Misty was taken aback by the sudden offer from her two pegasus friends. "O-oh," She tried to recover and process her thoughts. "W-well I'd like to... but I was on my way to the brighthouse to tell you two and Izzy about why Hitch isn't going to be coming over anytime soon."

"Oh, you don't need to worry about Izzy," Pipp explained with a smile. "She said she had a crafting emergency to take care of, so she went back to Bridlewood to pick up some supplies. She won't be back until tomorrow at the earliest. Zipp and I were going to just hang out at the brighthouse, until we got a call from Mom."

Zipp had to groan. "Yeah, something about a last minute 'royal emergency' or something. But honestly, I think she just wants to see us and to make sure we're still okay after what went down with Opaline. Still, when Mom wants us, it's almost impossible to say no. She can be very demanding when she wants to be."

"So, do you wanna come with us? You didn't exactly get a chance to see all of Zephyr Heights the last time you were there." Pipp offered, once again laying out the proposal.

Misty looked back, and saw a nod of encouragement from Sunny and Comet. It seemed pretty clear to her what they would want. And the alternative would be spending her time in the Crystal Brighthouse alone, likely just sitting there and watching t.v. So the unicorn mare reluctantly decided then and there. "I... guess I'll come with you girls. Might be nice to see what else there is to do in Zephyr Heights besides visiting the royal palace."

Pipp happily stretched out her hooves and pulled her unicorn friend close! "Great! Come on aboard! Zipp and I can't keep Mom waiting all day!"

And as soon as Misty was safely aboard the Marestream, Zipp firmly grasped the controls. "Keep your hooves and tails inside the vehicle at all times!" She declared, before pulling back hard on the throttle as the Marestream took to the skies with a loud roar! It wasn't long before the marveolus flying machine was airborne, soaring through the clouds. Then and only did its passengers relax.

Without looking up from the controls, Zipp then saw fit to ask Misty. "So, what exactly is the deal with Hitch? He fall behind on his paperwork or something?"

"No, it's nothing like that. He's just working on getting Sparky fully potty trained, that's all." Misty explained.

"Oh, is that all?" Zipp commented, sounding completely unsurprised by such a statement. "I already knew that, I just didn't think that was his reason. Don't see why he can't do it at the brighthouse, we have toilets there too and they work just fine. Or at least, they were working just fine the last time I saw them."

Pipp could only shrug her hooves. "I guess Hitch just thinks it's easier to work on it while in his office. Or maybe he's just using it as an excuse because he wants to stay close to his job. He really does seem to enjoy being the sheriff."

The elder pegasus princess chuckled. "He sure does. He's practically married to the job as far as I'm concerned. And you've gotta hoof it to him, he seems to enjoy working alone. Guess after what happened with Sprout, he's a bit put off by the idea of having another deputy," When Misty shot her a puzzled look, the pegasus mare quickly replied. "You had to be there."

Misty blinked slowly. She could vaguely recall hearing about the role Sprout apparently played in the destruction of the lighthouse that had occupied the spot where the brighthouse now stood, but the exact details were still a mystery (one that nopony she asked seemed interested in discussing at length it would seem). "I see..." And she decided it best to change the subject, switching to something that was nagging and gnawing at her mind. "-So uh... how long has Hitch been working on Sparky's training? He's had Sparky for over a year now, hasn't he?"

Zipp nodded without looking back. "Yeah, but it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing. It's not entirely because of you and Opaline either. A lot has happened since Sparky came into the picture. And I can say from experience that sometimes potty training can take a very long time."

"Oh, right," Misty realized. "Obviously, as the older sister, you had to help Pipp with her training even while you were working on your own."

At that, Pipp snickered and couldn't help but boast. "Well actually, even though Zipp started her training before mine, I was fully trained first."

A groan was heard from the elder pegasus princess as she complained. "It's only because I wanted to prove I could do it on my own, just like Mom wanted. Even when we were foals, it was clear that you were always the favorite between the two of us. If I wasn't the older sibling, I'm sure she would've made you the heir to the throne instead."

