A Pair of Foals

Canterlot was known far and wide for its shopping district, being filled with some of the finest, most luxurious, and even the most unusual shops in all of Equestria. If there was something you wanted, chances were good you could probably find it in Canterlot somewhere.

One such store was Calming Medicines, a seemingly unassuming store nestled between a health food store and a furniture outlet. Obstensively, the store was your average run of the mill pharmacy selling everything ranging from cough medicine, sleep aids, and everything else you could need to cure any basic ailment. However, among a special group of ponies, Calming Medicines was also known as the place to go for all your Adult Foal needs, promising absolute secrecy to its often nervous and embarrassed clients.

Such as Sugar Belle, who was a trembling ball of nerves as she walked up to the store. In the past, Sugar Belle had only ever ordered from the store through mail, since she knew they delivered everything in plain and unassuming looking boxes that wouldn’t get a second glance from any passing ponies. This was her first ever time actually visiting the store in person, however, and it clearly showed from the way the unicorn looked like she was moments away from turning tail and running.

The only thing keeping her from doing just that was Big Mac standing next to her, his hoof on her shoulders. “Breathe, Sugar Belle…” Big Mac said reassuringly as they approached the store, doing his best to comfort his marefriend. “I’ll be with ya through the whole thing, so nothin’ bad’ll happen to ya, I promise.”

Hearing Big Mac’s voiced certainly helped, as Sugar Belle was able to remain strong as they walk inside. Just like outside, the inside of the store looked little more than a large pharmacy, with neatly arranged aisles of items running up and down the length of the store. Calmly, the pair walked down the aisles until they reached the incontinent section, taking a moment to scan the selection for a moment. As was to be expected, the only diapers on display were those for medical purposes, like the kind you might see in hospitals or nursing homes and nothing like the colourful and foalish diapers Sugar Belle typically used. Still, they both knew this was necessary for what they really wanted.

“Hello there!” Seemingly out of thin air, a cream coloured pegasus mare with a yellow and pink-striped mane suddenly appeared. “Can I help you two with anything?”

Sugar Belle immediately shrunk back from the smiling mare, pressing herself up against Big Mac in an attempt to hide. “Uh… we… I… uh…”

With a reassuring hoof on Sugar Belle’s back, Big Mac took over as he addressed the mare. “Yes, I was hopin’ to buy some diapers for my foal.” Sugar Belle let out a squeak at the word “diapers” and hid her blushing face deeper into Big Mac’s fur.

“Well, if they’re for a foal, then might I recommend the foal section instead?” The mare suggested. “It’s only two aisles down—“

“Actually,” Big Mac interrupted, “my foal is a bit… bigger than your average foal.”

With a knowing smile, the mare asked, “Really? How big is she?”

I never said if it was a filly, Big Mac noted with a smirk. Figuring this wasn’t the mare’s first time doing this song and dance, Big Mac figured he’d cut right to the chase then. “Oh… about this big,” he said, glancing over at his marefriend still trying to disappear into his coat. “Do you have anythin’ that might fit her?’

The mare’s smile only seemed to brighten as she nodded her head. “I just might. Follow me and I’ll show our ‘Plus sized’ section.” Turning around, she began to lead the couple towards the back of the store before passing through a door marked “Storage”. After passing through two more doors, the mare stopped in front of another door. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Calming Touch and this is my store. Before we go any further, I just want to make absolutely sure… one of you is an Adult Foal, correct?”

“Eyup,” Big Mac replied, nuzzling the unicorn next to him. “Name’s Big Mac and this here’s my sweet foal, Sugar Belle. Say hello, Sugar Belle.”

“Uh… hi…” Sugar Belle managed to squeak out, still hugging Big Mac tightly for support.

“Don’t worry, you have nothing to fear here, sweetie,” Calming Touch said with a reassuring and motherly tone. “Many ponies who come through my doors are terrified of being judged for something so innocent and harmless, so I do my best to make sure to offer a comfortable and safe environment for foals of all ages. Now, allow me to welcome you into the ‘Adult Foal” section of my store.” Opening the door, Big Mac and Sugar Belle both gasped at what they saw inside.

