Chapters Cutie Mark Gradeschoolers
It was another beautiful day in Ponyville as the day went on like any other.
Ponies bustled about, going about their business as usual. It was mid afternoon, and many ponies were finishing up their work day and heading home to enjoy time with their family and friends.
Just on the outskirts of Ponyville, three young mares were doing the same.
Nestled in the fields of Sweet Apple Acres the Clubhouse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders resided, and as of late had seen a fair bit of visitors.
Ever since the crusaders had gotten their cutie marks the three friends had been busy as could be, helping ponies both far and wide with their cutie mark problems.
The three mares had just finished their last appointment for the day and were packing their bags up to head to their respective homes.
“How’re ya’ll feeling about the history test tomorrow?” Asked Apple Bloom as she threw her saddle bag over her shoulder and onto her back.
“I’m feeling ok. I’m still gonna study a couple hours more tonight though. What about you Scootaloo?” Asked Sweetie Belle as she put some supplies away on a shelf in the corner.
“I’m not so sure. I’m probably gonna need to study a good bit. You two know I’m more of a math and science pony.” She said as she put her own things into her saddle bag and pulled it onto her back.
She was about to head to the door with her friends when she noticed a piece of paper laying on the floor not too far away from her, walking over and picking it up in her hooves.
“Hey girls! Check this out!” She said, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom wandering over to see what Scootaloo had found.
In Scootaloo’s hoof was a picture of the three crusaders, the three smiling at the camera inside Sugar Cube Corner. Decorations and balloons were in the background, showing a party going on and the three pony’s flanks were blank.
“Hey! Isn’t that from Diamond Tiara’s cuteceañera party?” Said Sweetie Belle.
“Yeah! That’s where we first meet.” Said Apple Bloom.
The three smiled happily at the memory, Scootaloo taking the photo and sticking it on the podium for them to figure out what to do with later.
The three then took their leave and began walking back toward the main road, chatting as they went.
“Hard to believe we use to have some much free time on our hands huh?” Said Scootaloo as they walked along.
Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom agreed.
Whereas before the three of them had lots of free time to come up with fun things to do to get their cutie marks, their schedules were now mostly full.
Between their schoolwork and helping with cutie mark problems, the three didn’t really do much else.
They were glad they had started getting paid to offer their services, Princess Twilight helping them get signed up as an essential service provider and allowing them to be paid by the local government so they could focus their time on crusading and not have to find jobs to help support themselves in other ways, but even so, the three did miss just relaxing and having fun together.
“Yeah. Sometimes I wish it could be like when we were younger. No responsibilities. Just going out and having fun together.” Said Apple Bloom.
“Especially when there was no school. We had the whole day just to ourselves.” Said Sweetie Belle.
The three knew those days were now behind them. Soon they’d be finished school and would be crusading full time, likely even busier as they would likely have to travel all around Equestria to fillies and colts that required their services.
“Ya’ll ever wish we could just have no responsibilities? Nothing to worry about but just doing noth’in all day?” Asked Apple Bloom.
Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded. The three agreed they had been working hard lately and would have to plan a break to just do things they wanted to do. Maybe even organize a little vacation away somewhere.
Finishing their conversation, the three said goodbye and headed off to their respective homes.
Unbeknownst to any of them however, the three of them were not the only ones that had been privy to their conversation.
In a flash, as soon as the crusaders had left, a draconequus appeared by the road, hovering just above it.
It was none other than Discord, the lord of chaos.
He had been flying around Ponyville, trying to find something of interest to get into, when he had spotted the crusaders from above and decided to listen in to their conversation.
The creature laid down in midair, stroking his goatee as he pondered what the three young mares had said.
It was suddenly that Discord had an idea, a mischievous grin appearing on his face.
If those three wanted a vacation with no worries and doing nothing all day, he had just the idea on what to do for them.
After all, they had been working so hard lately and earned it. Plus it would keep him entertained for a few days.
With a snap of his powerful fingers, a strong magical wave passed over Ponyville, unnoticed by anypony.
Discord chuckled as he made his way home into his dimension. Tomorrow was going to be a fun day.
“Apple Bloom! Rise and shine! It’s time for breakfast!” Yelled Applejack upstairs to Apple Bloom.
Her eyelids fluttered open at being woken up.
Why hadn’t her alarm gone off? Applejack hadn’t had to wake her up in years.
She got up, brushing her mane and grabbing her saddlebag before heading downstairs for breakfast.
The rest of her family was already there, digging in to their own food.
