fluttershy diced a banana into small pieces and poured them into the oatmeal along with two hooffuls of chocolate chips. Stirring it all together, she finally placed the bowl of oatmeal on the table in front of me with a plastic spoon.

"Here you go, sweetheart", she said, "Enjoy". The sweet smell of the oatmeal was so mesmerizing, and I couldn't wait to eat. But, I waited for Fluttershy to get her breakfast first, wanting to eat with her. After she got her food, I smiled and placed a spoonful of the oatmeal into my mouth, only to instantly spit it out as it burned my tongue.

"Ow!", I screamed, fanning my tongue.

"Oh my! Are you alright?", Fluttershy asked.

"Mm-hmm...", I said, using my hot chocolate, which had cooled down, to soothe the burn.

"I forgot to tell you that it was hot", Fluttershy said, "I'm very sorry".

"It K, Fluttershy", I said, "But... I no eat if hot". Fluttershy blushed a little.

"Well... if you like... I could...", she said, finishing with a low voice, "...feed it to you". That confused me a little, because never before had I been spoon-fed, but if it was a way to get the oatmeal into my stomach, then I was going to take it.

"K", I said.

I heard a small squeal of excitement come from Fluttershy as she scooted the chair closer to the highchair. After that, she scooped some of my oatmeal into my spoon and blew on it for a few seconds. After that, she placed it in my mouth. Several flavors of chocolate, banana, honey, and oatmeal exploded on my tongue, and I enjoyed every bit of it as I swallowed.

"Is it alright?", Fluttershy asked me.

"Mm... hmm...", I said, too dazed by the flavor to talk.

Fluttershy chuckled and fed me spoonful after spoonful of the delicious oatmeal, while at the same time feeding herself. After about ten minutes, Fluttershy had fed me and herself the last bite of oatmeal in our bowls. I washed it down with the last few suckles of hot chocolate in my bottle and Fluttershy placed our dishes in the sink.

"Did you enjoy your breakfast?", she asked me.

"Mm-hmm", I said, "Thank you".

"You're welcome, sweetheart", Fluttershy said. She then unstrapped me and lifted me out of the highchair, placing me on the floor. "Alright, I have to clean up now. You may go into the living room and play with the animals if you like".

I smiled and walked into the living room, sitting down on the couch and watching the animals play among themselves. I wanted to play with them, but I was a little scared to bother them. I didn't know if they were aggressive, and I didn't want to found out the hard way. That's when a small, black kitten walked up to me, looking at me with her green eyes. I smiled and decided to speak.

"Hi", I said, waving at her. The kitten meowed, smiling. I held my front legs out to her and she hopped onto the couch, laying herself in my lap. I lightly pet the top of her head, making the kitten purr in delight. At the same time, Fluttershy had walked in and sat down next to me.

"I see you've made a little friend", she said.

"Mm-hmm", I said, "I like kitties". Fluttershy smiled.

"I see", she said, "And she likes you too. It's great to see her finally happy".

"She no happy?", I asked, "Why?"

"Because she was a stray", Fluttershy said, "Meaning nopony wanted to keep her. Some ponies think black cats bring bad luck, but they're just as harmless as any other cat".

"So... no want her?", I asked.

"I'm afraid not, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "She's just like you". I felt a little sorry for the kitten as I nuzzled her cheek, making her purr louder. She returned the nuzzle, tickling my nose with her whiskers.

"What kitty name?", I asked.

"I haven't had a chance to name her yet", Fluttershy said, "But, since you like her so much, why don't you give her a name?" I thought about it for a minute, and then smiled.

"Lucky", I said, "I name you Lucky". The kitten smiled at me, as if to say "I love it".

"What a beautiful name for a kitty", Fluttershy said, petting her as well. Lucky looked at me and meowed again. "Aww... she said she loves you". I blushed with so much flattery as I gave her another nuzzle. I didn't know Fluttershy could actually translate animal sounds, but it's kinda good that I didn't. Trust me, if I had known that, we would've been sitting on that couch for hours translating every single one of them.

I had played with Lucky for about five minutes when another animal came up to me on her own, smiling at me. I smiled and welcomed her into my hooves. She too was a black animal, but unlike Lucky, she had a white stripe going down the center of her back and tail, and she wasn't a kitten. She was a baby skunk. Though she did look cute, I didn't know what a skunk was, nor did I know its "special talent". So, when I pet its tail as it raised, the foul odor strongly assaulted my nostrils.

"Eww!", I said, pushing the skunk away from me onto the other couch cushion.

"Is something wrong, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked, having just returned from the bathroom.

"Stinky!", I said, pointing at the skunk. Fluttershy giggled and sat down next to me again, pulling the weasel into her lap.

"Oh, sweetheart", she said, "I know she a bit stinky, but she's supposed to smell bad. She's a skunk".

"Skunk?", I asked, my hooves still pinching my nose.

"Yes", Fluttershy said, "That's how they protect themselves. They spray a foul-smelling liquid to keep predators away. It's a smell a pony can easily get used to if they try". I smiled again.

"I hold her gin?", I asked. Fluttershy smiled.

"Sure", she said, placing the skunk back in my hooves. I smiled and gave her a small nuzzle, ignoring the stench the best I could.

"I sorry", I said, feeling a bit bad for the way I treated her. Small chitters came from her as I held her in my hooves.

"She forgives you", Fluttershy said, "She likes making friends. In fact, she's just like you and Lucky". That wasn't something I wanted to hear.

"No want her too?", I asked.

"I'm afraid not, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "Nopony wants a skunk, just because of their odor. Like I said, a skunk's stinky odor can easily become tolerable in a few minutes, but nopony but you and I know that. Even her own family didn't want her". I began to feel sorry for the skunk. She was a family reject, just like I was.

"Wh... why?", I asked.

"Because her mother passed after she was born", Fluttershy said, "And the rest of the litter blames her for it, but it was because of old age". That made me feel really bad for her as I nuzzled her deeply, light chitters coming from her as I did. Fluttershy smiled. "Aww... she likes you". I smiled and nuzzled her again.

"I like you too", I said, giving her a kiss on her cheek, "She got name?" Fluttershy smiled.

"Well, I actually have been thinking of a few names, but she doesn't like any of them", Fluttershy asked, "So, why don't you give her one like you did Lucky?" I smiled and looked at her.

"I name you... Cuddles", I said, "Cuz... you soft". She smiled at me and chittered again.

"She loves it", Fluttershy said, petting the top of my head, "Now you have two best friends that love you". Just hearing that word made me smile. I had always wanted a friend, but like I said, nopony wanted to befriend me, just because I was incontinent. But I was happy to have some friends, even if they were a friendly feline and a cuddly weasel.

After playing with my friends for half an hour, I yawned, feeling a little bit sleepy. Since I had fallen asleep at 4:00 in the morning, and woke up at 7:00, I hadn't received enough sleep, and I needed a nap. Fluttershy saw me yawn and flutter my eyes, smiling with a light blush.

"Aww...", she cooed in a singsong way, "Does somepony want a nap?" I looked up at the yellow mare and nodded, holding my hooves up to her, Fluttershy's blush grew a bit redder. "OK then. Let's get you in bed".

Fluttershy picked me up and placed me on her back. After that, she carried me upstairs as I fought the sleepiness for a little bit, not wanting to fall off. Once we went into the bedchamber, a foul odor reached my muzzle, and it didn't belong to Cuddles, as she was still downstairs. But, the odor was familiar to me, and I knew exactly what is was.

"Um... Fluttershy...?", I asked, a small blush on my face.

"Yes, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked.

"I... I... I...", I tried to say, but it was too embarrassing. Luckily, the smell had reached her muzzle as well, and I didn't have to tell her.

"Oh... did you make another accident?", she asked.

"Mm-hmm...", I shyly said, crossing my hind legs in embarrassment. To add insult to injury, my bladder released itself as well, as the familiar hissing noise sounded out. But, once again, Fluttershy wasn't disgusted, as she looked at me with her sweet smile.

"It's alright, sweetheart", she said, lightly laying me on the edge of her bed again, "When you gotta go, you gotta go. Like I said, it doesn't disgust me one bit. Sooner or later, everypony needs to go". I gave a slight smile. "Now, let's get you out of that stinky diaper".

One change later, Fluttershy dropped my dirty diaper in her wastebasket next to the bed, wiped her hooves with a foal wipe, and sprayed a bit of her perfume to freshen the air a bit. As every second went by, I became more and more sleepy, and I was eager to take a nap.

"Alright, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "Nap time". I smiled and held my hooves up to her once more. Fluttershy smiled and picked my up, holding me in her forelegs like a foal as she walked over to a cushioned rocking chair, hoofcrafted just like the one in the kitchen. Still holding me in her forelegs, she sat down in the chair and began to slowly rock the chair back and forth, confusing me a little.

"I figured you'd want a pleasant way to fall asleep after all of the mess you've been through", Fluttershy said, "Would you care for a little song to help you sleep?"

I nodded slowly as Fluttershy began singing her special lullaby named "Hush Now, Quiet Now". At first, I just let her sing it, enjoying the gentle swaying back in forth. After a solid minute, the lullaby and rocking began to work, as my eyes became more and more heavy. Once my eyes closed, I felt something rubbery push through my half-open lips and rest in my mouth, reopening my eyes in surprise. Fluttershy had placed the object in my mouth, smiling.

"It's OK, sweetheart", she said, "It's just a pacifier".

"Pashafir?", I tried to say through the pacifier.

"Yes", Fluttershy said, "Or, you can call it a binky". That sounded like a better way to call it to me. "Anyway, this is to help you sleep a little bit more. You suckle on it, just like you did with the bottle".

I shrugged and slowly suckled on the pacifier as Fluttershy continued to sing and rock. She was right, the pacifier did it job well. Along with the rocking and singing, it was just enough to put me to sleep. I closed my eyes with delight as Fluttershy smiled and laid me on my back in the bed, covering me with the blanket, slowly rubbing my stomach with her hoof. I laid there with my eyes closed for a few minutes, suckling my pacifier in delight.

"Oh my", Fluttershy said, "It looks like your friends are here". I looked up and saw Lucky and Cuddles, who had both walked into the room. I smiled and held my hooves out to them as they both hopped onto the bed. Lucky rested herself on my stomach outside of the comforter, while Cuddles rested on my chest after digging her way in the comforter.

"Aww, they want to sleep with you as well", Fluttershy said. I smiled and lightly pulled Cuddles into a light snuggle, closing my eyes again as Lucky fell asleep. Fluttershy kissed my cheek one more time before turning off the light, plugging in a butterfly-shaped nightlight in the corner so I wouldn't wake up scared.

"Enjoy you nap, sweetheart", she said, fluffing my pillow. She then left the room, cracking the door a bit, and in about two minutes, I finally fell into a deep sleep, smiling peacefully.

Chapter Two

A full twenty-four hours later, I had woken up from my "nap". I yawned, spat out my pacifier, and sat up. Lucky and Cuddles had left while I was sleeping, but I didn't really mind. I looked around for Fluttershy, a bit scared of being alone in the dark, but she was gone as well.

"Fluttershy?", I asked loudly, a bit of fear in my voice.

"Shh, it's alright", Fluttershy's calm voice said. She had just walked out of the bathroom and sat next to me. I sighed in relief and hugged her. "I just went to go tinkle, but I'm here now". She pulled me into her lap and pet my mane.

"You must not have gotten much sleep at the orphanage", Fluttershy said, "I've never seen a pony sleep for a full twenty-four hours".

"Huh?", I asked, not knowing what "twenty-four hours" was.