It was like they had stepped into a whole other store entirely. Just as big the pharmacy they had just left, the entire store was stocked with everything an Adult Foal could ever need or want, with signs above the rows of aisles advertising everything from diapers by brand and size, to dresses and onesies, to even aisles offering adult sized cribs and playpens. Truly it was an Adult Foal paradise.

“Wow!” Her fear seemingly forgotten, Sugar Belle marvelled at the sheer selection on display. “Look at all this!”

“Eyup,” Big Mac replied, giggling as Sugar Belle’s wagged her tail excitedly. “Pick out anythin’ you’d like and we’ll see about adding’ it to your playroom.”

“Really!?” Sugar Belle’s face was lit up like a filly in a candy store as Big Mac nodded his head. Squealing in delight, Sugar Belle ran up and hugged the stallion. “Thank you, Nanna!” She cried before taking off towards the diaper aisle and leaving Calming Touch and Big Mac alone.

“So…” Calming Touch glanced at Big Mac with a slight smirk and a raised eyebrow. “‘Nanna’, huh?”

Chuckling, Big Mac blushed as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Eyup…”

“I’m not judging. It’s always nice to meet a caregiver so understanding of another pony’s desire to be loved and cared for. Warms my heart every time I see the smiles on the little one’s faces.”

“Eyup,” Big Mac agreed as the pair watched Sugar Belle run up and down the aisles, clearly overwhelmed by the selection on display. “Say, I was wonderin’…”

“How I got into all this?” Calming Touch said, tittering as she shook her head. “Oh, if I had a bit for every time somepony asked me that, I could afford to open a store in Las Pegasus alongside this one. I’ve always been the mothering sort, it’s how I got my cutie mark after all.” Turning slightly, Calming let Big Mac have a glance at her cutie mark, a pair of wings wrapped lovingly around the image of a foal bundled up in a blanket. “I suppose I could have always worked at a nursery or daycare instead, but there was just something… special about caring for a grown mare or stallion instead and helping them recapture even a glimpse of their lost innocence. When I realized that many of the ponies I cared for felt scared and alone in their desires, I knew that it was my duty to provide a safe and welcoming environment to show them that they have nothing to fear or be ashamed of. As a fellow caregiver, I’m guessing you understand what I mean, right?”

“Eyup.” Big Mac smiled as he looked back on the fond memories of days spent looking after and caring for Sugar Belle, days he wouldn’t trade for all the riches in the world. “Seein’ as yer a more experienced caregiver and all, I kinda hopin’ y’all might be able to give me a little advice regardin’ another foal I know.”

“Another one, huh? Why, aren’t you the lucky stallion!” Calming remarked, holding a wing to her mouth to hold back her laughter. “Well, I’m always willing to help another caregiver out, so ask away! How did you find out she was an Adult Foal, if I may ask?”

“Well… my family own’s an apple farm not far from the town she lives in, so one day I went to her house to deliver an order and… accidentally walked in on her.”

“Oh dear…” Calming replied, her smile dripping slightly as worry flashed across her face. “Being discovered like that is every Adult Foal’s worst nightmare, even more so if it’s somepony they know. How did she take it?”

“Luckily she was sleepin’, so I just left her a note explainin’ the situation and that her secret was safe with me along with the delivery and let her be.”

“That was the right decision. That wasn’t the end of it though, I’m assuming?”

“Nope. In the note I left I also said she could come to me any time if’n she wanted to talk about what happened, so eventually we talked it out and I did my best to put her mind at ease. I… I also offered to let her join me and Sugar Belle on our next playdate. Was I wrong to say that?”

Calming put a reassuring hoof on Big Mac’s shoulder. “In my experience, you made the right call. Some ponies need a little push sometimes, as long as you made it clear that it was entirely her decision whether to come or not. Give her some time to think about it, and whatever you do don’t pressure her into making a decision until she’s good and ready.”

