Regression from Mind

Twilight knew fully well she couldn’t stay in Canterlot, so she immediately fled for the main road out of the city.

Also knowing fully well she would be followed, Twilight mixed up her roads taken.

Had started on the main. Proceeded to the very first side road. Then, snaked whenever the road diverged, always crossing to the opposite of the one previously gone through. That way, it wouldn't be a straight shot to her.

After awhile of travel though, she began to worry.

It was all well and good to keep on following these roads, but...sooner or later she would be seen by somepony headed to Canterlot, who could be questioned if they had seen her. So, all her route-switching would be for not.

Alternatives. That’s what I need.

...The forest, maybe?

The least-desired option, yet somehow the safest. From her hunters, of course. Not from whatever lived in the forest.

Hm...no. I’ll just keep walking.

Later on, she saw two roads. One kept on down the neat dirt path she had been following. The other had fallen trees and brush all down its way, clearly not taken care of.

A collapsing side road?

…

Better than the predictable trail.

Twilight took a glance at her bundles of fur riding backside, noticing they were sleeping quite well.

Like babies. Well, obviously.

She set off down the dilapidated road, being careful to go slow and steady to not wake up her charges.

Twilight finally got into a clearing, yet had accidentally thrown the foals from their dreams after repeatedly tripping on sticks and twigs.

She apologized for disturbing their slumber, yet did fill them in on good news, “Sorry for waking you all up...but I have to say I got everything taken care of. Everything! We're safe from anypony looking for us! A town's even in my sight!”

They were too tired to do little more than whimper in response.

Really need to get them a bed. And, food. Supplies, too.

...Bed first. A bed sounds nice. None of the town's stores would be open right now, anyways.

So, Twilight jogged forward from then on, shoving her exhaustion to the back of her mind.

Once at the town’s entrance, a signpost shared with Twilight her whereabouts, though not without the trouble of a closer look from how chipped and tattered the paint was.

Dirmeter, hm?

“Sounds like a sleepy little town,” Twilight opinionated as the morning sun rose above.

Wait...the sun was doing what?

Huh. Now that I think about it, how are the sun and moon still being raised?

…

Hm. Probably...the old-fashioned way?

Yeah, probably the old-fashioned way.

At least that Mind pony knows how to keep everypony from panicking. Who knows what what happen if the sun and moon stopped working until I got Celestia and Luna back to normal?!

Shaking the bad thoughts away, Twilight strolled into town in search of a resting place.

…

Twilight walked along the quiet streets for a little while until finally viewing a small motel on the edge of a line of stores.

She immediately made her way inside, intent on getting a room and getting to bed before anything else.

Currently under the counter, the Earth pony at work was busy stocking paper, saying to whoever walked in, "Will be with you in a moment. Have to finish a little something."

Twilight smiled, understanding, "It's alright. Don't rush yourself."

He refilled the basket, then stood to welcome, "Thank you for staying at the Shovelin Motel. I'm the owne-"

As soon as he looked her over, he turned speechless.

Nervous, Twilight asked, "You okay, sir?"

Snapping out of silence, he inquired uneasily, "Miss...are you sure you want to stay here? We don't get ma-many ponies...like you. I mean, it is all up to you. I would never turn away a customer. No matter who they...um, are."

"Yes, sir. I have been walking all night. My baby ponies must get out of the outdoors before they catch something."

"...Very well. It'll be fifty-five bits for a...five-night stay, then."

Magically materializing her coin purse, Twilight rummaged through for exact change. Hoofing the payment to the owner, she earned a newly-smelted key.

He informed Twilight as she neared the exit, "Room number's 10. Will be up the stairs. Have...a nice day, ma'am."

…

Twilight unlocked the door to get into her temporary stay.

Finally letting tiredness sink in, she gazed at the bed, knowing the fluff would be superbly comfortable.

After uncovering the blanket, Twilight magically suspended the foals, for just a second.

Having jumped onto the mattress herself, she was free to descend the sleepy children into her loving grasp.

Tossing the blanket over, they all fell into dreamland, warmth from the cover and their own coats speeding the process.

Twilight promised herself it'd be only for a few minutes that she herself would get some shut-eye.

Bop.

Wha-what?

Boop. Bop.

Ugh, I just want to sleeeppp.

Cracking an eye open, Twilight saw Shining about to poke her muzzle a fourth time. A tap of magic lightly brought his hoof down.

As both feelings of tiredness and responsibility wrestled for control of Twilight’s very being, she could only think of what her own mother had gone through with raising both her and her now-younger brother.

Note to self, don’t have children.