The popstar princess replied with a cheeky grin. "Sure, sure you tell yourself that, Zipp. Mom's got the pictures to prove who was the first to graduate from diapers."

"Is it true?" Misty asked Zipp, before hearing another groan. "I mean... only if you want to tell me. I don't really need to know that badly."

But the tomboyish pegasus just sighed in frustration, her posture becoming slightly tense in the process. "Something tells me you're not gonna be satisfied unless I tell you. And even if I don't, Pipp's probably gonna keep nagging me until I change my mind."

The pastel pink pegasus proclaimed. "You know me too well, Zipp."

So Zipp huffed slightly, swishing her tail in visible frustration. "Alright," Her annoyed tone did not change in the slightest as she began to recall. "Since I was the older sibling, I was the first to start potty training. And it went smoothly for a while. That all changed when Pipp started potty training too."

"Now Zipp," Queen Haven told her older daughter as she led both her and Pipp into the royal lavatory within the confines of the palace. "You've been doing quite well in your potty training so far. And now I want you to be a good big sister and help Pipp to understand how it works."

"Do I have to, Mom?" Zipp whined and groaned with a roll of her eyes. "Why can't you do it? She looks up to you more than she does me."

Queen Haven just replied in that authoritative, matter-of-fact tone of voice of hers. "I'm not always going to be around, Zipp. I'm very busy, you know. And having you and Pipp at my side when I'm holding court would be a distraction. Plus, I think Pipp will understand it far more easily if she has somepony to imitate."

The elder pegasus toddler sighed, resigning herself to the inevitable. "Fine, I'll do it. But only this one time, Mom. After that, she's on her own."

"Once should be more than enough. You figured it out pretty easily after I taught you what to do," Queen Haven explained as she pulled down Zipp's diaper and set it aside. "Alright, Pipp, are you ready to learn how to use the potty like a big pony?"

Pipp fluttered her tiny wings in delight! "Of course I am, Mommy!"

Queen Haven smiled. "Good. Then I want you to pay close attention to what Zipp does, and do it exactly the way she does it," She then encouraged. "Go ahead, Zipp. You know what to do."

Zipp had to force back a groan as she adopted the best instructive tone she could muster up. "It's like this, Pipp," She clumsily trotted towards a small plastic bowl that had been placed upon the tiled floor. "You make your way over to the potty and sit down on it, like this," She planted her rump firmly upon the potty and sat down. "Then you just relax, and do whatever you have to do."

"But what if I don't have to go?" Pipp questioned.

The elder pegasus toddler had to resist the urge to groan and roll her eyes. "Well, you just sit there and try, that's what really matters," Then she blushed. "But I do have to go. So do you mind looking away?"

"How can I learn if I do that?" Pipp pondered, but nevertheless obeyed.

Zipp then sighed, grunting as her tail hiked upward. It took her only a few seconds to fully empty herself, then she said to Pipp. "You can turn back around, now. I'm done."

Queen Haven, for her part, clapped her hooves in approval. "Well done, Zipp!" Turning to Pipp, she smiled and encouraged. "See how easy that was? Isn't that better than making messes in your diapers?"

The pastel pink pegasus toddler hesitantly and uncertainly replied. "I... guess."

Zipp, meanwhile, stood up as her mom pulled some toilet paper off of a nearby rack and used it to clean her older daughter's bottom. "Now, we clean ourselves up with toilet paper," She explained to Pipp, before picking up the potty. "And then we empty it out into my potty, and flush it all away." She emptied the potty's contents into the toilet, then pressed down the handle to flush it.

Pipp nearly jumped back in surprise at the unexpected loud noise! "Too loud!" She complained as she held her ears.

Zipp snickered, getting a mischievous idea in her head. "That's because it's the sound of the potty monster. It eats foals! Only grown-up ponies like Mom can handle it."

Queen Haven just groaned as she set the potty back down and then washed her hooves. "Zephyrina Storm!" She scolded quite sternly. "You know there is no such thing as a potty monster! You should not be making your little sister afraid of the toilet, she will have to get used to the noise eventually."

