Pinkie 'swaddle' Pieby Yosh-E-OChaptersPrologue - The New FamilyChapter 1 - Our Precious Swaddle PuffChapter 2 - A foal In A Mare's BodyChapter 3 - Best 'Foal' Ever!Chapter 4 - Second ThoughtsChapter 5 - Spoiling EverythingChapter 6 - Temper TantrumChapter 7 - Shining AshChapter 8 - Meeting Silly FillyChapter 9 - The Milk BarChapter 10 - The D&NChapter 13 - Making UpEpilogue - Dear Princess CelestiaChapter 11: Finding Swaddle PuffChapter 12 - Emotional FalloutPrologue - The New Family“Eee!” squealed Pinkie Pie upon entering into the home of Ponyville’s latest residents. “It’s not often that I’m the one who isn’t first to know every pony new to Ponyville!” “Well,” shrugged a bulky stallion who had a hot pink colored mane and a sky-blue coat. “I suppose it is our honor to be the first to surprise you before you surprise us?” “I guess…,” pouted Pinkie as she dragged her hoof along the carpeted floor. “I just always know who is new to Ponyville and to be surprised not only by a new family moving in but to be invited by name to come over and help makes me wonder if my ‘Pinkie Sense’ is on the fritz.” The sky-blue stallion turned to his wife. The mare had a jet-black mane, emerald-green eyes, and a dark red coat. “Well…,” she nervously stated. “We don’t mean to be so secretive. Actually, we want to set up shop here in town.” “Shop?” asked Pinkie with childish enthusiasm. “What do you guys sell? Do you make it yourselves? It’s not anything related to desserts as Mr. and Mrs. Cake are the best of the best bakers and are so kind and recently had twin foals and we wouldn’t want anyone having hurt feelings over who makes the best cakes, cupcakes, stroodles…” The husband and wife just let Pinkie carry on until she finally got the hint that she was talking way too much. “Oh,” she giggled with a snort. “What do you guys sell?” The parents appeared to blush as they looked to see who would answer first. “Gourmet foal food,” the mare replied with as much of a smile as she could muster. “That’s right!” the sky-blue stallion added. “Found there is quite the market for foal food that genuinely hits the sweet spot on little fillies and colts.” “Ooh!” squealed Pinkie. “Do you have any?” The wife turned towards her husband who headed off to their kitchen. “So what’s this big job you said that only I could do to help you feel most welcome of welcome here in Ponyville?” asked Pinkie. “Mrs. Cake said something about foal sitting but I don’t see a foal nor do I hear a foal. Does that mean you want me to watch foals as they try out your foal food? Make sure they are all happy-happy-happy as they enjoy their nom-noms?” “Oh…,” the green eyed mare blushed. “You’ll meet our foal soon.” “But first!” proclaimed the stallion. “I present to you our finest foal food to appease your pallet!” Pinkie saw the larger than average jar of foal food. The label was covered in cute letters and reminded her or of something she had seen in a coloring book. “Okay!” she cheered while effortlessly removing the cap and sticking her hoof into the jar. She then jammed a large glop of the foal food in her mouth and smiled as she said, “Mmm-mmm! This is scrump-dilly-umpticous!” Couple smiled. “We’re glad you think so,” the stallion said. “Your friend’s at Sugar Cube Corner don’t make foal food?” worried the mare. “Do they?” “Oh, no!” chimed Pinkie while shoving another hoof full of the strawberry mush into her mouth. “Though I’d love to take some back for Pound and Pumpkin.” “That can be arranged,” beamed the stallion. “Though I suppose we haven’t had a chance to introduce ourselves.” Pinkie gasped and held her breath for allowing such an oversight. She should already know their names and now they were introducing themselves to her. She was really off her game. “My name’s Cream Puff,” the neon-pink stallion who looked almost like a Earth Pony version of Bulk Biceps greeted. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Pie.” “And I’m Sandy Puff,” the vibrant mare greeted. “I come from a long line of soap makers from Mount Vahoovious.” “And my family is known for being the brawniest of bronies!” added Cream. “My name was meant as a joke to anyone who’d doubt how much of a stallion I was going to be.” “Ooh!” cooed Pinkie. “So big tough soap makers who now make foal food? Who’d have thunk it?” The pair blushed. “Well,” Cream stated. “It’s time you met our foal.” Cream started to trot off towards the hallway as sandy gestured for Pinkie to follow them. Chapter 1 - Our Precious Swaddle PuffChapter 1 - Our Precious Swaddle Puff “Wowie-kazowie!” awed Pinkie upon entering into the extravagantly designed nursery. The walls were all painted to simulate a cartoon-like meadow filled with doe-eyed foals doing all sorts of foal things. The ceiling and upper walls were made to look like a genuine sky where foal Pegasi snuggled into clouds and Celestia’s Cutie Mark was drawn into the light fixture that hung at the nursery’s center. “You guys really went all out!” Sandy and Cream smiled. “Anything for our little foal,” cooed Sandy while raising a hoof to her blushing face. “So where is the little cutie?” asked Pinkie with a beaming smile. “Auntie Pinkie wants to say hello.” “Our precious Swaddle Puff is right over there,” Cream Puff said while gesturing towards a crib that appeared the size of a queen-sized bed. “Golly gee!” remarked Pinkie as she realized how the room was filled with foal furniture that could easily be used by a full-grown pony. “I didn’t know you could get foal stuff so big!” Cream and sandy said nothing as they found themselves nervously holding hooves. Pinkie popped her pink head over the railing of the crib. Her blue eyes then grew to the size of saucers upon seeing ‘the foal’. “Is everything… alright?” Sandy puffed nervously asked. “Uh,” Pinkie replied with the best smile she could muster. “She’s… really big.” An awkward pause ensued. “Hey!” cheered Pinkie upon realizing things weren’t as happy as they should be. “I got this.” “You… do?” gulped Cream Puff. “Sure,” waved Pinkie as she looked into the crib to see the pastel-pink ‘foal’ fast asleep with a hoof in her mouth. “You two go on ahead and know Pinkie “Responsibility” Pie has got everything under control!” Sandy and Cream smiled at each other before giving a shared nod of approval to the childlike mare who had a trio of balloons for a Cutie Mark. “Our train leaves in about two hours,” stated Sandy. “How about we show you where everything is?” “Okie-dokie-lokie!” bounced Pinkie. “And her name is Swaddle Puff?” The parents seemed lost in thought as Sandy replied, “Yeah. Our precious Swaddle Puff.” “And you’re okay staying here until we get back?” asked Cream Puff as he nervously rubbed his hooves together. “We just need to finish getting everything cleaned out of our old home in Fillydelphia and we’ll be back fast as lightning.” “Pssh,” waved Pinkie with a smile. “It’ll be like a sleepover. Swaddle and I will be total besties and you’ll come back telling me just how awesome I am at foal sitting.” “Mrs. Cake said you help out at Sugar Cube Corner with baking and watching the twins,” stated Cream Puff. “It’d be okay if you took our precious Swaddle over to play with the twins during the day. Swaddle gets along very well with other foals.” “Sounds great!” chirped Pinkie while she started to push the doting parents out of the nursery. “But you two have a train to catch and Auntie Pinkie is ready to serve up lots of ‘Responsibility Pie’ while you’re away not worrying about anything.” “Okay,” giggled Sandy. “We know you’ll be perfect for caring for our foal while we’re away.” “We never like to leave our Swaddle Puff,” Cream stated. “But we’ll be back real soon to give lots of loving to our special foal.” “And until then,” Pinkie said as she got the parents out of the nursery, turned out the light, and shut the door. “Auntie Pinkie has everything under control!” Chapter 2 - A foal In A Mare's BodyWith Cream and Sandy both off to the train station, Pinkie thought it best to get things ready for when her not-so-little charge woke up from her nap. “Every pony tells me not to ask or say awkward things,” she said while getting the kitchen ready to feed the ‘foal’. “Even Mr. and Mrs. Cake told me not to ask or say anything that immediately comes to my mind that could make some pony feel uncomfortable but I never saw a foal so big and Mr. and Mrs. Puff didn’t mention their foal having ‘special needs’ and how she was all grown up already.” Pinkie continued to think on what all she had so desperately wanted to say and ask while choosing a jar of the gourmet foal food from one of the cupboards. “This stuff is scrup-dilly-umptious,” she remarked. “I’ve had lots of Pound and Pumpkin’s foal food get into my mouth and that stuff can be dis-gust-ing!” Pinkie started to hear the sound of whimpering coming from the kitchen’s baby monitor. “Oh!” she cheered while bouncing off towards the nursery. “Time to foal around with the not-so-little mare!” *** Swaddle Puff smiled up at Pinkie Her eyes taking in just how fun the pink party pony foal sitter looked. “Uppy!” she called. “Uppy!” Pinkie had to think for a moment. “How about downy?” she asked with a smile while sliding down the crib gate. Swaddle rolled over enough for Pinkie to notice she had her Cutie Mark. It was a cartoon-like diaper that was pastel pink on one half and baby blue on the other. The pastel pink part almost blended totally in with Swaddle’s coat but the shade was just enough to make it stand out against her fur. “Ooh!” cooed Pinkie while reaching to help the foal out. “Some pony’s got their Cutie mark!” Ms. Pie was having her mind blown by all she had gotten herself into. However ‘Pinkie “Responsibility” Pie’ was up for the challenge and ready to take it all on. Even the post nap diaper check and change. “Okay!” cheered Pinkie as she helped Swaddle waddle over to the changing table that looked more like a twin-sized bed. “Let’s get you all clean before we play and have non-noms!” Swaddle giggled and clapped her hooves. “Happy foal!” she cried. “Like balloon pony!” “Well,” beamed Pinkie. “You’ll be happier after we change your diaper-wiaper.” “No change!” proclaimed Swaddle. “No wet! No mess!” Pinkie made a face. She didn’t know if she should force the mare-sized foal onto the changing table or not. “Well…,” she hummed while moving towards Swaddle’s diapered rump. “Can Auntie Pinkie just take a peaky-weaky to see if baby needs changing?” “You check,” Swaddle nodded while making a silly face. “No mind check. You see me dry.” Pinkie lifted the back of Swaddle’s diaper and saw no signs of horse apples. She then patted at the padding between her legs and heard no tell tale signs of wetness. “Okay!” she cheered. “No diaper change for you.” “Yay!” swaddled gleefully sang while clapping her hooves. “Get non-noms?” “Get nom-noms,” agreed Pinkie as she walked alongside the foal who was roughly her size. Chapter 3 - Best 'Foal' Ever!Swaddle Puff was lying on the nursery floorwith a plush bear in her hooves as Pinkie went about filling the diaper bag for their trip over to Sugar Cube Corner. “You’ve been so-so good!” cheered the pink Earth Pony while stuffing a pack of foal wipes into the bag. “Perhaps your super good eating habits and taste in music and comedy will rub off on Pound and Pumpkin?” Pinkie thought back to feeding the full-grown foal. She laughed and cheered at everything she did. All the ‘choo-choo trains’ safely delivered non-noms into her mouth, When Swaddle fussed the piggy song Pinkie had tried for the Cake Twins was received with giggles and claps, and her jokes had the ‘foal’ laughing so hard that she was making the super-sized high chair shake from all the wiggling, chuckling, and hoof banging upon the tray. Swaddle Puff even kept crying out, “More! More!”” which made Pinkie so happy. Her childish mind enjoyed the attention and knowing how she was succeeding in caring for Swaddle Puff made her day. “You still even haven’t had any accidents!” beamed Pinkie as she pulled three very large diapers from a shelf under the changing table. “I bet it’s because you don’t want to make these super cute, Wonderbolt potty pants all yucky since they are super-duper adorable with their clouds, Wonderbolts, and happy birdies!” “No wet!” Swaddle Puff merrily proclaimed. “Stay dry for Pinkie!” Pinkie Pie felt her heart melt as she went over and rubbed through Swaddle Puff’s mane. “You’re just too cute!” she glowed before finding it irresistible to blow some raspberries on her pastel-pink belly. “Yes you are!” Swaddle Puff squealed in laughter from Pinkie’s actions. “Whee!” she exclaimed. “Happy foal!” Pinkie was now more into her role of foal sitter than ever as she rushed to collect the rest of the items necessary to take Swaddle Puff over for a few hours at Sugar Cube corner. “Okie-dokie!” she announced while bouncing about the room with a beaming smile. “Time to go on adventures with Auntie Pinkie!” Swaddle sat herself up and waited for Pinkie to assist in bringing her to her hooves. “You are just too cute!” announced Pinkie. “Want to take anything with you on our adventure?” Swaddle turned towards a bookshelf that housed a few items that were apparently not just for foals.”Want book!” she replied while enthusiastically pointing towards the bookshelf. “Want ‘Gusty The Great’!” “You got it!” stated a gleeful Pinkie while bouncing over and collecting the book from the bookshelf. She paused only for a moment to notice there were also books on finance, a calculator, paper clips, pens, and other business-related items all lined up on a shelf that could very easily be accessed by the infantile mare. “Go, go, go!” bounded Swaddle Puff while dashing towards Pinkie. “Adventures with Pinkie! Auntie Pinkie best!” The pink mare did not want the grown-up little one to get her hooves into an open plate of tacks so she quickly turned to intercept and hug Swaddle Puff. “No need to be fussy-wussy,” smiled Pinkie as she gave a warm hug to her charge. “Auntie Pinkie has everything all packed and ready to go so we can go have fun-fun-fun over at Sugar Cube Corner!” “Hurray!” Swaddle playfully replied while stomping her hooves. “Let’s go-go-go, Auntie Pinkie!” Pinkie slung the decorative diaper bag over her back, took hold of Swaddle’s hoof, and headed to where the stroller awaited them to begin their journey through town. Chapter 4 - Second ThoughtsCelestia’s sun was starting its afternoon descent as Pinkie pushed the small carriage sized stroller into the heart of Ponyville. “Erm…,” moaned Swaddle Puff as she stirred within the stroller. “What’s wrong?” worried Pinkie before abruptly stopping to check on the displeased ‘foal’. “Sun in your eyes? Need a diaper change? Want candy?” Pinkie lobbed a few gummy bears into her mouth as she watched Swaddle Puff appear to blush while trying to hide her face. “Whoops!” the party pony chuckled nervously as she brought down the canopy of the stroller. “Auntie Pinkie forgot. Got to keep you cool and comfortable without too much of Celestia’s sun from hurting those little peepers of yours.” Swaddle Puff continued to fuss while covering her face with one hoof and making groaning sounds while pointing towards downtown Ponyville with the other. Pinkie made a nervous face as she felt her charge was getting ready to make a mess. “No-no!” Swaddle whined. “No see! No want others see!” Pinkie thought for a moment. “Oh!” she gasped. “I never thought of how you may actually be a fully grown mare who doesn’t want others to see you appear to be a giant baby pony! Auntie Pinkie can fix this!” Swaddle Puff’s pastel-pink face turned almost crimson red as Ms. Pie disappeared in a blur before returning a mere three seconds later with a shopping bag. “We got this!” cheered Pinkie while pulling out a pair of heart-printed panties and slipping them over Swaddle Puff’s thick, Wonderbolt diaper. The size was too small and forced the bulky padding to press firmly into Swaddle’s midsection. This provided a slight illusion that Swaddle wasn’t wearing a diaper but instead had large flanks. “EEp!” moaned Swaddle