Mind didn't wake up until the sun was shining again. He couldn't believe he slept so much. In fairness, he slept in a dungeon for a week straight and was probably suffering from major sleep debt. Who knew how much sleep he was really getting with that cold hard floor stealing most of it? But he did feel incredibly refreshed; both from well due rest and the sight of the nursery walls upon awakening. Albeit the crib bars served as foreground to these walls, it was all much more desirable than stone walls.

And yet, somehow in his heart, waking up like this felt right.

He stretched, yawned, let loose a stream from his bladder, and gave his pacifier some suckles as if it were all the right thing to do. His diaper soaked and soaked as what was reserved from overnight was pushed out. He then pressed his upper hooves against the diaper bulge in his sleeper, finding the sleeper to be bone dry. Two concerns were lifted in that moment; he wasn’t wetting in his sleep and diaper absorbency was top-notch.

Mind kicked off the covers. Being in a hoofed sleeper and having a thick diaper (now wet) underneath was really heating him up. In his loafing, he surveyed the crib a little bit; not much more to gaze upon than bars and the blue dragon mobile above. Getting bored quickly, he found himself clipping his hoof across the bars. He could try to climb out of the crib any time he wanted, or maybe even find out how to lower the dropside on his own, but him taking his role as a baby didn't leave his options open to that. He couldn't fall back asleep either.

There was one option left: Mind wailed for his master, certain his shrills could penetrate the walls, let alone the cracked door. And on his beckon, the door swung further open and Mantra entered the nursery.

"Well, good morning to you too, little one~"

"Good morning, Master!" Mind said with forced babyish slurs and a bright smile.

"Oh, that's much better~" The mare’s horn glowed and a matching aura worked to unclip his pacifier off his sleeper. "You just get sweeter every day~" Magic then lowered the bars, cradled Mind before the mare, and she gave him a kiss on the head. "Oh?" She said out loud, then wore a toothy grin. Mind watched himself be oriented upright, his lower hooves suspended several inches from the floor, and then he felt his tail being lifted. "Let me help you with that." The mare’s words preceded a short splortch sound that accompanied a warm mush that his footed sleeper helped to keep pressed between his plot and his diaper. The whole act didn’t even last three seconds.

"What? C'mon, I didn't even need to go!" Mind’s face was absolutely plastered hot pink. Mantra laughed before responding.

"Well, clearly you did, otherwise you wouldn't have filled up your diapee like the little baby you are." She unzipped the azure hoofed sleeper, unclipped the pacifier from it, and stripped him of it to release the smell contained within. "Phew! These jammies are definitely getting a wash today~" Mind was laid on his back on the changing table, and he gazed down at the soiled pink garment as Mantra started relieving him of it. Tapes peeled with a loud rip, and the stallion’s mess was done away with. The pacifier dropped from his mouth and lay beside him.

After using countless wipes to clean up his area thoroughly, she turned Mind onto his belly. Smack! And a loud high-pitch yelp followed.

"Did the baby need his paci?" She inquired with a smirk. Mind, while still gritting his teeth and fiercely closing his eyes, shook his head. "You sure? It'll be less painful if you have something in your mouth." Mantra gave him another swat with the back of the hair brush.

"Agh! No! I'm a good boy, Master!" Mantra giggled in response and continued with the spanking. Mind couldn't hold back his crying for too long, though. After about twenty spanks was when the first tear drop hit the changing table. After the hundredth strike, rivers striped his face to dump into a pond on the changing table with only sniffling to show anguish worthy of screams. Mantra stamped her hoof in his rear end twice; once on each cheek.

"Shhhh," she said, "spankies are over. Maybe next time you'll take your paci?"

"But I'm a good boy, Master." The stallion said, his mouth agape from deep breathing.

"Silly baby," The pacifier levitated into Mind’s mouth. "Go ahead and suckle away; good boys need to know their limitations too."

Mind did as she said, finding himself easily soothed by the guard secured against his lips as he nursed on the silicone teat. He swayed back and forth in the rocking chair, magically cradled in her lap. Her hoof streaked through his mane continuously, and he felt invited to cry into her chest.

“Since you were so good yesterday, you won't be getting pink clothes today." Mantra gave her charge the necessary time he needed to calm himself. Remarkably, actual foals cry easily but brighten up quickly, which is what Mind needed to internally remind himself of. In fact, trying to test his limits, while it felt like the right thing to do in the moment, seemed very silly now. He broke out a smile at his own folly. "All smiles now, baby?"

"Yes, Master." He said, nodding with the same smile and the pacifier lisping him.

