The rest of the week passed more or less the same for Starlight, every morning she would wake up and be subjected to a most embarrassing diaper inspection by her dad. If she was clean he'd just pat the padding and coo, if she was wet he would simply change her effortlessly, and on the one occasion where she ended up doing the other thing, Firelight reacted as if it were no big deal. He just changed her, discarded the used diaper, and made a "reassuring" comment about how it was natural for a foal like her to do such a thing.

After that she would be led to the dining room and seated at the table for breakfast. Each day it was oatmeal, even after the big foal had gotten sick of it. She was grateful though that on the fourth day her dad finally let her eat without a bib. "At least I still have some independence in all of this." The unicorn thought, as she was frustrated that her dad still didn't trust her enough to eat by herself.

Then, aside from breaks for lunch, dinner, nap, and bed, the big foal was mostly left to her own devices. But there was at least one activity each day that her father insisted on picking out for her. The most embarrassing of all was hoof painting on the third day.

"You were such a good little artist with the crayons, but Daddy wants to see how good your hoof painting is," Firelight encouraged, as he set out an easel and several different colors of paint. Then he tied a smock around his daughter. "Don't want any paint getting on your coat or diaper." He cooed, patting his little artist on the head.

Despite hating the very idea of hoof painting, Starlight realized she had nothing else she could really do in such a situation. It was either paint, or just stare at the walls and wait for the hours to tick by agonizingly slow. So, after dipping her hooves into the yellow and blue paints (and taking care not to mix them), the big foal started to slowly paint a rather sloppy picture. She had no real idea of what to paint, she just wanted to make something her dad would be satisfied with, and move on.

Eventually the painting was finished, Starlight opting to paint herself and Sunburst under a clear blue sky, just enjoying each other's company as adults (and not foals).

If the big foal hoped her father would get the message with her painting, he sadly didn't seem to do so when he took a look at it. "Oh that's so beautiful, Pumpky Wumpkin. This is going right on the refrigerator!" He cooed, proudly pinning the hoof painting to said object moments later with a pin.

On the last night under her dad's care, Starlight was most surprised when he opted to give her a bath (thankfully it was a bubble bath). "You're getting awfully dirty, Chipmunk Cheeks," Firelight told his daughter, as he turned the knob and adjusted the temperature as the tub slowly began to fill up. "I don't want you going back to Ponyville all grimy and yucky."

"But I'm a grown mare, I am perfectly capable of bathing myself!" Starlight complained.

Firelight only laughed. "Even under your back hooves and behind your ears? You know you always had trouble reaching those spots."

"When I was five!" Starlight angrily muttered under her breath, Firelight paid no attention.

The tub filled up moments later, and with practiced precision the stallion removed his daughter's diaper and carefully set it aside. Then he lowered her into the tub, taking care not to make her entrance splash water over the side.

The big foal did have to admit that as much as she hated how her father was treating her, the bath itself felt pretty nice (even if the tub was a little small for her). It helped that there was plenty of hot water just for her, whereas back in Ponyville she'd be lucky if Spike didn't use up all the hot water with his seven hour bubble baths (why he needed to take them, she had no idea).

After a great deal of scrubbing and rinsing, Firelight allowed his daughter to play with some bath toys he'd provided for her. He had only one rule. "No splashing, Honey Bun." As long as that rule was followed the stallion was perfectly content to just watch while his daughter played alternatively with rubber ducks, toy ships, and whatever else caught her eye.

All good things must come to an end eventually though, and the bath was no exception. Fortunately Firelight was quick to lift his daughter out of the tub and surround her with a warm towel to dry her soaking body. "There we go, all nice and clean," He cooed yet again. "Now, before Daddy puts your diapee back on, do you need to use the potty?"

Starlight blushed anew at the foal talk, despite the fact that her dad had been saying such things all week long. Moreso because this was the first time he was asking her, instead of her just teleporting to the bathroom to do her business. "Y-yeah, I... kind of do," She sheepishly admitted as she eyed the toilet. "But do you mind waiting outside until I'm done? I like my privacy."

Surprisingly, Firelight obeyed even though his daughter had expected him not to do so. "Oh of course, sweetie. Daddy knows you're old enough to go potty by yourself. But if you need any help, just call. I'll be right outside." He cooed, patting his daughter on the forehead before he left the bathroom and used his magic to close the door behind him.

