Even before his young charge had experienced her change in heart, Randolph had always felt a stronger connection to her than any of the other hired hooves in employment at the Rich family mansion. True, he was hardly the only one to tend to Diamond Tiara. When she had been almost a spitting image of her mother it had taken upwards of ten hired hooves just to keep her satisfied. But through it all Randolph had felt like his bond with the young heir to the family fortune went beyond the expectations of his job.

In short, Randolph had always felt he was like family to Diamond Tiara. And ever since turning over a new leaf he’d felt a much closer connection developing between them. She was always more open with him, even inviting him to come to school for Family Appreciation Day (as opposed to just making him do acrobatics and then bumping him out of the way).

But it seemed like there were still some things the rich filly didn’t wish to share with the old stallion. He couldn’t really pinpoint when it had started, though if Randolph had to guess he would say it had begun not long after Diamond’s change of heart.

On a typical day he would often rouse his young charge from bed, pack her lunch for school, and then see her on her way. When she came home she would briefly greet him if he was around, then withdraw to her room. Always with a statement such as “I’m going to do my homework.” or “I’ll be visiting Father in his study.” Then he wouldn’t see her for the rest of the day.

Randolph felt sorely tempted to investigate, Filthy Rich hadn’t taken much interest in his daughter’s behavior but Spoiled most certainly had. But Randolph pushed back every time. “The therapist said it’s important to set boundaries with your daughter, let her feel like she has some control and independence. If it’s something she wishes to share with you, she’ll tell you. If not then it’s probably not something worth concerning yourself over.” He’d always tell her.

Spoiled Rich, however, was nothing if not persistent. And since being kicked off the Ponyville School Board, her mood had taken a turn for the worse. Most hired hooves were sensible enough to give her a wide berth. Randolph tried to do the same, but Spoiled had ways of getting to him.

So it was that, one day, Spoiled Rich held an impromptu meeting with the old butler in the dining room of the mansion. One look at the mare’s upturned snout was enough to tell Randolph that Spoiled wasn’t taking no for an answer this time.

“You know why I’ve called you here, Randolph,” Spoiled declared with a glare as she motioned for the butler to sit in one of the chairs surrounding the large table. “Diamond Tiara’s behavior is becoming quite a concern to me. She’s hiding something and I wanna know what that something is.”

Randolph tried to push back as best he could. “Mistress Spoiled, I’ve told you this several times. Diamond hasn’t told me anything and even if she did I most certainly wouldn’t be under obligation to tell you. Everypony has secrets, you know. Don’t think I haven’t noticed those spa trips you keep booking for yourself, or the things your husband hasn’t been told about your dismissal from the school board.”

Spoiled growled, locking eyes with Randolph. “You know I would deny any such allegations, Randolph. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the times you’ve been practicing your acrobatics or your juggling,” Then she sighed and her voice seemed to take on a more sickeningly sweet tone. “Besides, you wouldn’t want to see your paycheck be docked further, would you?”

“No, ma’am,” Randolph hung his head. “Celestia knows it’s been gutted enough. If not for the young mistress’ happy face, I probably wouldn’t have much reason to stay here,” Against his better judgement he looked up into Spoiled’s eyes and asked her. “What do you want me to do?”

Spoiled grinned. “Simple, Randolph. I want you to find out what it is Diamond Tiara’s trying to keep secret from me. And when you do I want you to report it to me so that I may ‘correct’ it. Whatever she’s doing it most certainly can’t be anything rich ponies should be concerning themselves with. And how can I hope to connect with her as a mother if she won’t involve me in her life?”

“Snooping around her private life isn’t going to magically make her love you anymore, Spoiled.” Randolph thought but he didn’t dare to say it outloud. He’d learned the last time what happened when one was foolish enough to talk back to the mare. He instead reluctantly replied. “I shall do my best, Mistress Spoiled. Just don’t act surprised if it takes me a while to produce results. Diamond may trust me, but I don’t think she trusts me that much.”

The mare just chuckled. “She trusts you more than she does me. Use that to your advantage. Don’t worry, I won’t single you out when I have to ‘correct’ her behavior. Your long overdue raise will speak for itself.” And so the deal was settled, much to Randolph’s displeasure.

“I swaer when I find out what that filly does I am going to take whatever is making her “happy” away Rich ponies are meant to be mean NOT HAPPY!” Spoiled Rich thought and begin pandering on what her daughter was hiding.

The old butler tried his best to shake off the overwhelming feeling of guilt he was currently experiencing. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he waited for the return of his young charge from school. He felt tempted to check her bedroom and just get it over with, but he feared what Filthy Rich might say if the head of the Rich household caught the butler snooping around in Diamond’s bedroom. He still wasn’t fully aware of all that Spoiled did behind his back, or at least he gave no indication that he was aware.

Besides, it was probably nothing. Most likely Diamond was just smuggling comic books or other common pony hobbies when she was expected to take up ballet and work on her piano keys. So if he confessed to her about his orders, maybe he could help her cover them up so Spoiled wouldn’t confiscate them (what Spoiled didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her, especially considering Randolph could threaten to expose her for sneaking sweets from the fridge after dark).

At last, the familiar magenta coat of Diamond Tiara came eagerly trotting in through the front door. The filly only loosely bothered to wipe her hooves on the mat provided for her and then flashed a smile at Randolph. “Hi, Randolph!” She sincerely greeted.

Randolph tried to be sincere back. “Greetings, Mistress Diamond. How was school today?”