upon feeling her diaper uncomfortably tighten. “Now!” beamed Pinkie as she got into playing dress up with the ‘foal’. “Let’s get this cute and comfy dress on you!” Swaddle wriggled against Pinkie removing her from the stroller. However it was to no avail as she was put into the pastel-yellow dress before she could even blink. “”Ah!” she gasped as she noticed Pinkie feeling around her diapered area. “what do? What do?” Pinkie giggled and let out a snort. “Making you look all grown-up, silly!” she jovially replied. SWIP-THWIP “Wah?” wondered Swaddle as a blue bonnet was secured over her head to help cover her eyes. “I asked the store owner if they had bonnets for adult ponies as I know I saw some who wore them and the store owner told me they did so I got you this one to help protect your eyes as we walk through town!” Pinkie proudly speed talked as she did all sorts of over-the-top hoof motions. Swaddle tensed up. “No, no, no, no!” she cried. “Wanna’ go home!” “But your Auntie Pinkie needs to go to work for a bit at the Sugar Cube Corner and promises you lots of yummy sweets if you’re good and play nice with the twins!” the fun-loving mare quickly stated while trotting alongside Swaddle Puff. “And now that you look like the grown-up mare you are you have no worries about any pony giving funny looks as we walk through town where all sorts of ponies will be finishing up their jobs, shopping, and pony watching!” Swaddle tried to resist Pinkie’s efforts at moving her forward but to no avail. “HERE WE COME PONYVILLE!” boomed Pinkie. “WE LOVE YOU!” Chapter 5 - Spoiling EverythingSwaddle Puff resisted more-and-more with each step beyond the stroller Pinkie seemed to have forgotten about. “No walkies!” she whined. “No go! No go!” Pinkiesnapped out of her jovial trotting when Swaddle just plopped herself down on the road and started to tantrum. “Okay!” caved Pinkie. “Stroller it is.” Swaddle became less fussy but still shook her head defiantly. “No go through Ponyville!” she demanded. “Go round! Less busy!” Pinkie helped load Swaddle back into the stroller. “But that would make Auntie Pinkie late for her job,” she said. “And other ponies count on Auntie Pinkie for tasty treats and amazing feats.” Swaddle pulled the blanket over herself as much as was possible while scooting herself as deeply as could be done into the stroller. “Alright!” cheered Pinkie. “Through town to see everyone!” *** Downtown Ponyville was filled with life as the city streets were filled with mares, stallions, fillies, and colts going about their business. Some were just getting off of work while others were just starting, foals played in spots they found open enough to do so, and a stores were filling fast with patrons. “Hi every pony!” greeted Pinkie naively as she noticed a growing number of townsfolk staring at her as she strolled Swaddle Puff through town. The street before her parted like a zipper as more eyes fixated on them. Even some Pegasi chose to hover over Pinkie and her charge to take in the scene unfolding before them. “Must be a publicity stunt for Sugar Cube Corner,” an earth Pony stated audibly. “Can she get any weirder?” a mother wondered in an irritated tone while covering her foal’s eyes from the spectacle. “I wonder what’s in the stroller?” asked a hovering Pegasus. “Why not come see, silly!” called Pinkie. The Pegasus blushed as he realized he had been heard. “Sha-sure,” he replied while flying downward. *** It wasn’t long until a growing crowd had gathered around Pinkie and the stroller. “Is that a big baby pony inside?” asked a curious filly. Noticing the flock of ponies around Pinkie grabbed the attention of Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara. They were on the way to see Filthy Rich at Barnyard Bargains and wanted to know what the fuss was all about. “That unwashed mess of a pony never fails to draw attention that is rightfully ours for the taking,” grumbled Spoiled. Diamond Tiara was less worried about ‘standing out’ and ‘rich pony standards’. She just wanted in on what would be the town gossip. “I say!” cried Spoiled. “What do we have here!” Swaddle Puff was as hidden as she could be as Pinkie ran forward to greet the Rich family. “Just doing some foal sitting,” replied Pinkie with a smile. “That must be some foal,” pursued Spoiled in a smug tone. “Might we all see the little dear who deserves such an extravagant stroller?” Fear swept over Swaddle Puff as Pinkie’s head popped into the stroller and said, “Get ready to say hello to every pony!” Swaddle tried to ball herself up as Pinkie gently lowered the blanket. The ‘foal’ tried to keep Pinkie from removing the blanket but Ms. Pie somehow managed to do it without her efforts having any effect. “Oh!” gasped the townsfolk as a full grown pony appeared to be inside the stroller. “What is the meaning of this?” growled Spoiled. “Mother,” whispered Diamond. “I think we should just, uh, head back to the store.” “Nonsense!” boomed Spoiled. “What pony in their right mind would allow themselves to be humiliated like this in the name of a poorly derived publicity stunt?” “This isn’t a publicity stunt,” replied Pinkie. “she just needs watched and I’m on my way to work.” “Right…,” trailed Spoiled as she walked up and started to poke at the blushing ‘foal’ inside. “Fess up! This is just an act and a bad one at that!” Swaddle Puff said nothing while trying to bat away Spoiled Rich’s advances. “Mom,” asked Diamond with a hint of embarrassment. “Is this really necessary?” The smug mare didn’t listen to her daughter. She just continued to press the ‘foal’ inside the buggy. “Where did that unkempt, filly-minded Pie girl find you?” she pressed. “Perhaps under a park bench begging for bits and desperate enough to play foal for her to appease her childlike whims?” Swaddle’s eyes grew a look of anger as she suddenly leapt out of the stroller and glared down Spoiled Rich. “I’ll have you know that I make quite the honest living working in finance for a business that brings in more bits than your hoity-toity Barnyard Bargains!” she snarled with the voice of a stallion. “It’s ponies like you who make it so ponies like me can’t be ourselves in public! You want all the attention to yourself and act all high-and-mighty to make up for how you feel someone just might steal the spotlight from you for a single moment!” Jaws dropped as the ‘foal’ had turned out to not be a foal at all. He was a full grown, fully functional stallion! “And another thing!” proclaimed Swaddle Puff while tearing off the bonnet, dress, underwear, and diaper he was wearing. “It’s ponies like you who are ‘unwashed’ for how disgusting your behavior towards others are! Totally disgusting! One can only hope your daughter doesn’t grow up to be anything like you, Spoiled Milk!” Mrs. Rich stumbled back a bit upon being called by her maiden name. “That’s right!” Swaddle Puff snapped wwhile adjusting his mane. “Who do you think did all your taxes this past year? Who do you think has helped Filthy with his investments to keep you all pampered in that fancy mansion of yours? Me!” The town’s ponies were all speechless. “You’re so caught up in yourself that you don’t even recognize me when I’m a so-called ‘normal pony’,” he stated. “Does the name Shining Ash ring any bells for you?” Spoiled’s eyes grew like saucers. “Thought so,” growled Shining Ash as he poked at the insulting mare. “I’ll now go where you and every other pony seem to only care about me,” Shining darted out of Ponyville while not paying a single ounce of attention to the ponies who continued to stare with disbelief at him. Spoiled Rich soon noticed the ponies of Ponyville looking to her for answers. “Time to go, Diamond Tiara,” she said while backing up. “A little late, mother,” growled diamond under her breath. “Way to show our position of ‘Rich Ponies’.” Pinkie seemed to squeak as she realized she needed to make a getaway herself. So she collected all of the discarded clothing, threw it in the stroller, and galloped off towards the safety of Sugar Cube Corner. Chapter 6 - Temper TantrumPinkie found herself back at the Puff’s residence as Mr. and Mrs. Cake believed her to be, “…too hyper to do her job.”. She wanted to talk about the events that occurred but was glared down by Mrs. Cake who asked “Where’s the foal you are watching, Pinkie?”. The party pony wanted to go on about the events in downtown Ponyville but knew the looks The Cakes were giving her would not change to happy ones unless she showed how true she was to her “Pinkie Promises” and being “Pinkie ‘Responsibility’ Pie”. “I hope he came home…,” she said while entering into the Puff home. It was completely dark inside with the exception of some night lights and one lit room that had its door cracked open. *** The illuminated room was Swaddle Puff’s nursery. Pinkie took a moment to peer in through the crack to see Swaddle back in a diaper grumbling as he knocked down a block tower. KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK Swaddle turned with a jolt of surprise as he noticed the party pony begin to swing the door open. “Can I come in?” she asked. Swaddle sighed. “Yes,” he pouted. Pinkie’s normal enthusiasm was gone as she entered. Her mane had even lost a bit of its ‘poof’, too. “So, uh…,” she trailed. “You’re a stallion?” Swaddle gazed at her with a shrug. “Uh-huh,” he replied. “And you liked being seen as a mare?” pursued Pinkie. “Kind of like Big Macintosh who has always dreamed of being a princess and is willing to dress up as Orchard Blossom in order to do nice things for his sister?” “It was you who saw me as a mare,” stated swaddle while gingerly playing with a toy car. “I thought it was fun so I didn’t say anything.” “Do you really need diapers?” edged Pinkie. “If so that is okay but, seriously, who would want to wear diapers to just wear diapers?” Swaddle grew a look of displeasure from Pinkie’s last rhetorical question. “They’re comfortable,” he scowled. “And I’m not the only one who likes to wear diapers who is all grown up.” Pinkie appeared baffled. “Seriously?” she gasped. “You don’t use them to, uh, you know?” Swaddle’s look got more agitated. “What if I did?” he pressed back. “It’s not like I’m incapable of changing myself.” “But how can…?” stammered Pinkie. “Why?” Swaddle took to his hooves. “Look,” he stated. “I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to. I’m not even asking you to watch me anymore. You can just go home and forget all about this and be like all the others.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” wondered Pinkie. “It means,” huffed Swaddle. “You’re not the caring, fun-loving, understanding pony my parents and I thought you were. So go home.” “I care,” Pinkie retorted. “I just-” “-think I’m some sort of immature, stupid, pony!” snapped Swaddle. “Do you know how hard it is to have a diaper for a Cutie mark? Do you have the slightest idea what it is like to do the work I do and not want to feel all safe and comfortable after having ponies yell in my face because they feel I’m not doing my job as a finance manager?” “But-“ Pinkie tried to say. “-Do you know I have to ‘paint’ over my Cutie Mark each day I go to work? Do you know how frustrating it is to not be allowed to do what helps you feel better after being beat down by impatient ponies for doing your absolute best to be honest in a largely dishonest field?” There was a short pause. “Look,” he said. “My real name is shining Ash. My father took my mother’s name when they got married as he was shamed out of his family for ‘not living up to his expectations’. My mother never fit in with her family’s longstanding soap business in the Dragon lands. So, when I was born, they both promised to not let the darker side of ponies hurt me.” “darker side of ponies?” asked Pinkie as her mane continued to lose its frizz. “You saw it!” boomed Shining Ash. “Spoiled Rich making that big scene in town for no reason beyond satiating her desire to put down others!” Pinkie was feeling overwhelmed with emotions as the mare bounded about. His crinkling diaper making her wonder if The Cake twins were saying such things in their babble when they were having a tantrum. “When I learned my special talent was to do things for foals my parents got really scared,” continued Shining Ash. “They worried I’d be ostracized as a result of being a colt who looked like a filly who had a ‘Cutie Mark’ of a diaper on my flanks! So they taught me math and I learned I could do really good financial work and got my degree in accounting and finance along with my CPA! I’d ‘paint’ over my Cutie mark each-and-every day to hide my ‘Special talent’ while using makeup and other things I hated so I wasn’t mistreated by ponies for being the real me!” Tears were now forming in Pinkie’s eyes. “Our family moved here to Ponyville to get away from all the cruel ponies in Fillydelphia that would recognize my mother and father along with those ponies who’d openly tell clients I was some sort of freak pony for looking like a mare when I was a stallion!” roared Shining Ash. “We are starting a foal food business so we can finally be at peace away from any pony who’d ever remember my dad being the not-so-macho Puff and my mom for being ‘that soap pony’ along with me being treated like a dirty diaper by more-and-more ponies who’d listen to ponies, like Spoiled Rich, about how no pony should have their business affairs handled by some sort of ‘freak of nature’!” Pinkie shuttered and folded in on herself. She had never been yelled at in such a way before. She felt absolutely horrible and did not know how to fix things. “So, Ms. Pie!” snorted the padded stallion. “Feel free to go home and forget I even exist!” “Don’t say that!” cried Pinkie as she found a pacifier on the floor, shoved it in the angry stallion’s mouth, and ran out of the nursery in tears. Shining Ash huffed and resumed playing with his toys while suckling on the pacifier. Chapter 7 - Shining AshPinkie was on her way back to Sugar Cube Corner when she realized Mr. and Mrs. Cake would ask questions as to why she wasn’t caring for the ‘foal’ as she had ‘Pinkie Promised’ to do. She thought how this would make her look irresponsible and how she’d lose her title of Pinkie ‘Responsibility’ Pie. She may not be allowed to watch The Cake Twins if that happened! So she returned to the Puff’s house and made her way to the guest room she was provided. *** Pinkie wasn’t able to sleep at all that night. She felt a mix of emotions over the encounter she had with Shining Ash. Why would a grown pony want to be a foal? Didn’t she act like a foal when she played with Pound and Pumpkin? Why would any grown pony want to live in a nursery? Didn’t she sometimes enjoy sleeping in The Cake Twins nursery when they were napping? There were times she thought she saw Princess Luna out of the corner of her eye. However her overwhelmed mind kept her from even wanting to talk to any pony beyond herself. *** The party pony did eventually fall asleep. When she woke Celestia’s sun had rose above the horizon. “That was awful,” she moaned while rubbing at her aching head. “Only one thing to do.” Ms. Pie let out a massive yawn before groggily trotting off to Shining Ash’s nursery. *** “Uh,” worried Pinkie as she pushed the door open a bit. “Good morning?” There was no response. Pinkie opened the door the rest of the way and entered into the nursery. There was no sign of Shining Ash. About the only noticeable change from the night before was how spotless the nursery appeared. “This is bad,” said Pinkie while continuing her search. “My ‘Pinkie Sense’ is even telling me there’s no pony in the house except for me, too.” *** Pinkie felt a lump in her throat form as she fully confirmed that Shining Ash was gone. She then found herself back at the nursery staring at the bookshelf. Something about it seemed ‘odd’. “Hmm,” she pondered upon noticing the hardwood floor beneath it along with how the bookshelf had wheels. “I wonder…?” FWIR-FWIR-FWIR The bookshelf slid to the other side of the hardwood floor to reveal a door. “You wanted answers Pinkie,” she said