The mare wasted no time in taking care of her nightly visit to the bathroom. She probably didn't need to do it but after her accident the night before she was taking no chances.

Once she was finished, Starlight flushed, washed her hooves, and exited the bathroom. After a brief cooing remark from her dad, the diaper and onesie were slipped on, and she was carried to her bedroom. She didn't even bother to put up a fight as the purple pacifier was inserted into her mouth. It was only for tonight, and then she wouldn't need to sleep with it anymore.

However, rather than leave and turn out the light like he had done every night before, Firelight had one last surprise for his daughter turned big foal. He sat at the foot of her bed and looking deep into her blue eyes he expressed to her. "How about I sing you a lullaby to help you fall asleep?"

"You're going to sing even if I say no, aren't you?" Starlight muttered through her pacifier, before she sighed and threw her head back upon her pillow. "Just get it over with."

Firelight beamed. "Thanks a bunch, Pumpky Wumpkin!" He happily declared, then the stallion cleared his throat and began to sing a tune he remembered from when his daughter was very little and had trouble sleeping.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

It's time to go to bed.

Drifting off to sleep,

The exciting day behind you.

Drifting off to sleep,

Let the door of dreamland find you.

Hush now, quiet now,

Time to lay your sleepy head.

Hush now, quiet now,

Time to go to bed.

By the time he was done, Firelight looked down at his daughter and saw her eyes had closed and her pacifier was bobbing up and down in her mouth. Still, he gingerly kissed her on the forehead and whispered. "Sweet dreams, my little star. Daddy loves you very much." Then he got up, turned off the light, and left the room.

Despite knowing that morning would mean freedom from the treatment, Starlight found it surprisingly difficult to wake up the next morning. Almost as if a part of her didn't want things to end.

Still, the big foal eventually woke up, yawning as she stretched her hooves and spat out her pacifier. "Won't be needing that anymore." She mentally told herself. Then her attention turned to the crinkly undergarment still taped to her rump, hidden only slightly by her onesie. Without fanfare, she unzipped the onesie and dropped the diaper to her legs. Then she tossed it into the trash, checking her rump to ensure no traces of foal powder still clung to it. There were none, no evidence remained of her padded week with her dad.

And so it was that, after a quick breakfast of oatmeal (in which the unicorn was FINALLY allowed to eat by herself, much to her great satisfaction), it was time for Starlight to leave. She did give her dad a hug, more as a way of saying goodbye than anything else. "Well, not that this week hasn't been... different," The unicorn coughed into a hoof. "But from now on, unless I say otherwise, don't even think about putting me back in diapers. Got it?"

"If you're sure that's what you want, Honey Bun," Firelight commented as a hint of noticeable sadness creeped into his voice. "Still, you're a grown mare now, and you can make your own decisions. But if you ever change your mind, just say so."

"And I hope to Celestia I never do. Being a foal again was... interesting, but I quite like my independence," Starlight thought to herself. "Besides, I don't wanna risk anypony seeing me in diapers. I'll never live down the embarrassment!" Then, lighting up her horn (and with saddle bags firmly in tow), the unicorn disappeared.

However, she came back just seconds later. "Almost forgot," She commented, quickly rushing to her room and snatching up not the diapers or the pacifier, but the onesie still unbuttoned. "Now I won't shiver myself to sleep in that drafty castle so often." She declared, and then left without saying another word.

Firelight, for his part, didn't say anything either. He just stood there with the most unusual grin on his face. "Guess my little Pumpky Wumpkin isn't entirely grown up after all," He thought. "Part of her must still cling to that period before Sunburst left, and I don't blame her."

Author's Note

I know I'm mostly glancing over things in this final chapter, but I feel like going into details would be redundant. I also wanted to change things up from the usual ending of a character being forced into diapers and growing to like it. Considering how much she hated being treated like a little filly by her dad, I think this sort of reaction is in character for Starlight.

On the subject of possible sequels, I'm officially ruling out any plans for such. If anyone wants to do their own unofficial sequels though, I won't stop you. In the meantime, keep an eye out for my next fic.

And if you think you're gonna have to wait until the Fall for my next padded pony work, without spoiling too much I can safely say you're in for a surprise.