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                  Spike Has Three Mommies                  
                     -by Rough_Draft-                      
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                        Chapter One                        
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Chapter One
Chapter One
“Hurry up, Spike! This potion only has one more minute of potency!” As she spoke, Twilight Sparkle tossed back her hair and continued flipping through pages of the eldritch tome. “Let’s see… toys, torments, totalitarian—aha, toilet training!”
In the other end of the house, Spike gathered up a pair of nursery blankets. He looked over at the half-open bedroom door and rolled his eyes. “Well, come on, Fluttershy!”
“Oh, just a minute!” The door swung open and Fluttershy raced out with a pair of toddlers in her arms. Pound and Pumpkin Cake were both giggling and kicking their legs frantically. “Help, please!”
Spike took Pound Cake into his arms, which became a chore as the baby tried to squirm out of his grip. Pumpkin Cake tried to do the same with Fluttershy.
With an exasperated sigh, Fluttershy focused on the two toddlers. Spike averted his gaze as fast as he could. He’d seen Fluttershy use “The Stare” on her many pets before—and even on a few kids. And just like that, the twins quieted down and settled peacefully into her arms. Spike hurriedly put the blankets around them.
“Come quick!” Twilight called out. Spike raced ahead of Fluttershy, following the trail of violet sparks and swirls pouring out from the library.
In the center of the massive room, surrounded by books on all sides, Twilight stood behind a table littered with everything needed to construct the spell. A pair of diapers, a book full of one thousand and one spells about biology, and a beaker full of some new lavender potion that oozed out a trail of smoke. The teenager’s eyes were turning a brilliant shade of violet as she chanted out the last few notes of the spell.
Fluttershy set the twins down on the table, looking very worried. Spike rushed over to see what would happen next.
“If this works,” Twilight said quietly, “then maybe Mr. and Mrs. Cake won’t have so much trouble getting the twins potty trained. Okay, Fluttershy. Get ready to change them when I give the word.”
The other teen nodded and watched the twins anxiously.
Spike leaned up on his tiptoes and frowned at the potion. “Is it ready?”
“I sure hope so.” Twilight carefully picked up the beaker and peered at the murky fluid inside. Then she poured out a few drops onto each diaper, watching them absorb the potion instantly. She smiled and stepped back. “Go to work, Fluttershy.”
The pink-haired girl’s hands blurred around the twins, gently removing their clothes and putting them into the new pair laid out on the table. Spike heard them giggle and squeal, then fall silent as Fluttershy stood back, holding them in her arms again.
“When do we know if it’s working?” Spike asked. He had to admit that, as strange as this latest experiment was, he was a little curious to see where it was going.
Twilight’s hands began to glow violet as she waved at the twins. “Any second now…”
An awkward silence ensued. Fluttershy glanced at Pound Cake, then at Pumpkin Cake. She looked up at Twilight and Spike, grinning sheepishly. “M-maybe they need a bottle first?”
“It should happen naturally,” Twilight insisted. She frowned and looked over the twins. “I don’t understand! I did everything the spell book said!”
“I done now!” Pumpkin Cake declared.
“I done, too!” Pound Cake added.
“Oh, my.” Fluttershy struggled to keep the twins in her arms, as they grimaced and started to whine. “I think someone needs another diaper change.”
Twilight ran her hands through her hair. “Okay, let’s try this again! Spike! Pour the potion out into the sink. I’ll call Mrs. Cake and tell her we need the twins for a little longer.”
“Sure thing, Twi—hey, watch it, Pound Cake!” Spike pulled the beaker away from the toddler’s whine-fueled kicking. But he was just a second too slow, as the beaker base caught on Pound Cake’s toe. A wave of lavender splashed over Spike’s face and into his open mouth.
“Aah, Spike!” Twilight raised her hand, summoning a towel from the table to wipe off the boy’s face. “Spit it out, quick!”
“That can’t be good,” Fluttershy whispered. She started to back away.
Spike felt tears forming in his eyes. He squeezed his legs together and crouched down. “What’s happening? Twilight?”
He had his answer soon enough. A warm trickle below the waist. Spike looked down at his blue jeans and saw his crotch turn warm and damp.
Twilight put her hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Spike. Come on. Let’s get you changed.” She pushed Spike out to the hallway, then turned to Fluttershy. “Better call Mrs. Cake. And tell her…”
She frowned and looked over Spike’s stricken face. “Tell her we’re going to need a lot more diapers.”

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                       Chapter Three                       
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Chapter Three
Chapter Three
Fluttershy shifted anxiously as Twilight pulled on a new sweater. “I just put them down for a nap. And Mrs. Cake says she’s too busy catering the Royal Garden Party to help out right now.”
Twilight frowned. “What about Mr. Cake?”
“He’s there, too.”
“Pinkie Pie?”
“She’s baking a cake in honor of Princess Luna.”
Twilight ran a hand down her face. “Ugh. What about the rest of our friends?”
Fluttershy held up her cell phone. “Oh, well, Applejack says she’s helping Apple Bloom with her first harvest, and Rainbow Dash is organizing volunteers for the neighborhood watch.” When she saw the growing frown on Twilight’s face, she brightly added, “But I got in touch with Rarity!”
“And?”
“Um, also busy…” Her voice trailed off into a pitiful squeak.
Twilight pressed her hands together. “Celestia give me patience. Okay, then. Keep an eye on the twins. We’ll be right back.”
Spike wandered off. “I’ll get the car keys.”
“No time for that!” Twilight grabbed him by the wrist and raised her other hand into the air. She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her hand into a fist. Brilliant white light flashed over them, lifting Spike off his feet in a celestial swirl.
As Twilight brushed the spell residue off her sweater, Spike clutched at his knees for support. He wished the opulent den would stop spinning.
“I’d really wish you’d warn me…” he panted, “before you cast teleportation…”
“Don’t be such a baby.” His big sister patted him on the back. “Besides, the spell’s now ninety-two percent effective. It’ll be better next time.”
There was a rustle from upstairs in the boutique. A high-toned voice called down, “Hello? Twilight, is that you?”
“We’re here.” Twilight gently pushed Spike forward. “Stay there, we’ll come up.”
By the time they got up the stairs and into the boutique’s workshop, it was a complete mess. Coils of lace and ribbon floated through the air on electric blue currents, as four automated sewing machines were busy stitching together fabric into a variety of dresses. And in the center of the noise and clutter stood Rarity, stationed at a drawing table. She glanced around the room absentmindedly, using her own brand of spellcraft to project ghostly arms of blue light to feed the lace and ribbon into each machine.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” said the designer. She pushed up her glasses into her hair. “As I told Fluttershy, I’ve just been so busy this morning.”
“You must have a lot of orders,” Twilight remarked, looking over the sewing machines.
Rarity laughed. “Oh, not at all! I don’t have any customers today, so this is my own personal project. Just a little something I threw together.”
Spike stared at the intricate mass of ribbon and lace floating overhead. If this was what Rarity considered “little,” he couldn’t imagine a big project would be like.
Twilight wandered over to the drawing table. “Actually, I might have a special order for you—”
“Really?!” Rarity’s glasses all but flew off her head as she whirled toward Twilight with a giant smile. The magical arms vanished, scattering ribbons everywhere. “Oh, thank you, darling! I’ve been so miserable without a client! You’ve no idea! What can I do for you?”
“Well, it’s for Spike. You see…” Twilight looked over at Spike, who felt his cheeks start to turn red. Then she leaned close to Rarity and whispered quickly into her ear.
“Oh, no!” Rarity rushed forward and all but tackled Spike in a sudden hug. “Oh, my poor little Spikey-wikey! This is just the worst thing ever!”
Spike couldn’t imagine feeling more awkward. A hug from Rarity was something he treasured, except for this. “Uh, thank you… Rarity…”
“Now, then! About your diaper—” Rarity stopped, blushing a little. She grinned and put her hands on Spike’s shoulder. “I-I mean, your ‘new clothes’ shouldn’t be too hard to make. I’ll just need a sample of what you’re wearing.”
“I think I can arrange that,” said Twilight. She put her hands on her temples and focused. “Just give me a few seconds…”
A small cloud of violet smoke and light appeared near the drawing table. Rarity held Spike close as they watched the cloud explode in a brilliant flash.
When the smoke cleared, Fluttershy stood in the center of the room, holding a pair of crying toddlers, with a large diaper bag at her feet.
“Oh, my,” said the pink-haired girl, sounding a little sick. “I forgot how much I hate teleports…”

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                       Chapter Four                        
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Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Twilight smiled at Pound Cake, who had finally calmed down, and handed him to Fluttershy. “All better?”
“Bettah!” the twins said, giggling. Fluttershy smiled and hugged them close.
“You’ll need to watch them here,” said Twilight. “I have to go back to my library and get to work on that potty training spell, especially now that Spike needs it.” She glanced to her right, where her little brother was awkwardly standing. “Again, so sorry.”
“Not your fault,” he grumbled, crossing his arms defiantly.
“It’s okay. He can help me watch the kids.” Fluttershy hoisted the twins up and grinned. “Now who wants to play a game?”
“I do, I do!” they shouted, trying to kick themselves free. The older girl laughed and carried them into the next room.
“It’ll be fine, Spike.” Twilight reached down and swept him into a hug. “I promise. I’ll be back by tonight.”
Spike blushed and returned the hug. “Thanks, Twilight. I’m counting on you.”
She stepped back and raised her hand, now crackling with violet smoke and light. “And don’t forget to see Rarity about your diapers!”
Spike wanted to shush her, but in a flash, she was gone.
With each step he took, Spike couldn’t stop hearing the rustle of the baby-sized diaper under his clothes. Nonetheless, he slowly made his way up the staircase, away from the sound of laughter as Fluttershy and the twins played their game.
Up ahead, he could hear the whirr of automated sewing machines. And somewhere in their midst, Rarity speaking out loud to no one. “Yes, yes, that should do it… oh, yes, and ribbon! So many more ribbons! Why didn’t I think of it sooner…?”
I am not wearing anything with ribbons on it, Spike thought bitterly. He stopped and peeked his head in through the doorway.
The sewing machines were winding down, with Rarity skipping between each one, collecting a bundle of diapers from each station. When she was nearly finished, she noticed Spike watching and smiled. “Oh, Spike, you’re just in time! Be a dear and carry some of these, would you?”