“Of course. I would never pressure another pony into doin’ somethin’ they weren’t okay with!”

“And that’s why I know you’re a kind and loving caregiver.” Calming said with a generous smile on her face. “If there’s anything else I can help you, feel free to ask.”

“Actually… I was hopin’ on picking up some diapers for her as well just in case she says yes.”

“Now that I can certainly help you with! Do you know what kind she likes?”

“Hmm…” Big Mac tapped his hoof against his chin as he thought back to that day. “I didn’t get a name, but I did get a brief look at them. They were kinda like the ones Sugar Belle likes, Forever Foal, but they didn’t have all the colourful designs and pictures on them that I could see. They were a bright pink around the legs and waist too, if’n that helps.”

“It might… One moment…” Walking over to one of the diaper aisles, Calming returned a few moments later carrying one of the packs on her back. The name on the side of the package read, “Forever Filly, for big mares who are young at heart!”, and a picture on the side showed a mostly white diaper with pink borders around the waist and leg holes. “Was this it, by any chance?”

“That’s them alright,” Big Mac replied. “Y’all really know yer diapers, I take it?”

“I should hope so!” Calming Touch said with a sharp laugh. “I’ll go ring these up for you while you wait.”

As Calming walked away, Sugar Belle came bounding up to Big Mac chanting, “Nanna! Nanna! Nanna! Look at what I found!” Held aloft in her magic was an adorable purple onesie the same colour as her mane, with matching coloured frills around the leg holes. “Can we get this, pretty please?” Sugar Belle asked, putting on her best “puppy dog eyes”.

Big Mac laughed, patting the unicorn on the head. “Alright, you win. But we need to get you some diapers to wear first, otherwise my little foal is going to be a very wet and grumpy pony!”

“Yay!” Sugar Belle squealed with delight before running back to the diaper aisle to pick out her favourite brand. As Big Mac followed behind his adorable marefriend, his thoughts drifted back to Cheerilee and the offer he had made her the day before. Calmin’ said to give her time, so that’s what’ll do. Still can’t help wonderin’ though if she’s thinkin’ bout it now or not…

***

[Cheerilee]

Cheerilee had indeed been thinking about Big Mac’s offer on and off ever since her talk with him, the idea sneaking itself into her thoughts just when she least expected it. Doing her best to keep it out of her mind during work, Cheerilee managed to make it through the day successfully before arriving home later that afternoon. Keeping herself occupied with marking assignments and making herself dinner, it wasn’t until Cheerilee was preparing to turn in for the night that the idea surfaced once more.

Lying awake in bed and staring up at the ceiling, Cheerilee let out a sigh as her mind ran through her options. She couldn’t deny how unbelievably tempting Big Mac’s offer was to her, allowing her the chance to finally be cared for like she had always dreamed of. And yet, something was still holding her back, particularly her past relationship with Big Mac. Would I be intruding on their special time? She wondered. I mean, we weren’t even together for a whole day and that was only because of the Crusader’s love poison, but still… Would I just make it awkward? Would Big Mac even still want to be friends afterwords?

Shaking her head, Cheerilee dispelled that last thought with a vengeance. Big Mac had promised that they were still friends, and the fact that he had even offered must have meant that they would still be fiends regardless of if she took him up on his offer or not.

Sighing again, Cheerilee held her teddy bear above her as she looked the plush bear in the eyes. “What should I do, Marigold? What should I do?” Sadly, the bear didn’t have an answer for her, and Cheerilee hugged the stuffed toy close as she curled up under her sheets.

I should talk to Big Mac. That should help me make up my mind. Having finally decided on a course of action, Cheerileewas finally able to put her worries aside for now as she drifted off to sleep. That night, Cheerilee’s dreams were filled with the pleasant images of her in her own nursery as she played the part of the foal, playing and laughing without a care in the world.