"You've been sleeping since yesterday", Fluttershy said, "That means, yesterday is today". I jumped a bit from surprise.

"You mean...?", I said, "School?"

"Yes", Fluttershy said, "Today is your first day of school". I smiled widely and hugged the mare tighter as she chuckled.

"Go now?", I asked.

"Not yet, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "We have to wait for it to open first". I nodded. "But in the meantime, I went out yesterday and bought some supplies so you'll be ready". She grabbed a small saddlebag from the floor and placed it in my lap, unzipping it and opening it afterwards. Inside was mountains of crayons, pencils, paper, markers, safety scissors, notebooks, folders, glue sticks, and sparkle glitter. Never before had I seen so much school supplies in one saddlebag. To me, it was like it was filled with diamonds and gold.

"Thank you", I said.

"You're very welcome, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, kissing my cheek, "Also..." She placed a brown paper bag in the saddlebag to join the supplies. "...this is your lunch. Please save it for lunchtime so you'll have something to eat". I nodded again. "And once more thing..." She placed two spare diapers, some wipes, foal powder, and a changing mat in there. "Here's a change if you need it during the day". I nodded as Fluttershy zipped the saddlebag back up.

"So", she said, "There's plenty of that oatmeal left over from yesterday morning. Would you like some?" I nodded happily as Fluttershy carried me downstairs.

After filling up on more of that delicious oatmeal and getting a quick change, Fluttershy had dressed me in a bathrobe that was a little big, but covered my diaper and kept me warm. I know that's not much of a school attire, but I guess it worked. Anyway, after getting dressed, I got my saddlebag and left the cottage with Fluttershy. It took only ten minutes to get there, and when we did, we walked in and walked the halls until we came to a classroom.

"Wait out here for a little bit", Fluttershy said, "I have to talk to the teacher first".

I nodded as Fluttershy walked into the classroom. I sat outside the door and waited for her to come out. That's when I started to shiver lightly. Not because I was cold, but because I was a little nervous. Never before had I been to a public school, and sharing a classroom with several fillies and colts I didn't know didn't make me feel too comfortable.

"Um... sweetheart?", Fluttershy said, peeking out of the door after five minutes, "You can come in now".

I took a deep breath and walked into the classroom, taking my stuff with me. I must admit, I admired the classroom, as it was so new to me. It was filled with color, and several educational posters. There was a total of twenty-eight desks, grouped in pairs, and two chalkboards on the front and back of the classroom. Sitting at the teacher's desk was a mare with a berry-purple coat and light-pink, curly mane and tail, and she was sitting in a chair with wheels. She saw me and smiled.

"Why, hello there", she said. I got a little bit scared and hid behind Fluttershy, as I had not seen this mare before.

"It's alright, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "She's won't hurt you. She just wants to get to know you". I timidly walked from behind Fluttershy and faced the mare again.

"...hi...", I said.

"Alright, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "I have to go now". I became a little bit more frightened and grabbed her front leg, not wanting her to leave me alone.

"Stay?", I pleaded.

"I can't stay, sweetheart", she said, kneeling down to my level, "You have to attend school by yourself. But I'll be here to pick you up at 3:00, OK?" I nodded as she kissed my cheek and left the room.

"Well, little colt", the teacher said, "Would you please have a seat?" She pointed to the chair in front of her desk. I sat down, still a bit afraid of her. That was before she pulled a lollipop from out of her drawer and gave it to me.

"Here's a little treat", she said, "Just to prove I'm friendly". I smiled and accepted it.

"Thank you", I said, happily licking the candy.

"You're welcome", the teacher said, "Anyway, my name is Ms. Cheerilee, your teacher". I nodded. "Now, Fluttershy and I talked, and I see that you have a bit of a bad past". I frowned and nodded. "Well, I want you to know that in my class, you're welcome with kindness, no matter how you are". I blushed with flattery. "Plus, she told me about your... padding problem".

"Inconint", I painfully said.

"Well, that may be true", Cheerilee said, "But that doesn't mean you aren't to be treated nice. Plus, if you do happen to have an accident during class, just raise your hoof, and I'll take care of it".

"You change me?", I asked.

"Yes", Cheerilee said, "I have two younger sisters who I used to change when they were foals, so I'm pretty much used to it. Plus, Fluttershy gave me permission to do so". I smiled again.

"K", I said.

"Also", Cheerilee continued, "She told me that you don't have the intelligence of a fourth-grader". I shook my head. "So, I'm going to see how well you can do in fourth-grade. If it's too hard for you, then I'll put you in the alternative class I teach, which is much easier". I nodded. "Alright then, go ahead and sit wherever you like. Class should start in half an hour". I eagerly sat in one of the desks in the very front, hardly able to wait.

In thirty minutes, desks started filling up as more and more students arrived, sitting in the pairs. A bit of nervousness began to overtake me, but I tried my best to ignore it and focus on learning.

"Hey!", a filly's voice called, "Who are you?" I turned to my left and saw two fillies. One was grey, with a white, braided mane and tail, and she wore glasses and earrings. The other was light pink, with a purple and white mane and tail, and she wore a tiara on her head, which gave her her name.

"Uh...", I said, a bit nervous.

"She asked you a question!", the pink filly said, "Answer her!"

"I got no name", I said.

"Then why are you here?", the grey filly asked. I smiled.

"Cuz I wanna learn!", I said.

"You should", the pink filly said, "Because you sound like a baby". I ignored that as the grey filly held her hoof out to me.

"Welcome to Ponyville Elementary", she said, "I'm Silver Spoon". I smiled and went to shake her hoof, but the pink filly slapped it away.

"Silver Spoon, stop being such a dork", she said.

"I'm just trying to welcome the new student, Diamond Tiara", Silver Spoon said, "What's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with that?!", Diamond Tiara said, "What's wrong with that is he doesn't belong here!" That hit too hard, and I wasn't able to ignore it. "Fourth-grade isn't for him! He belongs in preschool, because he's a baby! I mean, who wears a bathrobe to school?! And..." She looked down below my desk. "Is that a diaper?!"

"Y... yes," I said, "Me inconint."

"You mean incontinent?" Silver Spoon asked as I nodded and Diamond Tiara laughed.

"You really are a baby!" she said, "You sound like a baby, you dress like a baby, and you even use diapers like a baby!" I was starting to get annoyed at her teasing at that point.

"Leave me lone!" I said.

"OK, I'll leave you alone," Diamond Tiara said, "Only if you answer this one question: What's 1X1, hmm?" I lowered my head.

"I no know," I said. Diamond Tiara laughed harder.

"You're so stupid!" she said, "You really do belong in preschool! Even Silver Spoon thinks so!"

"No I d-" Silver Spoon said, before her friend cut her off.

"Yes Silver Spoon does," she said, "Unless she doesn't want to go to my cutescenera this weekend." Silver Spoon gulped.

"I mean, yeah!" she said, "You must be lost! The preschool is down the street!"

"Plus, he's a blank flank!" Diamond Tiara said, "Just like a baby! Don't you have to have a cutie mark to by a 'big colt'?"

"Yeah!" Silver Spoon said, "Baby blank flank!" Both fillies laughed hard, but Silver Spoon mouthed the word "sorry" to me. Still, it felt terrible to be teased for the conditions I couldn't help. My blank flank, my incontinence, and my padding. It's like the teasing would never stop, no matter where I went.

Finally, the last student arrive in the class. She was a marshmallow-white filly, with a pink and purple, curly mane and tail, and just like me, she had a blank flank, and was a Unicorn. My mouth hung open a little as I stared at the filly. She was the most beautiful filly I had ever seen. I felt a fiery-hot sensation in my chest when I saw her, and luckily for me, the only empty seat was the one next to me. Sure enough, she sat down next to me, smiling at me.

"Hello!" she said, her voice a bit squeaky, "Are you new?"

"Uh... mm-hmm..." I said, trying hard not to blush.

"Well, I'm Sweetie Belle," she said, "Welcome." She gave me a welcoming nuzzle. I blushed and rubbed my cheek as the bell rang and Cheerilee stood in front of the class.

"Good morning, class," she said, "I hope everyone had a wonderful Hearth's Warming, and a great winter break. Now, we have a new student joining us today. Everyone please welcome..." She looked at me as I stood up. "...what's your name, hon?"

"I no got one," I said.

"Well then, I'll just call you Sweetheart for now, since it's the name Fluttershy gave you, OK?" Cheerilee said. I nodded in approval, kind of liking the name. "Anyway, this is Sweetheart. Now, he has a condition called incontinence, in which he can't control when he needs to go to the bathroom, and that's why he's wearing a diaper." I sat back down with nervousness, a bit embarrassed that she had just said that.

"He will be treated the way you want to be treated," Cheerilee said, "If anyone is caught teasing or bullying him, they well be punished, understood?"

"Yes, Ms. Cheerilee," everyone said. But, Diamond Tiara had something else to say.

"Really, Ms. Cheerilee?" she said, "You're gonna punish us if we make fun of a colt that should be in preschool and still poops himself in fourth-grade." A few giggles rang out in the class. "Is that about right?"

"Yes, Diamond Tiara," Cheerilee said, "Incontinence is no laughing matter. You wouldn't like it if you were teased because you had it, would you?"

"So?" she said, "Do you see me wearing diapers in fourth-grade?"

"No," Cheerilee said, "And you can consider yourself lucky. Now, stop talking back before you, me, and Filthy Rich have another conference." Diamond Tiara mumbled angrily under her breath as Cheerilee continued to speak. "Anyway, it's note-taking time. Please take out your notebooks and something to write with." Everyone did. I reached into my saddlebag and pulled out a pencil and a notebook. A little confused about the notebook, I asked to make sure it was right.

"Ms. Cheerilee?" I asked, pointing at the notebook, "This?"

"Yes, Sweetheart," Cheerilee said, "Write in that." I nodded and opened to the first blank page, ignoring the girly giggles from Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara.

As excited as I was to go to school, it wasn't anything like I had expected. I expected to make new friends and shovel knowledge into my brain, but I had made two bullies, and fourth-grade was very difficult. Even though all I had to do was copy notes, it still was hard to write them I could barely hold my pencil correctly. I wanted to copy off of Sweetie Belle, since she was sitting right next to me, but I was afraid that would anger her, and plus, there was something in my brain that was telling me I shouldn't.

Four hours later, it was lunchtime, and all the students went to the cafeteria to eat. Even though I was feeling down because none of the stuff Cheerilee taught got through to me, I figured a good lunch would feed my brain and I would be ready for the last few hours. Anyway, I followed the rest of the class to the cafeteria and sat alone at an empty table. I was hoping to get to sit next to Sweetie Belle, but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. I figured she was just in the bathroom and just waited as I grabbed my lunch bag and spilled the contents on the table.

The bag contained a peanut-butter-sandwich, wheat crackers, a pre-peeled orange, a carton of skim milk and a large chocolate-chip cookie. I wanted to eat the cookie first, but decided to wait so that would be the last thing I tasted. I ate the sandwich, crackers, orange, and drink my milk, but when I went for the cookie, a pink hoof swiped it from me.

"Hey!", I yelled. In front of me was Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, who was holding my cookie in her hoof.

"Well well well", she said, "Looks like you can feed yourself after all". I raised my eyebrow in disbelief.

"Yeah...", I said, "Why no?"

"Because you're a baby", Diamond Tiara said. I didn't want to hear any of Diamond Tiara's teasing while I was trying to enjoy lunch, so I tried to shoo her away.

"Give back and leave me lone!", I said, reaching for the cookie.

"Fine", Diamond Tiara said, holding the cookie out to me, "Here". I went to grab it, but she pulled it out of my reach again.