Because it was Rarity asking, Spike didn’t hesitate to rush to her side and grab an armful of the custom-tailored diapers. On closer examination, he had to admit that he was impressed. They were twice as big as the twins’ diapers, made out of the same plastic with thicker tapes. But fitted over each diaper was a fine white cloth with gold and violet cross stitches that barely muffled the crinkling. The only things that Spike didn’t care for were the pair of ribbon bows on each side.
He followed Rarity over to her workbench, where she laid out the diapers into rows. When they were all spread out, Spike counted twenty diapers altogether—hopefully, far more than he would ever need if Twilight could get the spell right.
“I must say, this was such an interesting project.” Rarity slid her arm around Spike’s shoulders and hugged him. “But my little Spikey-wikey is my friend and he deserves the very best!” She smiled and looked him in the eye. “Now, er… do you… that is, can I help you…?”
Spike averted his eyes. “I am a little wet…”
Rarity clapped her hands together. “If this makes you uncomfortable, I can use my magic. Just to help you get changed.” She pointed at a folding screen in one corner of the room. “You can just stand back there. I don’t have to look to make this work.”
“Oh. Well, okay…”

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                       Chapter Five                        
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Chapter Five
Chapter Five
As Spike went behind the folding screen, Rarity turned to her desk and examined the teen-size diaper lying on top. She concentrated on every seam, every layer of plastic, until the garment shimmered with blue light. As she put on her glasses, the crystalline lenses sparkled with a more intense light, focusing the magic inside of her.
A pair of translucent arms extended from behind her back, lifting the diaper off the desk and unfolding it. She held it in place and glanced over at Spike’s silhouette behind the folding screen. “Are you ready, darling?”
“Y-yes!” he answered. Rarity fought a blush as she pictured poor little Spike standing behind the screen, trying to pull his shirt down over his privates. Then, taking a deep breath, she waved her hand and floated the diaper around the screen.
With another flick of her wrist, Rarity willed the diaper to stretch out and slide between Spike’s legs. She was having trouble trying to keep a clear image of Spike in her head—and a modest one at that!—while she put the diaper on. She could hear it crinkle and Spike shuffle his feet as she worked.
“Please try to hold still, Spikey-wikey!” she called out. Rarity frowned as she focused on pulling the garment up around his waist. “It’s not as… easy… from over here!”
She focused on the tapes, but didn’t want to make them too tight or they’d chafe his sensitive skin. And then there were the ribbons for the outer cover—she hoped they were strong enough to stay in place. With strands of hair falling loose from the exertion, Rarity ground her teeth and pictured her bows tying themselves perfectly into place.
She leaned against the desk, panting hard. “Done! How… how does it look…?”
The boy peeked his head out from around the screen. “It’s fine. Just… fine.”
Rarity took a moment to catch her breath and recompose herself. “Well, let me see!”
“Okay, but it’s fine…” He stepped out, clad in just a t-shirt and an oversized diaper. A diaper that was sagging and bunched up in all the wrong ways.
“Oh, how horrible!” Rarity put her hands to her mouth. “And… how did I get it on backwards? I’m so sorry, Spike!”
“Rarity?” Fluttershy drifted into the room, having removed her sweater to allow her wings to extend and carry her upstairs. “I’ve got the twins taking another nap. Did you, um, need any help?”
The other girl spun around, her frown turning into a relieved smile. “Fluttershy, you’re just in time! You’re better at this sort of thing than I am.”
Fluttershy and Spike stared at each other. Then, as if on cue, they both turned away, bright red with embarrassment.
“It’s no problem,” said Fluttershy. She crept over toward Spike, her hands reaching for his waist. “Just stay right there. This won’t take long, I promise.”
Rarity watched as her friend put her hands on Spike’s hips, gently peeling back the tapes. Spike blushed as Fluttershy pulled the diaper off, then turned it around so it faced the right way.
“It’s all in the wrist,” said Fluttershy. She smiled at Spike as she pulled the diaper up between his legs. “You just have to know how to be gentle when you’re changing someone.”
Rarity smiled. “Oh, well, of course. One does have to be considerate of another’s space—”
“Oh, it’s more than that.” Fluttershy gave Spike another reassuring smile as she held the diaper in place and began to tape it back on. Her fingers moved at a slow, deliberate pace. “You have to trust them, Rarity. And they have to trust you back.”
“But…” Rarity looked over at Spike, who had calmed down as Fluttershy finished taping up the diaper and readjusting the ribbons. “But I tried so hard to make it fit!”
Fluttershy turned to her and shrugged. “It’s okay, Rarity. I’m sure you’ll get it right soon.”
“Wow, that’s much better.” Spike wiggled his hips and poked at the back of the diaper. He took a step and wiggled his hips again, almost starting to smile. “Thanks, Fluttershy.”
Rarity cleared her throat. When Spike turned and saw her glaring at him from over the rim of her glasses, he added, “Oh, and thank you, too, Rarity. These’ll work out great.”
“Of course they will,” Fluttershy said cheerfully. She put her hands on Spike’s shoulders and steered him toward the door. “Now don’t be a stranger. Come downstairs and let Rarity get back to her work.”
“Oh, I’m not too busy—” But before Rarity could finish, Fluttershy grabbed Spike from under his arms and flew him downstairs like he weighed nothing at all.
Sighing, Rarity took off her glasses with one magical arm and dropped them gently onto her desk. She glanced over the rows of diapers, sitting around useless until they were needed.
Just like me, she thought bleakly.

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                        Chapter Six                        
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Chapter Six
Chapter Six
Spike squirmed in Fluttershy’s grip. “Hold up a second. Can’t I at least get my pants?”
“We can get them later,” Fluttershy answered cheerfully. She let Spike drop onto his feet as they reached the foot of the staircase. “Besides, if you have another accident, this will make it easier to change you.”
Spike looked down at his frilly diaper. “But everyone will see!”
“Oh, not everyone.” Fluttershy pointed at the twins running around the living room with a ball. “Just me, Rarity, and the Cake twins!”
“But…” Spike looked up at the girl’s optimistic face, then sighed. “Forget it.”
Meanwhile, Pumpkin Cake ran past Spike, tossing the ball over her shoulder with one hand. He saw Pound Cake grab the ball and stumble onto the floor. Then he started bawling, bringing his sister to a perplexed halt. Fluttershy flew over to Pound Cake in an instant, sweeping him up in her arms and holding him close.
“There, there,” she murmured, rocking him slowly. “It’s okay, Pound Cake. It’s okay…”
Spike looked over to Pumpkin Cake, who watched all this from a distance. When he noticed her eyes starting to get watery and her bottom lip quivering, he completely forgot about the diaper he was wearing. He dashed over and put a comforting arm around her.
“Hey,” said Spike, giving her a friendly squeeze. “Don’t worry. It wasn’t your fault.”
“It’s not?” asked the toddler. She looked up at Spike, pleading with giant, tear-filled eyes.
Biting down on his lip, Spike kept his cool and nodded. Then the little girl hugged him back. He was surprised, but let her hug him. He was so used to being the youngest in the crowd that he never got the chance to be someone else’s big brother.
When he looked across the living room, Spike saw Fluttershy hovering midair with a sniffling Pound Cake in her arms. She looked over at him and winked, which sent a warm thrill through him. He smiled back.
As Spike let go of Pumpkin Cake, the little girl looked down and giggled. “What’s so funny?” he asked.
“You wet your diaper!” Pumpkin Cake squealed with delight. She pointed at his crotch, which was now warm. He stepped back, wincing as the diaper crinkled loudly.
The sound of flapping wings made Spike look up as Fluttershy approached. Pound Cake was now watching him, looking more confused than sad. Then he, too, started to giggle.
“Now, now, kids,” Fluttershy chided. She put Pound Cake down on the floor next to his sister. “We shouldn’t make fun of Spike. He needs diapers just like you.”
“No, not just like them!” Spike stamped his foot. His cheeks burned with shame. “I’m not a little kid, Fluttershy!”
The delicate-faced woman regarded him for a moment. Then she landed on her feet and said, “Then why does it sound like you’re having a temper tantrum, Spike?”
“I…” Spike’s cheeks were still red-hot, but the shame he felt was different. He looked down at the pink carpet of Rarity’s living room. “I… guess I am.” He crouched and hugged his knees into his chest. “I’m sorry.”
He felt Fluttershy slowly approach on foot. When he looked up, Spike saw the same tender smile he’d used to comfort Pound Cake a moment ago. Then she knelt down and wrapped her arms around him. He was surprised when he felt her wings stretch out and shelter him as well. It reminded him of being held by Twilight when he’d been a little kid himself.
“Let’s get you changed,” Fluttershy whispered. She brushed at his hair. “Won’t that be nice?”

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                       Chapter Seven                       
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Chapter Seven
Chapter Seven
Rarity frowned at the mannequin. She’d gotten the diaper on again—without using her hands, she was pleased to note—but it was still sagging. Putting on a diaper couldn’t be that difficult if Fluttershy and Twilight could handle it. But what was she getting wrong?
She searched her memory for all the babies and toddlers she’d known. Rarity could recall when Sweetie Belle had been a baby, but Rarity had been a little girl herself and not responsible for her sister. Their mother had taken care of everything. Rarity had been free to play with the other girls and study new fashion designs.
“But what good are those designs if I can’t change a single diaper?” Rarity asked herself. She sighed and ripped the diaper off the mannequin.
Barely a moment had passed before she heard the sound of flapping wings outside her door. Rarity looked up as Fluttershy glided into the workshop, carrying a very glum-looking Spike in her arms. The pink-haired girl set her passenger down on the floor and circled around to land right beside Rarity.
“Sorry to intrude,” said Fluttershy, bowing her head and pressing her hands together. “You see, Spike had another accident and needs to change his, um…”
“Diaper?” Rarity lifted up the garment in her hand. “I just happen to have one handy.” When she noticed Fluttershy and Spike giving her an odd glance, she quickly tucked it behind her back. “Not that I was doing anything with it!”
Spike wandered over to the folding screen. “Can we just get this over with?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Go on ahead. I’ll be right there.” As Spike disappeared behind the screen, she reached into her pockets and pulled out a tiny bottle of talcum powder and a package of baby wipes. Taking these in one hand, Fluttershy turned and pointed at the diaper in Rarity’s hands. “Um, if you wouldn’t mind?”