Apple Bloom was surprised to find her plate already waiting for her at her spot at the table, and even stranger, her pancakes we already cut up for her.
“Uh, Applejack? Why’d you cut up my food? I’m more then capable of doing it myself.” She said as she took her seat at the table.
Applejack looked at her sister with a knowing look. “I know sugar cube. But I figured you could just use a little help is all.” Said Applejack as she sat down herself and dug into her own breakfast.
Apple Bloom looked oddly at Applejack and the rest of her family, surprised nopony else found it a little odd.
She decided to let the issue go and ate her breakfast. She’d have to get to school soon.
Once she had finished her breakfast and washed her dishes she said goodbye to her family and was about to head out the door when Applejack stopped her.
“Hold up there Apple Bloom. Wait for me to finish.” Said Applejack as she went and washed her own dishes.
“Why Applejack? I really have to get going. School will be starting soon.” Said Apple Bloom, by now getting a little frustrated with her older sister.
“You know you ain’t supposed to go through Ponyville unless me, Big Mac, or Granny are with ya.” Said Applejack as she put her dishes on the drying rack and joined her sister by the door.
“What? Since when? I haven’t had you take me places since I was just a little filly.” Said Apple Bloom, not believing what her sister was saying. Had something happened to make her overprotective again?
Applejack just chuckled. “You’ve sure got an active imagination don’cha? Now come one! Let’s get you to school.” Said Applejack as she made her way out the door.
Apple Bloom followed behind her, too tired early in the morning to argue the issue. Whatever was going on it could wait until after school.
She did feel a bit weird having Applejack escort her through town to school though.
Soon they arrived at the gates of the Ponyville Schoolhouse and Apple Bloom made her way inside, heading to her classroom.
She had just gone inside when her teacher stopped her.
“What’re you doing here little filly? This isn’t your classroom.” Said Miss Cheerilee.
Apple Bloom looked at her puzzled. “What’re ya talk’in bout Miss Cheerilee?” I’ve been in your class the last few years.” Said Apple Bloom.
Ponyville Schoolhouse was divided into four rooms, each designed to teach a category of lessons for each age group.
Miss Cheerilee’s was the final room before ponies graduated and set off to find their place in the world, and was meant for ponies fourteen to seventeen, give or take a year depending on when the pony started their schooling.
Cheerilee walked over to Apple Bloom and began to ease her out the door.
“It’s not nice to fib sweetie. Now are you going to go to your class with Miss Wayword or do I need to take you there?” She asked Apple Bloom as she stood there looking at her a bit annoyed.
Apple Bloom sighed and left, heading toward Miss Wayword’s room.
She hadn’t been there since she was a filly, the room being designed for five to nine year olds.
She had no idea what she was going to tell Miss Wayword when she got there and told her Miss Cheerilee had made her come to her room insisting it was where she belonged.
As she entered the room Miss Wayword, a mare with a pale yellow coat, golden mane and tail, and a book on her flank greeted her.
“Good morning Apple Bloom. Go ahead and take your seat. We’re just about to get started.” Said Wayword as she turned back to her notes on the table.
Apple Bloom was thoroughly puzzled at this point. Why was everypony treating her like a little filly today? Was it some kind of joke? Was there some kind of magic at play?
She turned to find a seat open at the usual spot she sat in Cheerilee’s class, and even stranger, Scootaloo in her usual spot to the left of her and Sweetie Belle behind Scootaloo.
Both her friends looked as confused as she was as she took her seat.
Apple Bloom would’ve loved to chat with her friends about what was going on, but she knew it would be pointless.
She knew from a young age teachers didn’t tolerate talking in class and that there was no way Miss Wayword would let all three of them try to go to the bathroom at once to try and talk there.
She had no choice but to sit there with her friends around her as Miss Wayword taught lessons they had already learned.
It was pretty boring since they already knew all the answers.
The day drifted idly by until finally, three thirty rolled around and the ponies made their way out the door in a sea of little fillies and colts a fair bit shorter than them.
The three were eager to get to the clubhouse and talk, but were surprised to find Applejack at the school gate waiting for them, there to escort the fillies to Sweet Apple Acres with all the other younger ponies big siblings, parents, and caretakers.
Questions they asked Applejack as they went were written off as active imaginations as they asked her why they were being escorted around and treated like children.
It was a frustrating and hopeless cause and once the three made it to Sweet Apple Acres they eagerly ran off to the clubhouse to try and get some privacy and figure out what was going on. Applejack called after them to be back at the farmhouse in a couple hours so Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle could be picked up.