"Wha...?", I asked.

"Oh, you're not getting it that way", Diamond Tiara said, "I have to feed it to you". She shoved the cookie against my lips and I pushed it away from me.

"No!", I said, "Give here!"

"Aww, the baby doesn't want to eat what's made for him", Diamond Tiara said, "I guess that means we have to hold him down to feed it to him".

"Diamond Tiara, I think we did enough", Silver Spoon said.

"No", Diamond Tiara said, "When a baby refuses to eat, you have to hold it down until it eats. Now help me if you want to attend my cutescenera".

Silver Spoon sighed in frustration and grabbed the cookie from Diamond Tiara's hoof. With my eyes fixed on the cookie, I didn't expect myself to be locked in a headlock by Diamond Tiara from behind. I gasped for breath and tried to squirm out of her grasp, but she had it locked in tight. Silver Spoon had been trying to feed me the cookie, but I continued to push it away. I hoped others would help, but all they did was formed a crowd and watched in interest.

I felt myself losing consciousness as I was still locked in the headlock, so I decided to resort to the one thing I knew would work. I leaned down and sunk my teeth deep in Diamond Tiara's foreleg as hard as my jaws allowed it. She screamed in pain and let go of me as I ran out of the cafeteria, not caring about the cookie any longer. More unluckily, I had seen Sweetie Belle out the corner of my eye as I ran into Cheerilee's classroom and hid under my desk, crying into my hooves. I had just bitten a filly over a cookie, and I felt sorry for myself.

"Sweetheart?", Cheerilee asked, grading papers, "Are you alright?" I looked up at Cheerilee and shook my head, tears flowing like waterfalls from my eyes. "What's the matter?" I was too frightened to say anything, not knowing how she was going to punish me. "It's alright, Sweetheart. I won't hurt you. You can tell me". I took a breath, walked around the teacher's desk, and stood in front of Cheerilee.

"I try to eat and Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara be mean and taked my cookie!", I said, "They no give cookie back and Diamond Tiara hurt me and try make me eat. I bited her and run and-" I sniffled and began to cry to hard to talk. Cheerilee wheeled herself closer to me and hugged me as I cried into her coat.

"Shh...", she said, patting my back, "It's alright, Anon. Now, let me recap what you said. You said you were trying to have lunch, and Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara stole from you and started picking on you?"

"*sniffle* Mm-hmm...", I said.

"And then she put her hooves on you and tried to force-feed you?", Cheerilee said, "And then you bit her to defend yourself?"

"Mm-hmm...", I repeated, even though I didn't know what most of that meant.

"OK then, Sweetheart", she said, "Don't cry. I'm not going to punish you. All you did was protect yourself. As for Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon will receive a detention, and I'll be having a conference with Diamond Tiara's father". I smiled and buried my face back in her coat. Her coat smelled like fruit punch, and I loved it.

"Thank you, Ms. Cheerilee", I said.

"You're welcome", she said. We let go of each other. "Oh, and I'm glad you're here so we can talk in private". She grabbed my paper off of her desk. "I tried to read your notes, but... your hoofwriting is very... unreadable. I think we should put you in the alternate class until you get up to a fourth-grader". I hung my head a little. I was happy to learn something easier, but it was disappointing that I couldn't handle where I was supposed to be.

"K...", I said. Cheerilee smiled and raised my head, making my eyes look right into hers.

"Sweetheart, I know you want to be in a higher-up grade, but you aren't ready", she said, "You want to learn don't you?" I nodded. "And you want to get smarter don't you?" I nodded again. "Well, it's best that you learn what you missed so you can catch up to a fourth-grader". I nodded again. "Plus, you won't be by yourself. There are five other students in the alternate class, who are all nicer than Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. They might even want to be your friend". I smiled, getting a little excited about making friends.

"And", Cheerilee continued, "I'll still be your teacher, so you and I won't have to be separated". I smiled wider. "And finally, every time you correctly answer a question, you'll be rewarded with candy". Hearing that "C" word made me jump in excitement. I didn't know much, but I knew exactly what candy was.

"Candy?", I repeated.

"Yes", Cheerilee said, "Do you like candy?" I happily nodded as Cheerilee chuckled. "Well then, do you accept my invitation to the alternative class?"

"Huh?", I asked as she had said some big words I didn't know.

"Do you want to be in the other class?", Cheerilee said, using smaller words.

"Mm-hmm!", I said.

"Well then, the alternate class is only four hours long", Cheerilee said, "It starts at 4:00 and ends at 8:00. You will start later today, alright?" I nodded. "Alright, for now, I'll call Fluttershy to come pick you up". I nodded and sat down in my own desk as Cheerilee picked up her phone and called Fluttershy. I was waiting patiently for Fluttershy when the classroom door opened.

"Sweetheart?", a familiar voice called, "Are you OK?" I looked to my right and smiled. Sweetie Belle had walked in, carrying her lunchbox with her. I fought the urge to blush and spoke.

"Hi, Sweetie Belle", I said, waving at her.

"Hi, Sweetheart", Sweetie Belle said, "I just want to know if you're alright after what those two meanies did to you".

"I K", I said. Sweetie Belle smiled and sat next to me in her desk.

"Alright", she said, "Oh, and you don't need to worry about those two. All Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara do is pick on other ponies, especially blank flanks".

"You blank flank", I said, pointing at her flank, "That mean they pick on you too?"

"Yes", Sweetie Belle said, "But I ignore them".

"What ignore?", I asked.

"I just don't listen to them", Sweetie Belle said, "If you don't show interest in a bully, they won't find teasing fun". I smiled and nodded as Sweetie Belle opened her lunchbox. "So, where's your lunch?"

"I eated it", I said.

"Oh, well, I wouldn't want to eat in front of you then", Sweetie Belle said, reaching into her lunchbox and pulling out a sandwich. "Do you like egg salad?" Even though I didn't know what egg salad was, I accepted it anyway.

"Thank you", I said,

"You're welcome", Sweetie Belle said, beginning to eat, "So, where you from?" I really didn't know how to answer that question. I didn't want to tell her that I was a family and orphanage reject that had been found by a mare I've only known for a day, so I decided to lie.

"I... I from... Canterlot", I lied, heavy guilt running through my body.

"Canterlot?!", Sweetie Belle said, very excited, "Oh, I've always wanted to go there! How is it?!"

"It nice", I said.

"How nice?!", Sweetie Belle said, "Have you ever been to the Grand Galloping Gala?"

"Uh... yeah", I said.

"Oh, you're soooo lucky!", she said, "My big sister, Rarity, said she didn't like it. She had a crush on Princess Celestia's nephew, but he didn't treat her like a lady".

"I treat you like lady", I said. Sweetie Belle smiled, a very light blush of flattery peeking through her white face.

"Well, you're kind", she said, "And I treat you like a friend". When she said that word, I felt the fiery sensation in my chest again. Like I said, I didn't know what the feeling was, but I blushed. Sweetie Belle called me a friend, and I would never thought I would have heard that come from anyone else.

"Friend...?", I said, "Me... you... friend?"

"I'll be your friend", Sweetie Belle said, "I like making new friends". I blushed harder. That's when there was a knock on the door. Cheerilee opened it and sure enough, Fluttershy was there to pick me up.

"Sweetheart", Cheerilee said, "Fluttershy's here". I smiled, ran over to her, and hugged her front leg.

"Hello, Sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "How are you?"

"I make friend!", I said, pointing at Sweetie Belle.

"Oh, hello Sweetie Belle", Fluttershy said.

"Hi, Fluttershy", Sweetie Belle said, "I didn't know he lived with you".

"Well, he does for the time in being", Fluttershy said, "And he's so obedient and sweet. My animals already like him".

"Lucky!", Sweetie Belle said, "Opal still has problems getting used to me! You gotta teach me that stare you do, Fluttershy!" Fluttershy chuckled.

"Well, I cannot", she said, "Only members of my family can perform The Stare. No matter how much I would teach it to you, it wouldn't work for you". Sweetie Belle pouted.

"OK...", she said.

"Alright, I'm going to go now", Fluttershy said, "We'll be back at 4:00, Cheerilee".

"I'll be here", Cheerilee said, "Have a good day". Fluttershy and I left the schoolhouse and walked back to the cottage.

Another four hours later, Fluttershy had walked me back to the schoolhouse. Unlike the first time I went, I was actually a little bit more confident about going, knowing that I didn't have to deal with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Still, I was a little bit afraid, because I knew I wasn't alone, and I had only befriended one classmate. Anyway, Fluttershy and I walked down the halls until we reached Cheerilee's classroom.

"Alright, Sweetheart", she said, "I'll be back at 8:00 to pick you up".

I nodded and hugged Fluttershy one more time before walking into the classroom. Sure enough, the alternate class was much smaller. There was a group of four ponies sitting together at a circular table. There was also two empty chairs at the table, but I didn't know any of those ponies, so I sat by myself at one of the desks and waited for Cheerilee.

"Hey", one of the ponies at the table called, "Why are you sitting by yourself?" I turned around to face them.

"I wait for Ms. Cheerilee", I said.

"We are too", another said, "But you can sit with us. We won't bite".

I nodded and walked over to the table, taking my saddlebag with me. Once I sat down at the table, I was able to get a better look at everyone. Three were colts, and one was a filly. The filly was light-beige colored, with a red, curly mane and tail, and two candy canes for a cutie mark, and wore glasses that were thicker than Silver Spoon's. The tallest colt was golden colored, with an aquamarine-colored main and tail, and a snail for a cutie mark. The next colt was white, spotted with brown spots like a cow, with a reddish-brown mane, and a blank flank. Finally, the last colt was blue, with an orange mane and tail, and a pair of scissors for a cutie mark. Everyone was smiling at me.

"Hi!", the filly said, speaking with a very heavy lisp, "I'm Peppermint Twist, but you can call me Twist! I make peppermint sticks, and EVERYPONY loves them!"

"Hi Twist", I said back, smiling. After that, the colts introduced themselves to me.

"I'm Snips", the blue colt said, "I can cut anything you want out of paper with just one pair of scissors!"

"Hi Snips", I said.

"I'm Snails", the golden colt said, speaking with a lisp a lot lighter than Twist's, "I can read the minds of snails... even though the only things they think about are shells and seaweed".

"Hi Snails", I said.

"And I'm Pipsqueak", the spotted colt said, "I'm an exchange student from Trottingham".

"Hi Pipsqueak", I said. At that same time, the door opened again. I expected to see Cheerilee, but who was there surprise me. It was Sweetie Belle, who walked over to the table and sat down next to me.

"Sweetie Belle...", I said. She smiled and looked at me.

"Hi, Anon!", she happily said.

"You here too?!", I asked, "You in other class".

"Well, yes", Sweetie Belle said, "But I have dyslexia".

"What that?", I asked.

"It's a condition that makes it hard to read", Sweetie Belle said, "That's why I'm in the alternate class. But, Ms. Cheerilee lets me be in both classes, so I am". I smiled and nodded, very happy that someone I knew was in the class also, and it was my only friend. Anyway, the door opened one last time, and it was Cheerilee, who walked in with a sweet smile.

"Good afternoon, my little ponies", she said.

"Hi, Ms. Cheerilee", everyone said.

"Now, as you all see, we have a new student joining us today", she said, pointing to me, "This is Sweetheart. He's joining us today because he wishes to become smarter". I smiled.

"Me too", Snips and Snails both said. No offense to the duo or anything, but it was pretty obvious why they were in the alternate class. Anyway, after the introduction, Cheerilee continued to talk.