while reaching for the doorknob. “And you’re going to find them.” *** The ‘secret room’ was very bland in comparison to the nursery. It had a polished desk, filing cabinets, a cushy chair behind the desk, two padded chairs in front of the desk, and a half open, blind covered window that faced towards a pony-made pond where water fowl and small animals were gathering to start their day. Pinkie noticed how clean and professional the room appeared. Everything was in its place. Including a large picture of a well-groomed Shining Ash standing between his parents who looked very proud. There was also another small picture facing the back of the desk. This one was of Shining Ash as he looked when he was Swaddle Puff being hugged by his parents from both sides. “What’s wrong with me?” wondered Pinkie while falling back into the chair behind the desk. She supported the picture of Swaddle Puff and looked at how his parents appeared very happy with him. Just as happy as they did in the hung, larger picture near the filing cabinet. “They don’t see a problem with him wanting to be like a foal and their his parents.” Pinkie had a short flashback of life on the Rock Farm and how she was loved by her family despite being so different in so many ways from them. She then thought of how much she loved Maud and how Maud loved her. Maud never made her feel bad for wanting to be a Party Planner and for moving to Ponyville to do so. So why was she being a not-so-nicey pants towards Shining Ash? THUNK! “Owie!” cried Pinkie as her hind hoof slammed against the desk. She had gone so much into thought that she’d began to fall back into the large office chair. This action hurt but also caused a drawer to pop open that revealed a colorful diary decorated with three doe-eyed foals in diapers smiling. One was a Unicorn, one was a Pegasus, and the last was an earth Pony. “Cute!” cried Pinkie as the bright colors made her thoughtlessly grab for the book. She flipped the diary open and quickly slammed it shut. “No, Pinkie!” she self-scolded. “This is his private diary. Reading it would be breaking his trust.” “But you’ve already broken his trust,” a voice in her head said. Pinkie’s mane drooped like wet spaghetti. “You’re right voice inside my head,” she replied to herself. “I was an awful pony.” “Perhaps reading just the last page could help?” her mind urged. “It is likely about you anyway.” “Why not,” Pinkie sighed as she flipped to the last page that had been wrote upon. It read… “…Worst day ever! Thought I found some pony who could really understand me but she’s just like all the others! Why does every pony want me to be some pony I’m not? Why do they still make me feel awful for being a productive member of society who does nothing to hurt no pony else? I’ve got to get out. Be amongst those who understand. So, once more under the cover of night and my disguise, I’m heading off to the milk bar. It’s going to take a lot of milk and cookies to get over this one. But I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again-and-again until I no longer need to feel shamed by other ponies for just embracing my special talent…” “Milk bar…?” pondered Pinkie while putting the diary back into the drawer. “I wonder if he means ‘Moo Cow Milk’?” Pinkie leapt over the desk and headed back for the nursery. “There’s only one way to find out and I’m going undercover to do it!” she proclaimed. “Milk bar, here I come!” Chapter 8 - Meeting Silly Filly“…You got to blend in,” Pinkie stated to herself while padding herself in one of Shining Ash’s diapers. “Every pony in Ponyville knows you and they’ll never let you in at the top secret mailk bar if they know who you are and that you’re the meanie who made Swaddle Puff run away there.” *** Ms. Pie still had the dress and bonnet she had purchased the day before. So she put those on. She then styled the exposed parts of her mane and tail with ribbons and bows to ensure she was now ‘Silly Filly’ instead of Pinkie Pie. “Let’s do this,” she said with determination while prancing out of the nursery, out of the house, and into Ponyville. *** It was an extremely awkward trek into Ponyville. Pinkie was used to greeting every pony she saw with a smile and reminder of how close their birthday was. However she knew she couldn’t do that. She had to keep her cover. She had to… “Are you that big baby pony from yesterday?” a small voice asked while tugging at the back of the dress. “Wow! What big diapers you have! Are you a foal to a giant pony who lives in the scary Everfree Forest?” Pinkie felt her cheeks flush red as the colt’s questions started to draw a crowd. “…Is your mommy and daddy back in the Everfree Forest?” he continued to ask. “Are they not here because they can see you from the top of a giant beanstalk …?” A crowd had now gathered and begun to whisper amongst themselves before the colt’s father and mother came rushing forward. “That’s enough, Curious Mind,” the father stated while picking up his son with his Unicorn magic. “Sorry he bothered you,” the Pegasus mother said very nervously. “We’ll just be getting out of your way.” Many eyes were now on Pinkie and she knew her cover would be blown if she didn’t get away super fast. So, before more ponies could swarm in on her, she made a run for it. TRIP-THWUMP Laughter filled the air as ‘Silly Filly’ fell forward and landed in a way that allowed the dress to slide up like a curtain to reveal her diaper. “Not used to such bulk between my legs,” gasped Pinkie. “Hey Applejack!” cried a familiar voice from far too close by. “What da ya think is goin’ on over thar?” Pinkie’s cheeks were now burning crimson red as she found herself doing a bit of a ‘diaper dance’ as she tried to get herself back on her four hooves. This brought more laughter and curious citizens as she gradually got the dress to fall back over the bulky baby garment. “Ha-ha!” chuckled a familiar voice from overhead. “Pinkie should be here to see this!” “Dashie?” thought Pinkie while trying to peek towards the clouds just enough to see her pranking pal had broken off from the weather team to take in the sight the whole town had now become fixated on. “It’s not Nightmare Night!” called Dash down between laughs. “But you definitely are in quite the costume for it!” Pinkie was starting to feel laughed at instead of laughed with. Her feelings were hurting fast and she did all she could to scurry away towards, what she hoped, would be the safety of the milk bar. Chapter 9 - The Milk Bar‘Silly Filly’ used her Pinkie Pie knowledge and skills to go as unseen as possible in reaching Moo Cow Milk. The small barn-like building was as it had always been. Working ponies and cows ensuring all the milk-based products were kept stocked and properly refrigerated until a customer arrived to purchase them. Nothing at all out of the ordinary. “Except…,” considered Pinkie as she saw some ponies enter into the public restroom and never return. “Hmm…,” NUDGE-NUDGE Pinkie was snapped out of her observations by a grey stallion with a white mane. “Psst,” he said while keeping his eyes focused on a container of milk he had in his hooves. “Are you new?” “New?” answered Pinkie before she realized she needed to keep her cover. “Ah-oh, yes.” “Well,” the stallion seemed to grumble. “You’d do us all a favor by not wearing your play clothes in public.” “Play clothes?” wondered Pinkie as she got into her role as Silly Filly. The stallion sighed. “Okay,” he sighed. “see the restroom there? Go inside and you’ll find a floor tile under the changing table that is noticeably off-colored. Tap it five times and wait for me down in the milk bar.” Silly Filly gulped. “Okays,” she said. “I go.” The stallion did not appear amused as the foal-dressed pink pony followed his instructions. *** “Oof!” gasped ‘Silly Filly’ as she found herself suddenly dropped onto a soft mattress after doing exactly what the grey stallion had instructed her to do. “Oh, wow!” she exclaimed. “I had no idea there was a secret passage here!” The milk bar grew quiet as ponies in various sorts of foal attire glared her way. “OOpsie,” she giggled. “Me fall and go boom!” The patrons returned to their business of playing with blocks, bumping diapers, jovially playing in the numerous adult-sized foal play pens, bouncers, and ball pits, and, of course, drinking milk from bottles. THWUMP! “Good,” the stallion from before stated upon landing on the mattress. “You have a lot to learn if you want to come out and play.” “Wike what?” asked Silly Filly as she leaned towards the stallion. “First and foremost,” he stated. “There are lockers where you can keep your play clothes and toys.” “Wockers?” babbled Silly. The stallion sighed. “Cooing Cuddles can explain everything,” he stated while gesturing towards a mare in a onesie who was nursing a bottle at the milk bar itself. “She helped me when I first learned of this place.” The stallion walked to where other ponies were emerging from. They were all clad in all sorts of foal-related clothing and items. “Okays!” called Silly Filly as she waved towards the stallion. I goes!” *** “Goo-goo how are you?” greeted Silly Filly as she hopped up the high-chair like seat. “Ain’t it greats being a foal!” Cooing Cuddles looked towards Silly Filly as if she were from another planet. “You must be…,” she started to say before seeing through the disguise. “Pinkie Pie?” Pinkie couldn’t believe she was found out. However there was something very familiar about Cooing Cuddles. “Do I know you?” she asked. “I had no idea you were an adult foal, too!” the Earth Pony with the sapphire mane cheered. “Though I should have always guessed knowing your love of foal sitting and how everything you do seems like the work of a little filly!” “Gemstone Bangle…?” asked Pinkie. “The one-and-only!” she proclaimed merrily while giving Pinkie a big hug. “So glad you’re here!” Pinkie was all for hugs but very confused about what her friend was trying to say. “I’m actually here looking for some pony,” said Pinkie. “Swaddle Puff?” Gemstone Bangle looked as if the life had been sucked right out of her. “Why?” she asked with noticeable disappointment. “Did I say something wrong?” worried Pinkie. Gemstone grew a frown. “No…,” she pouted. “I just thought we could finally talk openly about our feelings on being adult foals.” “We can,” Pinkie smiled. “But you’re not really an adult foal… are you?” whimpered the mare. “Well, uh, actually…,” pondered Pinkie. “I don’t know.” Gemstone took to suckling her hoof for a moment while shifting nervously in her chair. “Pinkie,” she said without facing the disguised party pony. “Do you know how some hurts never go away?” “I’ve heard it in a song once,” she replied. “Well,” Gemstone continued. “I was hurt pretty bad as a filly. When I became the foal sitter you knew me to be when I wasn’t working at the jewelery store I was always jealous of the foals I watched.” “Jealous?” wondered Pinkie. “A tear formed in Gemstone’s right eye. “Yes,” she sniffled. “Like I wanted to be them. Have another go at life. Not have the hurt that I have that will never go away.” Pinkie didn’t want to push Gemstone about ‘the hurt’ as it seemed it was upsetting her a lot to even mention it. She then thought of how she felt when watching The Cake twins. The carefree fun she had when playing with them. How they always seemed so happy. Something she thought on how she wanted them to always feel as she had numerous memories of feeling like the outcast of the family back on the rock farm. Maud, Limestone, and Marble all did what they could to include her but it wasn’t until she saw rainbow Dash’s ‘Sonic Rainboom’ that she finally felt a sense of purpose in life beyond a very depressive day-to-day feeling of not belonging. Even after that she could genuinely say she felt worse as her family just wanted to keep doing the rock farm activities while she yearned to throw another party and put smiles on the faces of others. It hurt a lot to have to leave for Ponyville but she knew if she didn’t she’d never be all she knew she needed to be. Maud was the most supportive of her leaving but it still hurt a lot to feel the family was more focused on how they were losing a worker on the farm than their daughter’s happiness. Maud played a big part in explaining Pinkie was following her dream by leaving the farm as she was doing the same to be more skilled in rocks and gems. However thinking of home always reminded her of those many years she had a sort of ‘hole’ in her heart for being, for lack of better words, ‘the family misfit’. “I’m sorry, Gemstone,” sobbed Pinkie as her emotions started to catch up with her. “I had no idea.” “Well,” she replied as her smile started to return. “When you’re here you can get back all those warm feelings of safety and love you feel were robbed from you. Be the you that you know you always deserved to be before any ‘hurts’ happened.” Gemstone banged her hooves upon the bar in a tantrum-like fashion. This brought a jovial bartender over. “What will it be, sweeties?” the cow dressed in an apron asked. “Two sippy cups of warm milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies,” beamed Gemstone as she returned to her ‘Cooing Cuddles’ personality. “Ah!” the cow replied merrily. “So glad you have a playdate today, Cuddly. I’ll go get you two those yummy cookies and milk.” Cooing Cuddles pulled ‘Silly Filly’ into a close hug and nuzzled her cheek. “Thanks, Pinkie,” she said. “Having you here makes me feel so much better.” Chapter 10 - The D&N‘Cooing Cuddles’ shared a lot of the ins-and-outs of the milk bar. Most notably being how it was a far larger establishment than just a place to get sweet treats while acting like a foal. “…Most of us even spend some time in the D&N,” she gleefully noted while pointing to where some foalishly-dressed ponies were trotting towards. They just knocked on the paddock door, a gleeful stallion asked them something, they replied, and he opened the bottom door so they could enter inward. “The D&N?” asked Pinkie as she found herself getting into her ‘Silly Filly’ role. “what’s that?” Gemstone, as ‘Cooing Cuddles’, took a big drink from her sippy cup before replying, “It’s Ponyville’s exclusive Day and Nightcare. It’s run by Dr. Dummy who helps each foal, or group of foals, find the perfect way to get away from all the ‘hurts’ and stresses in their lives.” “How’s that?” questioned Silly like a filly. “Dr. Dummy runs the D&N like a hotel,” replied Cooing. “You go in, tell him and his friends what you are looking for, and they get you your own nursery with, or without, a caretaker so you can just be the you without a care in the world!” “Really?” squeed Silly. Cooing finished her drink before gleefully answering, “For reallies!” The two embraced. Pinkie was starting to feel all her worries melt away in being in such a carefree environment with some pony she genuinely felt comfortable around. Nobody said a word about what they were doing, how obnoxious her behavior could be, or held her to ‘Pinkie Promises’. She was just there in the moment enjoying milk and cookies with a friend. “This must be like how Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo feel,” she thought. “Minus the diapers and foal clothing and pretending to be kids again parts.” “I’ve always wanted a playmate like you, Pinks,” smiled Gemstone. “Here I go by ‘Cooing Cuddles’. Most ponies go by different names. Did you pick one out for yourself by chance?” “Uh…,” thought Pinkie with the cutest expression on her face. “I’m ‘Silly Filly’!” BOOMF! ‘Silly Filly’ rolled out her party cannon and fired a blast of cupcake scented confetti into the air. As she squeeled with joy and bounded about in circles. Cooing’s smile grew wider as she clapped her hooves like a little foal. “You are a silly filly!” she cheered. “And we love you!” *** “I’m Dr. Dummy,” greeted the white stallion who had a golden mane. “And this be my little slice of heaven for all those lost foals in need of a relaxing time out.” Silly and Cooing entered into the large playroom that was the D&N’s first room past the paddock. The designs on