Twilight sat herself up as she clutched her baby brother to her chest.

She asked him as her crusty eyes peered around the bed, “Where’s Celestia and Luna, Shiny?”

Shining pointed his hoof down to the carpet where Celestia and Luna had gotten themselves into a game of tag.

After rubbing the dream-dust out of her eyes, Twilight looked over the front of the bed, viewing a truly adorable sight.

Celestia and Luna were giggling in delight as they chased each other’s tails.

Twilight cut the thrill short as she magically levitated them onto the bed, asking in a motherly tone, "Now how did you two get down, hm?"

Babyish babble.

Acting like she knew what was said, Twilight replied, "Well, even so, please don’t get too far from me. I need to keep you three close at all times."

Once a couple conforming nods were given, Twilight deposited Shining next to the other children, then trekked to the bathroom to use the facilities.

Celestia told in a mostly joking manner, “She’s far too uptight sometimes. I hope she’s going to the bathroom to unlodge that stick from underneath her tail. Not even I know how long that’s been there.”

Shining spoke on his sister’s behalf, “You know, she is only looking out for us, Celestia.”

“I know, I know. Just...well, she can be very strict on herself. And, to her friends. I...sometimes wonder if I had a hoof in that.”

“Twily’s fine. She’s got friends that love her for who she is, and I don’t think they’d want her any other way.”

“Yes, I suppose so, Shining.”

After flushing and washing her hooves, Twilight left the bathroom feeling a lot better.

She explained to the foals as she peeked out the window, “Alright, you guys. We have to get you saddled up with everything a baby could need: diapers, bottles, formula, and so on and so forth. But, we can’t have everypony finding out about Celestia and Luna being Alicorns. So...”

Twilight thought on the spell she had been recently working on.

Some ponies might say that knowing how to change fur color and size would be a waste of magic potential, but I see their use.

Celestia and Luna soon had a strange feeling envelope their manes as their long flowing hair grew out far from their already lengthy proportions into simply outlandish.

They both looked at each other with raised eyebrows, then glared at Twilight.

Twilight shrugged at their frowning faces, saying to save herself from their crying or tantrum-throwing, “What? Look, I need those horns covered up. We don’t want anypony calling you two out as the princesses. Besides...your manes are really long as is. What’s a few more inches?”

Celestia and Luna let her be, but still weren’t enthusiastic about this form of cover-up.

Twilight decided to lighten the mood as she placed the foals on her back, “Okay, you can be mad at me. Although, upset fillies don’t get toys.”

Their tiny ears immediately perked at the mention of toys. Same went for Celestia and Luna’s moods.

Twilight said as they exited the front door, “That’s what I thought.”

Twilight descended the staircase, then dived into the now-bustling town. Wandering around for awhile, Twilight had the most difficult time locating the exact store on her mind.

Asking for directions, she tapped an Earth-Pony stallion slowly pulling a wagon of vegetables.

He turned his neck to the side, stopping to be polite, “Yeah? Somepony need somethin’ from me?”

Twilight enthusiastically questioned, “Hi! Just wanted to know if-”

The wagon-pulling pony scowled at the mare before him within seconds of her ponysally greeting him. He narrowed his eyes, an intense hatred bubbling from within himself almost instantly.

His eyes brimmed with loathing, and he wanted nothing more than to spit in her face.

Though, when he leaned in close to the now-concerned mare, all that came from his mouth was a single word, “No.”

Twilight’s ears slipped back, showing how menaced she felt right now.

Out of nowhere, this pony appeared ready to outright attack her from the stance he was in.

She tried to defuse whatever situation she had just put herself in, “Look, I’m sorry if I upset you somehow. Just give me directions, and I’ll-”

“Be getting the buck out of my town.”

“Uh...why?”

He simply pointed to her horn.

Twilight hoped she was wrong in thinking of the reason for his rude attitude, asking as she got defensive, “Is it really because I’m an Unicorn? Come on.”

He stated with the upmost seriousness, “Absolutely.”

“Well, that’s wrong. Racism? You should be above that behavior, sir.”

“Why? You walked into my town. We’ve got our own laws here. And, ya breaking some just by standing there.”

“What, standing’s a crime in your town?”

“Sure is. If you fit the bill.”

“No way is that actually a real law.”

“Try me. Look, I’m only going to tell you one time to get your crap packed and hit the road.”

Twilight was losing her patience with this horrible pony, so she tried to one last time get her question answered.