"Oh, by the way. You may feel free to call me 'Mommy' now." Mantra then kissed him on the cheek. "You may still call me 'Master,' but it'd make me happy if you started calling me 'Mommy', instead." Mind only nursed on his pacifier in response. Sure, she was acting motherly most of the time, but the regular spankings and her strict demeanor made calling her "Master" more appropriate. He did feel her heart in her words, though; something he wouldn’t forget.

The stallion’s hooves were raised skyward once more to give him a view of a white cloud gracing the air from underneath his rump. He winced as cold diaper rash cream slathered his nethers. Mantra sealed a diaper around Mind and gave it a couple of pats with her hoof.

This diaper felt cold… And already squishy. He took a more careful glimpse down at the signature-marked diaper with a sunflower-yellow tint peeking from under his groin. It was the same exact one he wore and wet before Mantra put him in pink diapers. Where did she even keep that one?

"You didn't think I threw this one out, did you? It still has a lot of use." He was levitated off the changing table before Mantra. "I can't believe you're already soggy~” Mind couldn’t help but roll his eyes while he continued to blush. “Not that it matters; knowing you, you're probably going to poop in it in about an hour or so." Mind could tell she was holding back hysterical laughter from behind her giggles.

The rest of the day went by as normal- or rather as normal as this could get. No- No, “normal” was the wrong word; “usual” was more appropriate. Mantra sat on the couch with her book while the diapered stallion played with his assortment of baby toys with Dragon Paws running on the screen until his pureed carrot lunch followed by a nap. Mind offered to put the toys away when Mantra told him it was lunch time, but she insisted that he pick them up after his nap. But she did praise him for his neatness and called him a good boy. Mind found it easier to play into the role as time went on.

Mind lay in his crib again watching Mantra close the door behind her as she wished him sweet dreams. Mind felt a tickle in his bladder, then immediately felt himself letting go. The awaiting pant warmed up again and bloated a little more. The calming stream within led way to his pacifier nursing, and then he started blinking heavily and his consciousness was fading. Mind fell fast asleep with a wet drop creeping down his cheek from his pacifier guard and forgot about the water balloon in between his legs.

Mind woke again on his side with the pacifier fallen out of his mouth. He turned onto his back and raised his hoof to investigate a draft he felt on his cheek. A groan followed the stallion’s hoof drenching in the sticky sleep-induced slobber. On top of that, his diaper was soaked- Of course it was; he had forgotten again that he was wet. Another urge snuck up on his bladder as he stretched, and his diaper grew even soggier, accepting all the punishment Mind was giving it. But Mind also felt that other presence in his diaper. He didn’t mess while asleep, did he? Being so used to using his diapers, maybe he messed before his nap and forgot about it. He didn't smell anything, but sometimes it doesn't escape if it's tame enough and with his diapers so snug. With appropriate timing, Mantra entered the nursery.

"Wakey wakey, little one~" She said. "Up and at 'em. Let's get your soggy butt changed real quick; I have a special surprise for you.”

She took Mind out of the crib and lay him on the changing table to relieve him of the heavy garment. Was the mess all in his head? He certainly would've heard some teasing from Mantra had he really done so. Could he really not tell at this point? What if he really did mess and wouldn't be able to tell? These thoughts dissipated once Mantra gently cleaned his area and settled him once again into a fresh diaper with the same designs on it; the designs that resembled Mantra's cutie mark; the lightly tattered heart in a purple flame crossed by a baby bottle. She gave his diaper a squeeze and a kiss on his head.

"Ready for the next Good Boy Challenge?"

The kitchen table had an empty pink picnic basket with a blanket, plates, and multiple different meals in containers strewn about. He wanted so badly to suspend the belief that she wanted to take him outside in public dressed and acting as he is now that he tricked himself into believing so.

"Be a good boy and pack mommy's picnic basket, little one~"

"Yes, Master." And just like the toy box, Mind's specialty for neatness shone. Mantra watched him carefully pack the basket. He closed off the thermos by the ice pack and arranged the food sensically to consolidate space and to leave nothing clattering around. With a close of the basket, the blanket was placed on it and secure over by the handles.

"Very good boy~ Just for that, I'm going to get you a good boy's shirt~ Stay here and don't move." Mind sat still at the kitchen table. Just to satisfy his obsessive neatness, he double checked how the picnic basket looked. He didn’t see bottles in it, which meant that whatever would be in the bottles would remain a mystery to him. Possibly in a diaper bag. If a picnic was in the cards, she can’t mean for them to travel too far.