“Are you absolutely sure I can’t be of any help?” Rarity gave the biggest, most reassuring smile she could think of.
Fluttershy shrugged. “I suppose I could use your help.” Rarity brightened, but then her friend added, “Maybe you can go downstairs and watch the twins for me.”
“The twins?” Rarity’s mouth clamped shut. She hadn’t counted on that. Taking care of Spike—that was different. He was older, more mature. More likely to do as he was told and not run around making a mess of things—
Just then, she heard something crash downstairs. Rarity blanched and whirled toward the door. “Oh. Oh, no.” She waved at Fluttershy as she started to run for the stairs. “Er, go ahead without me! Oh dear…!”
She wasn’t sure, but as she left, Rarity could’ve sworn she heard Fluttershy giggling behind her.
“It’ll be easier if you lie down,” Fluttershy suggested. She set down the powder and wipes on the floor beside the folding screen. Then she knelt down, giving Spike plenty of space.
The pre-teen fiddled with the hem of his t-shirt, which just barely covered the top of his diaper. It was really a nicely-designed garment. Fluttershy made a mental note to compliment Rarity on her latest sewing success.
With a sigh of resignation, Spike got down onto his knees and slowly laid down on the carpet. He spread his legs apart, but when his eyes met Fluttershy’s face, his whole face went red.
“It’s okay, Spike.” Years of animal care and babysitting had prepared her for taking care of anxious patients. She closed her eyes and concentrated. “Relax. Focus on my wings if it helps.”
“Why would I—?” Spike’s retort died as Fluttershy spread her wings wide and high above her head. Then, with a small amount of effort, they began to flap up and down, ruffling their yellow feathers to fan Spike’s face. He stared up at them, completely hypnotized.
Fluttershy smiled. “Much better.”
With a flick of her wrist, she undid the tapes and gently peeled the diaper away from Spike’s skin. It wasn’t as soaked as she expected. She hoped it’d stay like this until Twilight could find the right spell.
Stay like this? Fluttershy thought while she worked. Like Spike as a…
The word baby was on the tip of her tongue. With a frown, she shook the thoughts from her head. Spike wasn’t a baby. He was a wonderful kid, and adorable, too!
Not adorable like a baby, Fluttershy added mentally. Not really…
“Fluttershy?” Spike’s voice was low and dreamy. His eyes were half-shut as he stared upward. “How long have I been here…?”
“Not long, sweetie,” she reassured him. By now, she’d cleaned him up and had almost gotten the fresh diaper all the way on. It wasn’t any different from changing Pound Cake.
He’s not a toddler, Fluttershy told herself. He’s not…
But if that was true, then why did she have this overwhelming urge to treat him like one?

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                       Chapter Eight                       
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Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
When she came downstairs, Rarity was greeted with the sight of a colossal mess. Sketch paper scattered across the floor, a cabinet tipped over onto its side, and precious gems lying on the carpet—right on the carpet!
She groaned in despair. Even Sweetie Belle hadn’t been this bad as a child. How could she manage two toddlers on her own?
Slowly, she lifted her head. It wasn’t impossible. She may not have handled babies herself, but she’d hosted more sleepovers with Sweetie Belle’s friends than she cared to remember.
And if Fluttershy can do it, Rarity vowed, then so can I! I’ll be the very spirit of generosity!
“Pound Cake? Pumpkin Cake?” She scanned the living room carefully. “Where are you? Please come out here! I promise I’m not mad!”
Somewhere to her right, she heard giggling. Rarity sighed. It seemed as though they wanted to be difficult. She lowered her glasses into place and stared over the entire room.
With deep concentration, she began to work.
Six rays of blue light extended out from behind her back, taking the shape of elastic arms and hands. One pair set the cabinet upright again. Another pair swept up the sketch papers and precious gems into a small tornado that landed them all perfectly inside the cabinet’s shelves. Blue fingers extended themselves around the papers and gems, separating the two as before.
Meanwhile, Rarity focused on her last pair of magical arms toward the couch in the corner. As she guided her reach behind the couch, she smiled and focused as she conjured up Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake into the air. The little boy and girl didn’t seem to mind having been found and waved their arms in joy.
“Oh, what am I going to do with you?” Rarity asked herself.
“I wan’ food!” Pound Cake called out. He and his sister began to nod vigorously.
Rarity frowned. “I was being rhetorical—” She stopped herself and forced a smile. “Never mind, children. Let’s see what your Auntie Rarity has for lunch!”
She waved her hand, dropping the twins closer to the floor. As they kicked their legs, Rarity glared and added, “Ah, ah! No running!”
They nodded back. But as soon as the magic arms dissolved, they bolted straight for the kitchen, squealing and laughing uproariously.
Rarity watched them go, starting to have second thoughts about this babysitting ordeal.
Blue arms raced around the kitchen, cracking eggs and whipping them through several bowls and frying pans. A dash of pepper here, a pat of butter there, and a lovely floral arrangement on the dining table. The twins watched from the other side of the table, whispering to each other in some bizarre dialect that Rarity couldn’t make out.
“Lunch is served!” she declared, setting down their plates and glasses. “Omelettes de Rareté with a slice of pear and a glass of sparkling lemonade! Bon appétit!”
Pumpkin Cake stared at her meal in confusion. She poked at the omelette with her finger, then shook her head. “Eww! It’s wobbly!”
“Wibbly-wobbly!” Pound Cake chimed in. He shook his head in disgust. “Bleah!”
“It is supposed to be wobbly!” Rarity asserted. Then, trying to remember how Fluttershy would handle things, she took her hands off her hips and clasped them together like she was a teacher in front of her class. “Won’t you give it a try? Please?”
“I wan’ Pinkie Pie!” said Pumpkin Cake.
“Pinkie Pie!” Pound Cake agreed enthusiastically. They started to chant her name, pounding their little fists on the table. “Pinkie Pie! Pinkie Pie! Pinkie Pie! Pinkie Pie!”
Despair overtook Rarity once again. She turned away and headed for the fridge, hoping she could find something simpler—something the kids would find more to their liking.
As she began her fruitless search, she felt cold inside. Rarity had to admit it at last. She could never hope to compete with Fluttershy. Kind, sensitive Fluttershy, friend to children and animals everywhere. And meanwhile, Rarity was brimming with unspent generosity. She could mend or make a dress like no other, but childrearing? It simply wasn’t in her nature.
And where had Fluttershy gone, Rarity wondered. Was she still upstairs with Spike? Hoarding him all to herself?
The cold pit in Rarity’s stomach suddenly grew hot. No, she decided. Fluttershy might’ve been better with the twins, but no one was better with Spike than Rarity.
“No one,” she whispered bitterly.

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                       Chapter Nine                        
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Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
“I hope Rarity doesn’t feel too overwhelmed,” Fluttershy said as she flew down the stairs behind Spike. “Doesn’t she seem anxious today?”
Spike shrugged. “I’m sure she’s fine. She’s a hardworking artist, after all.” He hopped down the last few steps into the living room, ignoring the rustle of his diaper.
“Oh, okay.” Fluttershy’s smile returned. She sailed past Spike and into the kitchen. “Rarity,” she called out, “how’s everything…?”
Her voice trailed off into a squeak as she and Spike took in the kitchen. Pieces of egg and lettuce covered the windows and the floor. Sauce and lemonade dripped off the table, where Pound and Pumpkin Cake sat giggling. It took Spike a moment to realize that they were stuffing their faces with apple pie.
“Oh, dear!” Fluttershy hovered around the devastation, grabbing a towel from the kitchen sink. “How did this mess happen?” She looked around. “Rarity?”
Spike started to search for her, but he didn’t have to go far. The shuddering cupboard door above the sink was the only clue he needed. He reached for the handle and gently pulled it open.
Inside the cupboard crouched a very nervous young woman with frazzled purple hair, clutching at her knees and staring wildly at nothing.
She coughed and said, “I tried. Celestia help me, I tried…”
Fluttershy flew to her side and extended her arms. “I’m so sorry. Please come out. It’ll be fine. I promise.” It wasn’t lost on Spike that she was using the same motherly tone she’d given him earlier when he’d wet himself. He tried not to blush for Rarity’s sake.
By the time Fluttershy had gotten her friend out and back onto her feet, Rarity was frantically wiping away tears. “It’s no use! I’m… I’m no good at this, Fluttershy! I’m not like you! I haven’t a babysitter’s bone in my body!” Her voice cracked at the end into a sob. Meanwhile, the twins didn’t notice the drama and continued to devour their apple pie.
Fluttershy wrapped her arms around Rarity. “Shh. It’s okay. I know you did your best. Just let me take care of things, okay?”
Spike heard Rarity whimper and nod into Fluttershy’s shoulder. He sighed and looked over at the twins, who had finished eating and, judging by their closing eyes, were falling asleep.
Remembering that it was already after noon, Spike dashed out of the kitchen and straight to the bag that Mrs. Cake had packed for her kids. He unzipped it and took out a blue and pink pair of blankets. Their naptime blankets, she’d called them.
When he came running back into the kitchen, the cleanup was already in motion. Rarity, while still fighting back tears, was using her magic to wipe everything down and drop every dirty plate into the sink. Meanwhile, Fluttershy had gotten the twins out of their chairs and into her arms, rocking them to all the way to sleep. She hummed a lullaby that seemed familiar to Spike. He vaguely remembered when Twilight used to sing it to him on cold winter nights in Canterlot.
“Oh, good thinking, Spike!” Fluttershy shifted one hand free and took the blankets from him. “They’re going to need a long nap after this.”
He was about to add that he could use one, too. But the words died in his throat as he felt an all-too-familiar tingle between his legs.
“No,” he whispered, looking down. “No, not now. We just did this!”
“Spike?” Rarity set down her towel and rushed over to him. “Is everything all right?” When she took notice of the yellow spot on his crotch, her hands flew up to her mouth. “Oh, dear! D-don’t worry, Spikey-wikey! I’ll handle this!”
“Rarity, please.” Fluttershy kept her voice at an insistent whisper. “It’s not a problem. I can take care of Spike once I put the twins down—”
“Oh, no, Fluttershy.” Rarity stamped her foot in protest. “Not this time! I may not be the world’s greatest babysitter, but I’ll prove to you and all of Equestria that I can change a diaper!”
