The Pamper Express

The Pamper Express

Chapter 3: The Nursery

Twilight groaned as her eyes fluttered open and a harsh ray of white light assaulted her eyes. She let out a confused gurgle as a small metallic object slipped into her mouth.

"Awww, are you enjoying your Nom Noms sweetie?" A motherly voice asked.

Twilight felt her ears perk up at the voice as a sense of calm washed over her and she felt a lump of warm mush slide down her throat. The world was blurry. She couldn't tell who or what was talking to her let alone where she was, but something deep inside her told Twilight she wasn't in any danger.

"Mmffff!" Twilight nodded as her arms flew up into the air on their own accord and lazily flailed about. Forming thoughts was difficult and her body moved without her conscious input. How had she gotten here? Wasn't she just on the Pamper Express? And where was here?

The sound of a bell ringing tore the girl from her thoughts as an energetic voice spoke through a PA system.

Welcome to the Canterlot Nursery! We're excited to have you with us and hope you're prepared for a weekend of mindless fun! Remember to obey your Mamma and eat your Nom Noms! We hope you enjoy your stay and remember! No Thinkies, Only Stinkies!

The bell rang once more signaling the end of the broadcast as Twilight felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her waist and lift her out of the chair she hadn't even realized she'd been sitting in.

"W-where aresh we goings Mamma?" She slurred lazily as the world around her zoomed in and out of focus.

"Why, we're going to the Nursery of course!" Mamma said with an excited tone, "Don't you remember?"

"O-oh." Twilight responded sounding unsure. If she was honest, Twilight didn't remember much of anything. But Mamma seemed excited! "Yeahs... I forgots..."

Mamma let out a soft melodic giggle as Twilight stared at the white tile floor below, "Silly girl."

The duo walked in silence for a few minutes as Twilight tried to piece together past events internally. Okay, she had been on the platform with Trixie, then she'd headed toward the open doors, and then? Nothing.

She had a fuzzy memory of being on the train and feeling a warm presence pressing against her backside, but everything else was a blur. Next thing Twilight knew, she'd woken up at the nursery with Mommy. Surely she hadn't just teleported to the nursery right?

"Buh whaa happen?" Twilight said aloud tilting her head slightly as the floor drifted out of focus.

"Hm?" Mamma stopped briefly in place, a quizzical tone in her voice.

"Why cansh... cansh I members?" Twilight asked as she weakly kicked her legs in the air.

Twilight felt Mamma's grip tighten briefly before relaxing.

"You don't need to remember such things," Mama said sternly as she patted Twilight's pampered butt and caused the girl to let out a few involuntary babbles. "Good Little's forget. Remember?"

Twilight groaned as a familiar haze assaulted her mind and her body began to go limp. "G-good little's... forgetsh..." She repeated as some drool escaped the corner of her mouth.

"That's right, forget~," Mamma said teasingly as the pair resumed their journey down the hall.

Starlight huffed as she glanced angrily between the other three girls at her table. Trixie, A gray earth pony, and a white unicorn.

Her lunch partners had made complete messes of their plates. It was infuriating. A proper Little scooped up their food with their hands and eats! They do not splatter it all over their bib and face! That was simply uncivilized.

"You're doing it wongs!" Starlight stated annoyed as she shoveled some food into her mouth and shot Trixie a pointed look.

"No I'ms nots!" Trixie retorted as she slobbered more of the mushy food onto her face. "Thish da easiest way!" She retorted proudly as she stuck her tongue out and some food leaked out of her mouth. "Bwaaahh!~"

Starlight huffed in annoyance. "Ish not wight." She shook her head as the white unicorn beside her gurgled and face-planted into her plate with a satisfying squish.

"Vinyl nuuuuu!" The gray earth pony shouted as Starlight jumped from the sudden volume increase.

"Awwww did someone have a little accident?" Mamma asked as she approached their table.

"Twily!" Trixie shouted.

She was quickly shushed by Mamma. "Shhhh~ She's taking a nap."

Trixie quickly covered her mouth with a hand and let out a small squeak as an embarrassed blush exploded onto her face. "Oopsie! Sowie Mamma..."

"Oh, it's alright Sweetie~," Mamma said as she set Twilight down in a nearby chair. and turned her attention to the gray earth pony.

"Oh no no no! Octavia you naughty girl. You've made a mess of your bib again!" Mamma chastised playfully causing Octavia to blush from embarrassment.

"S-sorry momma..." she muttered.

Starlight for her part, missed this interaction as she focused her gaze solely on Twily. The name sounded familiar and the girl in question looked familiar. Did she know her like she knew Trixie?

"Good Little's forgetsh..." Twilight muttered quietly to herself.

Starlight's ears perked up at this. Forget? Forget what?

"Good littlsh forgesh..." Twilight repeated as she began to babble.

Starlight stared at Twily intently trying to figure out what the nagging feeling in the back of her mind was. Was she forgetting something? Was there something she should know? As she stared at Twily a fog began to lift from her mind.