"Well, let's give this one a shot again." She slipped the light blue t-shirt that read "Good boys need spanking too" over Mind's head. "So others will know how good you've been."

"Others?" He caught himself just in time. "Othews, Mastew?" He even knew that she knew that he knew that he wasn’t any good at playing dumb.

"Why yes," Mantra replied, "everyone we pass by while on your walk, silly." A walk!? She was completely serious. Not just a picnic. "Let's go now, little one." A light bulb sparked in the stallion’s head: She really trusted him enough to be able to take him outside, where he could easily call for help. The light bulb burnt out shortly: Logically, and going off of Mantra’s previous exchange with the mailmare, calling for help would not only cost him Mantra’s trust, but it’d fall on deaf ears. This was a move that was not in his favor whatsoever, and downright deceitful; something a good baby wouldn’t do.

The mare grabbed a large blue diaper bag and slung it around herself, resting at her side like a saddlebag. She then rested the picnic basket on her back and created a telekinetic leash with her magic, dragging Mind with her. His face matched the color of her magic; he would've rather been carried.

The foyer was vast. The carpet was so worn and thin, probably from centuries of age, that the sound of clipping hooves still bounced along the walls and what wood peeked from the rug spread on the stairs. Two identical painted pictures of the family crest lined both walls of the foyer just before the stairs. Mind didn't have much time to gaze upon such an astoundingly large room as he was led out through the front door.

Mind had to raise his hoof to allow his wide pupils to adjust to the brightly shining sun. A water fountain carved in marble depicted a stallion standing valiantly with his horn raised high. The mark on his flanks were that of the family crest he kept seeing around the house. The path circled this fountain and trailed into a towering front gate. Shrubbery and hedges graced the lawn. Mind followed Mantra off the porch steps and onto the pavement. He turned around and gave an astonished gaze at the massive mansion he had just exited.

“You like Mommy’s house?”

“It’s big.” Mantra then giggled.

“Yes, very big. Smart baby.”

The dry summer air found a warm home in Mind’s nostrils, birds were singing many different tunes to one another, and the breeze was gently stroking his body, saved for the parts protected and insulated by his thick diaper. Wait, his diaper; there was nothing covering it except for his upper hooves.

"Oh don't worry, little one." Mantra said in response to his expressions. "It's too warm for anything." She started to unfold a gadget she snuck out of the house with. "Besides, you look adorable~" She completely ignored the fact that he wasn’t wearing anything to cover his diaper in public. The gadget she was unfolding turned out to be an adult-sized stroller, which she placed Mind in the seat, buckled him in, and clipped his pacifier to his shirt collar while putting it in his mouth. "Let's get my baby a baba." She lowered the food tray of the stroller and got out a bottle of pink liquid from her blue diaper bag. She took off the cap and set it on Mind's tray. "Now don't drop that." And then she put the picnic basket in the bottom of the stroller.

And away they went. Mind wiggled around, finding himself strapped into the stroller snug, his diaper, his embarrassing t-shirt, the bottle, and the pacifier all in plain sight. "Oh nooooo." Mind muttered softly to himself as he flushed pink. The idea of someone seeing him like this filled him with dread. He kept quietly whining to himself.

"If the baby isn't ready for a walk outside, Mommy can always take him back home and spank him until his butt's bruised." Mantra said with a smug tone.

"No, I'm sowwy. I'll be good, Master."

"Good." Mantra said as she kept strolling along. "Now drink your baba." He was wondering what the drink she gave him was. He let the pacifier fall out of his mouth and tug on his shirt by the clip. With a tentative suckle, he found out it was strawberry milk. She never gave him strawberry milk before, and it's one of the best drinks he's had in his bottles. Genuinely, Mind smiled as he drank the sweet pink liquid. "Surprised?" Mantra cooed at him.

"Thank you, Master~" Mind said, also genuinely.

"Aww, you're welcome, sweetheart. I knew that was my baby's favorite drink." Well, actually his favorite drink was something one can't really give a baby, but excluding all of those, strawberry milk would stand tall. "Hi there, Trotsi~" Mantra called out. It was a tan colored earthpony with a brown wavy mane with a mailbag beside her; most likely the same mailmare who stopped by yesterday.

"Mantra, hi~" Her brown eyes fixed immediately toward the pony in the stroller before her. "Oh my Celestia, is this him!? He's adorable!" Mind took the bottle's nipple out of his mouth and tried covering his face with his hooves. The mailmare moved her luscious brown mane out of her vision and read Mind's shirt. "Hey, look at that. This shirt says you're a good boy." She then looked up to the mare behind the stroller. "Oh Mantra, you better hold on to this one, he's so cute. But hey, I'd love to stay and talk, but I have rounds to do."

