Instincts of a Mother

Twilight kept Dashie balanced on her back as they made their way up the stairway to Luna’s private dining hall. Since it was just going to be the four of them, there was no need to have their meeting in the big dining hall. Upon arriving at the castle, the guards at the front gate had recognized her instantly and had told her that the princesses were expecting her in Luna’s part of the castle.

Her adorable filly was back in the Wonderbolts onesie that Luna had been gracious enough to give them. Twilight wasn’t sure how long they’d be at dinner, so on the way back from her parents’ house, they had stopped off at their tower to replenish their supplies, mainly diapers. While there, Twilight had let Dashie pick which onesie she wanted to wear.

Twilight, panting softly, reached the top of the final set of stairs. “Dang... we should have just teleported there instead...” Twilight took a few moments to catch her breath, then began walking. As she neared the end of the short hallway, she smiled and nodded at the two guards who held open the double doors for them.

Celestia and Luna sat at the far end of the room on opposite sides of the table. Thin marble pillars ran on both sides of the room. Just past the table, up against the far wall, lay too many pillows for Twilight to count. As the doors shut behind her with a soft click, both Celestia and Luna looked up at them.

Dashie shimmied up Twilight’s neck, then wrapped her hind legs just under Twilight’s chin as she finally managed to poke her head over Twilight’s. She trusted Twilight more than anypony in the world, especially after all that she’d done for her, but part of her still liked to know exactly where they were going. She laid her head right between Twilight’s ears and stared ahead. Dashie blinked blearily and licked her lips. Twilight’s mane was so soft, and her warmth was gently lulling her back to sleep.

She smiled and closed her eyes, wanting nothing more than to fall asleep right then and there, but they were here to see if Celestia had found a way to turn her back into a real mare. Truth be told, she was going to miss being a foal. Actually being taken care of while in the body of a foal was the craziest thing she’d ever done, and she knew with one hundred percent certainty that her bond with Twilight had strengthened.

Dashie couldn’t wait to snuggle with her marefriend, as a mare, after all of this was over.

“Good evening, Twilight,” Celestia said with her usual soft smile.

“Good evening, Celestia.” Twilight sat down next to Luna and used her magic to place Dashie down on the table, who promptly curled up into a ball. Twilight smiled at that, then glanced between Luna and Celestia. Thick tension hung in the air. Luna wouldn’t meet her gaze, and Celestia’s eyes held an aura of worry that Twilight did not see often. She cocked her head and looked Celestia dead in the eyes. “I suppose there’s no beating around the bush. Did you find a solution to Dashie’s problem?”

“Na pwobwem...” Dashie mumbled with a flick of her tail.

Twilight giggled. “I’m sure you’re having fun, Dashie, but sooner or later, we’re gonna have to change you back to a mare.” She leaned forward and nuzzled her foal’s back, right in between her wings. “And to be perfectly honest... I want my marefriend back.”

Dashie perked up at that, for Twilight’s voice had changed from her usual calm tone to one of regret. Her ears flicked up and she lifted her head to look at Twilight. “Ah wuv woo, Twiwi. Ahways!” She pointed a tiny hoof at her and smiled hoping to reassure her, but Twilight’s expression softened only a little bit, not as much as she was hoping.

Twilight rubbed Dashie’s back with a hoof. “I love you too, Dashie, but I would love to have you as you again. I really don’t mind taking care of you, you know that, but I’m really hoping that Celestia has found a way to change you back.” Her eyes flicked up to Celestia’s again, then she stayed silent.

Several moments passed in an awkward silence, making Twilight’s worries grow. “Well?”

Celestia took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I... found something, yes,” she said delicately, choosing her words carefully. “I discovered a way to let... Dashie change back, but I do not know if you will like it.” She bit her lip and cleared her throat. “You see, the spells you used somehow combined in a way that trying to undo one would unnecessarily strengthen the other spells. It is like trying to untie a knot of four strings. You pull on one end, and the knot tightens.”

“So...” Twilight trembled with uncertainty. “What do we have to do?”

“Like I said... you are not going to like this, but... In order for Dashie to become Rainbow Dash again, she has to let go.”

“Let go?” Twilight cocked her head to the side.