Upon getting inside, the girls were surprised to find the clubhouse looking a bit different then when they left it.
The pictures on the wall of all the ponies they’d helped were gone and a few toys and dolls were scattered around the floor.
Luckily there were still crayons and paper to write on.
“Do either of you have any idea what’s going on?” Asked Apple Bloom as they made their way inside and shut the door.
“No clue. I just woke up this morning and Aunty Lofty and Aunty Holiday had made me breakfast and cut it up for me. They’re never up that early.” Said Scootaloo.
“Same thing happened with me and Rarity. She woke me up, made me breakfast, and walked me to school.” Said Sweetie Belle.
“This seems way to elaborate to be a joke. It’s gotta be some kind of magic going on.” Said Apple Bloom.
“Yeah. And it only seems to have affected us. Nopony else seems any different.” Said Sweetie Belle.
“Maybe Twilight or Zecora could help us out?” Suggested Scootaloo.
“Are you kidding? Did you see how Applejack dismissed us on our way over here? I doubt they’d believe a word we said to either of them.” Said Apple Bloom.
“Uh, girls? Take a look at this.” Said Sweetie Belle.
The two looked over and saw Sweetie looking at a full length mirror on the opposite wall.
It had been something they had hung up to make sure they didn’t look too disheveled before going out to meet with ponies.
This time however, Sweetie’s reflection looked a bit different.
Reflected back at her was an image of herself, but younger.
The image of herself as a filly with a blank flank greeted her, and moved in time with Sweetie’s movements.
Both Scootaloo and Apple Bloom found the same thing happened when they stepped in front of the mirror.
“This is super weird.” Said Scootaloo as she moved her own body about in front of the mirror.
“You think? We gotta figure out how to fix this.” Said Apple Bloom.
Despite the three of them doing their best to try and figure out a solution, the best they could come up with was trying to sneak into Twilight’s castle and find a book with a spell that could fix their problem.
Even that plan sounded fruitless, since everpony saw them as little kids. Even if they managed to sneak away from their families they’d likely be spotted by one of the town ponies who’d let their families know where they were, or Twilight or Spike would likely spot them if they even made it inside the castle.
By the time they headed back to Apple Bloom’s house for Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle to be picked up, they found themselves no closer to solving their predicament.
The three resolved to meet again tomorrow to try and figure something out.
As the three crusaders spent the night being fawned over like little fillies do, being watched over constantly and reminded to wash themselves and brush their teeth before bed, they each hoped things would somehow be back to normal when they woke up the next day.
They all just hoped things wouldn’t get any worse.
Scootaloo awoke the next morning to her Aunt Holiday gently nudging her awake.
“Scootaloo sweetheart, it’s time to get up.” She said.
Scootaloo’s eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the daylight streaming in through her window.
Almost immediately, her eyes shot open at what she saw.
While her room had looked slightly different when she arrived home yesterday, a few board games and toys lying on her shelves and on the floor, her room now looked much different.
More childish toys like dolls, dress up clothes, stuffed animals and much more lay on the floor around her room, as if it had recently been played with.
The walls of her room had gone from blue to pink, as well as her sheets and rug which had previously been green and yellow.
She even had a stuffed bear in her bed beside her.
Aunty Holiday could see the scared look on her niece’s face.
“Is everything ok Scootaloo? You didn’t have an accident did you?”
“WHAT?!?!” Yelled Scootaloo.
It was at that moment she became aware of something slightly bulky around her waist.
Pulling her sheets back, she found a pair of little fillies training pants around her waist.
The garment was pink on the sides, with designs of tiaras and hearts going from the crotch to the rear.
Thankfully Scootaloo was pleased to find she had not used them like her Aunt had suggested.
“Good job sweetie! Soon you won’t need those at night anymore. Only a few more days to go.” She said as Scootaloo watched her put a sun face on a chart by her door.
There were a few sun faces on their already, but some spots had rainclouds, making Scootaloo realize her Aunt now believed her to be potty training.
She had never felt so embarrassed!
“I don’t have to wear these during the day do I?” Asked Scootaloo, afraid to hear her Aunt’s answer.
“Of course not sweetie. You haven’t needed them during the day for a few months. You just gotta be careful about going before you go to sleep. Now hurry and get ready! We’ll need to head to preschool in a little bit.” Said Aunty Holiday as she left Scootaloo’s room, leaving her there in just her pull-up on her bed.