“I n-never said you couldn’t,” Fluttershy replied. She began to anxiously back away, holding the twins close to her chest. “Forgive me, Rarity! I shouldn’t have assumed—”
“No, you shouldn’t have!” Rarity glared down her friend. “But at least my little Spikey-wikey didn’t judge me! And that’s why I’ll be taking care of him from now on. Is that clear?”
As the yelling match went on, Spike felt his cheeks burn, but this was a deeper shame. He could forgive being called a kid. He could accept that he was having accidents and needed diapers. But Rarity’s tone was pushing it, even with all the love that burned in his heart for her.
“Excuse me!” Spike burst out, hands curling into fists. “But no one’s taking care of me! I am not a toddler!”
Rarity turned to him in surprise. Fluttershy continued to shrink back in dismay. And then the twins woke up crying. Spike watched as Pumpkin Cake squirmed out of Fluttershy’s arms and raced out of the kitchen.
“Spike, I—” Rarity shook her head. “I’m sorry….”
Spike turned away. He couldn’t bear to look at her. He couldn’t believe what he’d just said.
So he turned and ran, his diaper sagging and rustling behind him.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                        Chapter Ten                        
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Ten
Chapter Ten
“There, there,” Fluttershy whispered into Pound Cake’s ear. “It’s okay. It’s all right…”
Rarity looked around the now-clean kitchen in despair. She felt worse than before. How could she have treated her friends so badly? And in front of the children, too. It was scandalous!
“Hush now, quiet now,” Fluttershy sang softly. As she rocked the little boy to sleep, she looked over at Rarity. There a moment of awkward silence between them. Then Fluttershy winked and added, “It’s time to lay your sleepy head…”
Taking that as a hint, Rarity smiled back and quietly stepped out of the kitchen. She decided that she might as well go looking for Spike. Out of everyone, he deserved the biggest apology.
But where to find him?
As she walked through her living room, Rarity decided to give her gem locator spell a try. She supposed it wouldn’t be much good with people, but Spike was as precious to her as any jewel.
With deep breath, Rarity cleared her mind. Then she removed her designer’s glasses from her pocket and slid them on. She concentrated, imagining Spike like she’d done when she tried to change his diaper. And to bring in her locator spell, she pictured the vague outline of a fire ruby around him, encasing him perfectly.
Blue light flashed through the frames of her glasses. When that light cleared, Rarity saw a red line running across the living room floor. It started at her feet and went up the staircase toward her workshop.
Of course he’d go there. The poor thing needed another clean diaper, and Rarity had designed more than enough for him to use. This brought a smile to her face as she raced upstairs.
The red trail, however, didn’t lead her into her workshop. Instead, it ended inside the room next door—her “inspiration room.” Everything in there was a mess because that was how Rarity wanted it—the better to come up with a completely new ensemble. Scarves, hats, dresses, ribbons, whole swathes of fabric strewn about the room in no discernible pattern.
But that didn’t explain the quietly sniffling pile of socks in the corner.
Rarity pushed her glasses up and sighed. “Spike? Darling, I’m so sorry to intrude. I… I really am sorry about what happened. Can you ever forgive me?”
When the sniffling didn’t stop, Rarity grew nervous. She crept closer to the sock pile and leaned over to get a better glimpse.
Her mouth dropped. “Oh, my. Pumpkin Cake? What are you doing here?”
Instead of a young boy, it was the Cakes’ little girl. She was curled up on the floor, weeping softly. Rarity’s heart sank to see her like this. She carefully extended a pair of magical arms to reach down and cradle the poor child.
“There, there,” she whispered. “Don’t fret, sweetheart. Er… Auntie Rarity’s here.”
She frowned. Those were all the comforting platitudes she could think to give to the child at the moment. It was easier with Sweetie Belle, being sisters and all.
Rarity looked down at Pumpkin Cake, who had begun to quiet down as the magical arms rocked her back and forth. What surprised Rarity was that she hadn’t realized she was rocking the girl to sleep. It just came naturally.
Well, of course, she thought with a small amount of pride. It’s not called the inspiration room for nothing…
With a tender smile, Rarity pulled Pumpkin Cake into her actual arms and held her close. It was so much simpler when the child was half-asleep. She could examine her up close. Her pink shirt and skirt were adorable, if a little lacking in opulence. It occurred to Rarity that she could design something more stylish for the twins. Just because they were young didn’t mean they deserved to be kept from the heights of fashion.
“Wait a minute!” Rarity continued to rock Pumpkin Cake in her arms as she looked around the room. Her gem locator spell had led her here, where she’d found the missing toddler instead of Spike. But why do that unless she was meant to be here?
Her eyes fell on the table, where a pair of unfolded baby diapers were laid out. The pair Twilight had given her to use for inspiration when designing Spike’s diapers. But that design was just a prototype. Now that she’d seen the diapers as they were meant to be used, she could do better.
“Oh, thank you, Pumpkin Cake,” Rarity whispered. She gave the sleeping girl a hug. “I know just how to repay you for this wonderful idea—and Spike, too!”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Chapter Eleven                       
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Eleven
With her wings flapping as quietly as she could manage, Fluttershy carried Pound Cake into Sweetie Belle’s bedroom. The little boy was fast asleep and didn’t even shift as she tucked him into bed. Hopefully, he would stay that way until Fluttershy could find his sister and patch things up with Spike and Rarity.
As soon as she flew out into the hallway, she heard someone quietly sniffling from inside the master bedroom. With any luck, that would be Pumpkin Cake. Maybe things were starting to look up.
“Hello?” Fluttershy called out. She smiled as she pushed the door to Rarity’s bedroom open. “Are you in here, Pumpkin Cake? Don’t cry, honey. Fluttershy’s here…”
Now that she was inside, she could tell the sniffling was coming from under the bed. Fluttershy landed on her hands and knees, and peeked underneath.
“Leave me alone,” a tear-stricken voice replied.
“Oh, my.” Fluttershy pulled up the skirt of the bed to get a better look.
Curled up on the floor was Spike. His face was wet with tears, some of which had spilled onto the front of his t-shirt. And upon closer inspection, Fluttershy could see—or rather, smell—that his diaper really needed changing.
“I-I thought I could handle this!” Spike blubbered. He hugged his knees close. “I didn’t mean to… it was an accident…!”
“Of course it was, Spike.” Fluttershy reached out and took him by the shoulders. “I know you tried to hold it in. We’ll fix this, okay?”
Once she had the poor boy in her arms, Fluttershy could see that his diaper was sagging. While she didn’t mind changing a dirty diaper for a baby or a very sick animal, she wasn’t looking forward to the kind of mess that a prepubescent boy could make. But what else could she do? It wasn’t like Rarity could help—
But she wants to help, Fluttershy reminded herself. Their kitchen confrontation was still fresh in her mind. What kind of friend would she be to turn down Rarity if she offered to change Spike?
Still, given the size of the mess—
“Fluttershy?” Spike’s voice was still choked from crying, but he was looking up at her.
“Oh, sorry.” She smiled and held him close. “I was… distracted. Anyway, you shouldn’t feel too bad, Spike. We’re all here to help you. And I know Twilight won’t rest until she can find the right spell for you. She wouldn’t leave you with us unless she was sure you’d be fine.”
“I guess you’re right,” Spike answered glumly. He crinkled his nose and buried his face into Fluttershy’s breast. “I can’t believe this is happening to me.”
“Um, I don’t mean to offend, but maybe later you could…” Fluttershy blushed. “That is, maybe you’d feel better if you… t-take a nap?”
She closed her eyes, ready for another violent protest from Spike. But instead, she felt him pat her arm. When she opened her eyes, Spike was smiling awkwardly.
“I’m sorry about what I said,” he murmured. “I guess I might need a nap.” He laughed and smacked the side of his head. “Now that I think about it, what’s the matter with me? How could I turn down a nap and being taken care of for a day?”
“That’s the spirit!” Fluttershy gave him another hug and spread her wings. As she floated up, she gently set Spike down on the bed. “Now, you just wait there. I’ll go get a clean diaper from next door and—”
“Au contraire, Fluttershy! Allow me the honor!”
They both turned to see Rarity in the doorway, triumphantly smiling as she held Pumpkin Cake in her arms. The little girl was fast asleep, even smiling a little.
“I know we all said a lot of things downstairs that we didn’t mean,” Rarity continued, her cheeks flushing just a little. She walked in and gently handed Pumpkin Cake over to Fluttershy. “I suppose I was just feeling a little left out. And that’s when I had the best possible idea ever!”
Fluttershy looked down at the little girl in her arms. “Rarity, you changed her diaper?”
“I did better than that! Notice the green gems sewn into the waistband.” Rarity lifted up her hand, revealing a bracelet encrusted with the same jewels. “They’re enchanted gems. When the diaper becomes wet or soiled, the gems on the diaper turn red and so does my bracelet. This will make changing the twins much more efficient!”
“What a wonderful idea!” Fluttershy looked over at Spike and gave him an encouraging smile.
Rarity turned to look at Spike as well, clearing her throat. “Now, then. I… may have gone a little overboard on designing your diapers, Spike. I promise this new set won’t have ribbons. Or embroidery.” She smiled apologetically. “Much more suitable for a… handsome young man.”
Now it was Spike’s turn to blush. Fluttershy giggled and held Pumpkin Cake closer to her chest. “Well, I think I’ll leave you two alone.”
She flew out of the bedroom while a very awkward silence settled.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Chapter Twelve                       
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Twelve
Spike stared at the diaper in Rarity’s hand. “So… the new design looks nice.”
Rarity coughed politely. “Oh, thank you.”
They shared a laugh and then Spike lowered himself onto his elbows. He’d already been through this embarrassment with Twilight and Fluttershy. Might as well complete the trifecta and get through this with one of the most beautiful women he knew.
“Now, as unfortunate as your latest accident was”—Rarity gestured at the mess gathered up in the rear of Spike’s diaper—“this actually gives me a chance to try out another new invention of mine. Voilà!”
From behind her back, Rarity presented him with a pair of delicate-looking masks, the kind that a surgeon might wear. They were very lacy, but when Spike leaned in to examine them, he got a whiff of something strong. A wonderful aroma that reminded him of… Rarity.