"Well, Sweetheart", Cheerilee said, "Since this is your first time learning, I'll be teaching you privately today. The rest of you, please practice your spelling words for tomorrow's quiz". All of the other students went into their saddlebags and took out bags of notecards, while Cheerilee asked me to her desk. I sat down in one of the chairs in front and Cheerilee sat in her chair behind.

"Now, since your brain is ten years old old, it should be easier for you to understand what I teach", she said as I nodded, "First, I'll start you off with the simplest step of learning: letters and numbers". She went into her drawer and pulled out two laminated charts, one containing letters, the other containing numbers 0 to 100. She started with the letter chart.

"This is the alphabet", she said.

"Alphabet...", I repeated to myself. Cheerilee could clearly hear me, but paid no attention, as she knew I was getting it.

"These are the letters you need to learn if you want to spell", Cheerilee said, "Now, I'm going to say each one of them, and you repeat after me, alright?" I nodded and over the next minute, we had went through each letter.

"Very good", she said, "Now, say it by yourself. You may use the chart to help". I nodded and did.

"W... X... Y... Z", I said correctly.

"Alright", Cheerilee said, "Now..." She took the chart and placed it under her desk. "...can you say it without looking at the chart?" I felt a bit scared, but then, Cheerilee went back into her drawer and placed a small jar of candy and a plastic bag on the desk. "Need I remind you what your reward is if you get it right?" I smiled and repeated the alphabet.

"A...B...C...D...", I said, making it all the way to "Z" once again. Cheerilee smiled, opened the jar, and placed a piece of candy in the plastic bag.

"Each piece of candy you earn goes in the bag", she said, "When it's time for you to go home, you'll get it, alright".

"K", I said. Cheerilee smiled.

"By the way", she said, "When you say that, you don't just say 'K', you say 'OK'. It sounds much better. Or, you can say 'alright', like I do".

"Al... right", I said. Sure enough, that did sound a lot better.

"Anyway, moving on", Cheerilee said, "Now, we'll go to numbers. You'll need to learn these for several reasons. Counting is the most important reason". I nodded. "Alright, just like the letters, I'm going to say them aloud, and you repeat after me". I nodded and we went through each number.

"Good", Cheerilee said, "Now, try it yourself. Use the chart if you need help". I nodded and repeated the numbers using the chart.

"98... 99... 100", I said, smiling proudly.

"Very good, Sweetheart", Cheerilee said, "Now, can you do it without looking?" I nodded confidently as she put the chart under the desk as well. "Good luck". I nodded and thought really hard as I counted.

"78... 79... 80... uh...", I said, starting to break down. The letters were easy, since there was only twenty-six of them, but counting to 100 was a bit difficult.

"Come on, hon", Cheerilee said, "You're almost there".

"...uh ...81?", I asked. Cheerilee nodded as I proudly continued, "...99... 100!" Cheerilee placed three pieces in the bag.

"I'm giving you a little extra for that", she said, "I didn't expect you to count all the way to 100 that easily". I smiled proudly again. "You sure catch on pretty quick, and you've earned four pieces of candy already". I blushed in flattery a little.

"Now, well move on to something a bit difficult", she said, "Writing and spelling". I took a small breath, knowing that was coming. "But, we'll start off with something easy first. I'll just write some words down on some paper, and you can trace them". I sighed and nodded lightly. "First, your name. Well, temporary name, I guess". With a highlighter, she wrote down "Sweetheart" and gave me a pencil.

"Here you go", she said. I slowly traced the two words with the pencil. It wasn't too perfect, but I guess it was enough for Cheerilee.

"Very good", she said, "Now, my name". She wrote "Ms. Cheerilee" on the paper as well. I then traced it with the pencil. "Alright, and finally, Fluttershy's name". She wrote "Fluttershy" on the paper too. I traced it and stopped as my hoof started to hurt.

"Good", Cheerilee said, "And I see your hoof is in pain. That happens when you write for some time. But you'll get used to it". I nodded. "Now, is there anything you want to write on your own?" I thought about it, and smiled.

"Lucky and Cuddles", I said, "My friends". Cheerilee shrugged and wrote both of those names on the paper as I happily traced them.

"Anything else?", Cheerilee asked. I smiled and looked behind me at the table everyone else was sitting at.

"They name", I said. Cheerilee smiled and wrote everyone else's names on the paper as I traced with ease, getting better hind of it.

"Very good, Sweetheart", she said, "Now, I want you to write those names on a separate piece of paper without myself helping. You may use the other paper to help". I nodded and wrote all of those names on the other piece of paper. It was very hard, but with the paper helping me, it was a bit easy.

"I done", I said. Cheerilee smiled.

"Well, it's fine", Cheerilee said, "But you could write the letters a bit more accurate, especially your s's and your e's". I nodded. "Now, let's see you write them, without your paper". I took another breath and nodded. "For each word you write correctly, you get one piece of candy". I free-hoofed the names on the blank side of the paper, showing it to Cheerilee afterwards.

"Well, you misspelled 'Pipsqueak' and 'Peppermint'", Cheerilee said, "But you'll get better. For now, you've earned more candy". She placed nine pieces of candy in the bag, one for each name correct.

Within three hours, Cheerilee had taught me how to spell slightly bigger words, how to spell numbers, and 2-D shapes. I had just finished drawing what a triangle was as Cheerilee placed one more piece of candy in the bag.

"Alright, Sweetheart", she said, "That's all for today. Tomorrow, I'll get you started on math". I nodded as Cheerilee grabbed the half-full bag of candy and placed it in my lap. "And there's the candy you earned today, Keep up the good work". I smiled and happily accepted it.

"Thank you, Ms. Cheerilee!", I said.

"You're welcome, Sweetheart", Cheerilee said, "Now, for the last hour, you can enjoy yourself until Fluttershy comes to pick you up".

I nodded and went to sit down at the table with everyone else. But, looking at Cheerilee, I felt that I should thank her for teaching me and giving me candy, with something in return. I went into my saddlebag and pulled out some crayons and paper, and tuned to face Cheerilee as I drew her. It took fifteen minutes, since she wasn't posing, but I was still able to do it. After I was finished, I held the drawing in my mouth and walked over to her.

"Ms. Cheerilee", I said, "Here". I placed the drawing on the desk and Cheerilee looked at it, her eyes widening in surprise.

"Is this supposed to be me?", she asked.

"Mm-hmm!", I said, "Cuz you better teacher ever!" She smiled with flattery and hugged me.

"Thank you so much, Sweetheart", she said, "I love it".

"You welcome, Ms. Cheerilee", I said.

After Fluttershy had come to pick me up, we walked back to the cottage. Fluttershy unlocked the door and let me in, closing the door behind me. I then walked into the living room, only for a very delicious aroma to kick me in the face. Fluttershy saw my muzzle twitch and chuckled.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you", she said, "My mother is visiting today, and she made dinner".

Fluttershy lead me into the kitchen. Sure enough, another mare was in there cooking a big meal. She looked a lot like Fluttershy, but her mane and tail was purple, and her coat was a darker yellow. Still, it wasn't hard to see that this mare was related to Fluttershy. Anyway, the mare placed a lid over a pot and smiled at her daughter.

"Hello, sweetie", she said, hugging Fluttershy. Her voice sounded as feminine as Fluttershy's, but a bit deeper.

"Hello, Mother", Fluttershy replied, kissing her mother's cheek. They let go of each other as Fluttershy's mother looked at me.

"Who is this cute little furball?", she said, walking over to me as I blushed again.

"Well, it's a little hard to explain, Mother", Fluttershy said.

"It's no need, sweetie", the mare said, "I just feel that you should've told me you had a foal of your own".

"That's the thing", Fluttershy said, "He's not my birth foal. He isn't even legally under my supervision right now".

"Oh...", the mare said, "Then, why is he here?" Fluttershy looked down.

"Sweetheart", she said to me, "Would you mind if I told Mother your... past?" I shook my head.

"Well then", Fluttershy started, "I actually found him yesterday morning out in Downtown Ponyville. He was laying in a soggy box, and I didn't want him to freeze to death. So, I brought him here. When he woke a few hours later, he told me he had a tragic past. He said his mother gave him to an orphanage right after he was born, where he was neglected, and he had no father. Also, he said he was born with incontinence, and it is stuck with him for life. And he also is falling behind in school by four grades, which is why he speaks like he does".

"Oh, you poor thing!", the mare said, wrapping her front legs around my torso and lifting me so that we were eye-to-eye, "Well, you won't have to worry about that anymore, not with a wonderful mare like Fluttershy watching over you". Fluttershy blushed. "My name is Flutterkind. What's yours?"

"I no have name", I said, "Fluttershy call me Sweetheart". Flutterkind smiled.

"Well then, Sweetheart", she said, "It's lovely to meet you".

"You too", I said, smiling. That's when my stomach growled lightly. Flutterkind smiled and playfully poked at my stomach.

"It seems you could use something to eat", she said, "Well you're in luck. I'm making hayloaf, and it'll be ready in a few minutes". I smiled as she set me on the floor again.

"K...", I said, remembering something, "No... O,K" Fluttershy smiled.

"Did you learn new things today?", she asked.

"Mm-hmm!", I said, "I learn shapes, write, letters, and count to 100!" I then counted to 100 to prove it.

"97... 98... 99... 100!", I said. Both mares clapped for me as I stood proudly.

"Congrats, Sweetheart", Fluttershy said, leaning down and kissing my cheek, "Alright, you can go have a seat in the living room. I'll come get you when dinner's ready".

I nodded and walked into the living room, laying myself on the couch and sighing lightly, watching the animals enjoy themselves. That's when I felt something nuzzle my leg. I looked down and saw Cuddles standing there, smiling at me. I smiled and let her onto the couch as she laid herself next to me, snuggling into my coat.

"Hi Cuddles", I said, giving her a small nuzzle. I kept petting her head as I laid on the couch. Just when the comfortable sensation was about to put me to sleep, I felt a small pat on my back.

"Sweetheart, dinner's ready", Fluttershy said.

I got off the couch and followed Fluttershy back into the kitchen. She placed me in the highchair, strapped me in, and tied the bib around my neck. After that, Flutterkind gave me my dinner on a sectioned-off styrofoam plate and a foal bottle full of apple juice. Dinner was hayloaf, cut in small cubes, along with mashed potatoes and gravy, creamed corn, broccoli and cheese, and creamed spinach. The combined smells of each smelled so good, and my stomach growled again just thinking about it.

"Now, Sweetheart", Flutterkind said, "If there is anything you don't like, you don't have to eat it". She and Fluttershy shared the only chair at the table, which was a bit impressive. I didn't think they were thin enough to share custom-made chair with hoofrests. "It won't offend me one bit".

I nodded and after Fluttershy gave me a plastic fork, I began eating. To my surprise, everything tasted great. In fact, it was the best food I had ever had in my life. I figured there would be something I wouldn't like, but would force myself to choke down so I wouldn't hurt Flutterkind's feelings, but everything was tasty. I happily ate my dinner, not leaving one bit of food on the plate.

"Is everything alright, Sweetheart?", Flutterkind asked, wiping her mouth with her napkin.

"Mm-hmm!", I said, my cheeks as big as a chipmunk's.

"Well, thank you", Flutterkind said, "I didn't earn my cutie mark for nothing". She sure wasn't lying there.

"So, Mother", Fluttershy said, "How's everything in Cloudsdale?"

"It's fine, sweetie", Flutterkind said, "A bit lonely, but fine".

"Mother...", Fluttershy said, "I told you, if you want me to move back home, I will. Your house has plenty of room for my animals".