A memory leaped from the fog and began to make itself clear to her.

"Hnnggg!" Starlight let out a small grunt as a memory burst forth. She saw a castle, a throne room, lessons about friendship, a map, her cutie mark, a magic spell that controlled time, and a tiny dragon!

"Hnngggg.... W-whoooo?" Starlight asked through gritted teeth as she pushed against the haze. She wanted to see more! She had to see more! If she could just-

"Starlight? Starlight?!" Mamma's voice cut through the memory like a knife as Starlight was yanked back to the present and the memory shattered into a thousand tiny pieces.

"B-buhhhh.... W-wha?" Starlight asked as she swayed in her chair. "Yesh Mamma?"

"Are you alright Sweetie?" Mamma asked, concern lacing her tone.

Starlight paused for a second. Should she tell Mamma about the memory? Surely she could explain it to her. That's what Momma was here for after all! She explained complicated concepts to her and her fellow Littles!

Starlight opened her mouth to respond but stopped as a voice in the back of her mind told her she shouldn't. But why? Perhaps it would make Momma angry?

No no that wasn't the reason, Momma would never be angry about an explanation. Mamma was always happy to explain difficult concepts to them. So then why was her mind telling her to stop?

Starlight continued her internal debate for a bit before realizing everyone was staring at her. "U-um Y-yeah... Ams... finish..." She said finally.

"Are you sure?" Mamma asked again. Starlight could feel Mama's gaze lingering on her.

"Yeah, am suresh..." Starlight replied with a nod.

Mamma's eyes focused on Starlight for a bit longer before a soft smile broke onto her features. "Good, now then. Let's get you all cleaned up hm?" Mamma said as she easily picked Octavia up from her chair causing the earth pony to let out a small giggle of delight. "Yays!"

Mama carried Octavia away leaving Starlight, Trixie, and Vinyl alone at the table.

Starlight returned her attention to Twilight.

"Twilll... llyyy" Starlight said quietly to herself as the purple-haired girl in question twitched in her chair.

"Starlight!" Trixie hissed quietly, "Twily's sleeping! Dun disturbs hers!"

"Buh I wans talk to her her!" Starlight shot back. "I wans have talkies time!"

Trixie huffed, "Buh Mama said not to bother hersh! wemember?" The blue-haired girl cast a glance at Vinyl who was still slumped face first in her food. Was she even eating any of it?

"Mkaayy..." Starlight conceded with a sigh as she returned her attention to her food. She lazily ran her hand through the mush they called food as a thought wormed its way to the front of her mind.

Why were they eating this slop in the first place?

A few hours later found Starlight and Trixie waddling down one of the many halls of the Canterlot Nursery.

Unlike the section Twilight had been earlier, the place was well-decorated for fun! Handprints of paint lined the white walls accompanied by fun phrases regarding diapers and the importance of their use!

The floor was a beautiful pink carpet comprised of soft fabric to prevent any accidents if one were to trip and fall. Quiet calming music played via a PA system throughout the nursery. The melody line was simple but mesmerizing to the ear. The type of song one remembered the moment it started playing but forgot the second it stopped.

Trixie for her part, was having a blast. She was constantly looking around at the walls in awe, a broad smile adorned her face as her diaper crinkled loudly between her legs.

"Oh oh look at thish one Starry!' Trixie said excitedly as she gestured to a sloppily written phrase on the wall.

"No thinkshies only Stinkshies?" Starlight read questioningly. "Wassat even meansh?"

Trixie gasped dramatically at this as she stopped in place and turned around to face Starlight properly. "Dun tellsh me you's forgots Starwight!" She giggled. "Ish like the Care Giver always says! Thinksies are dangerwous!" Trixie said with a nod.

"B-buh, buh why?" Starlight asked questioningly. "Couldnst thinkies be helpful?"

Trixie paused and gained a somewhat contemplative look. Neither noticed the lack of music filling the halls. "Hmmm..." Trixie began as she made a show of tapping her chin with a finger.

Perhaps having more smarties in their brains would be beneficial. Trixie held a contemplative face for a good bit keeping the drama up before she waved her hand dismissively.

"Nawww!" Trixie said with a loud babble.

"Your's sos silly Starwight!" And with that, Trixie turned around and continued waddling down the hallway babbling happily to herself about not having any thinkies.

Starlight opened her mouth intent on carrying the conversation farther but was stopped by the sound of a loud crash at the other end of the hall.

"Bwaaaaahhhh!" A somewhat powerful voice Hollard from behind Starlight.

Starlight whirled around just in time to see a tall dark blue girl with wings and a horn stumble down the hallway wearing a stained midnight blue diaper. The girl also wore a bright pink bib and a light blue bonnet laced snuggling around her head.

"LuLu come back here!"

A thick stream of drool flowed from the girl's open mouth as she babbled some more and continued to stumble down the hall as a pair of Care Givers chased after her. A small marking was clearly visible on the girl's forehead.