Preschool? Sweet Celestia why?
A little while later Scootaloo found herself being lead to preschool by her Aunty Holiday.
Breakfast had gone about the same as it had yesterday with her Aunt Lofty serving her cut up food again.
The only difference compared to yesterday was her Aunts seemed to be keeping an even closer eye on her, making sure she cleaned her plate and washed her hooves before she left.
As her and her Aunt walked through the streets of Ponyville she did notice ponies that passed her by seemed to smile at her or wave, probably to be nice to what they saw as a little filly walking by them.
Soon, she found her Aunt leading her up the walkway to a building she had passed countless times before without paying it any mind.
Ponyville Preschool. Scootaloo could see by the sign out front that the school catered to ponies two to four, and based on what her Aunt had told her that morning, she guessed ponies must see her as around three or four years old.
After her Aunt had lead her to a room inside and given her a hug and kiss goodbye, she had a moment to take in her surroundings.
She didn’t remember much from her time in preschool, but the room looked as much like a preschool classroom as she expected.
Little tables and chairs faced the front of the room with a chalkboard much like the classrooms at the schoolhouse, but posters of planets, math equations, and famous figures were replaced with popular children’s cartoon characters reminding ponies to be nice and share.
She was relieved to at least find Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle at a table waving to her. At least she didn’t have to suffer through preschool alone.
Plus at least here they would have some time to talk more since the day mainly consisted of playtime.
“What the heck is happening? Everypony thinks we’re four now!” Said Scootaloo as she took her seat next to Sweetie Belle.
“We were just talking about that. Me and Sweetie think our perceived age is half what it was yesterday.” Said Apple Bloom.
“Yeah yesterday we were at least still in school. Now we’re pretty much in daycare.” Said Scootaloo grumpily.
“It’s still school. Just, very basic material.” Said Sweetie Belle, trying to be optimistic.
“I say we just run away. There’s how many other active kids here. We could just sneak out the front door.” Said Scootaloo.
“And where do you suggest we go? On the lamb? It’s like we talked about yesterday. If anypony spots us we’re done for. You know how much trouble we’d probably get in as four year olds if we ran away? I can tell ya Applejack would whop my behind.” Said Apple Bloom.
“We can’t just sit here and do nothing! We might get even younger if we don’t do anything.” Said Scootaloo.
“We don’t have much of a choice. We’ll think of something Scootaloo, but right now we just have to play along.” Said Apple Bloom.
Scootaloo sighed. She knew Apple Bloom was right, but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
The Crusaders settled in and tried not to be too bored at the overly simple lessons about colors and counting to ten the teacher went over with the class.
Scootaloo tried to fake paying attention as she tried to think of a plan her and her friends could put into action later when the teacher called on her.
“Scootaloo, what color is this?” Said the teacher as she pointed at a colored circle on the board.
Scootaloo was about to say the answer when she felt an odd feeling pass through her mind. The answer had been so obvious when she first looked at the color, but now she felt unsure.
“Uh, green?” She said nervously.
“That’s right. Good job Scootaloo.” Said the teacher as she moved on to the next kid.
Scootaloo felt a strange sense of pride fill her at getting the answer right.
It was such a simple question with an obvious answer for a pony her age but somehow knowing it made her feel proud.
She would find herself getting this feeling at different times throughout the day.
When she answered questions right, when the teacher asked her to help, every little bit of praise made Scootaloo feel special.
Before she knew it, Applejack was there to take them to Sweet Apple Acres for a play date.
As her and her friends walked behind Applejack, Scootaloo couldn’t believe how fast the day had gone.
Although she didn’t want to admit it at the risk of her friends thinking she was weird, Scootaloo had actually enjoyed her day at preschool.
She liked getting praise and attention from her teacher. She loved snack and nap time. She liked playing and singing with everypony.
It made her feel so fulfilled yet so wrong. She was almost a grown mare, yet she had enjoyed so much acting like such a little filly.
A small part of her was actually longing to tomorrow be back in pre-
“You ok Scootaloo? You’re awfully quiet.” Said Sweetie Belle.
Scootaloo immediate drew her attention to her friends who were now both staring at her.
“Oh yeah fine. Totally fine. Never better. Heh heh.” She said, trying and failing not to draw attention to herself.
Her friends seemed to buy her lie though and not long after the three of them found themselves having to chat with Applejack about all the fun things they did and learned in preschool that day.
Scootaloo did notice her friends seemed to speak with a bit of enthusiasm about their day when they first started to answer, but then toned their answer down to act like they’d been bored.