“It’s something that no person changing a diaper should be without!” Rarity slipped one of the masks onto her face, covering her nose and mouth completely. She then did the same for Spike. “Completely masks any lingering odors and replaces it with a fragrance that the wearer will more likely appreciate. I call it a masque du parfum.”
“Rarity… this is amazing,” Spike murmured. He felt like he was entering another trance, forgetting all about the dirty diaper and the love of his life towering over him.
From behind her mask, Rarity giggled. “Oh, Spikey—” She caught herself and added, “I mean, my dear Spike. You’re so kind!”
She began to peel off the tapes of his diaper, pulling it free from his hips with quick and delicate motions. Her eyes narrowed as she looked down at the mess. Spike could hear her breathing hard and fast as she contemplated her next move.
“Nothing to it,” she murmured. Then Rarity rolled up the diaper around the mess and used a blue tendril of magic to carry the soiled garment to a wastebasket on the far side of the room. Once that was done, she took up the talcum powder and baby wipes that Fluttershy had left out on her nightstand.
Spike watched as Rarity began to gently clean between his legs with the baby wipe. He flinched at first—not because it was cold, but because it was Rarity and he couldn’t bear her doing this. But she continued to clean him without complaint and he began to relax. It helped that he could look up and see her smiling down at him from behind her own mask.
The aroma of her in his mask was soon mixed up with the fresh scent of baby powder being sprinkled between his legs. Spike couldn’t help but feel a tingle below his waist—one that didn’t escape Rarity’s notice. She giggled, making Spike blush furiously.
“There’s really no point trying to hide it anymore, Spike,” said Rarity. She unfolded the new diaper she had designed for him, sliding it under his now-clean bottom. “I’ve always known. I think it’s sweet to have an admirer.”
I could live with being an admirer, Spike thought. He lay back on the bed—on Rarity’s bed, he remembered cheerfully—and savored the moment as she gently pulled the new diaper into place and taped it on tight.
Rarity stepped back when she had finished. “Now, isn’t that better?”
Spike took off his mask and looked down. The diaper was a lot more comfortable than the first one. Almost like real underwear, except for the slight rustle it made when he moved. At least he could wear his pants over it.
“It’s great,” he said quietly. “Thank you, Rarity. I mean it. Thank you.”
She stood by in silence for a moment, regarding him carefully. Then she stripped off the mask from her face, revealing a brilliant smile.
“Anything for you, darling,” Rarity answered tenderly. She wrapped her arms around Spike and carried him away from the bed. “I suppose we still have some time before Twilight gets here. What would you like to do?”
“Anything you want.” Spike rested her head on her shoulder and sighed. “Anything at all…”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Chapter Thirteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Thirteen
Fluttershy smiled as she heard Rarity and Spike coming downstairs. She turned to the twins and asked, “Ready?”
They nodded eagerly. She turned around and watched Rarity appear, carrying Spike in her arms. For once, Spike seemed entirely at peace about his situation. A delirious smile was spread across his face.
“You’re just in time,” Fluttershy announced. Her wings shivered with anticipation. “The twins have something very important to tell you.”
“Oh, really?” said Rarity as she gently set Spike onto his feet.
The twins exchanged a quick look. Then Pumpkin Cake spread her hands, using a tiny wave of bright pink magic to create a small cloud in the air above her head. Pound Cake leapt up behind her, furiously beating his miniscule wings to create a strong gust of wind. The wind split the cloud apart, creating a faint message in pink smoky letters.
Rarity pulled down her glasses as she read it. “‘We’re… sorry… Rarity…’” She stopped and smiled tenderly. “Oh, my. How very thoughtful, children! Apology accepted!”
Fluttershy cleared her throat, giving Rarity a pointed look. Her friend blushed and added, “But, of course, it really isn’t your fault. Not at all! I’m glad we understand one another now.”
With a bemused look on his face, Spike walked over to the twins and put his arms around their shoulders. “Come on, guys. I know a great place upstairs where you can play.”
“Yay!” the twins squealed, hoping up and down. They ran ahead of Spike, who gave Fluttershy a knowing wink as he trailed after him. She was impressed that he didn’t seem to mind the thin crinkle his new diaper made as he left the room.
Meanwhile, Rarity had drifted over to the kitchen. When Fluttershy followed her in, she found the young woman was sitting at the dining table, staring down at her hands. Without even paying attention, she had begun casting her magic to prepare a fresh pot of tea on her stove and set out a pair of white china cups.
Fluttershy tried to be very quiet as she approached the boiling teapot. She remembered the last time she’d seen Rarity in one of these dark moods; she could barely work on a single dress then. She wasn’t at all like Rainbow Dash, who needed to stay active even when depressed.
Maybe Rarity needed something to keep her active, too. Fluttershy made a mental note to ask Rainbow Dash about her neighborhood watch group. They probably needed some uniforms, and who better to create them than the most hard-working designer in town?
A sharp whistle pierced the air. The tea had finally boiled and was ready to brew. But Rarity didn’t seem to notice. Her magic aura had faded from the air.
Fluttershy quickly flew over and switched off the stove. Without hesitation, she poured the tea and searched through the kitchen drawers for a tray to carry the cups.
It wasn’t until Fluttershy had set the tea tray down on the table and taken a seat that Rarity finally lifted her head. She blinked and stared at the tea like she was waking up from a dream.
“Oh, Fluttershy,” Rarity sighed. She grabbed a spoon and began to stir in a measure of sugar into her tea. “You’re the best friend a girl could ask for. I haven’t said that enough, have I?”
“You don’t have to say it.” Fluttershy poured in some milk into her own tea before taking a sip. “I’m sorry I didn’t consider your feelings earlier. I know you were just trying to help.”
“It’s in our nature.” Rarity gestured to herself, then at her friend. “The Element of Generosity. The Element of Kindness. How could we ever work against each other?”
They shared a laugh. Then Rarity sipped from her tea, looking much more at ease. “Besides,” she added, “it’s funny. Here I was, thinking I didn’t have anything to work on, and then you and Twilight show up with this potty training catastrophe. It only took all day for me to realize…” She blinked and looked up at Fluttershy. “To realize that I love a challenge, and what could be more challenging for me than designing clothes for a child?”
“I’m glad we could help,” said Fluttershy. She looked out the window for a moment, noticing a pair of butterflies drifting past. It was such a lovely afternoon. Maybe they would have some time to take the kids outside—
However, her cell phone rang. Fluttershy pulled it out from her pocket and checked the screen. It was Twilight calling.
She smiled apologetically at Rarity, then answered her phone. “Hello? Yes, Twilight, we’re all fine now. No, no changes—well, unless you count all the diaper changes… yes. Oh, okay. See you soon!”
“Is she coming over?” asked Rarity.
Fluttershy was about to say so when she noticed a familiar violet storm cloud forming near the kitchen door. She and Rarity turned just in time to see a brilliant white flash.
When the smoke and light faded, Twilight Sparkle took in the kitchen, brushing off her sweater and skirt. Her hair was in disarray, but in one hand, she triumphantly held a very old book.
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, panting a little. “You would not believe the day I’ve been having.”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Chapter Fourteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fourteen
“…So it wasn’t until after we’d re-closed the Gates of Tartarus that Time Turner and I were able to teleport back to the library and find the books we needed.” Twilight held up her leather-bound prize. “He got his textbook on Crystal Empire timekeepers and I got this old primer on Magic for Child Rearing!”
“That’s quite an adventure.” Rarity exchanged a surprised look with Fluttershy. “It’s amazing you could fit it all in one day.”
“Well, Time Turner says it was technically more than a day, because of relativity—” Twilight stopped, then smacked the side of her head. “But I shouldn’t be rambling on like this! I’ve got the correct potty training spell that we need for Spike and the twins.”
“You do?!” Everyone in the kitchen turned to see Spike standing in the doorway. He stared back, then started blushing as he realized his diaper was still exposed. Rarity found it adorable.
Twilight leapt out of her chair. There was a flash of violet that pulled Spike off his feet and then he was hugging Twilight back. Rarity and Fluttershy went back to their tea, sharing a smile over their cups.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long, Spike.” Twilight waved her hand, telekinetically bringing her book to her hand. “The shades of the underworld aren’t kind to punctuality. But this book has a great spell for your problem. Let’s go take care of it!”
Spike leapt back down to the floor and threw his hands up. “Awesome! Let’s do this!”
He raced out of the kitchen, with Twilight following after him.
Back at the table, Fluttershy sighed and set down her teacup. “I guess I’d better go upstairs. The twins will need me.”
Rarity nodded. “Go ahead, dear. I’ll clean up and join you in a minute.”
It was a familiar scene. Twilight stood by the bed, consulting her book of spells and making precise gestures at a row of potion bottles. The potions changed color, growing darker over time. A pair of baby-sized diapers were laid out on the bed, along with one Spike-sized diaper. Spike and Fluttershy waited on the other side of the bed, with the twins sleeping in Fluttershy’s arms.
From the doorway, Rarity watched the spell’s preparation with interest. It seemed like the process she’d used to create the enchantment for her second line of diapers, only with potions instead of gems. She could learn a lot from this for her next clothing line.
“So it turns out,” Twilight was saying, “that the missing ingredient from the last spell wasn’t chemical, but emotional.” She stabbed a finger at a page on the open book on the bed and recited, “‘The child will grow and thrive… with mother’s love and father’s pride.’ The spell is to help kids gain confidence and self-control to be potty trained. They need a parent’s love to make that final leap.”
“Oh, dear.” Fluttershy cringed. “Mr. and Mrs. Cake are all the way in Canterlot. Maybe we should wait until they get back—”
“There’s no time to wait.” Twilight turned and smiled at the sleeping twins. “We’ll have to do.”
“Don’t worry, darling.” Rarity walked over and touched Fluttershy’s shoulder. “We won’t let anything bad happen to them.”
Her friend turned and looked her in the eye. Then Fluttershy smiled and Rarity felt warm inside.
“That’s exactly what I needed,” said Twilight. The beaker of potion in her hand was changing from a dull red to a soft orange. “Keep it up!”
Fluttershy lowered the twins onto the bed and turned to Rarity. “Can you help me with Pumpkin Cake?”
“But of course!”
One diaper change later, the twins were still asleep, but they were clean and dry. Fluttershy tucked them into Rarity’s bed, humming a lullaby as she worked.