"I'm duh besh pwincess!" Starlight stared at the unknown girl in disbelief she stumbled passed Starlight. The loud crinkling of her diaper and a strong odor quickly assaulted Starlight's senses.

"Don't worry Sweetie, we've got this under control!" The Care Giver's told Starlight reassuringly as they ran passed intent on catching the runaway.

"Prin... cess?" Starlight repeated to herself as she tilted her head quizzically. That girl was a princess?

The haze returned once again as an image of the dark blue girl wearing a crown and royal attire flashed before Starlight's eyes. The phrase, guardian of dreams, echoed in her ear as she stumbled in place. Images of the moon flickered before her as the world began to spin out of focus.

"Did you see that Starwight?!" Trixie's voice cut through the noise as the haze disappeared and Starlight found herself stumbling in place again. The imagery shattered having failed to fully take root in Starlight's mind.

"Buhhh? Huh?" Starlight asked questioningly.

"Dat gurl! Didja see her!" Trixie repeated as she jumped up and down excitedly and gestured down the hall the unknown girl had been stumbling down.

"Ohs... yeahs, I saws her." Starlight replied still not fully committed to the conversation Trixie was attempting to have with her. Why did her fellow Littles always find a way to interrupt her at the exact moment she was beginning to remember stuff? It was frustrating! And what was a guardian of dreams?

"Guardian of dweams..." Starlight whispered quietly to herself.

"Hm, wash wus dat Starwight?" Trixie asked confused.

"H-huh?" Starlight jumped not realizing she'd repeated the phrase allowed. "O-oh! Ish nuthings... jus... jus memberin stuffss..."

"Ooooooo What kind of stuffs?!" Trixie asked energetically as she pressed herself against Starlight's side.

"oh... you knowshs... stuffs..." Starlight repeated causing Trixie to let out a huff.

"Da dun explain anythingsh!" Trixie pouted.

Starlight giggled at this, "Ish nothing Twixie, dun worries about it~"

"Mkay!" This answer seemed to satisfy the boisterous girl as a smile returned to her face and she turned to continue waddling down the hall admiring the hundreds of artworks lining the walls.

As Starlight watched Trixie waddle down the hall, She began to ask herself some interesting questions. Should she tell Trixie about the memories? Was Trixie also remembering these people and she just wasn't saying anything? Trixie seemed so ditzy and carefree, so empty and void of well, anything.

Starlight's eyes narrowed as she watched Trixie stop and stare in awe at another phrase splattered across the wall with paint.

Good Littles forget

She watched as the blue-haired girl slumped in place slightly after reading the phrase. Why did something about her feel off, like a chunk of the girl was missing? She had the energy and the expressions but it all started to look so fake.

That's when Starlight noticed a faint symbol seemingly tattooed onto Trixie's pupils, it looked like, a spiral. When had that gotten there?

The Care Givers of the Pamperlot Nursery thank you for choosing to spend your weekend with us! We hope you had a delightfully carefree and fun time with us! Please remember to always listen to your Care Giver and keep all hands and feet away from the edge of the train platform until the Pamper Express arrives!

The sound of a bell ringing announced the end of the broadcast.

Starlight, Trixie, and Twilight found themselves near the edge of the platform, once again waiting for the Pamper Express. This time, to take them home.

"I's cans waits to get home!" Trixie said happily as she vibrated in place from excitement.

"Meee.. to...." Twilight chimed in as the girl stared blankly ahead and a drop of drool rolled down her chin.

Starlight for her part, could not be more uninterested in their conversation. She was once again, much more interested in Twilight and by extension the rest of the girls on the platform with her.

It was like a spell had been broken and Starlight was seeing the real world for the first time.

"Mhm mhm!" Trixie continued, "There'sh so mush I wans do, wike... wike..." Trixie trailed off as she lost her train of thought.

Starlight glanced between the girls silently as she furrowed her brow. This wasn't a conversation. They weren't even really talking to each other!

"Obey... M-mamma..." Twilight said as she continued to stare blankly ahead, a small smile forming on her lips as she said the word, Mamma.

"yeah!" Trixie exclaimed excitedly. "Obeying Mama is fun!"

Starlight opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by the screeching sound of a train whistle.

Thank you for choosing the Pamper Express! We hope you all had a fun time at the Canterlot Nursery! Our next stop is Pampervill, welcome aboard!

A cloud of steam shot up from the tracks as the announcement ended and the train doors swung open.

"Come on Come on!" Trixie shouted with glee as she grabbed Twilight by the shoulder and practically dragged the poor girl toward the doors. Twilight for her part did little to resist the motion and seemed to be asleep on her feet.

Starlight watched the pair stumble/waddle toward the train with a strange sense of unease building in her chest. Why did it all feel and look so unnatural? Instead of rushing to board the train like the others, Starlight stayed in place and observed the other girls boarding the train.

She watched as they all shuffled toward the train doors with blank almost empty expressions in their eyes. Drool slowly leaked from their mouths as others babbled and gurgled quietly to themselves.

Something was wrong with them.