"What? Can't I have a little fun with her?" Zipp complained.

Queen Haven could only sigh. "Why must you be like this all the time, Zipp? You weren't always so stubborn and uncooperative," She then trotted over to Pipp, reassuring her. "Don't worry about your big sister, Pipp. I think she's just a little upset because I've been paying more attention to you lately. But I see a lot more of myself in you. Zipp, it would seem, has inherited your father's rebellious attitude."

"Where is Daddy anyway?" Pipp questioned. "You said he went away, but you didn't say where."

At that the queen bit her lip. "... It's somewhere very, very far away. Somewhere where you won't be able to find him. But not to worry, I know you'll see him again someday. And if he were here now, I'm sure he'd agree that you need to be like your big sister and use the potty," Kneeling down to Pipp's level, she pleaded with the toddler. "Can you do that for me?"

The pudgy pink pegasus toddler nodded. "Uh-huh. I can do that, Mommy."

Haven smiled. "Good," Then after helping Zipp wash her hooves, she led both of her children out of the royal lavatory. "Now Zipp, I'm trusting you enough to let you be bottomless for a while. Can I count on you not to stain the floors and make sure your sister keeps her diapers clean for an hour?"

Zipp gave a firm salute. "You bet I can, Mom!"

Queen Haven smiled back. "Then I'll leave you to it. Just remember to ask for help if you need it. The guards and maids will be more than happy to assist you as needed."

"Wait, I thought you took longer to get out of diapers than Pipp did?" Misty blinked in surprise once Zipp had finished telling her story.

The elder pegasus princess sheepishly confessed. "I did. My first time going bottomless didn't exactly end well. But it was only because I was trying to do it all on my own. I wanted to impress Mom and prove I could be a good role model for Pipp. And I learned the hard way that my body wasn't quite up to the task just yet."

Pipp snickered. "Yup. So you went back to diapers for several weeks while Mom worked on getting me fully trained. So you decided to do it all on your own. Yet if you'd just waited, Mom would've happily let you get out of diapers again, instead of you having to spend almost half a year in them. Whereas with me, I was out of diapers in just two months' time. Not bad for a supposed 'late bloomer' like me."

Zipp sighed. "Yes, yes, I've heard it all before. You don't have to keep rubbing it in, Pipp. Is it any wonder why I used to love getting you into trouble for the things I did as a filly? You were always trying to be 'Little Miss Perfect' and do exactly what Mom told you to do."

"And what was so wrong with that?" Pipp retorted. "It made her happy. But you had your way and I had mine. And at least now you don't have to keep secrets from me."

Zipp nodded. "Yeah. And don't forget who taught you and Mom how to fly properly."

Just then, the magnificent city of Zephyr Heights came into view. And in a matter of moments, the Marestream touched down within the limits of the city proper. Its passengers then disembarked.

"So, when should I meet up with you two?" Misty asked the pegasus princesses?

The tomboyish pegasus put a hoof to her chin, pondering. "Good question. Knowing Mom, it's probably going to take quite a while."

And Pipp then proposed. "Give it at least two hours. If we haven't come looking for you by then, come back to the Marestream. Got it?"

The unicorn mare with a beautiful blue coat nodded. "Right, I got it," And she waved a hoof as she watched her friends trot away. "See you then."

Misty found herself utterly astounded and entranced by all that Zephyr Heights had to offer. Yes, Maretime Bay was nice and so was Bridlewood. Yet they could not rival the bright lights, screens, and lavishly decorated buildings adorned in all their gleaming, bold colors. And everywhere she looked, she could see pegasi (and even some unicorns and earth ponies) trotting to and fro, going about their business as usual.

So amazed and impressed was Misty that she soon lost track of time. She almost didn't notice when two hours had gone by and there was no sign of Zipp or Pipp anywhere. Reluctantly, that meant it was time to head back to the Marestream and wait for them there.