"But this is where you belong", Flutterkind said, kissing the top of Fluttershy's head, "You first touched the ground by accident, and I think it's only fair that I allow you to live where you please. Plus, I have my roommate and best friend, Spitfire to keep me company".

When I heard Flutterkind say that name, I clearly heard it. I knew exactly who Spitfire was. Spitfire was my idol. I had idolized Spitfire right when I first saw her. I had snuck into Mother Superior's office to watch a little television, and she was watching a Wonderbolt Competition. After the Wonderbolts won, Spitfire gave a speech, and every single word moved me. She gave whole new meanings to the phrases "determination", "never give up", and "good sportsmanship". One of my dreams was to meet her, but since she lived in Cloudsdale, I knew there was no way I was even getting close to her. Cloudsdale is a place only for Pegasus Ponies, because only they can walk on clouds. I was a Unicorn, and I would've given anything just to meet Spitfire face-to-face.

"Spitfire...", I mumbled under my breath. But, Flutterkind could hear me.

"Yes, sweetheart", she said, "I said Spitfire. Do you know Spitfire?" I smiled.

"Mm-hmm", I said, "I like Spitfire. But, I no ever meet her. I wanna".

"Well, Spitfire has a very busy schedule, because she's Captain of the best flying team in Equestria", Flutterkind said, "Plus, along with myself, she lives in Cloudsdale, and a Unicorn like yourself wouldn't be able to stand on the clouds". I hung my head in sadness. "But, how about this? When I go home, I'll talk to Spitfire and ask her when her next free-day is. The next time she has one, she'll come meet you, and you won't have to go to Cloudsdale". I smiled again.

"For real?", I asked.

"I promise", Flutterkind said, "But, it may take some time, alright?"

"OK!", I said, too excited to care. After another two minutes, I had finished my dinner at the same time Flutterkind did, while Fluttershy was finishing the last few bites of hers.

"Thank you, Flutterkind", I said, the taste of the dinner still on my breath.

"You're very welcome, Sweetheart", Flutterkind said, "It flatters me to know that ponies love my cooking". I smiled and shifted for comfort, feeling a bit of heaviness in my diaper, then a squish. I blushed, as I knew what that was before the smell even reached my muzzle.

"Umm... Fluttershy...?", I asked timidly.

"Yes, Sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked.

"I... I need change...", I said, "Stinky".

"Alright", Fluttershy said. She was about to get up, but Flutterkind stopped her.

"I'll take care of his mess, sweetie", she said, "You're trying to eat, and I wouldn't want you to ruin your appetite".

"Oh... are you sure?", Fluttershy asked.

"Yes", Flutterkind said, "I've changed you several times, so I'm used to it".

"OK, Mother", Fluttershy said, "The supplies are in my bedroom upstairs. And please put him in his pajamas afterwards. He's probably getting uncomfortable in that robe".

Flutterkind nodded and unstrapped me from the highchair, carrying me upstairs to Fluttershy's bedroom. Once we got there, we walked in and Flutterkind closed the door behind us. I laid myself on the edge of the bed and allowed Flutterkind to change me as I stared at the ceiling, letting her do what she had to.

"Flutterkind?", I asked, "You here a lot?"

"I visit every now-and-then", Flutterkind said, wiping me clean, "Since Fluttershy and I live so far from each other now, I miss her more often, so getting to see her for a few hours brightens my day".

"Why you live far away her?", I asked, lifting my bottom as she slid a clean diaper under it.

"Well, it's a bit of a long story", Flutterkind said, taping up the new diaper. After that, she grabbed my folded pajamas from Fluttershy's dresser, put them on me, and sat down next to me, allowing me to sit in her lap.

"See, Fluttershy was only seven years old", Flutterkind started, "She was a sweet, innocent little filly. She had trouble making friends, and between you and I, she was a bit of a bed-wetter also". I nodded.

"I no tell", I said.

"Good", Flutterkind said, "Anyway, she was the flag-holder for a pretend race between her best friend, and a couple of bullies. But, she was accidentally knocked off of a cloud, and touched the earth of Equestria for the first time in her life. Then, thanks to the first-ever performed Sonic Rainboom, she realized her special talent, earned her cutie mark, and found this cottage".

"And she live here?", I asked.

"Yes", Flutterkind said, "At first, I tried to get her to come home, but she then, and still, loves it here. She has animals to keep her company, and a whole home to herself. I couldn't remove her from her home, so I allowed her to live here, and since then, I've been visiting. Like I said, just seeing Fluttershy just a few times a month comforts me enough".

"Why you no stay here wit Fluttershy?", I asked.

"Because I don't want to crowd her", Flutterkind said, "I believe 500+ animals is enough roommates for one mare. Plus, Spitfire and I have shared a home for five years now, and I can't just leave her. When we were fillies, we were schoolyard friends. And when I say that, I mean we were the best of friends. Spitfire would fight with me in an alley if she had to. Anyway, it had always dreamed of living together, and moving out would shatter that dream".

"Oh...", I said.

"But at least I still get to see my Fluttershy now-and-then", Flutterkind said, "It's better than not at all". I nodded.

"I like you story", I said. Flutterkind smiled.

"Thank you, Sweetheart", she said, kissing my cheek, "Alright, let's go back to the table. I believe a certain colt deserves some dessert after finishing his meal".

I smiled as Flutterkind picked me up and carried me back downstairs. Once we got back into the, Flutterkind put me back into the highchair threw away our paper plates, and gave us new ones. After that, she opened the oven, and pulled out fifteen chocolate-chip cookies. Just the sight of them made me hungry again. I absolutely loved, and still continue to love cookies, especially chocolate-chip, and I feel that they would make up for the stolen cookie during school. Anyway, she place five cookies on each paper plate and served us. The cookies were soft, sweet, warm and chocolaty, and I loved them. After dessert, Fluttershy tossed the plates in the trash and cleaned up the table.

"Well, was everything enjoyable?", Flutterkind asked.

"Mm-hmm!", I said, cookie crumbs all over my face. Fluttershy chuckled and used the bib to wipe them away.

"Everything was great, Mother", she said, "Thank you".

"You're very welcome, sweetie", Flutterkind said. That's when I felt a sudden craving for milk, thanks to the chocolate in the cookies.

"Fluttershy?", I asked, "Milk please?" Fluttershy smiled.

"Sure", she said. Fluttershy rinsed out my foal bottle, filled it with milk, and placed it in the microwave for thirty seconds.

"Sweetie, I best be going now", Flutterkind said, "It was nice seeing you again".

"You too, Mother", Fluttershy said, sharing a slow nuzzle with her mother. Flutterkind then walked over to me with a smile.

"It was nice meeting you too, Sweetheart", she said, hugging me, "And I'll keep my promise".

"OK, Flutterkind", I said, nuzzling myself into her coat, "I like you". Flutterkind blushed a bit.

"I like you too", she said. She then walked out of the house, closing the door behind her. Fluttershy grabbed the foal bottle from the microwave, recapped it, and shook it.

"Alright, Sweetheart", she said, "Let's go to my bedroom. I'll give you your milk once we get there".

I nodded as I was once again unstrapped from the highchair and carried upstairs into Fluttershy's bedroom. I smiled as I saw Lucky laying on the big pillow on the bed. Fluttershy could tell what I was thinking, so she spoke to Lucky.

"Hello, Lucky", she said, "Would you mind making a little room for us? I'm sure sweetheart here would let you lay on him".

I happily nodded and reached for her as Lucky meowed and stood up, moving over as Fluttershy sat down on the bed, holding me in her forelegs like a baby again as Lucky climbed on me and rested herself on my stomach. I smiled and happily pet Lucky as Fluttershy tied a clean bib around my neck again.

"Here's your milk, Sweetheart", she said. Fluttershy held the foal bottle and pushed until the amber nipple was in my mouth. I held the bottle in my hooves and suckled, drinking the warm, creamy milk. My lips curled up into a smile as I continued to drink. A few drops began to leak and run down my cheeks, but I didn't mind it. Some of the drops reached the bib, and some didn't, because Lucky was feeding herself from the stray milk-drops.

Fluttershy smiled with a light blush as I drank from the bottle, comfortably laying in her forelegs. She began cradling me very slowly from side to side, humming a small tune in my ear. The tune and cradling started to tire me a little as my suckling slowed and soon stopped as my stomach was finally full. Fluttershy stopped cradling and placed the 1/4-full bottle on the nightstand next to us.

"Have you had enough?", she asked, rubbing my full stomach.

"Mm-hmm...", I said. I then felt an uncomfortable buildup in my stomach as I groaned, trying to figure out what was wrong.

"Oh my", Fluttershy said, "Hold on". Fluttershy sat me up and lightly patted my back, forcing a loud burp out of me. After the belch, I sighed in bliss as the buildup was gone.

"Thank you, Fluttershy", I said.

"You're welcome, Sweetheart", she said, "Just remember to say 'excuse me' when you belch, OK?" I nodded, rubbing my eyes and yawning. Fluttershy smiled and pet my mane slowly.

"I think it's bedtime for you", she said. I grinned weakly as Fluttershy grabbed my pacifier and placed it in my mouth. She tucked me into the bed, and even placed Lucky on my chest. She kissed my cheek and nuzzled me.

"Would you like a song, Sweetheart?", she asked. I smiled and nodded, happily suckling my pacifier. She plugged in the nightlight and turned off the room light. Then, she sat down next to me, rubbed my stomach in circles, and began singing her lullaby softly into my ear. The powerful lullaby and the rubbing combined was so soothing, and my eyes closed almost instantly as Fluttershy stopped singing, only the suckles of my pacifier heard.

"Goodnight, Sweetheart", she said. She left the room, cracking the door as I fell into another deep sleep, smiling peacefully.

Author's Note

OK, I know some people are going to complain about one of these things in this chapter, so allow me to explain:

"Why is Fluttershy's mother's name 'Flutterkind'? That sounds weird".
A: I believe every one of Fluttershy's family has a name like hers. It's clear that Fluttershy has no last name, and her only name is made up of two words. I think the second part of the name is a word that describes how they are. So, I believe "Flutter" is the family name, and "Shy" is her given name.

"Why are Sweetie Belle and Pipsqueak in the alternate class? Sweetie Belle has been called a dictionary for crying out loud".
A: It's clear Pipsqueak is from Trottingham, and since Trottingham has never been talked about or shown in the show, I figured it wasn't such a rich city, and Pipsqueak wasn't able to get real education. As for Sweetie Belle, I had to have a reason for her to be in the class, since she has befriended "sweetheart".

"Where are Applebloom and Scootaloo?"
A: In this story, I've added the alt. universe tag because the CMC was never formed, thus Sweetie Belle never met her friends. I can't tell you the reason, because it would gave too big of a spoiler.

"Why does Flutterkind share a house in Cloudsdale with Spitfire? Why not her husband?"
A: Again, I cannot say, because it would give too big of a spoiler. If you want to know, PM me if you can keep a secret, or just wait for future chapters.

I hope Chapter Two made a bigger satisfaction than Chapter One. Trust me, the story will get better as the chapters continue.

A special thanks to PinkieDP and dante123113 for accepting my cover art request. Suggestions can still be taken. Even if your idea doesn't make the main cover art, I'll still show it in the Author's Notes and give you a shoutout.

Chapter Three

The next morning, I woke up when I felt a very bad pain in my stomach. I groaned very loud as the crippling pain attacked my stomach, alerting Lucky, who was laying next to me. I had no idea what the pain was, or why I had it, but I didn't like it. I was about to call for Fluttershy, but a very delicious smell started calling for me. I got out of the bed, feeling a bit of cold wetness in my diaper. I ignored it and followed the scent downstairs and into the kitchen. Sure enough, Fluttershy was downstairs, making breakfast. She turned around and faced me, smiling.