the wall were like those Pinkie observed in Swaddle Puff’s nursery. Doe-eyed foals doing foal-like things in a sea of happily vibrant colors. “Is that…?” asked Pinkie upon spotting Lyra and Bon-Bon playing patty cake on the floor near a small pile of stuffed animals. Both were wearing very bulky diapers and giggling almost uncontrollably. Cooing put a hoof on Silly’s shoulder. “Here they are ‘Soft Mint’ and ‘Sweet Cream’,” she said. “You come here to forget the real world. Not be associated with it.” “That seems unhealthy,” said Silly. “It’s fun to pretend but even I know you need to be serious sometimes.” “That’s why me and my staff work diligently to assist our ‘foals’ in using this facility as a sort of therapeutic service instead of an escape,” added Dr. Dummy. “My research as a professor back in Trottingham showed me how modern equine medicine isn’t always the best way to help over-stressed ponies find peace in their day-to-day lives. So I looked into what would be possible if play therapy were to be blended with new positive psychology of standard equine therapy to create this.” “Doctor,” a soft-spoken mare who had a yellow mane and pink coat said. “I think we need you in Room 2. The client seems to be having a nervous breakdown.” “Duty calls,” shrugged Dr. Dummy. “I’ll be back around after I help our guest with their woes.” “Wow,” remarked Silly. “I didn’t know this place was so deep.” “Dr. Dummy really cares about the well-being of ponies,” stated Cooing. “However his practices got him kicked out of Trottingham University. So he came here to Ponyville to continue his studies and setting up this delightful getaway from the everyday.” “Who pays for all this?” wondered Pinkie as a mare and stallion in hoovie pajamas chased after each other towards a room with one of the caretakers following close behind. “I didn’t notice any pony paying any bits the whole time I was here.” “The Puff family are huge donors to the cause,” replied Cooing. “So are a lot of other well-to-do pony families all across Equestria who believe in Dummy’s research to help ponies rid themselves of stress and anxiety in far more natural ways than magic or medicine.” Silly sighed and felt her Pinkie Pie self return. “Puff like Swaddle Puff?” she asked. “Oh!” beamed Cooing. “You know him? Super nice guy who really knows his numbers.” “Yeah,” pouted Pinkie as she dug her hoof into the soft carpet. “I kind of was a meanie-meanie pants to him and I want to find and apologize for being a super awful pony to him.” “Hmm,” thought Cooing. “Let’s have us a play around to see if he is here. If not some pony may know where to find him. We’re all about apologizing and being nice and your desire to apologize for whatever you feel you have done will set a positive example to every pony here.” Pinkie felt her foalish side come back out. “Okay!” she cheered. “Let’s go have fun and make everything right!” Chapter 13 - Making Up“It’s coming from the nursery!” panicked an audible voice from the other side of the door. “Quick!” another stallion worried. “Open the door!” *** “Hey!” called a pony as the sound of the crib gate being dropped could be heard. “How did you get in here?” “Pinkie…?” another stallion wondered. “Is that you?” Pinkie continued to wail. “Hey!” the one who had seemed to identify her said while giving her a big hug. “Calm down. You’re safe.” Ms. Pie felt the comfort of the hug along with the pats on the back she was receiving. “Swaddle…?” she sniffled. “Is that-” “-Shh,” he hushed while starting to rock the emotionally overwhelmed mare. “Just calm down and take some breaths.” “You know her?” the other stallion asked. “I do,” replied Swaddle. “She’s the one I told you was a total meanie down at the milk bar.” The friend rolled his eyes. “Then why are you being so nice?” he asked. “She needs a spanking. Not a hug.” “Oh, no,” Swaddle retorted. “That would go against everything Dr. Dummy has taught us to be.” He then looked into Pinkie’s eyes as he stated, “Plus I think it is very sweet and considerate that you’d put on that getup you put me in yesterday just to try and find me.” Pinkie’s eyes were very blurry from all the crying. “Did I interrupt you two being foals?” she asked somberly. “Were you feeling all good inside feeling young again until I ruined everything?” Swaddle smiled as he removed the bonnet from Pinkie’s head so her head was no longer obscured. “Oh,” he said. “There’s far more to what we do than what you may believe.” “We were actually in the middle of installing a new ceiling fan in my living room,” the other stallion stated. He, like Swaddle, were both just wearing diapers. However he appeared quite serious for some pony who was in ‘foal mode’. “I’m sorry for being such a meanie,” sniffled Pinkie. “Can we be friends again? Please? I think I learned my lesson.” “Lesson?” wondered Swaddle Puff. “What’s that?” Pinkie trotted out of the crib. “I learned, or should say relearned, how important it is to really know a pony before saying and doing things that could potentially hurt their feelings so bad that they don’t want to ever be around you because you are a thoughtless meanie-face head.” Swaddle smiled as he gave Pinkie another big hug. “Apology accepted,” he said. “Thanks so much for caring enough to try and find me to make things all better.” Swaddle Puff then realized something. “How did you find me?” he asked. “It’s not like you have any connections or are affiliated with the Ponyville AF?” “Actually,” blushed Pinkie. “I kind of found out that I know a lot of ponies who are a part of the milk bar and what Dr. Dummy does. Even a close friend I kind of should have kept in better touch with who helped me see that wanting to be a foal for a little bit isn’t any stranger than wanting to bounce around all the time randomly singing songs and firing off party cannons.” Swaddle smiled and laughed while resuming his hug and patting Pinkie on the back. “Thank you, Pinkie,” he said. “I knew you were the right pony to ask to foal sit me.” The stallion observing the scene shrugged. “Think you could lend a hoof in installing the ceiling fan?” he asked towards Pinkie. “Six hooves are better than two.” “Sure!” replied Pinkie. “Let’s go!” Epilogue - Dear Princess CelestiaSwaddle and Pinkie discretely packed their ‘foal supplies’ before heading back to his house later that evening. They agreed that both had learned a lot and how none of the not-so-nice things that occurred would be mentioned to his parents. *** Pinkie donned her role as ‘Silly Filly’ the whole next day with Shining, Swaddle Puff, Ash. They even took turns playing caretaker and foal while still tackling the chores that needed done around the house prior to Mr. and Mrs. Puff returning the following day. *** “Thanks for watching our precious Swaddle Puff,” thanked Sandy Puff with a smile. “We hope he wasn’t too much of a hoof full,” Cream Puff added with a blush. “Pssh,” grinned Pinkie with a wave of her hoof. “No trouble at all.” “Pinkie was everything we had heard and more!” cheered Swaddle while nuzzling against the pink party pony. “We want to have more time together so you two can have more mommy-daddy time!” “so you…,” blushed Sandy. Pinkie only nodded as she slung her saddlebag over her barrel. This caused one of Swaddle’s diapers to drift out and flop upon the ground. “Oopsie,” blushed Pinkie. Both parents blushed while smiling wide. “I see,” nodded Cream Puff. “So you are an AF, too?” Swaddle Puff helped to put the diaper that fell out back into Pinkie’s bag. “She’s going to give it a try,” he stated. “She has a friend she met who wants to introduce her to Dr. Dummy and what he does to help ponies feel better.” “Oh, Pinkie,” Sandy said while giving the party pony a hug. “Thanks for being so understanding towards our precious Swaddle Puffer.” “It’s ponies like her who make it easier for me to be Shining Ash,” added the young stallion. “I think all the ‘hurts’ we have felt are going to soon be nothing but a bad memory now that we’re here in Ponyville amongst friends.” Cream Puff beamed while wrapping his hoof around his son. “That’s great,” he said lovingly. “We’ll get our foal food business off the ground and make foals of all ages happy and be successful no matter what any pony says.” “That’s right!” cheered Sandy as she joined in sharing affection for their son. “A new life. A new beginning. And a new friend.” Pinkie beamed. “And a very super welcome from Ponyville’s official greeter and party planner!” she cheered while pulling out her party cannon and launching streamers and confetti into the air. “I’m sure you’ll make lots of friends and could even help The Cakes out by promoting each other’s goodies!” “Of course,” Cream Puff stated. “Do let Mr. and Mrs. Cake know we have a box of our gourmet foal food for their twins waiting for them when they can come up for a visit.” “Will do!” cheered Pinkie. “But I really need to get back to Sugar Cube Corner! Duty calls!” ZIP-SHOO! The family all waved towards the pink blur that left their home. *** That night Pinkie pulled out a piece of parchment and dipped a quill into a cake-scented container of ink. “dear Princess Celestia. Sometimes you don’t know how wonderful ponies around you are to you until you find yourself in a situation that makes you truly realize how kind and accepting ponies are to the way you are. I ‘Pinkie Promised’ not to ever talk about a lot of what I got to see and do over the past few days with the new family in town but I did get a real lesson in how ponies have all sorts of ways to make themselves feel better when they’re not feeling very good on the inside. It’s important to not get caught up in your own feelings of what should or should not make ponies feel better. Instead you need to, as I mentioned about Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda, take time to learn how to share happiness and make them feel happy. The golden rule is such a bust as treating other ponies like you’d treat yourself doesn’t mean you are being a true friend to them. So I’m calling what I learned ‘The Cupcake Rule’. The frosting may not look like it will taste good but you have to at least give it a try before you make the decision to eat the whole thing or not eat it ever again. Even then you need to be kind enough to say ‘No thanks’ instead of just throwing the cupcake away in front of some pony who really likes that flavor of cupcake.” “I’m now going to spend some time with a friend I had not had fun with for a long-long time! So you’ll probably not get another letter from me for awhile as I’ll be super busy reconnecting, making new friends, and working with The Cakes.” “waiting for you to ask me to plan the next Grand Galloping gala, Pinkie ‘Silly Filly’ Pie.” Pinkie grinned from ear-to-ear as she put the letter in the mail. She then headed for her room, put on one of Swaddle’s diapers, handed gummy a pacifier and put one in her own mouth, and drifted off to sleep. Chapter 11: Finding Swaddle PuffChapter 11: Finding Swaddle Puff It was hard to not reach out to each pony she discovered was attending the D&N. So many familiar faces going by different names and acting in ways ranging from helpless newborn foals to preschool-aged fillies and colts. “Do you have time to play?” Cooing Cuddles asked. “I mean, well, after you apologize to Swaddle Puff for whatever it is you did?” ‘Silly Filly’ sighed. “I need to get my meanie pants off first,” she replied. “Does some pony need a change?” a stallion caretaker asked. “No, no,” Cooing Cuddles giggled. “Silly Filly here is new and feels she hurt one of our friends’ feelings and wants to say sorry.” “I’ll go with you!” the teal-colored stallion with a well-kept emerald mane announced. “”I’m an intern and need to observe an apology given the conditions set forth by Dr. Dummy!” Cooing Cuddles looked to Silly Filly. Silly nodded in agreement and the trio further explored the D&N in search of Swaddle Puff. *** “Swaddle Puff?” considered a mare who deeply resembled Nurse Redheart. “Oh! He went to his friend’s house to play!” “Bummer,” Silly Filly pouted. “She’s looking to apologize for being mean to him,” the intern told the caretaker who was standing alongside Nurse Redheart who was now going by the name of ‘Nurse Joy’. “Want to tell our friend where she can find swaddle Puff, little joy?” the mare asked her adult foal who was clad in a pair of training pants and had her mane styled up in two stylish loops that stuck out notably from each side of her head. “Hmm,” ‘Nurse Joy’ thought. “He’s at the fifth house from the left when you are looking at the sweet treats in the window of Sugar Cube Corner!” “Thanks!” Silly Filly squealed. “Now I have to go and make things right!” PASHOO! Cooing Cuddles couldn’t believe her friend would just leave like that. However a piece of construction paper soon drifted in front of her that read, “Sorry I had to go but this is super-duper important. Come by Sugar Cube Corner sometime and we’ll get back together! Cupcakes and lollipops, Pinkie, ‘Silly Filly’ Pie.” “Oh, Pinkie,” Cooing Cuddles hummed while allowing her Gemstone Bangle side to come out. “Never change.” “I’ll need a change if I don’t make it to the potty,” Nurse Joy moaned while looking desperately towards her caretaker. “We’re almost there,” cooed the caretaker while booping Nurse Joy in the nose. “Show me how big a filly you are by going in the big filly potty and I’ll give you a piece of yummy chocolate!” Nurse Joy cheered while holding the hoof of her caretaker who guided her to the restroom. Cooing Cuddles returned to the milk bar for more cookies. Her face aglow knowing she and Pinkie would be sharing more times together as both mares and little ponies. Chapter 12 - Emotional FalloutPinkie found herself in front of the, “the fifth house from the left when you are looking at the sweet treats in the window of Sugar Cube Corner!”. The party pony chuckled as she said, “Oh, voice inside my head. You always remember everything.” *** Ms. Pie was going to just knock on the front door. However she realized she had not removed her disguise. This is when she heard another reminder from earlier that scolded, “You’d do us all a favor by not wearing your play clothes in public.”. “Geez,” she groaned while scurrying behind some of the home’s landscaping. “It’s no fun having to keep hiding away from every pony like this.” *** Pinkie felt a knot in her stomach as the past twenty-four hours all came flooding into her mind as she looked for another way into the home that was more ‘discrete’. “I’ve really stepped in the taffy this time,” she thought. “No pony will want me to ever be their party planner or welcome-welcome-welcome smile-smile-smile pony if word spreads about how mean I was to the new family in town.” For a moment she thought on how those in the milk bar preferred to keep themselves unknown to the general public. However those in the milk bar and D&N were all ponies she knew from around Ponyville. All who could just decide to not ask her to ever be a part of their lives again for what she had done to Swaddle Puff. She’d be seen just like Spoiled Rich. She’d be a background pony who’d be acknowledged but not in the same way she had come to love since moving to Ponyville and being welcomed in by Mr. and Mrs. Cake despite how jovial and childish and… Pinkie suddenly felt like she was going to lose her cotton candy. The Cakes met her as a filly going on mare and did not ever make her feel unwelcome for how she was. They embraced her, nurtured her, and taught her how to bake all the yummy treats she wanted to keep making and sharing since the fateful day she got her cutie mark. “And then there’s me,” she pouted while leaning against the back of the house. “A super big-” KA-REEK FWOOSH! “-Whoa!” shrieked Pinkie as she felt herself pulled quickly downward. FUMP! The next thing Pinkie saw was that she had landed inside a giant crib. She was surrounded by bars in a dimly lit room. No pony was there. She was trapped. She was alone. “And I deserve to be this way!” she wailed as she broke out into tears. “I’m a bad, bad pony!"