"You go, girl. No-one does the mail like you do."

"Bye, Mantra~" She then leaned in toward Mind. "Bye-bye, you little cutie." And as her name suggested, she trotted along the path to deliver more mail. Mind didn't know what to think. She treated him like he was an actual foal, and acted like that was genuinely what he was. Despite him anticipating such, it was still quite unbelievable.

"See? That wasn't so bad." Mantra peered over and squeezed the front of Mind’s diaper with her hoof. "Still dry too. You didn't say anything, and sometimes things happen when you're a shy baby. Mommy’s just checking~" There wasn't even any point in questioning it in his thoughts. Of course she wanted him to use his diapers in public; it's a normal thing babies do and Mantra brought the diaper bag to further encourage it.

As Mantra strolled Mind down the path further, a couple they were passing by stopped to greet them as well; a light-blue male unicorn and a lavender female pegasus. They exchanged greetings before the couple bent down to Mind. "Aw, look at the little stinker." The unicorn said.

"Is he stinky?" Mantra asked. "I just checked him." She lightly shoved the couple, took off the food tray, and lifted up Mind's lower hooves to check his diaper right in front of them. The entire time, Mind kept blushing and blushing. "Nope, he's all clean." She then refastened the tray.

"He's actually really adorable, Mantra~" The pegasus said. Something that Mind caught right away was her voice; completely unlike her partner, it wore a thick layer of timidity, despite her being genuinely excited to see him.

"He actually is. And those pink spots are the best touch." Mind covered his face once again. He just had to see those. Mantra giggled in response.

"They help encourage good behavior." Mantra said with a bright smile. Mind completely forgot that there weren't just spanking splotches on his butt; his sit spots are probably all pink too, spots that a diaper won't cover. But wait, being seen in a diaper isn't worse? As they all bid farewell, Mind couldn't help but notice that there was a large bruise on the pegasus' hind left leg. He tried to follow it with his gaze as Mantra started to stroll along again. "It's rude to stare, little one." Mind immediately turned away and stared down at himself.

"Sowwy, Master." Mind said reflexively. At this point, Mind followed Mantra's orders in a heartbeat and apologized when he could. He probably could've gotten away with not apologizing; babies don't know simple rules like that, but a good one can never be too careful.

Their stroll stopped at a playground. Mantra unbuckled Mind from the stroller, and set down the picnic basket and diaper bag in his stead. She then unclipped his pacifier and placed it in the diaper bag with her magikinesis. "Since you're being good today, how about some playtime? Let's work up your appetite." The playground had a teeter-totter, two sets of swings, and a jungle gym. Carrying Mind with her magic, she lowered her "foal" into what turned out to be, now close up, an adult-sized baby swing. Mind shifted around in the seat, the form snugging around his diapered groin, and the entire time he was looking down at himself blushing. "This playground is for bigger kids, but at least they have swings for little babies like you."

Mantra pressed her hoof against his diapered rump where it peered through the seat, then stood on her hind hooves to press her other front one against the swing itself. She gave Mind a strong push, sending the wind through his face then into the back of his head. Mantra’s hooves gave a stronger sense of security that her magic couldn’t give. The swaying was a comfort, and Mantra's grasp on the way back was welcoming every time. He didn't want her to stop. It was funny to him, and he couldn't help but laugh. The master didn't want to stop either; she felt her heart grow from hearing Mind's laughter. But playtime did have to end, and the timing was appropriate, since Mantra heard Mind's stomach as she lifted him out of the seat.

"Looks like I have a hungry little colt." She remarked.

Mantra had her charge walk beside her as she magikinetically carried everything over the grassy hill nearby. At the top, she lay the blanket on the grass, and spread out the meals from the pink basket. Mind, was promptly sat on the blanket, his clean and dry diaper was checked in the process. Another bottle floated out of the diaper bag toward Mind. With a chuckle, she said "I'm surprised this diapee is still dry; and here I thought this wouldn't be enough." The main compartment of the diaper bag flew open and revealed its contents of three thick diapers. Mind gave her a dull stare. "Yes dear, I really packed that many," she said, "a mommy always has to be prepared." Mind grasped the bottle before him and sent the sweet pink milk coursing through the teat.

For a change of pace, the picnic actually had meals that weren't baby food. Mind even got to pick out what he wanted to eat, so long as it was easy enough for a baby to eat. His course was mashed potatoes, peas, and corn. The stallion tried to be as neat as he could with being fed, but his bib was rendered a mess regardless, almost as if Mantra was doing it on purpose… No, she was doing it on purpose.