"Good morning, sweetheart", she said.

"*groan* Hi Fluttershy...", I said, holding my stomach. Fluttershy saw me in pain and was concerned as she stopped what she was doing and walked over to me.

"Is something wrong?", she asked.

"*groan* My tummy... hurt...", I said. I felt a sudden pain as I retched and felt a lump travel up my throat. Fluttershy saw the lump and became worried.

"Oh my!", she said. She quickly grabbed the small wastebasket next to the refrigerator and held it in front of me. I was a little confused, but before I could ask why, I burped and before I knew it, I puked right into the wastebasket. After a few spits, I groaned again, cringing as the horrible taste assaulted my taste buds.

"Walk with me, sweetheart", she said. I walked beside Fluttershy as she held the wastebasket under me. Once we reached the bathroom, she closed the door behind me and had me kneel down in front of the toilet. "If you need to do that again, do it in there". Right when she said that, I retched again and sent more vomit into the toilet.

"*cough* *cough* Eww...", I moaned, cringing again as the foul taste covered my tongue.

"I know, hon", Fluttershy said, comfortably rubbing my back, "Just keep going until you're finished". After about five minutes, I puked up the last bit and sat on my wet padded bottom. Fluttershy flushed the toilet sat next to me, cuddling me.

"It's OK, sweetheart", she said. She grabbed a cup next to the sink, filled it with water, and gave it to me. "Here, drink this". I slowly sipped the cold tap water, crying as the pain started to increase. Fluttershy moved me further up onto her lap and rubbed my aching stomach.

"Shh... it's alright", Fluttershy said, "I know you're in pain right now, but finish your water and we'll go see Nurse Redheart about this".

After I had finished the cup of water, Fluttershy fed her animals and carried me to Ponyville Hospital, not even caring about dressing me into her bathrobe. We had waited in the waiting room for twenty minutes before Nurse Redheart called for us. After a few x-rays and a urine sample, we were in the room again.

"How is he, Nurse?", Fluttershy asked, very concerned.

"He's fine, Ms. Fluttershy", Nurse Redheart said, examining my stomach with her stethoscope, "The vomiting and aching are just side-effects of his new diet".

"What do you mean?", Fluttershy asked.

"Well, see", Redheart said, "Because of his lack of consumption over the years, his stomach, pancreas, and intestines have decreased in size abnormally, and therefore, are not used to taking in food. But, now that you're introducing food to him regularly, his organs are trying to work harder, and since it's so sudden, his stomach doesn't know what to do with consumed items, and therefore rejects them".

"Oh my... is there... a way to fix this...?", Fluttershy asked.

"Yes", Redheart said, "I advise that he refrains from consuming solid foods for a week or two, and instead have him consume semisolid or liquid items. Even blended items are advised, as long as nothing too solid is in it".

"Understood", Fluttershy said, "Um... is there any sort of medicine I should give him?"

"Yes", Redheart said. She then grabbed a plastic bag full of pink pills. "These laxatives should help settle his stomach if it begins to ache too bad. He will need to take one every six hours".

"But... wouldn't that be a solid item if he swallowed those pills?", Fluttershy asked.

"Well... he won't have to...", Redheart said, "See, these are the strongest pills that can help him, and they are only available in... how do I put this... suppository form".

"Oh... my...", Fluttershy said.

"What that...?", I curiously asked, not knowing what a suppository pill was.

"Well... sweetheart...", Fluttershy said, "I'll tell you when it's time for you to take it, OK?" I nodded as Redheart used her magic to give the pills to Fluttershy.

"Remember", Redheart said, "Every six hours. And if they cause him any pain in his rectum, please notify me, alright?"

"Yes, Nurse Redheart", Fluttershy said. Redheart then smiled and looked at me.

"Well, sweetheart", she said, "I never send my young patients away without a little something for their sweet tooth". She went into her cabinet, pulled out a jar full of lollipops, opened it, and held it in front of me. I smiled and grabbed two butterscotch ones as Redheart sent us on our way. "Have a good day, you two. I hope you feel better sweetheart".

After getting back from the hospital, Fluttershy drew me a small bath to help with the nausea. After my bath, Fluttershy tucked me in her bed again and went downstairs to make me a safer breakfast. Thirty minutes later, she returned with a bowl of soup, applesauce, a bowl of softened banana yogurt, and a bottle of orange juice.

"Here you go, sweetheart...", she said, setting everything on the bed next to me, "This should be easier for you to have without upsetting your tummy". She picked up the soup. "Just let me know when you've had enough alright?" I nodded as Fluttershy spoon-fed me some of the soup after blowing on it, the wonderful flavors dancing on my tongue.

"Good?", she asked.

"Mm-hmm...", I said. Fluttershy smiled and fed me more. After I finished half of the soup, I took a break to speak.

"Fluttershy...?", I asked.

"Yes, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked, wiping my chin with a napkin.

"Wh-when... school...?", I asked, "I wanna... learn more..." Fluttershy looked down.

"Oh... well...", Fluttershy said, "You can't go to school if you're sick, sweetheart..."

"What?", I asked, my eyes getting big.

"I can't let you go to school sick...", Fluttershy said, "You could puke again, and I wouldn't be around to take care of it. Plus, if Cheerilee were to see you in a bad condition, she would just ask me to come get you anyway".

"Oh...", I said, looking down at the sheets. It hurt to know I couldn't go to school, even after Cheerilee promised to teach me math.

"But... at least you get to spend all day with me", Fluttershy said, nuzzling me warmly, "And I'm sure your friends would be happy to have you around". She looked toward the bedroom door. "Oh! Speaking of which, I believe you have a visitor".

I looked up and sure enough, Cuddles had walked in, smiling at me. I too smiled and held my hooves out to her as she walked up to the bed. Fluttershy helped her onto the bed and allowed her to walk up the comforter until she was standing on my chest. I pulled her to my face and cuddled her as she curled up into a ball, returning the cuddles. Of course, she still had her powerful stink, but thankfully, it was no longer lethal to my muzzle.

"Aww...", Fluttershy said, "I think Cuddles is trying to help you feel better by cuddling with you". I smiled and nuzzled her little cheek.

"I like Cuddles", I said. Fluttershy picked up the applesauce and fed it to me.

"I'm glad you do like her", she said, "And I'm sure she is too". She fed me the rest of the applesauce and let me lick the bowl clean as I cuddled my skunk friend some more. That's when there was a knock on the front door.

"Oh my, it seems I have a guest", Fluttershy said. She gave me the yogurt and the orange juice as she stood up. "You finish your breakfast and I'll be right back, OK?" I nodded and happily suckled the cold bottle as Fluttershy walked downstairs. As I suckled the bottle and giggled as Cuddles licked away whatever drops dripped down my face, I heard a few voices, then Fluttershy came back upstairs.

"Excuse me, sweetheart...", she said, "...one of my friends are here, and would like to meet you. Do you mind?" I shrugged as Fluttershy smiled and opened the door, letting a light-green mare with a red, snakey mane and a yellow bandana into the room. "Sweetheart, this is my best friend, Tree Hugger".

"Um... hi...", I shyly said. Tree Hugger smiled.

"No need to be scared of me", she said, speaking very calmly, "I'm not gonna bite. I just came over to have tea with my friend, and she said she was taking care of you, so I just wanted so see what she was talking about". Tree Hugger sat next to me, smiling. "What'cha got there?" I timidly held Cuddles out to her.

"Cuddles...", I said, "She... skunk..." Tree Hugger smiled and gently took the weasel from my hooves.

"What a wonderful critter...", she said, "...friendly nature, soft fur, unique scent... perfect". She nuzzled Cuddles, receiving a lick on her cheek.

"You like skunks...?", I curiously asked.

"I love all sorts of nature, little one...", she said, "Critters, plants, rocks, water... I love it all... Mother Nature is my mother... like, animals just like, feel my groove... and come to me, you know...?"

"That's why Tree Hugger and I are wonderful friends", Fluttershy said, "We both really adore nature, just like you adore drawing". I smiled.

"That... nice", I said.

"Whoa whoa... what did you say, Fluttershy?", Tree Hugger asked.

"I said sweetheart really loves drawing", Fluttershy said, "They're pretty impressive I must say". She pointed to the one I had drawn of her she had framed, which made me flattered every time I looked at it. Tree Hugger looked at it and gave a small gasp.

"That looks awesome!", she said, "I want one of me!"

"Oh... well... he's a little ill right now, Tree Hugger...", Fluttershy said, "But, if he's well enough to draw you a picture, I'm sure he wouldn't mind".

"Oh, I know what'll make up his mind", Tree Hugger said. She reached into her bandana and pulled something out of her mane. When I saw that it was a green wallet, she opened it, looking at me. "I'll give you two bits if you draw a picture of me". The two shiny coins glistened brightly in my eyes. Bits were so new to me as I had never even touched one in my life. But now, I was being offered two of them to do something I loved. I looked at Fluttershy for approval, who only smiled.

"It's your choice, sweetheart", she said, "They're your drawings". I smiled.

"I draw Tree Hugger!", I said proudly.

"Righteous!", Tree Hugger said happily, "Let's go in the garden. If I'm gonna get a picture, I want a real one". I smiled and followed Fluttershy and Tree Hugger out in the garden. Once we did, Fluttershy and I sat on a thick blanket to keep ourselves off the snow, while Tree Hugger laid on her stomach in a patch of colorful tulips, keeping about 85% of her weight off of them so she didn't crush them completely, modeling for me. It confused me how she wasn't freezing, because she wasn't wearing anything but her bandana, but I just focused on what she wanted.

"Draw me like this", she said, closing her eyes, "I call this pose, 'Sleeping With Color'". I smiled, readied my paper and crayons, and drew her. Since her mane was snakey, it was a little more difficult, since I had never drawn a snakey mane before, but I managed to do it. Plus, the cold winter wind was blowing the paper forward a few times. Luckily, Fluttershy had brought her umbrella out with her to block the snowflakes from the paper, and in just five minutes, I had finally finished, adding the last bit of color to her cutie mark.

"Done...", I said, a little too afraid of how she was gonna react to it. Tree Hugger stood up and looked at it, her eyes widening.

"This is so rad!", she said, "It looks just like me!" She looked at me again. "I want another one!" She opened her wallet again and placed to more bits in my lap to join my other two. I smiled and nodded.

"I do it!", I said. Tree Hugger smiled and chose a different pose, standing behind a rosebush on her hind hooves, and keeping herself propped up by resting her forelegs against the top of the bush.

"This is 'Delighted Roses'", she said. I smiled and drew her like that, finishing quicker as it was much easier since I only saw her head and front legs, and the rosebush was easy. After drawing the second drawing, I gave it to her, smiling as she gave the same reaction as before.

"This is even more righteous!", she said. She then looked at me again. "Just one more, OK?" I nodded happily as Tree Hugger did the hardest pose. She walked over to a patch of Sunflowers, stood in it, avoiding the flowers, and stood on one hoof, crossing the other one against her other hind leg. She then placed her front legs behind her head, giving a delighted sigh.

"For the last one, 'Dancing With Sunflowers'", she said. I gulped.

"Uh... uh...", I said with fear, "I no know if I do that..." Tree Hugger looked at me.

"A little hard for you?", she asked. I nodded in embarrassment. "Well, how's this for motivation? I'll give you six bits if you can draw me like this". I smiled with confidence as I drew her final picture. Like I said, it was a whole new pose, so I was having trouble drawing with ease, but I remembered how much she was rewarding me. With that on my mind, in fifteen minutes, I finished the last few touches, flipped the paper upside down, and held it out to her.