Prologue - The New Family“Eee!” squealed Pinkie Pie upon entering into the home of Ponyville’s latest residents. “It’s not often that I’m the one who isn’t first to know every pony new to Ponyville!” “Well,” shrugged a bulky stallion who had a hot pink colored mane and a sky-blue coat. “I suppose it is our honor to be the first to surprise you before you surprise us?” “I guess…,” pouted Pinkie as she dragged her hoof along the carpeted floor. “I just always know who is new to Ponyville and to be surprised not only by a new family moving in but to be invited by name to come over and help makes me wonder if my ‘Pinkie Sense’ is on the fritz.” The sky-blue stallion turned to his wife. The mare had a jet-black mane, emerald-green eyes, and a dark red coat. “Well…,” she nervously stated. “We don’t mean to be so secretive. Actually, we want to set up shop here in town.” “Shop?” asked Pinkie with childish enthusiasm. “What do you guys sell? Do you make it yourselves? It’s not anything related to desserts as Mr. and Mrs. Cake are the best of the best bakers and are so kind and recently had twin foals and we wouldn’t want anyone having hurt feelings over who makes the best cakes, cupcakes, stroodles…” The husband and wife just let Pinkie carry on until she finally got the hint that she was talking way too much. “Oh,” she giggled with a snort. “What do you guys sell?” The parents appeared to blush as they looked to see who would answer first. “Gourmet foal food,” the mare replied with as much of a smile as she could muster. “That’s right!” the sky-blue stallion added. “Found there is quite the market for foal food that genuinely hits the sweet spot on little fillies and colts.” “Ooh!” squealed Pinkie. “Do you have any?” The wife turned towards her husband who headed off to their kitchen. “So what’s this big job you said that only I could do to help you feel most welcome of welcome here in Ponyville?” asked Pinkie. “Mrs. Cake said something about foal sitting but I don’t see a foal nor do I hear a foal. Does that mean you want me to watch foals as they try out your foal food? Make sure they are all happy-happy-happy as they enjoy their nom-noms?” “Oh…,” the green eyed mare blushed. “You’ll meet our foal soon.” “But first!” proclaimed the stallion. “I present to you our finest foal food to appease your pallet!” Pinkie saw the larger than average jar of foal food. The label was covered in cute letters and reminded her or of something she had seen in a coloring book. “Okay!” she cheered while effortlessly removing the cap and sticking her hoof into the jar. She then jammed a large glop of the foal food in her mouth and smiled as she said, “Mmm-mmm! This is scrump-dilly-umpticous!” Couple smiled. “We’re glad you think so,” the stallion said. “Your friend’s at Sugar Cube Corner don’t make foal food?” worried the mare. “Do they?” “Oh, no!” chimed Pinkie while shoving another hoof full of the strawberry mush into her mouth. “Though I’d love to take some back for Pound and Pumpkin.” “That can be arranged,” beamed the stallion. “Though I suppose we haven’t had a chance to introduce ourselves.” Pinkie gasped and held her breath for allowing such an oversight. She should already know their names and now they were introducing themselves to her. She was really off her game. “My name’s Cream Puff,” the neon-pink stallion who looked almost like a Earth Pony version of Bulk Biceps greeted. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Pie.” “And I’m Sandy Puff,” the vibrant mare greeted. “I come from a long line of soap makers from Mount Vahoovious.” “And my family is known for being the brawniest of bronies!” added Cream. “My name was meant as a joke to anyone who’d doubt how much of a stallion I was going to be.” “Ooh!” cooed Pinkie. “So big tough soap makers who now make foal food? Who’d have thunk it?” The pair blushed. “Well,” Cream stated. “It’s time you met our foal.” Cream started to trot off towards the hallway as sandy gestured for Pinkie to follow them.
Chapter 1 - Our Precious Swaddle PuffChapter 1 - Our Precious Swaddle Puff “Wowie-kazowie!” awed Pinkie upon entering into the extravagantly designed nursery. The walls were all painted to simulate a cartoon-like meadow filled with doe-eyed foals doing all sorts of foal things. The ceiling and upper walls were made to look like a genuine sky where foal Pegasi snuggled into clouds and Celestia’s Cutie Mark was drawn into the light fixture that hung at the nursery’s center. “You guys really went all out!” Sandy and Cream smiled. “Anything for our little foal,” cooed Sandy while raising a hoof to her blushing face. “So where is the little cutie?” asked Pinkie with a beaming smile. “Auntie Pinkie wants to say hello.” “Our precious Swaddle Puff is right over there,” Cream Puff said while gesturing towards a crib that appeared the size of a queen-sized bed. “Golly gee!” remarked Pinkie as she realized how the room was filled with foal furniture that could easily be used by a full-grown pony. “I didn’t know you could get foal stuff so big!” Cream and sandy said nothing as they found themselves nervously holding hooves. Pinkie popped her pink head over the railing of the crib. Her blue eyes then grew to the size of saucers upon seeing ‘the foal’. “Is everything… alright?” Sandy puffed nervously asked. “Uh,” Pinkie replied with the best smile she could muster. “She’s… really big.” An awkward pause ensued. “Hey!” cheered Pinkie upon realizing things weren’t as happy as they should be. “I got this.” “You… do?” gulped Cream Puff. “Sure,” waved Pinkie as she looked into the crib to see the pastel-pink ‘foal’ fast asleep with a hoof in her mouth. “You two go on ahead and know Pinkie “Responsibility” Pie has got everything under control!” Sandy and Cream smiled at each other before giving a shared nod of approval to the childlike mare who had a trio of balloons for a Cutie Mark. “Our train leaves in about two hours,” stated Sandy. “How about we show you where everything is?” “Okie-dokie-lokie!” bounced Pinkie. “And her name is Swaddle Puff?” The parents seemed lost in thought as Sandy replied, “Yeah. Our precious Swaddle Puff.” “And you’re okay staying here until we get back?” asked Cream Puff as he nervously rubbed his hooves together. “We just need to finish getting everything cleaned out of our old home in Fillydelphia and we’ll be back fast as lightning.” “Pssh,” waved Pinkie with a smile. “It’ll be like a sleepover. Swaddle and I will be total besties and you’ll come back telling me just how awesome I am at foal sitting.” “Mrs. Cake said you help out at Sugar Cube Corner with baking and watching the twins,” stated Cream Puff. “It’d be okay if you took our precious Swaddle over to play with the twins during the day. Swaddle gets along very well with other foals.” “Sounds great!” chirped Pinkie while she started to push the doting parents out of the nursery. “But you two have a train to catch and Auntie Pinkie is ready to serve up lots of ‘Responsibility Pie’ while you’re away not worrying about anything.” “Okay,” giggled Sandy. “We know you’ll be perfect for caring for our foal while we’re away.” “We never like to leave our Swaddle Puff,” Cream stated. “But we’ll be back real soon to give lots of loving to our special foal.” “And until then,” Pinkie said as she got the parents out of the nursery, turned out the light, and shut the door. “Auntie Pinkie has everything under control!”
Chapter 2 - A foal In A Mare's BodyWith Cream and Sandy both off to the train station, Pinkie thought it best to get things ready for when her not-so-little charge woke up from her nap. “Every pony tells me not to ask or say awkward things,” she said while getting the kitchen ready to feed the ‘foal’. “Even Mr. and Mrs. Cake told me not to ask or say anything that immediately comes to my mind that could make some pony feel uncomfortable but I never saw a foal so big and Mr. and Mrs. Puff didn’t mention their foal having ‘special needs’ and how she was all grown up already.” Pinkie continued to think on what all she had so desperately wanted to say and ask while choosing a jar of the gourmet foal food from one of the cupboards. “This stuff is scrup-dilly-umptious,” she remarked. “I’ve had lots of Pound and Pumpkin’s foal food get into my mouth and that stuff can be dis-gust-ing!” Pinkie started to hear the sound of whimpering coming from the kitchen’s baby monitor. “Oh!” she cheered while bouncing off towards the nursery. “Time to foal around with the not-so-little mare!” *** Swaddle Puff smiled up at Pinkie Her eyes taking in just how fun the pink party pony foal sitter looked. “Uppy!” she called. “Uppy!” Pinkie had to think for a moment. “How about downy?” she asked with a smile while sliding down the crib gate. Swaddle rolled over enough for Pinkie to notice she had her Cutie Mark. It was a cartoon-like diaper that was pastel pink on one half and baby blue on the other. The pastel pink part almost blended totally in with Swaddle’s coat but the shade was just enough to make it stand out against her fur. “Ooh!” cooed Pinkie while reaching to help the foal out. “Some pony’s got their Cutie mark!” Ms. Pie was having her mind blown by all she had gotten herself into. However ‘Pinkie “Responsibility” Pie’ was up for the challenge and ready to take it all on. Even the post nap diaper check and change. “Okay!” cheered Pinkie as she helped Swaddle waddle over to the changing table that looked more like a twin-sized bed. “Let’s get you all clean before we play and have non-noms!” Swaddle giggled and clapped her hooves. “Happy foal!” she cried. “Like balloon pony!” “Well,” beamed Pinkie. “You’ll be happier after we change your diaper-wiaper.” “No change!” proclaimed Swaddle. “No wet! No mess!” Pinkie made a face. She didn’t know if she should force the mare-sized foal onto the changing table or not. “Well…,” she hummed while moving towards Swaddle’s diapered rump. “Can Auntie Pinkie just take a peaky-weaky to see if baby needs changing?” “You check,” Swaddle nodded while making a silly face. “No mind check. You see me dry.” Pinkie lifted the back of Swaddle’s diaper and saw no signs of horse apples. She then patted at the padding between her legs and heard no tell tale signs of wetness. “Okay!” she cheered. “No diaper change for you.” “Yay!” swaddled gleefully sang while clapping her hooves. “Get non-noms?” “Get nom-noms,” agreed Pinkie as she walked alongside the foal who was roughly her size.
Chapter 3 - Best 'Foal' Ever!Swaddle Puff was lying on the nursery floorwith a plush bear in her hooves as Pinkie went about filling the diaper bag for their trip over to Sugar Cube Corner. “You’ve been so-so good!” cheered the pink Earth Pony while stuffing a pack of foal wipes into the bag. “Perhaps your super good eating habits and taste in music and comedy will rub off on Pound and Pumpkin?” Pinkie thought back to feeding the full-grown foal. She laughed and cheered at everything she did. All the ‘choo-choo trains’ safely delivered non-noms into her mouth, When Swaddle fussed the piggy song Pinkie had tried for the Cake Twins was received with giggles and claps, and her jokes had the ‘foal’ laughing so hard that she was making the super-sized high chair shake from all the wiggling, chuckling, and hoof banging upon the tray. Swaddle Puff even kept crying out, “More! More!”” which made Pinkie so happy. Her childish mind enjoyed the attention and knowing how she was succeeding in caring for Swaddle Puff made her day. “You still even haven’t had any accidents!” beamed Pinkie as she pulled three very large diapers from a shelf under the changing table. “I bet it’s because you don’t want to make these super cute, Wonderbolt potty pants all yucky since they are super-duper adorable with their clouds, Wonderbolts, and happy birdies!” “No wet!” Swaddle Puff merrily proclaimed. “Stay dry for Pinkie!” Pinkie Pie felt her heart melt as she went over and rubbed through Swaddle Puff’s mane. “You’re just too cute!” she glowed before finding it irresistible to blow some raspberries on her pastel-pink belly. “Yes you are!” Swaddle Puff squealed in laughter from Pinkie’s actions. “Whee!” she exclaimed. “Happy foal!” Pinkie was now more into her role of foal sitter than ever as she rushed to collect the rest of the items necessary to take Swaddle Puff over for a few hours at Sugar Cube corner. “Okie-dokie!” she announced while bouncing about the room with a beaming smile. “Time to go on adventures with Auntie Pinkie!” Swaddle sat herself up and waited for Pinkie to assist in bringing her to her hooves. “You are just too cute!” announced Pinkie. “Want to take anything with you on our adventure?” Swaddle turned towards a bookshelf that housed a few items that were apparently not just for foals.”Want book!” she replied while enthusiastically pointing towards the bookshelf. “Want ‘Gusty The Great’!” “You got it!” stated a gleeful Pinkie while bouncing over and collecting the book from the bookshelf. She paused only for a moment to notice there were also books on finance, a calculator, paper clips, pens, and other business-related items all lined up on a shelf that could very easily be accessed by the infantile mare. “Go, go, go!” bounded Swaddle Puff while dashing towards Pinkie. “Adventures with Pinkie! Auntie Pinkie best!” The pink mare did not want the grown-up little one to get her hooves into an open plate of tacks so she quickly turned to intercept and hug Swaddle Puff. “No need to be fussy-wussy,” smiled Pinkie as she gave a warm hug to her charge. “Auntie Pinkie has everything all packed and ready to go so we can go have fun-fun-fun over at Sugar Cube Corner!” “Hurray!” Swaddle playfully replied while stomping her hooves. “Let’s go-go-go, Auntie Pinkie!” Pinkie slung the decorative diaper bag over her back, took hold of Swaddle’s hoof, and headed to where the stroller awaited them to begin their journey through town.