Twilight, meanwhile, sat on the floor, panting from exhaustion as she mixed another potion for the potty training spell. Rarity hovered over her, wiping her brow with a handkerchief.
“Okay…” Twilight yawned and held up her beaker. “Potion’s ready. Spike? Your turn!”
He looked around. “Uh, right here?”
“The twins are asleep. They’re not going to see anything.”
Rarity tilted her head and smiled. “There’s nothing to be ashamed about, Spikey-wikey.”
The boy’s cheeks flushed. “I guess not.”
While he was still contemplating the matter, Fluttershy flew over and picked him up from below his arms. Spike was limp in her grasp. He didn’t resist when she dropped him onto the bed in front of Twilight, nor when she gently peeled off the tapes of his diaper.
“Be brave, Spike,” said Twilight. “We’re all here for you.”
Rarity stood close to Twilight, giving the boy a reassuring smile. “Always here for you.”
“Always,” Fluttershy chimed in.
To his credit, Spike didn’t shed a tear in that tender moment. He put on a brave face and nodded for Twilight to begin.
His sister poured the potion into the unfolded diaper, watching it be absorbed in an instant. Then she lifted Spike’s ankles and slid the diaper into place. As she taped it on, Twilight started to mouth something under her breath. Rarity leaned over, catching a brief murmur of “Father’s pride, mother’s love… family pride, sister’s love…”
Once the new diaper was in place, Spike sat up on the bed. He poked at the front and frowned. “How do we know it’s working?”
“That was the other thing I forgot about the spell.” Twilight picked him up and set him onto his feet. “It’s not instantaneous. We have to wait until tomorrow morning.”
“So if he wakes up dry, then he’s okay?” Rarity asked. She glanced between Twilight and Spike, cautiously optimistic.
“According to the book, all the child has to do is take a good nap and the magic should do the rest.”
“A nap, huh?” Spike stretched out his arms and yawned. “I could go for one right now.”
That earned him a quiet laugh from the girls as they filed out of the bedroom.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Chapter Fifteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Fifteen
Spike really wished he didn’t have to get up. He didn’t want to face the result of Twilight’s latest experiment. He didn’t want to leave his warm bed. And he really didn’t want to stop this wonderful dream he’d been having where he was rescuing Princess Rarity and Fluttershy was a talking tree for some reason…
But there was no getting around it. Spike threw off the covers and looked down. He gave the front of his diaper a gentle poke.
It was warm and wet. Again. Spike buried his face in his hands and sighed.
He’d been so sure Twilight could fix this. And so had Twilight. And the more he thought about it, the more Spike realized how much this would hurt her self-esteem.
Maybe the spell just needed a little more time to work. If Spike was very careful, it would clear itself up and no one would have to know about this accident.
As he hopped out of bed, Spike peeked around the corner of his dresser. Sitting on the carpet out of view was the canvas bag of diapers that Rarity had made for him yesterday. She’d gone to so much trouble; he figured it’d be rude not to make the most of her work.
After changing his clothes, Spike carefully removed the wet diaper from between his legs and tossed it into the wastebasket. Then he grabbed a clean diaper and a thick pair of pants.
Just have to be quiet about this, Spike thought. For Twilight’s sake…
On his way downstairs, Spike heard a commotion in the kitchen and caught an aroma of maple syrup and pancake batter. He pumped his fists and raced down as fast as he could.
Sure enough, Twilight was in the kitchen, still wearing her robe and slippers. She was reading a cookbook, her hands firmly placed on the counter. Meanwhile, a storm of violet-toned magical arms was sweeping across the kitchen, stacking up fresh pancakes on a set of plates and pouring tall glasses of orange juice. Somewhere, four slices of toast popped and went flying onto another plate that landed on the table next to Spike.
Twilight briefly looked up from her book and noticed the boy in the doorway. She yawned and flipped her hair away from her eyes. “Good morning! Sleep well?”
“Yep!” Spike blushed for a second. Then, after drawing in a quick breath, he added, “And the spell worked, too.”
“That’s great, Spike! I’m so proud of you!” Twilight blinked the sleep away from her eyes and closed the cookbook. “Better sit down. We’ve got a lot of breakfast to get through!”
Spike eyed the tower of pancakes stacked in the middle of the table. “Huh. Do you think you made enough, Twilight?”
Frowning, Twilight looked at the pancakes, then back at Spike. “I… might have improvised on Pinkie Pie’s recipe with a duplication spell.”
Spike laughed and took a seat. His anxiety about hiding his diaper from Twilight was forgotten once he inhaled the aroma of fresh pancakes and syrup.
He took up his fork, ready to plunge it into the first layer of pancakes, when Twilight tapped him on the arm. “Pace yourself, Spike! I made them thicker than usual. You don’t want to have a stomach ache later.”
“Don’t worry,” Spike insisted. He speared his fork into the pancake and stuffed the entire thing into his mouth. “We’re celebrating! It’ll be fine!”
Half an hour later, Twilight was cleaning dishes in the sink and telekinetically floating Spike off his chair and onto the living room couch.
“Ugh,” Spike groaned. He didn’t resist being lowered onto the couch. “That was… not a good idea…”
The pair of magical arms that had carried him dissolved in a puff of purple smoke. As the smoke cleared, he caught a glimpse of sparkling letters that read “I told you so.”
When I write a letter to Princess Celestia, Spike thought before falling asleep, I’m going to point out that it’s not easy to outsmart Twilight…

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Chapter Sixteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Sixteen
Rarity frowned at the dull shimmer on her bejeweled bracelet. It didn’t bode well for Spike’s progress.
However, she didn’t have time to dwell on it. She was far too busy.
Rarity sighed happily. She was busy! People wanted her creations! Was there anything better?
After taking another quick sip of tea and a bite into her biscuit, she turned her attention to the four automated sewing machines. They were stitching through reams of fabric and dumping the finished product into large baskets on the floor. Nothing to worry about there. But there was something new this time.
A flock of sparrows flitted about the workshop, feeding reams of fabric into the sewing machines and banding together to lift up the finished products from the baskets. Meanwhile, a handful of rabbits and squirrels were consulting one of Rarity’s old sewing textbooks and doing their best at cutting and weaving the fabric into separate articles of clothing. In the middle of the workshop stood Fluttershy, holding up a clipboard and wearing one of the biggest smiles Rarity had ever seen on her.
The animal helpers had been her idea. They were very dedicated and easy to train, Rarity was pleased to discover. Even if their first attempts at fashion weren’t haute couture; those would-be clothes had been slipped into a basket under Rarity’s desk, eventually to be burned and buried outside. But it made Fluttershy happy and Rarity was glad for the help.
“Yes, right over there,” said Fluttershy. She pointed one of the squirrels toward a shelf, where all the shirts and blouses were being folded and stored. “Keep up the good work, Stephen!”
Rarity looked down at her notes. They’d produced enough clothes so far to cover every student at the local school—twice. It was shaping up to be one of her most productive mornings ever. This clothing line needed a good name. “Woodland Creations” wasn’t terrible, but she could do better.
With a quick spread of her wings, Fluttershy came to hover near the desk. She put down her clipboard and gratefully accepted Rarity’s offer of a cup of tea. “I think they’re due for a break in a few minutes. Are you sure everything’s coming out right?”
“Why, of course, dear!” Rarity patted her friend’s wing. “I could never have handled so many orders all by myself. Your friends are doing a wonderful job, believe me!”
Fluttershy smiled. “Oh, good. I was so worried they couldn’t manage the chevrons on the boys’ jackets—”
A pointed cough interrupted the winged girl. Rarity looked over Fluttershy’s shoulder, noticing a cross-looking rabbit. He held up a pocket watch and stamped his foot.
“Oh, my,” Fluttershy exclaimed. “Done already?” She lifted her hands and spread her wings. The animals all stopped at once.
“Um, sorry to interrupt, but you’re all doing a great job! Refreshments are downstairs!”
“And do wipe your feet!” Rarity warned. She didn’t care how clean these animals were. They’d all been outside. In the dirt and grass. Where people could catch all sorts of nasty things.
After all the animals had tidied up and gone downstairs, Fluttershy finished her tea. Then she tilted her head and frowned.
“What is it?” asked Rarity.
“Well, it’s… it’s your bracelet.” Fluttershy pointed at her friend’s wrist. “It’s still glowing.”
Rarity examined the bracelet. The gems were flashing just as they’d done the day before. Proof that poor Spike was still having accidents.
“I’m quite sure that Twilight can handle things at her end,” Rarity said. She nodded to herself. “I’m sure she has a dozen new spells that’ll fix this right up. She’s very resourceful, you know.”
Fluttershy smiled and nodded back.
A furious twitter caught their attention as a blue jay came flying into the workshop. It landed on Fluttershy’s outstretched hand, clutching a roll of paper in its talons.
“For me? Oh, thank you, Mordecai!” Fluttershy unrolled the paper and examined it. Then her eyes went wide.
“Darling? What’s the matter?”
“We need to see Twilight right away!” Then Fluttershy stopped and cringed at her tone. “Um, if it’s not too much trouble…”
Rarity took the message and read it over. Her jaw dropped. “Oh. Oh, my. No trouble at all…”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Chapter Seventeen                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Seventeen
Twilight looked over the note again. She couldn’t believe what she reading. Nor could she keep from grinning.
“Twily, it’s Shining Armor,” she read out loud. “Think maybe Cadance and I can come to your place for a visit? We could use a vacation and it’s so hard to go anywhere without drawing a crowd. Send us a note back for details. Love, your B.B.B.F.F.”
She looked up at Fluttershy, who still had a blue jay perched on her shoulder. Apparently, her brother didn’t even think calling her by phone was safe enough. But who would notice another bird flying overhead?
“There’s no time to lose!” Twilight pocketed the note and summoned a fresh checklist and pen to her hand. “Fluttershy, I’ll need you to run messages between me and Shining Armor. Rarity, you’ll be designing clothes for my brother and Cadance so they can blend in here. Applejack and Pinkie Pie can help with the baking. Rainbow Dash can provide a cloud cover for them to enter and leave town. And Spike—”
“Ugh.” Spike lifted his head up, still nauseous on the couch. “Y-yes?”
“I’m going to need you to buy more pens and paper from the store.” Twilight tossed aside the now-finished checklist and summoned another sheet to her hand. Her writing hand had barely stopped moving. “This is a huge opportunity and I can’t afford to miss a single detail!”