Turning to the side, Twilight showed off the babies riding in back, asking with a gentle tone, “Sir, I understand your views are...your own. I understand that. And, I’ll leave you be. As soon as you direct me to the grocery store. I’m running low on supplies for my kids. Were you to help my babies -- not me -- than I would gladly part ways with you.”

He glared at Twilight, yet his heart softened once introduced to the children.

Even though he wouldn’t give the monster in front of him the time of day normally, he decided to make an exception for her...offspring. Just this once.

He reached into a small wooden chest strung to the wagon, pulling out a map.

Then, held his hoof out to Twilight.

...

When she reached out for it, he threw it to the ground. Then, stomped it out before going on his previous course.

Twilight gave him the evil eye as he left, then picked the crumbled map up from the dirt.

Shaking her head, Twilight wanted to give him a piece of her mind, but decided he wasn’t worth it.

And, returned to the task at hoof.

After careful reading of the map, Twilight located the main store, on the town's east side.

Twilight soon found the grocery store. She was so intent on finding it that she didn’t realize everypony staring at her. All the ponies whispering around her.

All about her.

She walked in, focused on heading straight to the baby aisle.

Grabbing a cart, she pushed it magically while speaking to the foals, “You know, you three are behaving yourselves so well!”

In the aisle, Twilight thought on what brand of diapers to get the children.

What ones should I get?

...Guess it doesn’t matter, really. Not like they’re going to make too much of a fuss over it.

Then, found a brand in the middle of the steepest and cheapest price ranges, and hurled two packs of the foalwear into her shopping cart. Then, proceeded to do the same trick to the formula, bottles, pacifiers, powder, and wipes.

Twilight sighed at not being able to grab a crib or cradle while out buying for the foals, “Too bad I can’t get furniture.”

Though, how would I even lug it around place to place?

Finished there with that final thought, it was off to pick up food for herself.

As she went around the grocery store, she was talking to herself on what to get, “Okay...so nothing that could spoil. Don’t need it if I’ll be on the move for awhile. Would just be a waste of food. And, while I’m at it, I should get a package of water. Need to stay hydrated for the amount of travel I’ll be putting myself through.”

Celestia noticed how Twilight's first choice of buy was a bag of chips, her own maternal instincts turning her to judge, “Twilight, why are you getting junk? You’ve been through a lot so far, and need your strength back! I had better see some vegetables in that cart, or you’ll get an ear full!”

Luna just rolled her eyes at how Celestia was still telling Twilight what to do when Twilight had no way of understanding a child so young.

Shining saw Twilight reach for a second bag of chips, and said to keep Celestia calm, “Okay, now I know it’s not the most appropriate food for somepony who just fought off an entire castle just yesterday. Though, she did say she doesn’t want food that could spoil. And...chips don’t spoil, right? You wouldn’t want Twilight getting sick off of rotten produce, now would you?”

Celestia had to agree with him, although begrudgingly, “No. Dammit.”

Twilight topped the spending on herself off with a hefty jug of water.

Then, as the final buy from the store, she rounded the corner, heading off to fulfill a few, small promises she’d made.

...

Luna hailed her sister over, exclaiming, “Look! Tia, look!”

Celestia was busy snuggling a bird plushie at the moment, so was a bit preoccupied.

Luna huffed, then pulled her sister over by the tail to see her grand prize.

Celestia took her attention off the plushie to yank her tail back, demanding as she pet her roughed-up appendage, “Whaaat? I’m playing right this second, Lulu.”

Luna grasped her sister’s cheeks, then forcibly directed the foal’s face in the direction of the toy.

Celestia raised an eyebrow, confused, “Hmmm…that a real stuffed animal? Like...somepony actually made that thing?”

Luna exclaimed as if being asked a ridiculous question, “Of course it is! And, I shall have it! If I must fight off an army to own it, it will be mine!”

Celestia pointed out the literal flaws in its design, “Army? Is...that so? Because -- honestly -- it looks like it wouldn’t be fought over by even the most desperate of children. It’s the only one of its kind up there. It has an eye and ear missing. I can only guess the stitching became too much for whoever worked on it simply because the thing has visible threads everywhere. And, to top it all off, it’s a bat.”

Luna snorted at her sister’s dismissal of such a fine piece of work, “It is a bat. And, perfectly acceptable as my plaything. The poor dear’s just unappreciated. I will give it all the love it could ever want. Just because it is a little torn and in disrepair, doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a spot in a child’s heart.”

Celestia was touched by Luna’s words on the beaten-up toy, “Awww! Luna, that’s so-”

After taking a moment to retrieve the stuffed animal, Luna then fired back at her sister for her previous rudeness, “I don’t need any cooing from you, Miss Unfun-Sun. You were so critical of my choice of companionship that you immediately went into a barrage of unsuitable remarks about my...Dimfang? Yes, Dimfang! That is his name, and he would like a few words with you!”