Chapter 4 - Second ThoughtsCelestia’s sun was starting its afternoon descent as Pinkie pushed the small carriage sized stroller into the heart of Ponyville. “Erm…,” moaned Swaddle Puff as she stirred within the stroller. “What’s wrong?” worried Pinkie before abruptly stopping to check on the displeased ‘foal’. “Sun in your eyes? Need a diaper change? Want candy?” Pinkie lobbed a few gummy bears into her mouth as she watched Swaddle Puff appear to blush while trying to hide her face. “Whoops!” the party pony chuckled nervously as she brought down the canopy of the stroller. “Auntie Pinkie forgot. Got to keep you cool and comfortable without too much of Celestia’s sun from hurting those little peepers of yours.” Swaddle Puff continued to fuss while covering her face with one hoof and making groaning sounds while pointing towards downtown Ponyville with the other. Pinkie made a nervous face as she felt her charge was getting ready to make a mess. “No-no!” Swaddle whined. “No see! No want others see!” Pinkie thought for a moment. “Oh!” she gasped. “I never thought of how you may actually be a fully grown mare who doesn’t want others to see you appear to be a giant baby pony! Auntie Pinkie can fix this!” Swaddle Puff’s pastel-pink face turned almost crimson red as Ms. Pie disappeared in a blur before returning a mere three seconds later with a shopping bag. “We got this!” cheered Pinkie while pulling out a pair of heart-printed panties and slipping them over Swaddle Puff’s thick, Wonderbolt diaper. The size was too small and forced the bulky padding to press firmly into Swaddle’s midsection. This provided a slight illusion that Swaddle wasn’t wearing a diaper but instead had large flanks. “EEp!” moaned Swaddle upon feeling her diaper uncomfortably tighten. “Now!” beamed Pinkie as she got into playing dress up with the ‘foal’. “Let’s get this cute and comfy dress on you!” Swaddle wriggled against Pinkie removing her from the stroller. However it was to no avail as she was put into the pastel-yellow dress before she could even blink. “”Ah!” she gasped as she noticed Pinkie feeling around her diapered area. “what do? What do?” Pinkie giggled and let out a snort. “Making you look all grown-up, silly!” she jovially replied. SWIP-THWIP “Wah?” wondered Swaddle as a blue bonnet was secured over her head to help cover her eyes. “I asked the store owner if they had bonnets for adult ponies as I know I saw some who wore them and the store owner told me they did so I got you this one to help protect your eyes as we walk through town!” Pinkie proudly speed talked as she did all sorts of over-the-top hoof motions. Swaddle tensed up. “No, no, no, no!” she cried. “Wanna’ go home!” “But your Auntie Pinkie needs to go to work for a bit at the Sugar Cube Corner and promises you lots of yummy sweets if you’re good and play nice with the twins!” the fun-loving mare quickly stated while trotting alongside Swaddle Puff. “And now that you look like the grown-up mare you are you have no worries about any pony giving funny looks as we walk through town where all sorts of ponies will be finishing up their jobs, shopping, and pony watching!” Swaddle tried to resist Pinkie’s efforts at moving her forward but to no avail. “HERE WE COME PONYVILLE!” boomed Pinkie. “WE LOVE YOU!”
Chapter 5 - Spoiling EverythingSwaddle Puff resisted more-and-more with each step beyond the stroller Pinkie seemed to have forgotten about. “No walkies!” she whined. “No go! No go!” Pinkiesnapped out of her jovial trotting when Swaddle just plopped herself down on the road and started to tantrum. “Okay!” caved Pinkie. “Stroller it is.” Swaddle became less fussy but still shook her head defiantly. “No go through Ponyville!” she demanded. “Go round! Less busy!” Pinkie helped load Swaddle back into the stroller. “But that would make Auntie Pinkie late for her job,” she said. “And other ponies count on Auntie Pinkie for tasty treats and amazing feats.” Swaddle pulled the blanket over herself as much as was possible while scooting herself as deeply as could be done into the stroller. “Alright!” cheered Pinkie. “Through town to see everyone!” *** Downtown Ponyville was filled with life as the city streets were filled with mares, stallions, fillies, and colts going about their business. Some were just getting off of work while others were just starting, foals played in spots they found open enough to do so, and a stores were filling fast with patrons. “Hi every pony!” greeted Pinkie naively as she noticed a growing number of townsfolk staring at her as she strolled Swaddle Puff through town. The street before her parted like a zipper as more eyes fixated on them. Even some Pegasi chose to hover over Pinkie and her charge to take in the scene unfolding before them. “Must be a publicity stunt for Sugar Cube Corner,” an earth Pony stated audibly. “Can she get any weirder?” a mother wondered in an irritated tone while covering her foal’s eyes from the spectacle. “I wonder what’s in the stroller?” asked a hovering Pegasus. “Why not come see, silly!” called Pinkie. The Pegasus blushed as he realized he had been heard. “Sha-sure,” he replied while flying downward. *** It wasn’t long until a growing crowd had gathered around Pinkie and the stroller. “Is that a big baby pony inside?” asked a curious filly. Noticing the flock of ponies around Pinkie grabbed the attention of Spoiled Rich and Diamond Tiara. They were on the way to see Filthy Rich at Barnyard Bargains and wanted to know what the fuss was all about. “That unwashed mess of a pony never fails to draw attention that is rightfully ours for the taking,” grumbled Spoiled. Diamond Tiara was less worried about ‘standing out’ and ‘rich pony standards’. She just wanted in on what would be the town gossip. “I say!” cried Spoiled. “What do we have here!” Swaddle Puff was as hidden as she could be as Pinkie ran forward to greet the Rich family. “Just doing some foal sitting,” replied Pinkie with a smile. “That must be some foal,” pursued Spoiled in a smug tone. “Might we all see the little dear who deserves such an extravagant stroller?” Fear swept over Swaddle Puff as Pinkie’s head popped into the stroller and said, “Get ready to say hello to every pony!” Swaddle tried to ball herself up as Pinkie gently lowered the blanket. The ‘foal’ tried to keep Pinkie from removing the blanket but Ms. Pie somehow managed to do it without her efforts having any effect. “Oh!” gasped the townsfolk as a full grown pony appeared to be inside the stroller. “What is the meaning of this?” growled Spoiled. “Mother,” whispered Diamond. “I think we should just, uh, head back to the store.” “Nonsense!” boomed Spoiled. “What pony in their right mind would allow themselves to be humiliated like this in the name of a poorly derived publicity stunt?” “This isn’t a publicity stunt,” replied Pinkie. “she just needs watched and I’m on my way to work.” “Right…,” trailed Spoiled as she walked up and started to poke at the blushing ‘foal’ inside. “Fess up! This is just an act and a bad one at that!” Swaddle Puff said nothing while trying to bat away Spoiled Rich’s advances. “Mom,” asked Diamond with a hint of embarrassment. “Is this really necessary?” The smug mare didn’t listen to her daughter. She just continued to press the ‘foal’ inside the buggy. “Where did that unkempt, filly-minded Pie girl find you?” she pressed. “Perhaps under a park bench begging for bits and desperate enough to play foal for her to appease her childlike whims?” Swaddle’s eyes grew a look of anger as she suddenly leapt out of the stroller and glared down Spoiled Rich. “I’ll have you know that I make quite the honest living working in finance for a business that brings in more bits than your hoity-toity Barnyard Bargains!” she snarled with the voice of a stallion. “It’s ponies like you who make it so ponies like me can’t be ourselves in public! You want all the attention to yourself and act all high-and-mighty to make up for how you feel someone just might steal the spotlight from you for a single moment!” Jaws dropped as the ‘foal’ had turned out to not be a foal at all. He was a full grown, fully functional stallion! “And another thing!” proclaimed Swaddle Puff while tearing off the bonnet, dress, underwear, and diaper he was wearing. “It’s ponies like you who are ‘unwashed’ for how disgusting your behavior towards others are! Totally disgusting! One can only hope your daughter doesn’t grow up to be anything like you, Spoiled Milk!” Mrs. Rich stumbled back a bit upon being called by her maiden name. “That’s right!” Swaddle Puff snapped wwhile adjusting his mane. “Who do you think did all your taxes this past year? Who do you think has helped Filthy with his investments to keep you all pampered in that fancy mansion of yours? Me!” The town’s ponies were all speechless. “You’re so caught up in yourself that you don’t even recognize me when I’m a so-called ‘normal pony’,” he stated. “Does the name Shining Ash ring any bells for you?” Spoiled’s eyes grew like saucers. “Thought so,” growled Shining Ash as he poked at the insulting mare. “I’ll now go where you and every other pony seem to only care about me,” Shining darted out of Ponyville while not paying a single ounce of attention to the ponies who continued to stare with disbelief at him. Spoiled Rich soon noticed the ponies of Ponyville looking to her for answers. “Time to go, Diamond Tiara,” she said while backing up. “A little late, mother,” growled diamond under her breath. “Way to show our position of ‘Rich Ponies’.” Pinkie seemed to squeak as she realized she needed to make a getaway herself. So she collected all of the discarded clothing, threw it in the stroller, and galloped off towards the safety of Sugar Cube Corner.
Chapter 6 - Temper TantrumPinkie found herself back at the Puff’s residence as Mr. and Mrs. Cake believed her to be, “…too hyper to do her job.”. She wanted to talk about the events that occurred but was glared down by Mrs. Cake who asked “Where’s the foal you are watching, Pinkie?”. The party pony wanted to go on about the events in downtown Ponyville but knew the looks The Cakes were giving her would not change to happy ones unless she showed how true she was to her “Pinkie Promises” and being “Pinkie ‘Responsibility’ Pie”. “I hope he came home…,” she said while entering into the Puff home. It was completely dark inside with the exception of some night lights and one lit room that had its door cracked open. *** The illuminated room was Swaddle Puff’s nursery. Pinkie took a moment to peer in through the crack to see Swaddle back in a diaper grumbling as he knocked down a block tower. KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK Swaddle turned with a jolt of surprise as he noticed the party pony begin to swing the door open. “Can I come in?” she asked. Swaddle sighed. “Yes,” he pouted. Pinkie’s normal enthusiasm was gone as she entered. Her mane had even lost a bit of its ‘poof’, too. “So, uh…,” she trailed. “You’re a stallion?” Swaddle gazed at her with a shrug. “Uh-huh,” he replied. “And you liked being seen as a mare?” pursued Pinkie. “Kind of like Big Macintosh who has always dreamed of being a princess and is willing to dress up as Orchard Blossom in order to do nice things for his sister?” “It was you who saw me as a mare,” stated swaddle while gingerly playing with a toy car. “I thought it was fun so I didn’t say anything.” “Do you really need diapers?” edged Pinkie. “If so that is okay but, seriously, who would want to wear diapers to just wear diapers?” Swaddle grew a look of displeasure from Pinkie’s last rhetorical question. “They’re comfortable,” he scowled. “And I’m not the only one who likes to wear diapers who is all grown up.” Pinkie appeared baffled. “Seriously?” she gasped. “You don’t use them to, uh, you know?” Swaddle’s look got more agitated. “What if I did?” he pressed back. “It’s not like I’m incapable of changing myself.” “But how can…?” stammered Pinkie. “Why?” Swaddle took to his hooves. “Look,” he stated. “I’m not asking you to do anything you don’t want to. I’m not even asking you to watch me anymore. You can just go home and forget all about this and be like all the others.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” wondered Pinkie. “It means,” huffed Swaddle. “You’re not the caring, fun-loving, understanding pony my parents and I thought you were. So go home.” “I care,” Pinkie retorted. “I just-” “-think I’m some sort of immature, stupid, pony!” snapped Swaddle. “Do you know how hard it is to have a diaper for a Cutie mark? Do you have the slightest idea what it is like to do the work I do and not want to feel all safe and comfortable after having ponies yell in my face because they feel I’m not doing my job as a finance manager?” “But-“ Pinkie tried to say. “-Do you know I have to ‘paint’ over my Cutie Mark each day I go to work? Do you know how frustrating it is to not be allowed to do what helps you feel better after being beat down by impatient ponies for doing your absolute best to be honest in a largely dishonest field?” There was a short pause. “Look,” he said. “My real name is shining Ash. My father took my mother’s name when they got married as he was shamed out of his family for ‘not living up to his expectations’. My mother never fit in with her family’s longstanding soap business in the Dragon lands. So, when I was born, they both promised to not let the darker side of ponies hurt me.” “darker side of ponies?” asked Pinkie as her mane continued to lose its frizz. “You saw it!” boomed Shining Ash. “Spoiled Rich making that big scene in town for no reason beyond satiating her desire to put down others!” Pinkie was feeling overwhelmed with emotions as the mare bounded about. His crinkling diaper making her wonder if The Cake twins were saying such things in their babble when they were having a tantrum. “When I learned my special talent was to do things for foals my parents got really scared,” continued Shining Ash. “They worried I’d be ostracized as a result of being a colt who looked like a filly who had a ‘Cutie Mark’ of a diaper on my flanks! So they taught me math and I learned I could do really good financial work and got my degree in accounting and finance along with my CPA! I’d ‘paint’ over my Cutie mark each-and-every day to hide my ‘Special talent’ while using makeup and other things I hated so I wasn’t mistreated by ponies for being the real me!” Tears were now forming in Pinkie’s eyes. “Our family moved here to Ponyville to get away from all the cruel ponies in Fillydelphia that would recognize my mother and father along with those ponies who’d openly tell clients I was some sort of freak pony for looking like a mare when I was a stallion!” roared Shining Ash. “We are starting a foal food business so we can finally be at peace away from any pony who’d ever remember my dad being the not-so-macho Puff and my mom for being ‘that soap pony’ along with me being treated like a dirty diaper by more-and-more ponies who’d listen to ponies, like Spoiled Rich, about how no pony should have their business affairs handled by some sort of ‘freak of nature’!” Pinkie shuttered and folded in on herself. She had never been yelled at in such a way before. She felt absolutely horrible and did not know how to fix things. “So, Ms. Pie!” snorted the padded stallion. “Feel free to go home and forget I even exist!” “Don’t say that!” cried Pinkie as she found a pacifier on the floor, shoved it in the angry stallion’s mouth, and ran out of the nursery in tears. Shining Ash huffed and resumed playing with his toys while suckling on the pacifier.