Diamond nodded her head. “It was terrific, Randolph! Miss. Cheerilee says my grades have never been better, and I’m at the top of my class!”

“That’s fantastic! Splendid to hear such a thing, Mistress Diamond,” Randolph replied as he clapped his hooves. “I take it that means you’ve no homework and thus no need to go up to your room? If you wish to visit with Master Filthy, it would be best if you ran by it me first. You know your father doesn’t like to be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.”

But much to Randolph’s shock and displeasure, Tiara quickly replied. “Sorry, Randolph, homework is still homework!”

Not one to back down so easily, Randolph tried to offer. “But why don’t you let me help you with it? Surely, there must be some things you could do better on.”

Tiara simply protested. “No thank you, Randolph, I can do it myself! Please tell Mother and Father not to disturb me, I’ll be down in time for dinner. You can be sure of that.” Then she zoomed upstairs quick as a flash, as though afraid to be caught or otherwise stopped!

It was with a very reluctant heart that Randolph followed the filly’s hoofsteps not long afterward. “Curse that paycheck and Spoiled’s control of it!” He mentally complained to himself. “I shouldn’t have to be held hostage to her demands for the sake of my retirement! Celestia knows I practically helped raise Diamond from the day she was brought home, as the many grey hairs in my mane will attest!”

As the old butler drew nearer and nearer to Diamond’s room, he began to pick up on some things that he had previously been unaware of.

The first was a very faint trace of a smell that could best be described as an odd mix of lavender and cornstarch. Scents that were very calming and soothing, but were also usually associated with infantile products.
Was the young filly secretly struggling with damp sheets? It seemed a little odd for her to have bed wetting issues now (Especially a pony of her age), Randolph could remember that Diamond had no trouble staying dry during the nights once she’d graduated to pull-ups. Thus the pull-ups phase had ended within two months of it being initiated. Perhaps the stress related to her new outlook on life was to blame?

Randolph dwelled upon these thoughts for so long that he almost didn’t pick up on the other oddity that had previously eluded him. Despite his old age his ears were still as sharp and sensitive as ever. And he could hear the unmistakable sounding of what could best be described as sucking.

Maybe Diamond was working on her parenting skills in secret? It would seem odd for her to bring a foal back to Rich Mansion, but maybe it was one of those life like dolls that did everything a newborn foal did? It wasn’t hard to imagine Tiara having concerns about her own potential motherhood after coming to learn how little her own mom had cared for her from birth.

Pausing outside the door that led into the filly’s bedroom, Randolph hesitated. He was almost like a second father to Diamond Tiara, a bond that had only grown stronger since she’d befriended the Cutie Mark Crusaders and made a change for the better. Now here he was, about to betray all of that trust the filly had placed in him, simply for the sake of a command given to him by a pony he not so secretly held disdain towards.

But he tried to justify the action he was about to undertake the only way he knew how. “If there’s really something Diamond doesn’t want anyone else to know about, it’s probably best if she had somepony in the know to help her keep the secret. Far better it be me rather than Filthy or Spoiled.” He thought to himself, and then the butler (without even knocking) put a hoof to the door and turned the knob. Slowly, the door opened and Randolph trotted in. Prepared for anything.

Or so he’d thought. The sight that greeted the butler’s eyes was one he would’ve never believed if he wasn’t seeing it for himself right here and now.

Before him stood his young charge, Diamond Tiara, in all her glory. A look of shock could be registered in her cornflower blue eyes as her mouth dropped open in horror! A pink pacifier that had previously been bobbing up and down in her mouth now dangled from a string around her neck, thus explaining the sucking sounds from before.

A pair of magentish-purple pyjamas with white stars printed on them lay on the floor, unopened. They seemed rather foalish and infantile in design, which not only matched the pacifier on a string but also the rather noticeable undergarment currently hugging the filly’s rear. It was a thick, white diaper with purple trim for the leak guards and little purple hearts printed all over it to serve as wetness indicators. Next to the pyjamas rested an entire package of similar looking diapers, which had apparently just been opened.

Randolph found himself at a loss for words. Never had he seen Diamond Tiara (or anypony else for that matter) dressed in such a way.

As for Diamond Tiara, she just stood there while completely frozen in terror. What should she say? What could she say? Her secret was out now, laid bear for Randolph to see. And it was only a matter of time before he blabbed to her mother and father, who would be anything but pleased. “Drats I thought I locked the door!…” Was all she could bring herself to say.Tears started to form in her eyes and she twitched, struggling in vain to keep them from seeping out. It wasn’t long before she was sobbing, the tears flowing without end.

But Randolph, thinking quickly, kicked the door closed and locked it shut. Then he felt instincts from long ago come back to him as he took his crying charge into his lap, allowing her to bury herself into his chest. “It’s alright, Mistress Diamond,” He assured her as he lightly stroked her back with his hooves. “I apologize for not knocking.”

Tiara just kept on crying, unable to stop herself. Her worst fears were about to come true. The secret she’d worked so hard to maintain was about to come out. She wasn’t a big, strong, rich pony. She was just a little, helpless, sobbing foal. A foal that wanted nothing more than to put on her diapers and suck on her pacifier.

Author's Note

Diamond Tiara really doesn't get too many Padded pony stories, especially one were the Butler finds out.

ah, such a shame I wanted my first 2019 fic to be a crossover of Spyro and mlp but hard to come up with a good plot right now.