Spike raised his fist in solidarity. “You can… count on me!” Then he fell back against the couch and went back to being sick and exhausted.
Rarity, meanwhile, was prancing around the living room in joy. “Oh, can you believe it? I’m going to be a tailor for royalty! It’s a dream come true!”
“Please don’t go overboard,” Twilight advised, not bothering to look up from what was now her third checklist. “They’re traveling incognito. They can look good, but nothing showy.”
“Oh, but of course!” Rarity grabbed one of the curtains by the window and wrapped herself in it like a cloak. “Only the finest in stealthy attire! Beauty in simplicity, that’s my motto!”
“Sure it is,” replied Twilight. She scribbled her pen over the bottom of her list, but it was already low on ink. Then she glanced at Spike. “Did you get to the store yet?”
“I’m… getting there…” Spike twitched as though he were about to get up, but instead his eyes fell shut. Twilight smiled as she heard him begin to snore.
She decided that three and a half checklists would be enough. As soon as she scribbled one last footnote, she rolled up the papers into a bundle and handed them to Fluttershy. “Make sure this gets to Shining Armor right away.”
Fluttershy glanced at the blue jay on her shoulder and blushed. “Um, sorry about the weight. Maybe you can get your friend Rigby to help carry it?”
The blue jay tweeted something furious at Fluttershy, but grabbed the bundle in its talons and managed to fly out through the open window.
Twilight nodded her thanks at Fluttershy. But before her pink-haired friend could reply, Rarity had decided to jump into her arms and and pointed at the open window.
“No time to waste, darling!” she exclaimed. “We must return to the boutique at once!”
Fluttershy’s legs wobbled under her friend’s weight. “Oh, dear. Maybe we could get a cab?”
“At once!”
With a sigh, the winged girl floated off of her feet and into the air. Twilight reached for the window and pulled it further open to give Fluttershy room to fly out with Rarity in her arms. She shook her head and smiled as they flew off at an anxious pace.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Chapter Eighteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Eighteen
A whole week had passed since the day they received Shining Armor’s letter. Twilight hardly got any sleep, being so focused on preparing everything. Spike, however, tried to nap when he could—and when he could slip away from Twilight’s notice, he was able to change his diaper.
His control was slowly returning, but not fast enough. He would just have to make it through the whole visit without drawing attention to himself.
At the end of that first week, everything was in place. It was a very cloudy evening when Spike was abruptly teleported out of the living room. He regretted not being able to finish eating his cupcake, but when he reappeared, he was outside Fluttershy’s cottage on the edge of town.
Twilight and the others were already waiting outside. Spike hurried over to them.
“Should be here any second now,” Twilight was saying.
To her right, Applejack was giving Rarity an odd look. “I thought we was supposed to be quiet about this get-together. You call that quiet?”
Rarity laughed and tilted her feathered hat coquettishly. “Do you not? As far as my headwear goes, this is positively pedestrian!”
From out of nowhere, Pinkie Pie bounced up between them. “Pedestrians? Oh, no! What if they end up crossing traffic when the Prince and Princess get here and there’s a huge commotion and we all end up in a traffic jam?!” Then she stopped bouncing and gasped. “You guys! We should brought some homemade jam! Just give two seconds and I’ll get some from the—”
Twilight lifted a finger. “Pinkie Pie? No.”
“But Twilight—!”
“Pinkie!” She took out a piece of wrapped candy from her pocket. “Stay!”
The excitable girl stopped jumping around and fell quiet. Twilight smiled and tossed her the candy—which Pinkie Pie caught in her mouth. And chewed. And then spit out the wrapper, much to Spike’s amazement.
Behind them, the cottage door swung open and Fluttershy came dashing out. A pair of white butterflies hovered over her shoulders as she ran up to the group, gasping with excitement.
“Oh, they’re here! They’re here!”
Everyone turned to the road ahead. In the distance, they got a glimpse of Rainbow Dash steering a small raincloud with her hands and feet. Riding under the cover of that cloud was a horse-drawn carriage with a pair of familiar travelers in it.
Twilight immediately started bouncing in excitement as they approached. “Oh my gosh, they’re here!” She giggled and waved, but Applejack quickly pulled her hand down.
“Whoa there!” she warned. The wind picked up speed as Rainbow Dash’s cloud drew closer. Applejack clutched at her hat. “Everyone inside!”
Spike followed them into the cottage. As he looked back, he saw the carriage stop and the two hooded riders jump off. One of them threw a gold coin up at the driver, who nodded and drove off without a word.
By the time Rainbow Dash had kicked the cloud apart and rejoined the group, there was a great commotion in the cottage. Spike was high-fiving Shining Armor while Twilight and Cadance went through their usual greeting.
“Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake! Clap your hands and do a little shake!”
It was good to see Twilight so carefree after a whole week of stressing out. Spike watched as Shining Armor greeted the rest of their friends. He felt only a sharp stab of envy when Rarity started blushing and giggling around him. But he knew Shining Armor had room for only one girl in his heart and that was enough for Spike.
“I can’t begin to tell you how grateful we are to be here,” said Shining Armor. “It’s been nothing but royal events and guard duties since we last saw you guys.”
“Sounds delightful!” Rarity exclaimed.
“And what’s wrong with guard duty?” Rainbow Dash added. She nudged Shining Armor with her elbow. “I’d love to spend all day chasing off monsters and being awesome like you!”
The Captain of the Guard frowned. “It’s not awesome. Trust me.”
Twilight quickly placed herself in between them. “Ha ha, I’m sure we’re all very excited. But we should really be going. We need to reach the library before nightfall, don’t we, Fluttershy?”
“Oh, yes!” Fluttershy flapped her wings to propel herself up toward the ceiling and beckoned for a pair of butterflies from out the corner. She whispered something to them and watched as they flew out the open window.
Spike smiled. He couldn’t wait to see this.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                     Chapter Nineteen                      
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
As she flew over the boulevard, Rainbow Dash waved for everyone’s attention. “Hey, check it out! The Great Migration’s a week early!”
Everyone looked up in amazement. Thousands of butterflies fluttering through the cloudy sky, a brilliant stream of white, orange, and pink. Fluttershy was flying at the rear, using two white butterflies to direct the whole parade up the street. She didn’t seem the least bit anxious about everyone watching her.
While all this was going on, hardly anyone noticed a small cluster of butterflies peeling off from the rest of the swarm, taking a detour downtown toward the library—and Twilight’s apartment.
As a small cloud of white butterflies entered through Twilight’s front door, Rarity found herself giddy with anticipation. It wasn’t supposed to be a surprise, but she couldn’t help herself. The spectacle was just too magnificent!
Then Twilight came out from the kitchen and waved her hand, parting the butterflies with a ripple of violet light. Shining Armor and Cadance stepped out from the cloud, holding hands and laughing. Twilight waved again, opening the front door with her magic as the butterflies flew away.
“Wow,” said Cadance. She wobbled and leaned into Shining Armor for support. “That’s pretty fun. We should travel like that more often!”
“I’m sure Fluttershy would be happy to arrange it!” Twilight replied. She went back to bouncing up and down like an eager schoolgirl. “But right now, dinner is being served!”
Applejack and Pinkie Pie stepped out of the kitchen, presenting a table laden with rich foods and drinks. Rarity noticed that Spike was already surreptitiously dipping his finger into a layer of frosting on one of the cakes, but decided not to say anything. It would be easier to remember not to eat from that particular cake.
“On account of you being our guests, we’ve spared no expense tonight!” Applejack declared. She tipped her hat and pointed out the different foods. “Everything from applesauce to apple fritters! Baked apples, apple pie, apple salad, apple strudel…” She stopped for a quick breath, then added, “And as for the second course—”
“Also, carrot cake!” Pinkie Pie held up a surprisingly small cake on a dish. “If you’re not too keen on apples.”
Shining Armor laughed. “Don’t worry, we like them just fine.”
Applejack looked back at the table. “Well, good! I’d hate for all this to go to waste!”
A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy arrived. Rarity was pleased to see Fluttershy wearing the simple gown she’d designed for the occasion. However, Rainbow Dash had decided to wear her sweat-stained, dirt-covered flight suit. It was marginally cleaner than usual, but still a disgrace in Rarity’s eyes. How could any person go out looking like that—even up in the air?
“Hey, Rarity,” said Twilight, pulling her aside. “If you have any free time tomorrow, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Why, of course, darling!” Rarity’s head was already buzzing with calculations. She could fit in Twilight’s request in between designing mittens and sewing t-shirts.
Before she could go on, Twilight quickly glanced over her shoulder at the gathering dinner party. Then she leaned in and whispered, “What I really need is what you did for Spike. But… in my size.”
“Oh.” Rarity felt her cheeks redden. “Oh, I see. Well, that shouldn’t be too hard, I suppose.”
“Glad to hear it.” Twilight began to bounce back and forth, then glanced once more at the dinner table. “And on that note, I need to use the little girls’ room. I’ll come by tomorrow, then?”
“Of course! Come anytime, darling.”
Twilight waved as she dashed upstairs to the bathroom. Rarity smiled and turned away. What a strange coincidence, she mused.
But on her way to join the others, something caught her eye. A sudden dull gleam of light from her bracelet. Rarity frowned. It shouldn’t have done that.
Then she looked up at Spike, sitting in between Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash. Now that she thought about it, Spike did seem a bit nervous. He couldn’t stop shifting in his seat, even while he stuffed his mouth with apple pie and sandwiches.
It looks like someone’s going to need a firm talk when this is over, Rarity decided. But she put on a brave smile and took her seat beside Fluttershy, as if nothing could possibly be wrong.

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                      Chapter Twenty                       
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty
Spike poked his head out of his room late that night. It was long after everyone else had gone to sleep; Twilight had insisted that their friends stay at their home for the night. Shining Armor and Cadance were allowed to have Twilight’s room while Twilight bunked with Spike. The rest were camped out in the living room in sleeping bags.
Trying not to wake his sister, Spike crept toward the bathroom as fast as he could. His diaper was wet and he needed to be dry when he woke up. He couldn’t afford to grab a new diaper in the morning if Twilight was still in his room.
“Just a little further,” he whispered to himself. With a deep breath, he jiggled the doorknob. The bathroom door swung open silently, and once he rushed in, he pulled it shut just as quietly.