She then shoved Dimfang into Celestia’s muzzle, reprimanding the baby pony with an attempted male authoritative voice, “Little Unfun-Sun, I would suggest you not be so disrespectful! Keep that unkind behavior up, and it could rub off on somepony else! Somepony...you might know. Somepony purple!”

Celestia pushed the blasted bat out of her face, then demanded of her sister, “Are you saying I made Twilight mean?!”

Luna shrugged, then held onto her little Dimfang for comfort from what would probably become an argument soon, “No. Just...for you to stop being so mean to my friend! He did nothing to nopony, aside from want an owner! And, Twilight is always trying to take in as many lessons from you as she can. I just don’t want the wrong ones being taught.”

Celestia shook her head in absolute disbelief of what Luna was saying to her, “Alright. First, I’m not being mean. That bat appears to have been retrieved from the garbage. And, second, my student is being educated just fine. Thanks for your thoughts, but they’re unwanted.”

Luna pointed at Celestia’s plushie, mocking it without a shred of regret, “Fine. Your bird’s...dumb! That’s right, Celly. Dumb! It’s not nearly as intellectual as my sweet little Dimfang!”

Celestia took that as equal to a slap of the face, “Oh, how so? Because Bekka went to my school!”

“She’s not even an Unicorn! How can she go to your school?!”

“...It’s my school?”

“No fair! Thou art a certified cheater of the highest caliber!”

“At least I’m saying words from this time period!”

“See! You are mean! You know I can’t help it sometimes!”

“Stop calling me that! You calling me mean is being mean to me, so that makes you double mean!”

Shining just watched the show from the sidelines, understanding that he would be best off to let his sister settle this disagreement. She did, waving a hoof at both children while telling them how being sisters meant they should watch out for each other, not fight.

Shining himself had picked out a sweet toy sword, now able to watch for anypony who crossed his big sister! He was doing what she wanted, unlike Celestia and Luna.

Twilight then proceeded to place all three foals on her back after finding each had picked out a toy.

She strolled on over to the checkout, ready to get everything bagged and paid for.

The clerk was about to ask how the mare’s day was, but she immediately put on a sour look after viewing...the filth before her.

Even if the pony ringing everything up seemed upset with her for no reason, Twilight tried to be nice, “So...how’s your day been?”

The clerk looked up at the mare, glared for a quick second, then returned to scanning the goods.

Twilight asked, wondering if this is how Fluttershy usually felt, “D-did I do something? Because you look really mad right now. Um...were you about to go on break?”

The clerk chuckled, then stopped what she was doing all together, “You know, I was about to go on break! Yeah, sounds like a perfect time to. After all, I don’t have any customers right now.”

And, just like that, the checkout worker washed her hooves of the entire situation, walking off to the back with Twilight only tilting her head in confusion at what happened right then.

Rebounding from the shock, Twilight shouted to the pony leaving, “H-hey! I’m still here!”

All that she heard was simply, “Yeah! I know!”

And, so it was that Twilight stood around for a good few minutes, unaware of how to leave with her groceries.

Thinking of what to do, Twilight suddenly had an idea.

“Little ones...don’t judge me too harshly for what I’m going to do,” Twilight explained to them before putting everything that wasn’t bagged into bags, levitating the goods into her cart, then throwing some bits on the counter before hastily making an exit from the building.

As soon as Twilight left the store though...an entire crowd of ponies blocked her path.

Noticing they only stared at her, Twilight could only nervously laugh at the mob, “H-hello! I was...uh, just going to be on my way.”

She tried to circle around them, but they only moved to the side she was headed.

Twilight put her hooves up, excusing herself of any penalty, “I didn’t steal anything! Go in there and see for yourselves! That money is right on the counter! It wasn’t my fault that clerk just up and left the checkout!”

They all didn’t care what she said. Their only reply was to make room for possibly the largest stallion Twilight had every seen. He terrifyingly towered above her and everypony else.

He had one hoof behind his back, which he didn’t budge as he spoke, “You. What are you doing here?”

Twilight was going to answer, but the massive fellow cut off the frightened mare’s words by presenting what he hid behind his back: a long, heavy scythe.

He balanced the farm tool in his hooves, looking into the blade as he declared, “Although, it doesn’t really matter. Still going to be punished...like all the others.”

Viewing into the blade as well, Twilight’s fearful reflection told her she maybe had walked into the wrong town.

The worst possible town.