Celestia nodded. “You said that she still retains her adult mind, right?” Twilight nodded slowly. “Well, her foal mind cannot hold the mind of an adult. From my research, she is slowly losing her mind, or, to be more precise, she is losing her mind to that of a foal’s. Fighting to keep that adult mind is hurting her, and is keeping the spells from wearing off.” She looked at Dashie. “Are my assumptions correct, Dashie? Have you found some things harder to think?”

Dashie’s ears flicked back. Her head lowered, and if she was on the floor next to Twilight, she would have hidden behind Twilight’s legs. She bit her lip as tears formed in the corners of her eyes. After a few moments of silence, she nodded slowly.

“I thought so...” Celestia murmured. “Believe me when I say this, you two, for this is not a bad thing.”

“What?” Twilight scoffed. “How can that not be a bad thing?”

“Well, unlike the knot analogy I used a few moments ago, the spells you used on her will wear off in time. Depending on how much power you used in the creation of these spells, and depending on the time between each spell, it could be anywhere from a week to a few months. The spells you used on yourself, Twilight, should have worn off by now, or will wear off in a day or two. I am referring to, of course, the spell giving you functioning breasts with the addition of having your milk make Dashie incontinent.”

“Okay...” Twilight said slowly. “So we just have to wait for these spells to wear off? But what about Dashie turning into a foal? That was a side effect of all the spells I used, and since it wasn’t an actual spell, we’re still going to need a spell to return her to that of an adult.”

Celestia nodded, then took a sip from her teacup. “Yes, I was about to get to that. You remember when that showmare, Trixie, showed up looking for revenge, as you called it? I remember reading in your letter to me that she had used age-changing spells.” She pushed a folded piece of parchment across the table with her magic. “This is a variant of that spell that I crafted for you personally. It is meant for your eyes only, and I trust that you will not abuse it like Trixie did.” A sly glint twinkled in her eye.

Twilight used her own magic to stuff it into her saddlebags. “So what do we do now?”

“We wait. Like I said about your spells wearing off, the spell to give you breasts was supposed to have worn off by now, but I think that since they are still being used, your body has simply accepted it as normal. They will disappear when you stop breastfeeding Dashie, like they do with every other mother. I’m sure that the spell giving Dashie incontinence has faded off by now since its function has already been accomplished.”

“So, in order for Dashie to become a mare again, she has to give up her mind? Who she is?” Twilight’s ears flicked back and her shoulders slumped. “I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t know if she can do that...” Her gaze flicked to Dashie and found her trembling. “Aw... there, there, Dashie...” She lifted her up and cradled her in her forelegs. Dashie stared up at her as she snuggled up against her chest. “Everything’ll be alright... I promise...”

“You would make an excellent mother...” Luna murmured as she laid a wing over Twilight’s back.

“...I know.” Twilight smiled up at Luna, grateful for the comforting gesture. “But I would much rather have my marefriend back than be a mother.”

“That I can understand.” Luna tightened her grasp on Twilight with her wing, then folded it back to her side. “I am certain that Dashie will retain her memories through this ordeal, but will simply be unable to access them until she is an adult again.”

“I understand...” Twilight looked down at her foal. “So, what do you think of all that, Dashie?” she asked softly.

“Ah dunno...” Dashie squirmed and folded her forelegs up to her chest, letting her tail hang over the edge of Twilight’s legs.

“Is there really no other way?” Twilight asked, glancing up at Celestia.

Celestia shook her head. “I am sorry, but no, I was unable to find any other way. I am glad though, that I was able to determine for certain that the spells will wear off in time.”

“Yeah...” Twilight looked back at her foal. “So what do you think, Dashie? I don’t really see any other choice, so... do you wanna be my adorable foal for a wittle while? I know your mind is changing, so... you need to stop fighting it. The sooner you let go, the sooner you can become my beautiful and stunning Rainbow Dash again...”

Dashie didn’t even have to think about that. She had no problem being Twilight’s foal for a little while longer if it meant that she was going to be able to become a mare again after the spells faded, but she still felt a little scared of what it all entailed. She was never one to give up, but she knew in order to win, that was exactly what she had to do. “Kay...” she smiled nervously, let her ears flick back, and relaxed. Dashie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “Wan snuggles...”

“You... want snuggles?” Twilight chuckled, then set her down between her legs. She used her magic to undo the bra, giving Dashie access to her breasts, then said, “Once we’ve both had our fill, we can snuggle as long as you want...”