She wondered if maybe her friends had actually enjoyed their day together too, but didn’t want to risk sounding weird by bringing it up.
Luckily the three of them soon found themselves back at Sweet Apple Acres again and dropped off at their clubhouse by Applejack.
“You young’ins have fun now. I’ll be tending the field out back if ya need anything. I’ll be back to check on ya in a bit.” Said Applejack as she left the crusaders alone to inspect the state of their clubhouse.
The Clubhouse now looked more like a glorified playroom, with more toys scattered around the room then there had been yesterday, most of them dolls and stuffed animals.
A few costumes for dress up were in a trunk in the corner and a table with crayons and paper was opposite it.
The one thing that hadn’t changed though was the mirror on the wall.
Remembering what had happened yesterday, Scootaloo stood in front of it.
As she expected, staring back at her was a young version of herself, no more than three or four.
She looked puny in size compared to Scootaloo herself, but Scootaloo knew this was how the world currently saw her, a little filly barely out of toddlerhood.
The three of them again sat down and tried to figure out what to do about their predicament.
It seemed as though their perceived age was getting even younger now, and they didn’t want to think about what tomorrow would bring.
“We may not have much time left. We gotta figure out something now!” Said Scootaloo.
“But what can we do? There’s no way we can go off on our own without somepony catching us.” Said Sweetie Belle.
“Wait a sec. What day is it?” Asked Apple Bloom.
“It’s Friday. What does that matter?” Said Scootaloo.
“Don’t you see? We won’t have school tomorrow. So our families won’t be getting us up early to go to school. If we wait until our families go to sleep tonight and sneak out, we can maybe get to Canterlot if we walk and just keep an eye out and hide when ponies come the other way. We can maybe try and talk to Princess Celestia or Luna when we get there and see if they’ll help us.” Said Apple Bloom.
“But even if we make it there they’ll still see us as little fillies. They probably won’t believe us. Plus we’ll have to sneak past the castle guards to even try to find them.” Said Sweetie Belle.
“The way I see it it’s our best hope. I don’t think we can convince Twilight to help us, and she’d probably tell our families where we are. This way we can maybe try and escape if they don’t believe us and try something else when we think of it.” Said Apple Bloom.
“I think she’s right. They’ll be most likely to believe us, and it gives us a good amount of time to try and get away if they don’t.” Said Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle sighed. “I guess you’re right. I just hope this works.” Said Sweetie Belle.
The three agreed to meet at the edge of town at the road that would lead them to Canterlot.
With any luck, they’d make it there a few hours before then sun came up.
With nothing else to do after that, the three of them found themselves drawing random things with paper and crayons until Applejack came and got them later to bring them back to her house and have Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle get picked up.
Scootaloo found her night at home even more embarrassing then her last night had been.
After dinner her Aunt Holiday had run her a bath and washed her. She’d even given her some bath toys to play with, which Scootaloo actually had a little fun with if she was honest.
After she had been dried off, her Aunt had brushed her teeth for her and tucked her into bed, then proceeded to read her a bedtime story.
It had been one Scootaloo had remembered hearing countless times as a kid, but as she laid in bed with her Aunt reading to her in a soft and comforting voice, Scootaloo began to feel herself getting sleepy.
She tried her best to keep her eyes open, but just couldn’t seem to. She was just too comfy to stay awake as her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep, her worries and thoughts of sneaking out forgotten as she drifted off to dreamland.
Sweetie Belle awoke the next morning to the sound of birds chirping outside her bedroom window.
As she began to stir awake, her eyes coming into focus, she became aware of her new surroundings.
All around her bed were bars that were just high enough that her chin barely touched the top bar.
The bed where she’d gone to sleep in the night prior was now a crib, with just a single pillow and blanket.
Through the bars, she could see her room now looked like a nursery.
Where her trunk once sat was now a rocking chair, and below it, a few toys on a rug that were designed for foals. A ring stack game, a rattle, little pop up toys, and a few others designed to stimulate a simple minded baby.
Her dresser was also gone, a changing table now in its place.
Sweetie could already see a drawer was open and some diapers sticking out.
She froze.
She looked down at herself.
Her bottom half was still covered by her blanket.
She could feel something bulky wrapped around her waist, and even worse, it felt damp.
No…no please not that….
She didn’t want to look, but had to confirm her worst fears.
Upon pulling back her blanket, her suspicions were confirmed.