Yet the unicorn mare found it hard to find her way. There seemed to be no end to the sights that drew her attention one way or the other. As a result, it took her longer than she had originally anticipated to find the Marestream. And when she did, she found the two pegasus princesses already by the flying machine, waiting for her.

"Did you get lost or something, Misty?" Zipp questioned in an impatient tone of voice. "We were beginning to think something had happened to you."

"Hey, ease off on her, Zipp!" Pipp protested. "She was probably just taking in the sights. Zephyr Heights is truly amazing when you get to see it all for yourself. And she's here now, safe and sound."

Misty, for her part, just blushed and apologized. "I'm sorry if I made you worry. I didn't mean to."

Zipp apologized in return. "It's alright, Misty. What matters is that you're here. Now come on. If we hurry, we can probably make it back to Maretime Bay in time for lunch."

Yet it was then that Pipp happened to glance at her phone, and let out a gasp as she then exclaimed! "I don't believe it! Mom uploaded the wrong photos, again! I specifically told her not to pick those!" To demonstrate what had gotten her so worked up, she held up her phone for all to see. Plastered across its screen was a picture of a much younger Pipp, sitting on a pink training potty with her diaper pulled down to her knees, whilst she appeared to be clumsily fiddling with a much older (and bulkier) looking phone.

Zipp, for her part, couldn't resist letting out a laugh. "Oh, I can't believe I forgot that's how you got into phones, Pipp! Mom quickly realized it was the easiest way to keep you occupied during potty time. I never needed anything like that, not even picture books."

The pastel pink popstar princess huffed and snorted. "We can't all be like you, Zipp!" She then let out a groan whilst tapping on her phone. "I'm going to let Mom know about this so she can take them down before I become a laughing stock. My Pippsqueaks will never let me hear the end of this!"

Seeing the photo, however, made Misty question Pipp. "What exactly was your potty training like, Pipp? I mean, other than when you got into phones?"

"Oh, it wasn't anything special," Pipp somewhat nervously insisted. "The only thing I really had trouble with was the toilet because I was still kind of small by the time I started learning how to use it instead of a potty. And uh... things didn't exactly work out well for me because of that."

The tomboyish pegasus teased. "Yeah, I remember. You fell in and got flushed!"

"I did not!" The pudgy popstar princess protested. "Mom always said you couldn't go down the drain," And she was quick to change the subject. "A-anyway..." She coughed into a hoof. "Because of that... er... mishap... which was only partially true by the way... I was a little bit afraid to try my luck with the toilet again. It wasn't until I started talking with some other ponies online and finding out they had the same fear as me that I could work up the courage to start using the toilet like I was supposed to. That's when I started realizing that there were ponies out there like me, ponies who wanted to feel special and feel like somepony cared about them. And phones and other things were a way to connect to them."

The unicorn mare was surprised by such a statement. "Wow! So that's why you've built up such a huge online following."

Pipp nodded. "Yeah. But even I know that there's more to life than phones. That's partially why I opened Mane Melody in the first place. Everypony deserves a chance to feel beautiful on both the inside and the outside."

Zipp just impatiently replied. "Okay, okay, I think that's enough reminiscing. Now come on, we've got to get going! If we keep this up, we won't be back to Maretime Bay until late afternoon at the earliest."

Yet it was then that Misty had an idea, something that had just come to her as a result of the conversations she'd been having with her friends so far. "Actually," Looking to Zipp, she asked. "Do you think we could make a detour to Bridlewood? There's something I'd like to ask Izzy, and my dad. And I'd really like to ask them sooner rather than later."

Zipp and Pipp exchanged glances for a moment, before Zipp stated. "I guess a quick flight to Bridlewood couldn't hurt."

Author's Note

They never really stated or even implied what might have happened to Zipp and Pipp's father. The only context we really have is "Portrait of a Princess" suggesting Queen Haven has been a single mom since Pipp was a little filly. And there was a flashback in an early episode of "Tell Your Tale" that showed Queen Haven once fawning over Zipp as child, suggesting that Haven and Zipp might have been closer before Pipp entered the picture.