"One more baba?" Mind shook his head and rubbed his bulging belly in response. His slouch was so deep the stroller buckle was creasing his diaper. "Ha ha, of course not." Mind’s pacifier was then plopped into his mouth, then clipped it to his shirt once more. He didn't protest and gave way to the soothing suckles. Mantra pet his mane then started making stroller tracks again. Although Mantra told him they were heading home, they didn’t pass by the same scenery; Mantra was taking him through a detour, but for what?

The two crossed paths with yet another pony in town. Green coat, wavy maroon mane. Mantra addressed her as “Peppi” and it became evident that this pony was one of Mantra's best friends. Her teeth sparkled from her giddy grin and she couldn’t take her eyes off of Mantra’s new baby.

"I haven't seen you in a while, and now I see why. How can you keep yourself away from this cute little guy? Can I hold him?"

"Why of course," Mantra said, "Mind's a good boy; you can hold him without any fuss whatsoever." Her tone implied expectation. The eager green unicorn lunged before him with her horn glowing yellow to undo his stroller buckle. She stood on her hind hooves and held Mind close, both with her magic and one of her upper hooves rested on his diapered rear end. He was clearly taller than her, just as he was taller than Mantra, but she continued to hold him and treat him like he was a normal foal. After putting the stallion back down back in his stroller and buckling him in, the two girls talked for a while, and for a looooong time. First, Peppi was talking about the going-ons of her family, which went on for a while; Mind was drifting in and out of the conversation like an actual colt would. But then his attention was grabbed by his master’s friend raising Mind's lower hooves.

"Oh, look at those~" She said as Mind blushed a heavy shade of pink once again. He couldn't believe she was checking specifically for those. "Is he still being spanked?"

"Oh, we're far from being done with spanks. He's getting one hundred per day."

"You might be spanking him for a while." She then leaned in to pet Mind once again. "After all, he spanked a lot when he was being naughty. It's only fair." He wanted to shake off her hoof, but her last sentence caught him off guard and paralyzed him to think of anything else. "Does he get any extra?"

"Not in a while; he's been quite good. See, I knew this was going to work. All he needed was a little guidance." Mantra put herself in Mind's sight once again. "Just a little. Isn't that right, little one?" For a split second, Mind broke eye contact with her to stare down at himself while he blushed. He forced himself to looked back up and nod at her before he received any unwanted vibes from her. Mantra pet his mane and smiled warmly at him. "Good boy~ Well, we have to get going, Peppi." The two mares hugged each other tightly then parted ways.

Aside from her being eccentric and hyperactive, Mind didn't notice anything else particularly out of the ordinary about Peppi. No, wait- As she walked away, Mind spotted a scar on her left flank. It felt like he recognized the scar, or rather the instrument used to make a scar that specific, but he couldn't remember for sure. And there was no time to look any further at the scar as Mantra started pushing his stroller.

Mind spotted a building along the path that stood out. It wore cute babyish decals on its windows; of cat faces, toy blocks, safety pins, and baby bottles. The decals sent a jolt through Mind’s heart; a, irrational sense of uncomfortable familiarity. The building looked like a shop of sorts, but Mind couldn't identify what was on the shelves due to the tint on the windows. And it looked like he was about to find out as he was wheeled toward the front door. Mind asked her why they were going in, and of course, he should’ve seen her response coming from a mile away.

"To get you more diapers, silly~" He was guessing that in his head, but the actual response gave Mind a chill. He always thought his diapers were getting special ordered. The idea of there actually being a store specifically that held adult-sized diapers that they were just walking into like a mother and a son was… With the chill now passed, actually somewhat amusing.

A tiny bell rang upon the door pushing open. Mind's attention turned toward the right as he heard clips of hooves smacking on the wooden counter. Over the counter was a pony whose coat was as white and yellow as a ray of sunshine, wearing a crimson shirt with a matching cap that had a light blue rattle adorned at the center.

"Mantra, I-" She stopped as soon as she took a gaze at Mind, "Oh hey there, little guy." She said. Unlike the other ponies who greeted Mind, this one spoke with a nervous intonation and had a bead of sweat rolling down the side of her head. The stallion felt her apprehension soil the air. "Is this who Mantra has had her hooves tied up with?"