Wrapped around her waist was a thick and poofy disposable diaper, complete with a yellow stain right on the front.
Sweetie couldn’t believe it. She was now a complete baby in the eyes of everypony.
The realization was overwhelming for her and she began to cry.
She wasn’t entirely sure why she was crying, her natural instinct previously would’ve been to curse or perhaps punch something, but she couldn’t seem to control herself as her emotions caused her to wail and cry like the baby she knew she now was.
A few minutes later, she heard a door open.
“Sweetie? Oh dear what’s wrong? Come here.”
Sweetie felt herself being picked up and held, cradled in somepony’s arms.
The effect it had on her was immediate, and she began to calm down, her crying turning to sniffles as she was held and had a hoof rubbed against her back.
She felt a lot better knowing somepony was there to comfort her.
Upon being shifted in the pony’s arms, she saw it was her big sister Rarity, beaming up at her with a smile.
“That’s right baby sister. There’s no need to be upset. Let’s get you ready for the day shall we?” She said as she carried Sweetie out of her crib and over onto the changing table.
Sweetie began to feel upset again, starting to fuss at the embarrassment of her big sister changing her, but before she got started she felt something slipped into her mouth.
Without even thinking, she began to suckle on it, the object bobbing in her mouth. Like magic, she felt calm again, enjoying the sensation.
“None of that now. Let’s get you changed.” Said Rarity as she got to work, making a quick job of stripping Sweetie’s wet diaper off her and wiping her crotch and butt down with a baby wipe disposing of both in a diaper pail by the table.
She then got out a new diaper, opening it up and laying Sweetie’s tushy on top of it and sprinkling her whole area with foal powder. She then fastened the new diaper tightly around her little sister’s waist, picking her back up and giving her diapered bottom a pat.
“All better. Let’s get you some breakfast and then it’s off to your play date.” Said Rarity as she carried Sweetie downstairs.
Sweetie tired to organize her thoughts as her sister brought her downstairs and sat her in a highchair.
It was so hard to focus on things now for some reason without getting worked up or consumed.
She realized she must’ve fallen asleep last night and missed the plan. She hoped Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had gone on without her and were speaking to the Princesses right now to undo this mess, but she knew this was unlikely.
They would’ve made it to Canterlot long before now, and the fact that things now only seemed to have gotten worse for her likely meant they were in the same boat.
Breakfast consisted of a sweet tasting mush that although Sweetie had found the idea of repulsing, had actually quite enjoyed, even if a good bit ended up on her bib and muzzle.
She especially found herself giggling at her sister making airplane noises as she maneuvered the spoon into her mouth, but each time after she swallowed was upset that she found such a foalish thing amusing.
She was then feed a bottle, an activity she thought would be difficult but was actually quite easy as she suckled the formula from the bottle’s nipple.
She found it to be a familiar action, like she’d done it a million times.
After she’d finished and been burped, Rarity had stuck her on her back and headed out the door, grabbing what looked to be a diaper bag and slipping what Sweetie now realized was a pacifier back into her muzzle.
The two of them were now headed through the streets of Ponyville, headed Celestia knows where.
She hoped it was to see her friends. With any luck maybe they could still figure out a way to fix things, even if everypony thought they were now foals.
Sweetie spent the trip on her sister’s back trying to spit her pacifier out, but found herself unable to.
Any time she tried she couldn’t help but enjoy the satisfying sensation of the soother bobbing in her mouth.
She noticed ponies they passed would occasionally coo at her and say how adorable she looked.
This made her blush deep red with embarrassment, but made her want to giggle at how silly they were talking.
Before long she found that Rarity was taking her to Sweet Apple Acres and in the direction of the clubhouse.
She could see Applejack and Scootaloo’s Aunts were outside, appearing to have a picnic.
“Hey there Rarity! Glad you could make it. Go ahead and drop Sweetie in the play room with her friends.” Said Applejack.
Rarity carried her up the tree house stairs and up to the entrance.
A baby gate was attached to the doorway, allowing the door to remain open and allow the three mares outside to hear if anything was wrong.
Rarity sat Sweetie down and the floor, placing a bottle next to her in case she got thirsty.
“Play nice with your friends sweetie while sissy has brunch with her friends!” Said Rarity, turning away and walking back down to Applejack and Aunt Holiday and Lofty.
Looking around, Sweetie could see the tree house was now much different.
The room looked much like how her room had looked.
Baby toys were strewn around the floor. A changing table was against one wall and three large cribs were nearby.