"Done...", I said, clenching my eyes shut as she took it. But, a loud gasp made me look at her.

"This is the best one!", she said, "I love all of these! It's no wonder you love drawing so much!" She opened her wallet and gave me the six bits she promised me. "Here, you earned them!" I smiled as the ten golden, shiny bits glistened in my eyes. Like I said, I had never touched one bit in my life, but now I had ten of them, all just because I had done what I loved.

"Congratulations, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, cuddling me, "Tree Hugger really loves your drawings".

"You bet I do, Fluttershy", Tree Hugger said, "These are the most rad drawings I've ever seen!" I blushed in flattery again, holding my stash.

"Well, let's get back inside", Fluttershy said, "We don't need you any sicker than you are". I nodded as we all went back inside, myself sighing as the warmth of the house welcomed me again.

"I better get going...", Tree Hugger said, "...it's meditating time for me..." Fluttershy smiled and side-hugged her friend.

"Alright then, have a safe walk back, Tree Hugger", she said. Tree Hugger hugged Fluttershy, and then gave me a nuzzle.

"And thanks again for the rad pictures...", she said, "...hope you feel better..." She left the cottage, closing the door behind herself. Fluttershy took the bits from my hooves and placed them in a small, beige bag, giving it to me.

"This'll hold your money so you won't lose it, OK?", she said, giving me a gentle nuzzle. I smiled and hugged the bag.

"OK...", I said. I then heard a few audible sniffs come from Fluttershy.

"Smells like somepony needs a change", she said, playfully poking the back of my diaper. I blushed as I felt the familiar squish against my behind.

"Please...?", I said, holding my hooves out to her. Fluttershy smiled, carried me upstairs, laid me on the bed, and changed me.

"Tree Hugger really loves your drawings, sweetheart", she said, untaping my messy diaper, "You have very great skills with crayons". I smiled with flattery.

"Thank you", I said. I then peeked down at my blank flank, my smiled dropping a little. "But... I wish I had... cutie mark..."

"Most little fillies and colts wish for their cutie marks", Fluttershy said, "But, the only way you'll get one is when you find a talent you're truly well at. In fact, Sweetie Belle also wishes for her cutie mark, very much more than you do".

"Sweetie Belle wish too?", I asked.

"Yes", Fluttershy said, sprinkling the powder, "She's been trying to earn hers ever since she was five years old, but trying force oneself to earn it isn't going to make it appear any faster. Your cutie mark will come once you realize your destiny, like I did". I nodded in approval as Fluttershy taped up the clean diaper, tossing the dirty one in the wastebasket next to the bed.

"Plus, you don't need a cutie mark to be special", she said, "You're perfect just the way you are". She kissed my muzzle, making me giggle a bit. I then gave a small yawn and blinked a few times. Fluttershy smiled. "Do you need a nap?"

"Mm-hmm", I said. Fluttershy tucked me and herself into the bed, fluffing her pillow.