Chapter 7 - Shining AshPinkie was on her way back to Sugar Cube Corner when she realized Mr. and Mrs. Cake would ask questions as to why she wasn’t caring for the ‘foal’ as she had ‘Pinkie Promised’ to do. She thought how this would make her look irresponsible and how she’d lose her title of Pinkie ‘Responsibility’ Pie. She may not be allowed to watch The Cake Twins if that happened! So she returned to the Puff’s house and made her way to the guest room she was provided. *** Pinkie wasn’t able to sleep at all that night. She felt a mix of emotions over the encounter she had with Shining Ash. Why would a grown pony want to be a foal? Didn’t she act like a foal when she played with Pound and Pumpkin? Why would any grown pony want to live in a nursery? Didn’t she sometimes enjoy sleeping in The Cake Twins nursery when they were napping? There were times she thought she saw Princess Luna out of the corner of her eye. However her overwhelmed mind kept her from even wanting to talk to any pony beyond herself. *** The party pony did eventually fall asleep. When she woke Celestia’s sun had rose above the horizon. “That was awful,” she moaned while rubbing at her aching head. “Only one thing to do.” Ms. Pie let out a massive yawn before groggily trotting off to Shining Ash’s nursery. *** “Uh,” worried Pinkie as she pushed the door open a bit. “Good morning?” There was no response. Pinkie opened the door the rest of the way and entered into the nursery. There was no sign of Shining Ash. About the only noticeable change from the night before was how spotless the nursery appeared. “This is bad,” said Pinkie while continuing her search. “My ‘Pinkie Sense’ is even telling me there’s no pony in the house except for me, too.” *** Pinkie felt a lump in her throat form as she fully confirmed that Shining Ash was gone. She then found herself back at the nursery staring at the bookshelf. Something about it seemed ‘odd’. “Hmm,” she pondered upon noticing the hardwood floor beneath it along with how the bookshelf had wheels. “I wonder…?” FWIR-FWIR-FWIR The bookshelf slid to the other side of the hardwood floor to reveal a door. “You wanted answers Pinkie,” she said while reaching for the doorknob. “And you’re going to find them.” *** The ‘secret room’ was very bland in comparison to the nursery. It had a polished desk, filing cabinets, a cushy chair behind the desk, two padded chairs in front of the desk, and a half open, blind covered window that faced towards a pony-made pond where water fowl and small animals were gathering to start their day. Pinkie noticed how clean and professional the room appeared. Everything was in its place. Including a large picture of a well-groomed Shining Ash standing between his parents who looked very proud. There was also another small picture facing the back of the desk. This one was of Shining Ash as he looked when he was Swaddle Puff being hugged by his parents from both sides. “What’s wrong with me?” wondered Pinkie while falling back into the chair behind the desk. She supported the picture of Swaddle Puff and looked at how his parents appeared very happy with him. Just as happy as they did in the hung, larger picture near the filing cabinet. “They don’t see a problem with him wanting to be like a foal and their his parents.” Pinkie had a short flashback of life on the Rock Farm and how she was loved by her family despite being so different in so many ways from them. She then thought of how much she loved Maud and how Maud loved her. Maud never made her feel bad for wanting to be a Party Planner and for moving to Ponyville to do so. So why was she being a not-so-nicey pants towards Shining Ash? THUNK! “Owie!” cried Pinkie as her hind hoof slammed against the desk. She had gone so much into thought that she’d began to fall back into the large office chair. This action hurt but also caused a drawer to pop open that revealed a colorful diary decorated with three doe-eyed foals in diapers smiling. One was a Unicorn, one was a Pegasus, and the last was an earth Pony. “Cute!” cried Pinkie as the bright colors made her thoughtlessly grab for the book. She flipped the diary open and quickly slammed it shut. “No, Pinkie!” she self-scolded. “This is his private diary. Reading it would be breaking his trust.” “But you’ve already broken his trust,” a voice in her head said. Pinkie’s mane drooped like wet spaghetti. “You’re right voice inside my head,” she replied to herself. “I was an awful pony.” “Perhaps reading just the last page could help?” her mind urged. “It is likely about you anyway.” “Why not,” Pinkie sighed as she flipped to the last page that had been wrote upon. It read… “…Worst day ever! Thought I found some pony who could really understand me but she’s just like all the others! Why does every pony want me to be some pony I’m not? Why do they still make me feel awful for being a productive member of society who does nothing to hurt no pony else? I’ve got to get out. Be amongst those who understand. So, once more under the cover of night and my disguise, I’m heading off to the milk bar. It’s going to take a lot of milk and cookies to get over this one. But I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again-and-again until I no longer need to feel shamed by other ponies for just embracing my special talent…” “Milk bar…?” pondered Pinkie while putting the diary back into the drawer. “I wonder if he means ‘Moo Cow Milk’?” Pinkie leapt over the desk and headed back for the nursery. “There’s only one way to find out and I’m going undercover to do it!” she proclaimed. “Milk bar, here I come!”
Chapter 8 - Meeting Silly Filly“…You got to blend in,” Pinkie stated to herself while padding herself in one of Shining Ash’s diapers. “Every pony in Ponyville knows you and they’ll never let you in at the top secret mailk bar if they know who you are and that you’re the meanie who made Swaddle Puff run away there.” *** Ms. Pie still had the dress and bonnet she had purchased the day before. So she put those on. She then styled the exposed parts of her mane and tail with ribbons and bows to ensure she was now ‘Silly Filly’ instead of Pinkie Pie. “Let’s do this,” she said with determination while prancing out of the nursery, out of the house, and into Ponyville. *** It was an extremely awkward trek into Ponyville. Pinkie was used to greeting every pony she saw with a smile and reminder of how close their birthday was. However she knew she couldn’t do that. She had to keep her cover. She had to… “Are you that big baby pony from yesterday?” a small voice asked while tugging at the back of the dress. “Wow! What big diapers you have! Are you a foal to a giant pony who lives in the scary Everfree Forest?” Pinkie felt her cheeks flush red as the colt’s questions started to draw a crowd. “…Is your mommy and daddy back in the Everfree Forest?” he continued to ask. “Are they not here because they can see you from the top of a giant beanstalk …?” A crowd had now gathered and begun to whisper amongst themselves before the colt’s father and mother came rushing forward. “That’s enough, Curious Mind,” the father stated while picking up his son with his Unicorn magic. “Sorry he bothered you,” the Pegasus mother said very nervously. “We’ll just be getting out of your way.” Many eyes were now on Pinkie and she knew her cover would be blown if she didn’t get away super fast. So, before more ponies could swarm in on her, she made a run for it. TRIP-THWUMP Laughter filled the air as ‘Silly Filly’ fell forward and landed in a way that allowed the dress to slide up like a curtain to reveal her diaper. “Not used to such bulk between my legs,” gasped Pinkie. “Hey Applejack!” cried a familiar voice from far too close by. “What da ya think is goin’ on over thar?” Pinkie’s cheeks were now burning crimson red as she found herself doing a bit of a ‘diaper dance’ as she tried to get herself back on her four hooves. This brought more laughter and curious citizens as she gradually got the dress to fall back over the bulky baby garment. “Ha-ha!” chuckled a familiar voice from overhead. “Pinkie should be here to see this!” “Dashie?” thought Pinkie while trying to peek towards the clouds just enough to see her pranking pal had broken off from the weather team to take in the sight the whole town had now become fixated on. “It’s not Nightmare Night!” called Dash down between laughs. “But you definitely are in quite the costume for it!” Pinkie was starting to feel laughed at instead of laughed with. Her feelings were hurting fast and she did all she could to scurry away towards, what she hoped, would be the safety of the milk bar.
Chapter 9 - The Milk Bar‘Silly Filly’ used her Pinkie Pie knowledge and skills to go as unseen as possible in reaching Moo Cow Milk. The small barn-like building was as it had always been. Working ponies and cows ensuring all the milk-based products were kept stocked and properly refrigerated until a customer arrived to purchase them. Nothing at all out of the ordinary. “Except…,” considered Pinkie as she saw some ponies enter into the public restroom and never return. “Hmm…,” NUDGE-NUDGE Pinkie was snapped out of her observations by a grey stallion with a white mane. “Psst,” he said while keeping his eyes focused on a container of milk he had in his hooves. “Are you new?” “New?” answered Pinkie before she realized she needed to keep her cover. “Ah-oh, yes.” “Well,” the stallion seemed to grumble. “You’d do us all a favor by not wearing your play clothes in public.” “Play clothes?” wondered Pinkie as she got into her role as Silly Filly. The stallion sighed. “Okay,” he sighed. “see the restroom there? Go inside and you’ll find a floor tile under the changing table that is noticeably off-colored. Tap it five times and wait for me down in the milk bar.” Silly Filly gulped. “Okays,” she said. “I go.” The stallion did not appear amused as the foal-dressed pink pony followed his instructions. *** “Oof!” gasped ‘Silly Filly’ as she found herself suddenly dropped onto a soft mattress after doing exactly what the grey stallion had instructed her to do. “Oh, wow!” she exclaimed. “I had no idea there was a secret passage here!” The milk bar grew quiet as ponies in various sorts of foal attire glared her way. “OOpsie,” she giggled. “Me fall and go boom!” The patrons returned to their business of playing with blocks, bumping diapers, jovially playing in the numerous adult-sized foal play pens, bouncers, and ball pits, and, of course, drinking milk from bottles. THWUMP! “Good,” the stallion from before stated upon landing on the mattress. “You have a lot to learn if you want to come out and play.” “Wike what?” asked Silly Filly as she leaned towards the stallion. “First and foremost,” he stated. “There are lockers where you can keep your play clothes and toys.” “Wockers?” babbled Silly. The stallion sighed. “Cooing Cuddles can explain everything,” he stated while gesturing towards a mare in a onesie who was nursing a bottle at the milk bar itself. “She helped me when I first learned of this place.” The stallion walked to where other ponies were emerging from. They were all clad in all sorts of foal-related clothing and items. “Okays!” called Silly Filly as she waved towards the stallion. I goes!” *** “Goo-goo how are you?” greeted Silly Filly as she hopped up the high-chair like seat. “Ain’t it greats being a foal!” Cooing Cuddles looked towards Silly Filly as if she were from another planet. “You must be…,” she started to say before seeing through the disguise. “Pinkie Pie?” Pinkie couldn’t believe she was found out. However there was something very familiar about Cooing Cuddles. “Do I know you?” she asked. “I had no idea you were an adult foal, too!” the Earth Pony with the sapphire mane cheered. “Though I should have always guessed knowing your love of foal sitting and how everything you do seems like the work of a little filly!” “Gemstone Bangle…?” asked Pinkie. “The one-and-only!” she proclaimed merrily while giving Pinkie a big hug. “So glad you’re here!” Pinkie was all for hugs but very confused about what her friend was trying to say. “I’m actually here looking for some pony,” said Pinkie. “Swaddle Puff?” Gemstone Bangle looked as if the life had been sucked right out of her. “Why?” she asked with noticeable disappointment. “Did I say something wrong?” worried Pinkie. Gemstone grew a frown. “No…,” she pouted. “I just thought we could finally talk openly about our feelings on being adult foals.” “We can,” Pinkie smiled. “But you’re not really an adult foal… are you?” whimpered the mare. “Well, uh, actually…,” pondered Pinkie. “I don’t know.” Gemstone took to suckling her hoof for a moment while shifting nervously in her chair. “Pinkie,” she said without facing the disguised party pony. “Do you know how some hurts never go away?” “I’ve heard it in a song once,” she replied. “Well,” Gemstone continued. “I was hurt pretty bad as a filly. When I became the foal sitter you knew me to be when I wasn’t working at the jewelery store I was always jealous of the foals I watched.” “Jealous?” wondered Pinkie. “A tear formed in Gemstone’s right eye. “Yes,” she sniffled. “Like I wanted to be them. Have another go at life. Not have the hurt that I have that will never go away.” Pinkie didn’t want to push Gemstone about ‘the hurt’ as it seemed it was upsetting her a lot to even mention it. She then thought of how she felt when watching The Cake twins. The carefree fun she had when playing with them. How they always seemed so happy. Something she thought on how she wanted them to always feel as she had numerous memories of feeling like the outcast of the family back on the rock farm. Maud, Limestone, and Marble all did what they could to include her but it wasn’t until she saw rainbow Dash’s ‘Sonic Rainboom’ that she finally felt a sense of purpose in life beyond a very depressive day-to-day feeling of not belonging. Even after that she could genuinely say she felt worse as her family just wanted to keep doing the rock farm activities while she yearned to throw another party and put smiles on the faces of others. It hurt a lot to have to leave for Ponyville but she knew if she didn’t she’d never be all she knew she needed to be. Maud was the most supportive of her leaving but it still hurt a lot to feel the family was more focused on how they were losing a worker on the farm than their daughter’s happiness. Maud played a big part in explaining Pinkie was following her dream by leaving the farm as she was doing the same to be more skilled in rocks and gems. However thinking of home always reminded her of those many years she had a sort of ‘hole’ in her heart for being, for lack of better words, ‘the family misfit’. “I’m sorry, Gemstone,” sobbed Pinkie as her emotions started to catch up with her. “I had no idea.” “Well,” she replied as her smile started to return. “When you’re here you can get back all those warm feelings of safety and love you feel were robbed from you. Be the you that you know you always deserved to be before any ‘hurts’ happened.” Gemstone banged her hooves upon the bar in a tantrum-like fashion. This brought a jovial bartender over. “What will it be, sweeties?” the cow dressed in an apron asked. “Two sippy cups of warm milk and a plate of chocolate chip cookies,” beamed Gemstone as she returned to her ‘Cooing Cuddles’ personality. “Ah!” the cow replied merrily. “So glad you have a playdate today, Cuddly. I’ll go get you two those yummy cookies and milk.” Cooing Cuddles pulled ‘Silly Filly’ into a close hug and nuzzled her cheek. “Thanks, Pinkie,” she said. “Having you here makes me feel so much better.”