Baby pictures of Sweetie Belle and her friends playing together adorned the walls, with them playing, taking baths, and doing other foalish things together.
On an area rug not too far from her, she saw Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, both sitting in their own diapers.
It appeared they may’ve forgotten about the plan too.
Sweetie walked over to them, nuking on her pacifier as she went. She hardly realized it was in her mouth anymore.
“Sweetie Belle! Are you ok?” Asked Scootaloo.
Sweetie tried to answer, but her pacifier was in the way.
“Try this.” Said Apple Bloom, leaning over and pulling the pacifier out of her mouth.
With the paci gone, Sweetie found she was able to talk again.
“Thanks Apple Bloom. I’m fine. Apart from, you know this.” She said gesturing at her diaper.
“I know. We woke up wearing ours too. Don’t bother try’in to take it off though. I wasted about ‘n hour this morn’in try’in and nothing worked.” Said Apple Bloom.
“I take it none of you managed to stay awake last night either huh?” Asked Sweetie Belle.
“Nah. My Aunts put me to bed and read me to sleep. Don’t even remember them turning out the light.” Said Scootaloo.
“Same happened to me too. Never even saw the sun go down.” Said Apple Bloom.
“What’re we gonna do? The magic seems to be affecting us now. We can’t even take these stupid diapers off!” Said Sweetie, hitting it with her hoof.
“We could try sneaking out again tonight.” Said Scootaloo.
“Even if we manage to stay up late enough we wouldn’t be able to get out of our cribs. Plus I tried talk’in to my family this morning and they couldn’t understand me. I doubt the Princesses would be able to either.” Said Apple Bloom.
“Well we gotta do something! I don’t wanna be a baby!” Scootaloo yelled.
“And you think I do?” Apple Bloom yelled back.
Sweetie watched as her friends argued back and forth. It looked like they were out of options. She hung her head and began to tear up, thinking of all the fun things her and her friends would probably never get to do again.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her reflection in the mirror on the wall.
At least, it looked like her reflection.
While her reflection did show her as a baby in the mirror, her mirror self appeared to be smiling, and motioning her to come closer with her hoof.
Curious, Sweetie walked over to the mirror, watching as her foalish reflection peaked its head out.
Sweetie just stared, astonished at what she saw.
“Why so sad little one?” Her reflection asked.
“I’m not supposed to be little! I’m supposed to be a big mare!” Said Sweetie.
“Aw being little isn’t so bad. No cares, no worries. All you have to do is have fun!” Her reflection beamed.
Sweetie thought about this. Her reflection did have a point. Foals didn’t have to worry about anything. Big ponies took care of everything for them. Even so though, she still didn’t want to be one.
“But I’m in a diaper!” Sweetie whined.
“Those are great too! You don’t have to stop playing to go potty. You just keep playing! Here! Let me show you!”
Before Sweetie could react her reflection reached out and touched her diaper. In an instant, she could feel her diaper getting heavier.
Looking down she saw her diaper front yellowing as she wet herself. From behind, her rear was turning brown as she messed herself.
Although Sweetie wanted to feel gross and disgusted with herself, she found instead she was feeling giddy, and more so by the second.
The warm confines of her diaper hugged her bottom and crotch as they clung to her body like a warm hug.
Her head was also starting to feel warm and fuzzy, like it had been covered in a warm blanket.
Her mind was beginning to change, forgetting everything she knew about being a big mare and only focusing on being a proper baby filly.
Suddenly being a foal didn’t seem so bad. In fact, it was beginning to sound like a great idea!
Sweetie began to drool and giggle at her reflection as she finished using her diaper.
She knew she felt sad a minute ago, but couldn’t care to remember why! She was just a little foal, and foals just focused on being happy!
“See? Isn’t it better being a foal then a boring old big mare?” Her reflection said.
Sweetie nodded dumbly, shifting in her seat to feel her warm mess shift and squish.
“Now go play with your other baby friends Sweetie. Here’s a toy they’ll really like!” Her reflection said as it placed a red rubber ball with stars on it in Sweetie’s hooves before disappearing back into the mirror.
Sweetie looked down at the ball. It felt smooth and squishy. She wanted to show it to her friends!
She turned and rolled it over in their direction.
As Scootaloo and Apple Bloom continued to argue, they noticed a ball roll in between them.
Their eyes locked on it, unable to focus on anything else.
Scootaloo walked over and sat down in front it.
She wasn’t sure why the toy had captured her attention, but she felt an overwhelming need to examine it further.