"Do you mind if I have a nap with you?", she asked, "I had trouble sleeping last night". I shook my head and snuggled into Fluttershy's coat. Fluttershy smiled again, draped her wing over me, and turned off the lights as we both took out nap.

~~~~~~~~~~

At 8:30 PM, later that day, I was sitting in bed, blissfully suckling my pacifier, while Fluttershy was downstairs, feeding her animals. Lucky was laying in my lap, and I was teasing her with her toy mouse, giggling as she meowed and pawed at it as I dangled it just past her reach. That's when there was a knock at the bedroom door. I dropped the toy mouse on Lucky's stomach, thinking Tree Hugger had returned.

"Come in!", I said. But when the door was opened, Tree Hugger wasn't there. It was Sweetie Belle, who was dressed in her winter clothes, carrying a manila folder with her teeth, her saddlebag connected to her side. I smiled wider as she walked over to me and spat the folder on the bed.

"Hello, Sweetheart!", she said, giving me a friendly nuzzle and shaking her saddlebag off of her and onto the floor.

"Hi, Sweetie Belle!", I said, "What here for?"

"I was a little worried when you didn't show up at school today, and Ms. Cheerilee said you were sick today", Sweetie Belle said, "So, I asked her if I could bring you the work you missed after school, and she said I could". She pushed the folder closer to me. "This is your homework. It's addition and subtraction, the easiest step in math". I grabbed the folder and opened it, but none of the ten problems got through to me.

"Uh... uh... I not know this...", I said, scratching the back of my head. Sweetie Belle smiled.

"I thought you didn't", she said, reaching into her saddlebag, "So, Fluttershy and my big sister let me stay here for a few hours, and I'm going to help you finish your homework".

"Like how...?", I asked. She smiled and pulled out a bag of colorful peppermints.

"I bought these for you to help you feel better", she said, "But, you can learn adding and subtracting with them too".

"Yay!", I happily said, very excited to learn more things. Sweetie Belle giggled, opened the bag, and poured the candies onto the bed while I kept Lucky from trying to get any.

"OK, we'll start with addition", she said, "Addition is the process of increasing an amount by adding more to it. In other words, making something bigger". I nodded as Sweetie Belle looked at my homework assignment.

"2+2", she read. She then grabbed two candies and placed them in my hooves. "How many candies did I just put in your hooves?" I counted.

"0, 1", I said, "One".

"No, I gave you two", Sweetie Belle said, "Whenever you count something, you start with one, not zero". I nodded.

"Two", I corrected myself. Sweetie Belle smiled.

"Yes", she said. She then placed two more in my hooves.

"1, 2, 3, 4", I counted, "Four".

"So, 2+2 equals?", Sweetie Belle asked. I smiled proudly.

"2+2=4!", I said. Sweetie Belle placed the paper, folder, and a pencil in my lap.

"That's right", she said, "Write a four right here". I smiled and wrote a four where she pointed. After completing the five addition questions, we moved on to subtraction.

"Now", Sweetie Belle explained, "Subtraction is the process of taking away, or making something smaller. It's the opposite of addition". I nodded as Sweetie Belle looked at my paper again.

"10-10", she read. She smiled and placed ten pieces in my hooves. "How many candies do you have?" I looked down at them.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10", I counted, "Ten".

"Yes", she said. She then grabbed them all out of my hooves. "Now how many do you have?" I giggled.

"There is no any", I said.

"So, 10-10 equals?", Sweetie Belle asked. I smiled.

"10-10=0!", I said. Sweetie Belle smiled and pointed at the space.

"That's correct", she said, "Write a zero there". I wrote a zero in the space. In about ten minutes, I had finished doing my homework, and Sweetie Belle had given me another friendly nuzzle.

"Good job", she said, "You did well".

"B-but... I no do it...", I said, "...you do it... I no smart good..." Sweetie Belle held my hoof, making a wide blush appear on my face.

"Sweetheart, you're smarter than you think...", she said, "Just because you don't know school subjects doesn't mean you're not smart. You just have to catch up to what you've missed". She nuzzled me again. "You're as smart as you want to be". I smiled.

"Thank you... Sweetie Belle...", I said.

"You're very welcome, Sweetheart", she said, "Well, now that your homework is completed, why don't we go outside and play in the snow, hmm?"

"Outside... with you...?", I asked as Sweetie Belle nodded, "Fluttershy let me...?"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind, Sweetheart", Sweetie Belle said, "We're only going out in the backyard".

"Uh... uh...", I thought, wondering if I should or shouldn't.

"If you don't want to, you don't have to", Sweetie Belle said, "I'm not forcing you to go outside". Of course, I wanted to ask Fluttershy first and make sure she wouldn't mind if I went outside, but the thought of getting to spend time with Sweetie Belle outside of school was more powerful than that. I smiled and threw the blanket off of myself.

"I wanna go!", I said happily. Sweetie Belle smiled as well.

"Then let's go!", she said.

I followed Sweetie Belle outside into the backyard, waving at Fluttershy, who was too busy feeding her animals to notice. Once we got outside, Sweetie Belle closed the door behind us and walked out into the several hooves of snow piled up on the ground. Her hoof-mittens were protecting her hooves from getting cold and clammy, but I was pretty much used to it after spending an entire month out in the snow.

"So...", I asked, "What do f-?" I was cut off when I was beamed in the face with a snowball. I sputtered, thanking myself that my eyes were closed as I scooped the snow off my face, seeing Sweetie Belle holding another one.

"Surprise!", she proudly yelled, "What're you gonna do now?" I giggled and threw it back, hitting her in the face as well. She shook it off and laughed.

"Are you asking for a snowball-fight?", she teasingly asked. I giggled again.

"Yeah!", I said back. Sweetie Belle threw another snowball, but I ducked it and threw one of my own, getting her in the side. Sweetie Belle giggled and shook it off.

"Challenge accepted!", she excitedly said. For the next five minutes, Sweetie Belle and I continued to have our snowball fight, snowballs flying everywhere. I was having so much fun with my friend, and even though I was struck in the face five times and suffered a few brain freezes, I still loved it. After we decided we had enough snowballs pelted at us, we decided to stop.

"Well, Sweetheart", she said, "I have to say, you're a really good snowball-fighter". I smiled.

"Thank you", I said.

"You're welcome", Sweetie Belle said, nuzzling me, "But we should stop now. If I take one more snowball to my face, I'm gonna turn into solid ice".

"*giggle* Me too", I said, making a giggle come for Sweetie Belle as well. After a few silent seconds, Sweetie Belle had another idea.

"How about we play some tag?", she asked.

"Tag?", I asked.

"Mm-hmm!", Sweetie Belle happily said, "Basically, all you have to do is touch the other pony, like this". She tapped my hind hoof. "So, I tagged you, and you're it. What should you do now?" I smiled and lightly tapped her shoulder, making her smile. "Right, so now, I'm it. And you run away because you don't want me to tag you again". I smiled, stood up, and ran a few hooves away from Sweetie Belle.

"Like this?", I asked.

"Yes", Sweetie Belle said, "But, I'm gonna get you!"

She ran over to me and tagged me again, taking off running. I laughed loudly and ran after my friend, chasing her all over the backyard. After two minutes, I had finally tagged her again and ran as fast as I could away from her. She was a bit faster than me, and I knew running around in circles across the yard would be no use to stay away from her.

Instead, I jumped over the wooden fence that protected Fluttershy's backyard and ran into the forest next to her cottage, Sweetie Belle still chasing me. Several trees and stones and crunching sounds of hooves hitting snow made it impossible to hide, especially with my hoofprints following me in the snow. Soon, I ran out of places to run, and right when I turned around to see how far I had ran, Sweetie Belle had tackled me into the snow, landing right on top of me.

"Got'cha!", she yelled. We both giggled like foals and gave a delighted sigh as Sweetie Belle rolled off of me and sat up, looking around. "Wow!"

"What?", I curiously asked.

"I never knew I'd be this deep in the Everfree Forest!", Sweetie Belle said, "It's so wonderful!"

"Everfree Forest?", I asked.

"Mm-hmm!", Sweetie Belle happily said, "The forest most ponies never dare to go in because they're too scared! But there's nothing scary in here!" I nodded in agreement. The forest did look wonderful. But, I then felt a small pain on my left front leg. I looked at it and saw that I had a small scrape from where Sweetie Belle tackled me, which was bleeding lightly.

"Uh-oh...", I worriedly said. Sweetie Belle looked at it.

"Oh my...", she said, wiping the blood away, "Don't worry about that. It's only a scratch. Let's go back to the cottage so Fluttershy can put some medicine on it".

I nodded and followed Sweetie Belle, who was following our hoofprints out of the forest. I trusted Sweetie Belle in saying my scrape wasn't too bad, but the blood was worse than we thought, as it attracted an unwanted guest. Soon, a very foul odor assaulted both of our muzzles as we sniffed in disgust.

"Eww!", I yelled, covering my muzzle, "What stinky?"

"Uh... did you... have an accident...?", Sweetie Belle asked, covering her muzzle as well. I gasped and quickly poked the back of my pajamas, feeling nothing but dry cotton.

"No", I said, "I no stinky, I clean". Sweetie Belle sniffed the foul stench, then her eyes went big.

"Oh no...", she said, "I know what this smell is..."

"Wh-what...?", I said, getting scared at the look on her face.

"It's timber-wolf breath!", Sweetie Belle yelled. That's when a loud roar was heard, and a huge timber-wolf appeared in front of us. I stood in fear, unable to move as I felt the front of my diaper become warmer as I wet myself in fear. That's when I felt Sweetie Belle desperately tug on my tail with her teeth.

"Sweetheart, run!", she yelled, "Run with me if you don't wanna get eaten!"

Out of desperation, I ran, following Sweetie Belle all over the forest as the timber-wolf chased us. I thought we could just hide, but the timber-wolf was too close to us, and plus, he'd find us anyway thanks to the smell of urine in my diaper. Finally, after running for two solid minutes, Sweetie Belle had found a treehouse to hide in.

"Sweetheart, in here!", Sweetie Belle yelled.

I quickly ran into the treehouse with Sweetie Belle, who slammed and locked the door behind us. The timber-wolf charged head-on into the locked door, shriveling into sawdust because of the force. Sweetie Belle walked to the window to make sure we were safe, seeing the massive pile of timber-wolf sawdust, giving a loud sigh.

"He's dead...", she said, "We're safe now..." Just before I could breathe in delight, there was a loud clopping, followed by a shrill scream, scaring the life out of us both. We turned around to see something in a black cloak, holding a sharp spear in her hoof.

"How dare you intrude my hut!", it yelled, "You better leave before I shove this spear in your butts!" My fear doubled as I shivered violently, this time messing my diaper out of fear.

"Zecora, don't!", Sweetie Belle yelled, "It's me, Sweetie Belle!" The figure sighed, dropped the spear, and removed her hood, showing her face. She was a zebra, wearing golden rings around her neck like jewelry.

"Sweetie Belle, you know I am not normal if surrounded by my fears", she said, "Any closer and you would have never seen the rest of your years".

"I'm sorry, Zecora...", Sweetie Belle said. Zecora looked at me.

"And who is this colt you have brought with you?", she asked, "Who seems very exhausted and smells strongly of poo?" I looked down in embarrassment, covering my messy behind.

"This is my best friend, Sweetheart", Sweetie Belle said, "He's incontinent, and may have had an accident on our way here". Zecora gave a small gasp.

"Oh my... I apologize for my rudeness, little one", she said, "I'm sure incontinence is no fun..."

"It OK Ms. Zecora...", I said, still a little embarrassed.

"Now, since you and I have never met before, all is well", Zecora said, bowing a little, "But as for you, I expect more from you, Sweetie Belle".

"B-but, we were chased by a timber-wolf and-", Sweetie Belle said, before the door swung open and Fluttershy ran in, so much worry in her face.

"Sweetheart, Sweetie Belle!", she yelled, "Why would you run off like that?! You had me worried sick!" She looked at Zecora. "And why are you in Zecora's hut?"

"They ran in and slammed the door", Zecora said, "Sweetie Belle claimed they were running from a timber-wolf before. I forgave the colt since I do not know him, but my trust for Sweetie Belle is now very dim". Fluttershy looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Sweetie Belle, you know I do not allow you in the Everfree Forest while you're under my supervision", she said, "If you were to end up hurt, Rarity would hold me responsible".

"I know...", Sweetie Belle said. Fluttershy held me by my hoof.

"Come on", she said, "We need to get back to the cottage so I can get you changed. And I will be speaking to Rarity about this, Sweetie Belle".

"B-but, Rarity will ground me for a week, and take away my jigsaw puzzles!", Sweetie Belle complained.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle", Fluttershy said, "But you must learn your lesson". Sweetie Belle looked down at the ground in sadness.

"Yes ma'am...", she said. Seeing the very sad look on my friends face instantly made me feel sorry. I had seen that look on several other ponies at the orphanage, and what followed was never OK for them. So, even though I didn't get yelled at, or assaulted, I couldn't let my friend go home with that look.

"No!", I yelled, "Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle no do it... I do it..." Both Fluttershy and Sweetie Belle looked at me in surprise.

"What did you say, sweetheart?", Fluttershy asked.

"Me and Sweetie Belle play tag, and I run in here...", I said, "Sweetie Belle try to get me out, and we go too far and get lost..."

"So, you're saying it isn't Sweetie Belle's fault?", Fluttershy asked. I nodded, pointing at myself in fear. Fluttershy cleared her throat and looked at Sweetie Belle.

"Sweetie Belle, you go home", she apologetically said, "I will not speak a word to Rarity". Sweetie Belle nodded, looking at me with a blushed half-smile, mouthing "Thank you" to me as she left the hut and walked home.

"As for you", Fluttershy said, standing over me. I began to shiver again, wetting again in fear. "You and I need to have a little talk once we get back to the Cottage". She looked at Zecora. "My apologies for invading your privacy, Zecora".

Zecora gave a forgiving bow and walked outside. Fluttershy then placed me on her back and walked back to the Cottage. I was so scared as Fluttershy locked the door and sat me on the couch and spoke to me, my muscles tensing up as I was sure she was going to hit me.

"Now, sweetheart", Fluttershy said, "You scared me to death today".

"I sorry...", I said, looking down at the flower-patterned carpet.

"I understand if you are", Fluttershy said, "But you cannot run off like that, especially not into the Everfree Forest. There are too many dangers in that forest, and if it weren't for Zecora, that timber-wolf could've hurt you and Sweetie Belle".

"Uh...", I mumbled, trying to think of something to say.

"Just because I'm busy doesn't mean you can run off", Fluttershy said, "And even worse, you put my best friend's sister in harm's way. If she were injured, I'd be responsible". Fluttershy sighed, deciding to wrap it up.

"Bottom line... I'm very disappointed in you, sweetheart..."

That did it. Those words hit me right in my heart. I began to cry like a foal as I ran upstairs, hid in the bathroom, and laid in the bathtub, crying hard into my hooves. Out of everypony I knew, I never thought Fluttershy would just be another pony that pretended to love me. I was so heartbroken as I cried harder, once again feeling the back of my diaper expand as I messed again. I felt my diaper starting to leak and dampen my pajamas, but I didn't care. I was too sad. I thought Fluttershy was the one who would finally love me and take care of me, but she was just one more pretender. But just two minutes later, Fluttershy walked into the bathroom.

"Sweetheart...?", she said very low, tiphoofing over to me, "...are you alright...?" I sniffled, ignoring the snot dipping from my nose as I kept my face buried in my hooves.

"Y-you...", I said, muffled from the pajamas, "You no like me no more..."

"What?", Fluttershy asked. I blew my nose on my pajamas and sat up, still keeping myself from making eye-contact with Fluttershy.

"You no like me no more...", I whined.

"Oh sweetheart...", Fluttershy guiltily said, "Of course I like you... I was just a little disappointed..."

"No!", I yelled, finally looking at her, "You say that, Mother Superior say that, everypony say that! And... and..." I began to cry harder. "...nopony like me... nopony never like me..." Fluttershy sat in the tub with me, lifting me into her lap, lifting my head up so I was looking dead into her eyes.

"Sweetheart", she said, a sad frown on her face, "I'm not like everyone else you know... I like you... I like you very much. If I didn't like you, would I have brought you here from that wet, stinky box?"

"*sniffle* No...", I said.

"If I didn't like you, would I feed you as much as I feed my animals?", Fluttershy asked.

"No...", I repeated.

"Would I change you, tuck you in at night, dress you up, or keep you clean?", Fluttershy asked.

"No...", I said.

"Exactly...", Fluttershy said, "Of course I like you... I said I was disappointed so you know to not do it again... it's not safe out in the Everfree Forest without a grown-up". She moved me up closer so I could reach her coat, and buried my face in it.

"I just want you to be well so you can grow up an be well, sweetheart", she said, "You already have incontinence, and weakened organs, so it'd be horrible if you were to get anything else... That's why I just want to keep you safe". Fluttershy punctuated that with a light kiss on the top of my head. I began to cry again as I hugged Fluttershy as tight as I could.

"I sorry Fluttershy!", I said, muffled from her coat, "I sorry!" Fluttershy smiled and kissed my cheek.

"It's alright, sweetheart...", she said, "I forgive you..." She lifted me out of her lap and sat me on the tub floor. "Now, sit here so I can go get you a clean pair of pajamas. Your diaper leaked and dirtied your pajamas". I nodded as Fluttershy hoofed me a roll of toilet paper. "Here, wipe your face and blow your nose". Fluttershy walked out of the bathroom and upstairs to her room as I cleaned up my face and nose, smiling once again as I knew Fluttershy was the one I could trust the most to keep me safe.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next night, my stomachache had stopped, and I was no longer vomiting, so Fluttershy allowed me to go to school. After a hug and kiss, I walked in and joined my new friends at the table.

"Sweetheart!", Twist said, "You're back!" She nuzzled me.

"Mm-hmm!", I said, "I no sick no more".

"Good", Pipsqueak said, "We missed you yesterday. Duck, Duck, Goose wasn't the same without you". I blushed.

"Really?", I asked.

"Nope!", Snails said, "You're the fastest runner, and it was too easy". I smiled.

"Well, I back now, and we play!", I proudly said. Snips smiled as the door opened and Sweetie Belle walked in, sitting in her seat next to me.

"Hi, Sweetheart...", she said, giving me a nuzzle.

"Hi, Sweetie Belle", I said.

"I... wanna thank you for saving me last night...", Sweetie Belle said, "I finished my puzzle because of it". I smiled.

"I just no want you in trouble", I said, returning her nuzzle, "You my friend. I no like see friend in trouble". Sweetie Belle smiled.

"Well, I certainty owe you for that", Sweetie Belle said, "I Pinkie Promise that I'll do whatever you want to call it in when you want". I smiled.

"OK!", I said, "Thank you, Sweetie Belle!"

"You're very welcome, Sweetheart", Sweetie Belle said, hugging me. A large blush spread across my face as she hugged for two seconds, then let go as Cheerilee walked in.

"Good evening, everypony", she said, "Welcome back, Sweetheart. Hope you feel better".

"I do, Ms. Cheerilee!", I said happily.

"I can see that" Cheerilee said, "And you aced your homework assignment too. Good job". She gave me my homework with a big green "A+" written on it.

"Yay!", I said, "Sweetie Belle help me! I do good!" Sweetie Belle blushed as Cheerilee smiled.

"Well then, Sweetie Belle helped you do a good job", she said, making Sweetie Belle blush harder, "Anyway, before we begin today's lesson of adding and subtracting, I've decided to let you all have some fun to start off the day".

"What like?", I asked. Cheerilee gave a wide smile.

"You get to paint pictures, of course", she said.

Author's Note

Very sorry for the long wait, everyone. Thank you for sticking to the story even so.

Plus, I apologize if I did Tree Hugger's character a little poorly. I've only seen her debut episode once. Also, for anyone who's accusing me of forcing Tree Hugger to fork over her bits for crayon drawings, Sweetheart has to learn the value of a bit eventually.