"Don't worry, Patty. He won't be any trouble. He's very well-behaved, and he knows that if he does anything naughty, I won't hesitate to paddle him on the spot." Mind blushed a fiery red to her comment, but there was a sense that she was doing it more to assure Patty than to embarrass him. Mantra’s words filtered the air and the shopkeep looked a little relieved, but it seemed like convincing her that Mind wasn't going to wreck her shop or anything was going to be a gradual process. "Do you promise to be a good boy in Patty's shop, you little diaper-filler?” Her tone pressed firm. “Tell her that you promise."

"I pwomise."

"You promise what?" She said, her tone growing firmer.

"I pwomise I'll be good."

"Good boy~" Mantra pet his mane. Mind's words just came out without him even thinking about them. He hadn't even done anything wrong and Mantra was threatening to spank him and calling him embarrassing names. The only appropriate response was to fight to keep his good boy title by appeasing his master. But Patty did seem much more calm now.. He didn't have time to think about it too much as he was pushed into the first aisle.

"Well, I'll be over here if you need help with anything at all~" Patty called out to them, wearing a natural perkiness.

The first aisle was, of course, diapers and diaper supplies. The diaper packs themselves were so big that each facing would take up two feet of each section of shelving. The smell of foal powder was so thick it embedded itself into Mind's nostrils. Some of the packs of diapers were lavender scented, no doubt with so many packs collected together, some of the scent was bound to penetrate the plastic and collect into an amalgam of smells.

One pack in particular stood out to Mantra; Peaceful Night Diapers. "Thick ultra-absorbent night time diapers for slumbering foals-at-heart. Night time designs help encourage bedtime. Keeps your foal-at-heart leak-free and dry even after breakfast, guaranteed." Continuing to read the features in little bubbles at the bottom corner, they said "Ultra-absorbency and fast wick keeps wearer dry even from the strongest soakings.

"Low mobility from thickness encourages wearer to settle down for bedtime.

"Strong tapes to keep your foal-at-heart secure."

"Hmm," she thought to herself, "I should get you cloth-backed ones for the hot weather coming soon, but I'll wait on that." Mind blushed and gave a mere stretch. His master investigated the stretch to find his diaper still clean and dry. "I thought for a second the little baby made a stinky."

"No Master," Mind said with a pink plaster on his cheeks, "I don't need to go right now, Master."

"Oh, I don't expect you to make any promises, little one. Besides, Patty's got an awesome changing room that you might like to see." Mind insisted that he was alright. "Oh, diaper rash cream." She picked the tube off the shelf. She passed by the other diaper supplies and took Mind into the next aisle.

This one had mostly baby bottles and pacifiers. One thing that caught the stallion's attention was next to the diaper bags; breast pumps. And Mind wondered about it; did this mean "foals-at-heart" enjoy-

"Oh cutie, you don't need Mommy's milk." Mind immediately broke his gaze and blushed, resorting to suckle on his pacifier in order to forget ever even thinking about it. Mantra chuckled at herself then commented on the food on the shelf. All of it was "foal-at-heart" food, which didn't look too different from regular foal food pouches and jars. Mantra picked out an assortment of jars with a variety of flavors for her little one, most of them being carrot and pea variants, particularly.

Beside the normal pouches and jars was a section of food labeled "Foal-At-Heart fast-acting food. (For struggling foals-at-heart)" Mantra, to Mind's surprise, didn't even take a second glance at this section. He didn't even want to comment about it; she'd probably respond with something like "you already act fast". He was actually amused at that thought, and was caught chuckled to himself.

"What's my baby giggling about?" Her charge played it off and said something tickled him, which she was quick to believe. Next in line was the third aisle, which was mostly bathing supplies, but there was a small section of jumpers that stood out of place justifiably in the aisle; the shop was rather small after all. Right away, she looked at a cute baby blue colored baby jumper with the same blue dragon pattern that matched his nursery. She walked back up to the counter to leave the jumper there for when they were finished shopping.

Mantra took him to the fourth aisle: Toys. The section was rather thin, but had enough merchandise to be able to be spread to cover the shelves completely, almost as if this section were there purely for aesthetic.

"Check these out, Mind." She pointed out the little toy instruments for him but his attention was fixed on the stuffed animals next to them. "What're you looking at, little one? Do you want a stuffy?" The stallion reached for a fourteen-inch peacock plush on the shelf, to which Mantra levitated into his hooves with her magic. He stared into the blue peacock’s green eyes. Its pink feet and beak stood out, along with its tail feathers’ vibrant colors. Mind couldn't help but feel happy holding the soft and hug-inviting plush. It entranced Mind. "Do you want Mommy to get that for you?"