She reached down and touched the ball with her hoof.
In response, she felt a warm feeling begin to spread from her hoof throughout her body, making her feel warm and fuzzy.
Suddenly she began to feel confused.
What had she been doing? She and Apple Bloom had been talking about something. But what?
This round thing in front of her was pretty! What was it called?
Her mind began to simplify, focusing only on here and now. The pretty thing made her happy! Her friends were here and they made her happy! She began to smile, giggling as drool began to poor down her chin and onto her chest.
She felt a warmness spread around her crotch as she wet her diaper without warning. That was normal though. She liked how her warm diaper made her feel!
It made her feel safe and comfy!
She brought her hoof off the ball and stuck it in her mouth, sucking on it as she looked up at her friend Apple Bloom.
Apple Bloom was now walking forward and sat down opposite Scootaloo.
Like her she couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off the red orb. Her only thought was to reach out and touch it, even though a small part of her was telling her to stay away.
An empty eyed Scootaloo noticed Apple Bloom in front of her.
“Bwa!” She said, taping the ball with her hoof and rolling it toward her friend.
Apple Bloom instinctively put a hoof forward to stop the sphere coming at her, and all of a sudden everything seemed to fall into place.
Things in her mind blew past her subconscious at a break neck speed. Calculus, times tables, history, reading, writing, counting, talking, potty training, as these things registered in her mind she realized she couldn’t recall what any of them were.
She knew she remembered them before, but now they seemed entirely new.
Her mind felt like it was filling with hot air. It tingled and made her feel funny.
She began to giggle, drool running down her chin as her mind finished clearing out all its pesky big pony thoughts.
She looked down at the ball in front of her.
It was pretty!
She babbled at it, pressing her hoof against it.
Scootaloo babbled at her friend, happy to see she liked the toy she’d shared with her.
Meanwhile Sweetie had come over, happy to see her friends partaking with the reflection’s gift.
The three spent the next hour like this, babbling and playing like little foals do, sticking things in their mouth and batting at them with their hooves.
As they played Scootaloo soon joined Sweetie in the droopy diapee department, stopping and bending down for a rattle. She grunted as she pushed a nice load into her awaiting diaper. She let out a sigh, enjoying not feeling so full and uncomfortable, grabbing her rattle and plopping down on her messy seat with a squish. Her messy bottom was the perfect place to rest her plot.
Apple Bloom didn’t last much longer, wetting her diaper thoroughly in the front and only a few minutes later, finding her tummy cramping and leaving a load of horse apples in her diaper. Her foalish mind didn’t mind it one bit, if anything liking the warm feeling she now felt her diaper giving her as she continued to play.
After a while their caregivers came up to check on them, finding the three babies in need of a change and setting to work, laying them down on changing mats and cleaning their mare bits with practiced care before powdering and diapering the three little foals.
All the while above them, invisible to anypony, was Discord, laughing manically as he enjoyed a bowel of popcorn.
Oh how he had enjoyed seeing the CMCs struggle with becoming younger and younger in the eyes of everpony in Ponyville.
It had been just the sort of little chaos he’d needed to entertain his bored mind.
He could barely contain himself as he saw them resist his magic and fall into the warm embrace of foalish ignorance they were now experiencing.
The uncomfortable looks on Applejack, Rarity, and Aunt Holiday’s faces as they changed their charges messy diapers was priceless too. In fact…
The three had just placed the CMC’s in their cribs for naptime.
“Whew wee! They sure did a number on those diapers. Hopefully they won’t have gone too much when we get them up in a few hours.” Said Applejack as her and her fellow grownups left to go back to their picnic, Rarity and Aunt Holiday nodding in hopeful agreement.
Discord couldn’t help himself.
He shot bolts of magic at the three crusaders, causing the three sleepy big foals to suddenly start squirming in their cribs before their diapers began to fill once more with mess, the magic causing their diapers to fill to cartoonish proportions, looking as if they were wearing beach balls around their waists.
As the three fillies finished and began to drift off to sleep, Discord burst into wild laughter. He couldn’t wait to see them try and change those dirty diapers!
He wasn’t sure how long he was going to keep the crusaders this way. Probably until he got bored with seeing them humiliate themselves or torture their older sisters and Aunts with gross messes.
He’d make sure they all remembered nothing of this. As far as anypony would remember, the Crusaders were just away on a vacation, and had come back feeling refreshed.
But until then, he was going to enjoy seeing what mischief he could get up to with the Cutie Mark Crybabies.