Chapter 10 - The D&N‘Cooing Cuddles’ shared a lot of the ins-and-outs of the milk bar. Most notably being how it was a far larger establishment than just a place to get sweet treats while acting like a foal. “…Most of us even spend some time in the D&N,” she gleefully noted while pointing to where some foalishly-dressed ponies were trotting towards. They just knocked on the paddock door, a gleeful stallion asked them something, they replied, and he opened the bottom door so they could enter inward. “The D&N?” asked Pinkie as she found herself getting into her ‘Silly Filly’ role. “what’s that?” Gemstone, as ‘Cooing Cuddles’, took a big drink from her sippy cup before replying, “It’s Ponyville’s exclusive Day and Nightcare. It’s run by Dr. Dummy who helps each foal, or group of foals, find the perfect way to get away from all the ‘hurts’ and stresses in their lives.” “How’s that?” questioned Silly like a filly. “Dr. Dummy runs the D&N like a hotel,” replied Cooing. “You go in, tell him and his friends what you are looking for, and they get you your own nursery with, or without, a caretaker so you can just be the you without a care in the world!” “Really?” squeed Silly. Cooing finished her drink before gleefully answering, “For reallies!” The two embraced. Pinkie was starting to feel all her worries melt away in being in such a carefree environment with some pony she genuinely felt comfortable around. Nobody said a word about what they were doing, how obnoxious her behavior could be, or held her to ‘Pinkie Promises’. She was just there in the moment enjoying milk and cookies with a friend. “This must be like how Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo feel,” she thought. “Minus the diapers and foal clothing and pretending to be kids again parts.” “I’ve always wanted a playmate like you, Pinks,” smiled Gemstone. “Here I go by ‘Cooing Cuddles’. Most ponies go by different names. Did you pick one out for yourself by chance?” “Uh…,” thought Pinkie with the cutest expression on her face. “I’m ‘Silly Filly’!” BOOMF! ‘Silly Filly’ rolled out her party cannon and fired a blast of cupcake scented confetti into the air. As she squeeled with joy and bounded about in circles. Cooing’s smile grew wider as she clapped her hooves like a little foal. “You are a silly filly!” she cheered. “And we love you!” *** “I’m Dr. Dummy,” greeted the white stallion who had a golden mane. “And this be my little slice of heaven for all those lost foals in need of a relaxing time out.” Silly and Cooing entered into the large playroom that was the D&N’s first room past the paddock. The designs on the wall were like those Pinkie observed in Swaddle Puff’s nursery. Doe-eyed foals doing foal-like things in a sea of happily vibrant colors. “Is that…?” asked Pinkie upon spotting Lyra and Bon-Bon playing patty cake on the floor near a small pile of stuffed animals. Both were wearing very bulky diapers and giggling almost uncontrollably. Cooing put a hoof on Silly’s shoulder. “Here they are ‘Soft Mint’ and ‘Sweet Cream’,” she said. “You come here to forget the real world. Not be associated with it.” “That seems unhealthy,” said Silly. “It’s fun to pretend but even I know you need to be serious sometimes.” “That’s why me and my staff work diligently to assist our ‘foals’ in using this facility as a sort of therapeutic service instead of an escape,” added Dr. Dummy. “My research as a professor back in Trottingham showed me how modern equine medicine isn’t always the best way to help over-stressed ponies find peace in their day-to-day lives. So I looked into what would be possible if play therapy were to be blended with new positive psychology of standard equine therapy to create this.” “Doctor,” a soft-spoken mare who had a yellow mane and pink coat said. “I think we need you in Room 2. The client seems to be having a nervous breakdown.” “Duty calls,” shrugged Dr. Dummy. “I’ll be back around after I help our guest with their woes.” “Wow,” remarked Silly. “I didn’t know this place was so deep.” “Dr. Dummy really cares about the well-being of ponies,” stated Cooing. “However his practices got him kicked out of Trottingham University. So he came here to Ponyville to continue his studies and setting up this delightful getaway from the everyday.” “Who pays for all this?” wondered Pinkie as a mare and stallion in hoovie pajamas chased after each other towards a room with one of the caretakers following close behind. “I didn’t notice any pony paying any bits the whole time I was here.” “The Puff family are huge donors to the cause,” replied Cooing. “So are a lot of other well-to-do pony families all across Equestria who believe in Dummy’s research to help ponies rid themselves of stress and anxiety in far more natural ways than magic or medicine.” Silly sighed and felt her Pinkie Pie self return. “Puff like Swaddle Puff?” she asked. “Oh!” beamed Cooing. “You know him? Super nice guy who really knows his numbers.” “Yeah,” pouted Pinkie as she dug her hoof into the soft carpet. “I kind of was a meanie-meanie pants to him and I want to find and apologize for being a super awful pony to him.” “Hmm,” thought Cooing. “Let’s have us a play around to see if he is here. If not some pony may know where to find him. We’re all about apologizing and being nice and your desire to apologize for whatever you feel you have done will set a positive example to every pony here.” Pinkie felt her foalish side come back out. “Okay!” she cheered. “Let’s go have fun and make everything right!”
Chapter 13 - Making Up“It’s coming from the nursery!” panicked an audible voice from the other side of the door. “Quick!” another stallion worried. “Open the door!” *** “Hey!” called a pony as the sound of the crib gate being dropped could be heard. “How did you get in here?” “Pinkie…?” another stallion wondered. “Is that you?” Pinkie continued to wail. “Hey!” the one who had seemed to identify her said while giving her a big hug. “Calm down. You’re safe.” Ms. Pie felt the comfort of the hug along with the pats on the back she was receiving. “Swaddle…?” she sniffled. “Is that-” “-Shh,” he hushed while starting to rock the emotionally overwhelmed mare. “Just calm down and take some breaths.” “You know her?” the other stallion asked. “I do,” replied Swaddle. “She’s the one I told you was a total meanie down at the milk bar.” The friend rolled his eyes. “Then why are you being so nice?” he asked. “She needs a spanking. Not a hug.” “Oh, no,” Swaddle retorted. “That would go against everything Dr. Dummy has taught us to be.” He then looked into Pinkie’s eyes as he stated, “Plus I think it is very sweet and considerate that you’d put on that getup you put me in yesterday just to try and find me.” Pinkie’s eyes were very blurry from all the crying. “Did I interrupt you two being foals?” she asked somberly. “Were you feeling all good inside feeling young again until I ruined everything?” Swaddle smiled as he removed the bonnet from Pinkie’s head so her head was no longer obscured. “Oh,” he said. “There’s far more to what we do than what you may believe.” “We were actually in the middle of installing a new ceiling fan in my living room,” the other stallion stated. He, like Swaddle, were both just wearing diapers. However he appeared quite serious for some pony who was in ‘foal mode’. “I’m sorry for being such a meanie,” sniffled Pinkie. “Can we be friends again? Please? I think I learned my lesson.” “Lesson?” wondered Swaddle Puff. “What’s that?” Pinkie trotted out of the crib. “I learned, or should say relearned, how important it is to really know a pony before saying and doing things that could potentially hurt their feelings so bad that they don’t want to ever be around you because you are a thoughtless meanie-face head.” Swaddle smiled as he gave Pinkie another big hug. “Apology accepted,” he said. “Thanks so much for caring enough to try and find me to make things all better.” Swaddle Puff then realized something. “How did you find me?” he asked. “It’s not like you have any connections or are affiliated with the Ponyville AF?” “Actually,” blushed Pinkie. “I kind of found out that I know a lot of ponies who are a part of the milk bar and what Dr. Dummy does. Even a close friend I kind of should have kept in better touch with who helped me see that wanting to be a foal for a little bit isn’t any stranger than wanting to bounce around all the time randomly singing songs and firing off party cannons.” Swaddle smiled and laughed while resuming his hug and patting Pinkie on the back. “Thank you, Pinkie,” he said. “I knew you were the right pony to ask to foal sit me.” The stallion observing the scene shrugged. “Think you could lend a hoof in installing the ceiling fan?” he asked towards Pinkie. “Six hooves are better than two.” “Sure!” replied Pinkie. “Let’s go!”
Epilogue - Dear Princess CelestiaSwaddle and Pinkie discretely packed their ‘foal supplies’ before heading back to his house later that evening. They agreed that both had learned a lot and how none of the not-so-nice things that occurred would be mentioned to his parents. *** Pinkie donned her role as ‘Silly Filly’ the whole next day with Shining, Swaddle Puff, Ash. They even took turns playing caretaker and foal while still tackling the chores that needed done around the house prior to Mr. and Mrs. Puff returning the following day. *** “Thanks for watching our precious Swaddle Puff,” thanked Sandy Puff with a smile. “We hope he wasn’t too much of a hoof full,” Cream Puff added with a blush. “Pssh,” grinned Pinkie with a wave of her hoof. “No trouble at all.” “Pinkie was everything we had heard and more!” cheered Swaddle while nuzzling against the pink party pony. “We want to have more time together so you two can have more mommy-daddy time!” “so you…,” blushed Sandy. Pinkie only nodded as she slung her saddlebag over her barrel. This caused one of Swaddle’s diapers to drift out and flop upon the ground. “Oopsie,” blushed Pinkie. Both parents blushed while smiling wide. “I see,” nodded Cream Puff. “So you are an AF, too?” Swaddle Puff helped to put the diaper that fell out back into Pinkie’s bag. “She’s going to give it a try,” he stated. “She has a friend she met who wants to introduce her to Dr. Dummy and what he does to help ponies feel better.” “Oh, Pinkie,” Sandy said while giving the party pony a hug. “Thanks for being so understanding towards our precious Swaddle Puffer.” “It’s ponies like her who make it easier for me to be Shining Ash,” added the young stallion. “I think all the ‘hurts’ we have felt are going to soon be nothing but a bad memory now that we’re here in Ponyville amongst friends.” Cream Puff beamed while wrapping his hoof around his son. “That’s great,” he said lovingly. “We’ll get our foal food business off the ground and make foals of all ages happy and be successful no matter what any pony says.” “That’s right!” cheered Sandy as she joined in sharing affection for their son. “A new life. A new beginning. And a new friend.” Pinkie beamed. “And a very super welcome from Ponyville’s official greeter and party planner!” she cheered while pulling out her party cannon and launching streamers and confetti into the air. “I’m sure you’ll make lots of friends and could even help The Cakes out by promoting each other’s goodies!” “Of course,” Cream Puff stated. “Do let Mr. and Mrs. Cake know we have a box of our gourmet foal food for their twins waiting for them when they can come up for a visit.” “Will do!” cheered Pinkie. “But I really need to get back to Sugar Cube Corner! Duty calls!” ZIP-SHOO! The family all waved towards the pink blur that left their home. *** That night Pinkie pulled out a piece of parchment and dipped a quill into a cake-scented container of ink. “dear Princess Celestia. Sometimes you don’t know how wonderful ponies around you are to you until you find yourself in a situation that makes you truly realize how kind and accepting ponies are to the way you are. I ‘Pinkie Promised’ not to ever talk about a lot of what I got to see and do over the past few days with the new family in town but I did get a real lesson in how ponies have all sorts of ways to make themselves feel better when they’re not feeling very good on the inside. It’s important to not get caught up in your own feelings of what should or should not make ponies feel better. Instead you need to, as I mentioned about Cranky Doodle Donkey and Matilda, take time to learn how to share happiness and make them feel happy. The golden rule is such a bust as treating other ponies like you’d treat yourself doesn’t mean you are being a true friend to them. So I’m calling what I learned ‘The Cupcake Rule’. The frosting may not look like it will taste good but you have to at least give it a try before you make the decision to eat the whole thing or not eat it ever again. Even then you need to be kind enough to say ‘No thanks’ instead of just throwing the cupcake away in front of some pony who really likes that flavor of cupcake.” “I’m now going to spend some time with a friend I had not had fun with for a long-long time! So you’ll probably not get another letter from me for awhile as I’ll be super busy reconnecting, making new friends, and working with The Cakes.” “waiting for you to ask me to plan the next Grand Galloping gala, Pinkie ‘Silly Filly’ Pie.” Pinkie grinned from ear-to-ear as she put the letter in the mail. She then headed for her room, put on one of Swaddle’s diapers, handed gummy a pacifier and put one in her own mouth, and drifted off to sleep.
Chapter 11: Finding Swaddle PuffChapter 11: Finding Swaddle Puff It was hard to not reach out to each pony she discovered was attending the D&N. So many familiar faces going by different names and acting in ways ranging from helpless newborn foals to preschool-aged fillies and colts. “Do you have time to play?” Cooing Cuddles asked. “I mean, well, after you apologize to Swaddle Puff for whatever it is you did?” ‘Silly Filly’ sighed. “I need to get my meanie pants off first,” she replied. “Does some pony need a change?” a stallion caretaker asked. “No, no,” Cooing Cuddles giggled. “Silly Filly here is new and feels she hurt one of our friends’ feelings and wants to say sorry.” “I’ll go with you!” the teal-colored stallion with a well-kept emerald mane announced. “”I’m an intern and need to observe an apology given the conditions set forth by Dr. Dummy!” Cooing Cuddles looked to Silly Filly. Silly nodded in agreement and the trio further explored the D&N in search of Swaddle Puff. *** “Swaddle Puff?” considered a mare who deeply resembled Nurse Redheart. “Oh! He went to his friend’s house to play!” “Bummer,” Silly Filly pouted. “She’s looking to apologize for being mean to him,” the intern told the caretaker who was standing alongside Nurse Redheart who was now going by the name of ‘Nurse Joy’. “Want to tell our friend where she can find swaddle Puff, little joy?” the mare asked her adult foal who was clad in a pair of training pants and had her mane styled up in two stylish loops that stuck out notably from each side of her head. “Hmm,” ‘Nurse Joy’ thought. “He’s at the fifth house from the left when you are looking at the sweet treats in the window of Sugar Cube Corner!” “Thanks!” Silly Filly squealed. “Now I have to go and make things right!” PASHOO! Cooing Cuddles couldn’t believe her friend would just leave like that. However a piece of construction paper soon drifted in front of her that read, “Sorry I had to go but this is super-duper important. Come by Sugar Cube Corner sometime and we’ll get back together! Cupcakes and lollipops, Pinkie, ‘Silly Filly’ Pie.” “Oh, Pinkie,” Cooing Cuddles hummed while allowing her Gemstone Bangle side to come out. “Never change.” “I’ll need a change if I don’t make it to the potty,” Nurse Joy moaned while looking desperately towards her caretaker. “We’re almost there,” cooed the caretaker while booping Nurse Joy in the nose. “Show me how big a filly you are by going in the big filly potty and I’ll give you a piece of yummy chocolate!” Nurse Joy cheered while holding the hoof of her caretaker who guided her to the restroom. Cooing Cuddles returned to the milk bar for more cookies. Her face aglow knowing she and Pinkie would be sharing more times together as both mares and little ponies.
Chapter 12 - Emotional FalloutPinkie found herself in front of the, “the fifth house from the left when you are looking at the sweet treats in the window of Sugar Cube Corner!”. The party pony chuckled as she said, “Oh, voice inside my head. You always remember everything.” *** Ms. Pie was going to just knock on the front door. However she realized she had not removed her disguise. This is when she heard another reminder from earlier that scolded, “You’d do us all a favor by not wearing your play clothes in public.”. “Geez,” she groaned while scurrying behind some of the home’s landscaping. “It’s no fun having to keep hiding away from every pony like this.” *** Pinkie felt a knot in her stomach as the past twenty-four hours all came flooding into her mind as she looked for another way into the home that was more ‘discrete’. “I’ve really stepped in the taffy this time,” she thought. “No pony will want me to ever be their party planner or welcome-welcome-welcome smile-smile-smile pony if word spreads about how mean I was to the new family in town.” For a moment she thought on how those in the milk bar preferred to keep themselves unknown to the general public. However those in the milk bar and D&N were all ponies she knew from around Ponyville. All who could just decide to not ask her to ever be a part of their lives again for what she had done to Swaddle Puff. She’d be seen just like Spoiled Rich. She’d be a background pony who’d be acknowledged but not in the same way she had come to love since moving to Ponyville and being welcomed in by Mr. and Mrs. Cake despite how jovial and childish and… Pinkie suddenly felt like she was going to lose her cotton candy. The Cakes met her as a filly going on mare and did not ever make her feel unwelcome for how she was. They embraced her, nurtured her, and taught her how to bake all the yummy treats she wanted to keep making and sharing since the fateful day she got her cutie mark. “And then there’s me,” she pouted while leaning against the back of the house. “A super big-” KA-REEK FWOOSH! “-Whoa!” shrieked Pinkie as she felt herself pulled quickly downward. FUMP! The next thing Pinkie saw was that she had landed inside a giant crib. She was surrounded by bars in a dimly lit room. No pony was there. She was trapped. She was alone. “And I deserve to be this way!” she wailed as she broke out into tears. “I’m a bad, bad pony!"