"Yes~ Pwease Master!" Mind said enthusiastically. Realizing his outburst, he blushed heavier once more, but he didn’t care. He really wanted the plush. "Pwetty pwease, Master." Mantra giggled at his request and agreed to get him the plush. He thanked her fondly. "I'm gonna' name him Polymo!"

"That's a great name, sweetie." The mare replied as they approached the counter, ready to rope in the shopping venture. "Oh, I'll need to get a case of Peaceful Nights."

"For a whole case, I'll have to place an order. Should I ship it to the same address?"

"Yes, please do. Thanks, Patty~ Also, can I buy the jumper now and come by to pick it up tomorrow?"

"Sure thing- Oh my, this peacock is so cute! It suits him." Patty then leaned in toward the pony in the stroller, her worries now alleviated. "I'm sure he'll be such a great buddy."

After paying and exchanging farewells, Mind found himself being wheeled out of the store and back onto the path. He kept holding Polymo close to him. But then Mantra called out a name that made Mind's ears perk in an instant. "Snowy!" Mind immediately started blushing and wincing. Mind was strolled toward the diaper-clad white pegasus until reasonable distance was cleared.

"Oh, hi Mantra. So that's what happened to him." Snow Blitz said without enthusiasm, but he then raised an eyebrow. "What happened to his-"

"Oh, you're absolutely correct," Mantra chimed in, "what happened to his manners, indeed? Mind, be a good boy and say 'hello' to Snowy."

"Uhm…" The stroller-bound pony forced himself to make eye-contact with the white pegasus, his royal blue eyes showing hostility. "Hi Snowy, how are you?"

"Oh, not too bad, Mind," Snowy said equivocally, "considering the fact that I'm still recovering! I'm pretty sure my butt is still pink!"

"Snowy," Mantra chimed in once again, "I checked your cute little butt; you're fine."

"The pain is never going to go away." Snowy said with a sour flare in his voice. Mind was fearfully questioning himself in his head.

"Mind is getting punished appropriately, Snowy. Don't you worry."

"No amount of spankings can hurt as much as being betrayed by one of your closest friends." The pegasus continued down the path.

In his confusion, Mind held Polymo tightly. Mantra announced that it was time to head on home. The entire way home, Mind felt guilt preying in the back of his mind, and his only defense against it was holding onto Polymo tight; like a child, trying to run and hide from taking responsibility for what he felt. But he wasn't actually a child; he knew deep down what he did to Snowy was wrong. No, not just Snowy, everyone he hurt. The scar on Peppi, the bruise on the lavender pegasus, they were all him. He just couldn't remember any of it for the life of him.

Mind bounced around in the old baby jumper while his master took out her belongings from underneath the stroller and folded it up. While she was away, Mind felt his bladder suddenly relieve. He wasn't even aware he had to go, and most certainly not as bad as he thought. The flow just continued and continued, his diaper grew warmer and warmer, the warmness and the jumper hugged his groin closely. He gave a few tentative bounces awaiting Mantra’s return.

"I spy a wet little foal." The stallion floated up and out of the jumper and the mare inspected his garment. "Oh boy, looks like you're completely soaked. You were just dry a minute ago." She then gently lowered him and positioned him on all fours with his rear facing her. "You weren't being naughty and holding it, were you?" She then rubbed her hoof softly right below his cheek at the base of his lower leg, making his pink-splotched sit spots sting at the touch.

"No!" Mind said in a panic. "No, Master. I swear." Mantra hummed to herself, keeping the colt in suspense. Was she not going to believe him? He then thought that maybe he deserved to have his butt whipped again after what he did.

"Okay~ I believe you. Some babies need time to get used to using their cuddle pants outside." Looked like there was some forgiveness for shy bladder. "Don't worry, little one. Your body will get used to it. I’m sure that after a few more outings, you'll be filling up your diapees helplessly in public in no time at all. Maybe without even knowing it." She patted the seat of his soggy diaper, then worked her hoof up his back and to his red mane. She gently stroked it, starting to blush a little bit, and her eyes briefly turned pink. She then retracted and sat down on the couch, urging Mind to come over.

On her whim, he waddled his way over and lay down on the couch, resting his head into her lap. Polymo was levitated toward him, which Mind hoisted from the air. He kept struggling with the guilt; even with his new plushy, his pacifier, and a gentle hoof stroking his mane, it still tugged and tugged on the back of his head.

"Uh-oh, looks like I have a sad baby." Mantra said as she put more care into her stroking. "All smiles now."

"I hurt the other ponies." Mantra made an inquisitive hum in response. "I hurt Snowy, and Patty, and Peppi, and everyone we met today."

"Actually, the first mare you saw wasn't you."

"I still did bad things, didn't I?"

"Hush, you~ That was a long time ago, and you're doing good now. It's not like your little baby brain remembers, so you shouldn't even feel like you did it." She then pressed her hoof into his crinkly rear end. "Who'd believe that a little foal like you could hurt anyone anyway? You can't even keep your diapers dry." The pacifier was pulled out of his mouth doused in her magic aura, and a bottle replaced it. Mind found himself suckling the chocolate milk inside. He looked up into her eyes, finding her irises changed to a turquoise. Mind knew she was sad, and he questioned how he knew and not just suspected based on her eye color change. Noticing his concerned gaze, Mantra forced out a smug smile on command. "Oh don’t worry about me, sweetie~ Just finish your baba like a good little baby, then I'll get you out of your soggy diaper and into the bath, then off to bed. Then I'm going to give Snowy's daddy a phone call."

Snowy's daddy. Not biologically; he was a unicorn with a cobalt coat and a blue mane who took a caregiver role to Snowy not too long ago. Mind recalled him, but he didn't seem like the disciplinary type. Then again, Mantra didn't seem like the love and care type at first either. For a moment, and with such few sentences, Mantra kept her charge from thinking about the dark thoughts tugging on him. He started to wet his diaper just a little more, despite not really needing to go. A little press on his pant from her hoof made note of it.

"Good boy. Go ahead and let out anything you need to." He still suckled away on the bottle. All of a sudden, he felt the other need press on him, and without his control, or so he wanted to believe, he filled up his diaper. The pacing on his bottle drinking remained unchanged. His face flushed red as soon as Mantra took notice. "What a really good boy. Go ahead and finish that up and your bottle." He didn't even know he had more until her words sparked him to continue messing until he was all unloaded. His diaper felt really full afterwards, and his guzzling of the bottle slowed. "Take your time; this is a lot of milk afterall." Mantra cooed. "You're such a good boy."

Mind realized what his body was doing. He was trying to cheer Mantra up by further cementing his place as her foal, and the ultimate in babyish behavior was his way of doing so. For only a split second did Mind question why he was willing to go so far; Mantra's praise of him and her sudden lift in spirit set his heart alight, and he finished the chocolate milk bottle with a smile.

She sat him up and properly burped him, then cradled him in her magic and lay him on the floor. She quickly untaped his soiled diaper and scooped it out from underneath his rear. "You're still getting a bath. Baby wipes do a better job at this, though." After getting his rump cleaned up, she tossed the soiled diaper and many dirty wipes in the wastebasket. And just as she said, she urged a now naked Mind to follow her into the bathroom.

The stallion felt Mantra's love through her touch; her gentle magic scrubbing at his coat, and her shampoo-covered hooves massaging his head and neck throughout his mane.

Mind lay in his crib and was tucked under its covers securely. A plain purple fleece hoofed sleeper was zipped up to his neck, covering the extra thick nighttime moon and star patterned diapers, which covered a butt layered with cold cream. Mantra finished off the whole routine by putting his pacifier back in his mouth and clipping it to his sleeper, then giving her colt his new plush to sleep with.

"Once upon a time," Mind suckled on his pacifier, somewhat excited for a bedtime story. "A sorcerer obtained unimaginable power. Using his mighty god-like horn," she then booped Mind on his bare forehead, "he conjured magic like none has ever seen. He was feared by both good and evil, and thus was alone and misunderstood. One day, a beautiful mare, a sorceress, offered to understand him. It took time, but they fell in love, and the stallion cared so much for her that he used his magic to turn himself into a foal and forgot everything he knew about magic. The sorceress treated him and loved him like her own child, and they lived happily ever after." She then kissed Mind on his head and pulled up dropside of his crib. "Good night, my sweet little boy."

"Good night," Mind muffled through his pacifier, "Mommy~"

Obscured by the dark of night, her irises turned pink again, and she put on a smile that would stay on Mantra’s face all night long. "I love you, Mind."

"I love you too, Mommy." He said without stirring.

"As you count sheep, remember that you are only a helpless little foal."

Bleet~ Ninety-eight. Bleet~ Ninety-nine. Bleet~ One…

Author's Note

With this chapter, I really tried to capture a lot of feelings. Although Mind is absent his memories, guilt and sense of responsibility are traits that are never forgotten. It isn't any easier for Mantra; forcing oneself to carry another's baggage is a heavy burden, even if it is for those that one loves. And Snowy's role as a supposed victim might just be the root of it.

Snow Blitz belongs to Thunderchaser23

Patty Cakes (as a brief cameo) belongs to Kurikia