Sighing, Spike was relieved—in more ways than one. He felt a warm trickle in his diaper, which was already soaked. By now, he’d gotten better about his control, though it still wasn’t perfect. He wasted no time in getting the old diaper off, wiping himself, and taping on a fresh diaper that he’d grabbed from under his bed.
But now Spike was faced with a new problem: how to dispose of the old diaper. Couldn’t leave it in the wastebasket; someone would notice it. Couldn’t hide it under the bed; Twilight would probably smell it as soon as she woke up. But what else could he do?
Then, as he put his pajamas back on, it hit him—the kitchen trash! He could bury it under all the scraps and garbage left over from the party, where no one would ever look.
It was the best plan. Spike was so enamored with it that he scooped up the old diaper and ran right out of the bathroom—and smacked into something standing in the hall.
As he fell back, Spike felt the diaper slip out of his grip. But instead of dropping onto the floor like he did, the diaper hung in midair. Suspended by a cloud of bright violet magic.
He looked up slowly. “Uh oh…”
“Is there something you want to tell me, Spike?” Twilight towered over him, arms crossed and wearing her nightgown.
“I don’t… I mean, it’s not what you think…” Spike hung his head in shame. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I was embarrassed that the spell didn’t work.” He sagged further in defeat and added, “I didn’t want you to think you’d failed.”
“But she didn’t fail, Spike.” Cadance appeared next to Twilight, wearing a dark pink robe and slippers. Even with tangled hair and half-open eyes, she still had the most brilliant smile Spike had ever seen. “The spell just took longer with you. Its magic is powered by love and faith—something I taught Twilight a long time ago.”
Twilight smiled back at her former babysitter. “Thanks for that, by the way.”
“My pleasure, sweetheart.” Then Cadance leaned down and stage-whispered to Spike. “And there’s no reason to feel embarrassed about it. I knew a little girl who was just your age who had the exact same problem. Poor thing got so nervous she could hardly keep her sheets dry.”
“Celestia help me,” Twilight groaned. Her cheeks turned bright red.
“I’m surprised you never told him. It took quite a few of my love spells to help you through it.”
Spike stared. “You, too?”
“Aw, shucks, it’s a lot more common than ya think!” Everyone turned to see Applejack coming up the hallway. “Why, I remember we had to keep Apple Bloom in training pants for almost a whole year. She was worried her cutie mark was gonna be a yellow stain!”
“And I remember a young girl at Flight Camp who got teased a lot for having a shy bladder,” Rainbow Dash chimed in from out of nowhere. “But I set the record straight on them!”
Spike blinked. “Wow, Rainbow Dash. Even you?”
The young flier’s bravado faded in an instant. “What? No, not me! I meant Fluttershy! I was always taking on bullies!” She crossed her arms defiantly. “I never had a wetting problem!”
“Don’t feel too bad, Spike!” Pinkie Pie materialized behind Spike, hugging him tightly. “Being a kid is about having fun, and who says diapers can’t be fun?”
“And yet,” Twilight added drily, “you’re still embarrassed about that time I found you in a diaper while you were babysitting the Cake twins.”
“Twilight!” Pinkie Pie moaned. She crouched and held Spike out like a shield. “You said you would never tell anyone about that!”
“The point is, Spike,” Cadance interrupted, “that you don’t need to worry about this. You’re not alone. You have friends who care about you and will help you at every step of the way.”
Spike looked around at all his friends, who smiled back encouragingly. He felt good inside. A little scared, sure. But he was happy to know that they cared.
With that in mind, he hurled the used diaper into the bathroom wastebasket, not caring who saw. When he came back out, Spike noticed Twilight and Cadance whispering something quickly to each other. Twilight was still blushing, but she kept glancing at her little brother and winking.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“Cadance and I have a surprise for you,” said Twilight, “but it’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” She waved her hand, letting a wave of purple light carry Spike off his feet and into her arms. “Now, I think we’ve all earned a good night’s sleep, don’t you?”
“You said it!”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Chapter Twenty-One                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-One
When Spike woke up the next morning, he was alone in his room. He rubbed his eyes, trying to remember what dreams he’d been having.
Then he remembered the late-night encounter with Twilight and immediately checked his diaper. It was, unfortunately, pretty wet.
Spike sighed and slid out from under the covers. He was about to get undressed when someone knocked on his door.
“It’s open,” he called out.
To his surprise, Cadance came in. Her hair was neatly combed and she was wearing one of the simple pink dresses that Rarity had made for her. She didn’t look much like a princess anymore. More like how Spike remembered her when he used to live in Canterlot.
“Uh…” Spike held his hands behind his back. “Morning, Cadance. How are you?”
“I’m great, Spike,” she answered brightly. “But I’m more concerned about you.”
He automatically said, “I’m fine.” Then he frowned and added, “Well, actually…”
“It’s okay.” Cadance came over and patted his shoulder. “That’s why I’m here. Twilight is out with Shining Armor, so it’s just the two of us here.” She affectionately squeezed his shoulder. “So, would you like me to change you?”
“What?” Spike drew back, coming up against the bed. “No, I… you don’t have to do that.”
“Oh, all right.” Cadance smiled and turned away. “I was only asking because I thought a love spell might do you some good.” She looked back and added, “To help with Twilight’s training spell.”
Spike had to admit it: she was very good. It wasn’t enough that Cadance knew how to be a great motivator; she knew how to tap into his concern for Twilight and her study of magic. He wanted the spell to work just as much as she did, and not just because he wanted to stay dry.
He needed to know that his sister was the best magician ever.
“Wait,” said Spike, sagging with relief. “You can change me if you want.”
Cadance grinned. “All right. Hop onto the bed and we’ll get started.”
In the end, it really was no different than when Rarity or Fluttershy had changed him. Cadance was very gentle when she cleaned him up. But when she picked up and unfolded a clean diaper, her eyes focused on him. At first, Spike was uncomfortable and tried not to stare back.
“Don’t worry,” said Cadance. “I’m just warming up the spell.”
“If you say… so…”
Spike’s words trailed off as he felt the magic take hold. He felt warm inside. Warm and happy. What was there to be nervous about? Cadance wasn’t going to tease him. She cared for him. So did Twilight and all their friends. The only shame was his own, and now that was gone, too.
As she slid the diaper into place, Spike felt a lot more confident than he had in a long time. He smiled dreamily. It was all so clear now. Either he’d regain his control with Twilight’s help or else he’d be in diapers forever—but Twilight would never let him face it alone.
Once Cadance had gotten the diaper on, she stepped back and snapped her fingers. A light blue spark appeared in the air over Spike’s head, and the spell was over.
He sat up and looked down at his diaper. He felt dry and secure, even if he was still diapered.
“Wow,” said Spike. He wiggled and jumped off the bed. “Thanks a lot, Cadance. I can never repay you for this.”
“Think nothing of it.” Cadance leaned down and kissed the top of his head. “Now, how about some breakfast?”
“Yes, please!”

//-------------------------------------------------------//
                    Chapter Twenty-Two                     
//-------------------------------------------------------//
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Two
Shining Armor was in the middle of telling one of his stories when he saw Twilight come racing downstairs with a large bag in hand. She paused only to give him a quick peck on the cheek and wave goodbye at her friends before teleporting out of Sugar Cube Corner.
“Nice to know that some things never change,” said Shining Armor, chuckling. He set down his juice and turned back to his audience. “Now where was I?”
“You were about to tell us more about the Crystal Empire!” Rarity pulled her hair in excitement. “Please, don’t hold anything back!”
Rainbow Dash, sitting to her right, rolled her eyes. “Well, you could hold back on the frou-frou stuff. I’d rather hear about the cool legends you uncovered!”
Applejack and Fluttershy nodded in agreement. This made Rarity whine a little, but she stayed riveted on Shining Armor as he laughed and continued his story. It was great being able to have a normal conversation again. Except for his time alone with Cadance, everything was formal. Defined by his duty to the empire.
As much as he loved what he did, Shining Armor would gladly trade it for a chance to be normal and see his little sister again.
Speaking of which, she would have quite a few stories of her own after her visit to Cadance…
When the swirling violet vortex dissolved, Twilight hoisted the bag onto her shoulder and made her way through her living room. She trotted toward the sound of giggling and familiar voices in the kitchen.
“…And so then I said, ‘What do I look like, a griffin?’” Spike and Cadance shared a laugh from across the dining table. Then he beamed when he saw Twilight enter. “Hey, you made it!”
“I sure did!” Twilight answered. It warmed her heart to see him and Cadance happy together. It brought back memories of life in Canterlot.
Cadance, meanwhile, was clearing the table with her own brand of magic. She was finishing a cup of tea while a wave of blue light carried the dirty dishes into the sink. The teacup was well-placed for Cadance to offer Twilight a sly wink.
“So, Spike,” said Twilight, dropping her bag onto the table. “How are you feeling today?”
“Better!” He grinned sheepishly. “You know, after that talk last night. And this morning was pretty great, too.”
“And feeling better about your condition, I hope?”
Spike nodded vigorously.
“Good!” Twilight flipped open the bag and reached inside. “Because guess what? You’re not alone!”
She had try very hard to stifle a laugh when Spike’s jaw dropped. He stared at the oversized diaper in her hand. “What?”
“I’ve been having my own control problems,” Twilight admitted. “You know how it is. I get so deep into studying that I forget, and then I have to run to the bathroom, and by the time I get back I’ve almost forgotten what I was doing…” She unfolded the diaper and held it out for Spike to examine. “But with these, I don’t have to worry anymore. And it was nice to give Rarity another project to work on.”
Spike glanced between her and Cadance. “You sure you’re not doing this… just for me?”
“I am.” Twilight handed the diaper to Cadance and winked. “I’m also doing it because, just like you, I have a problem that they can solve. And if we’re very lucky, we just might get through this together.”
A gleam of hope flashed in Spike’s eyes. “Yeah, I think I’d like that.”
“Wonderful,” said Cadance. She took the bag of diapers from Twilight and got up from the table. “Let’s go upstairs. It’ll be easier that way.”
With the last of the dishes put away, the three of them left the kitchen and headed into Twilight’s room. If not for the fact that Spike was with them, this might have been just another day for Twilight and her babysitter. She’d been careful not to mention how frequent her accidents had been as a child. She’d thought it didn’t matter anymore.
Guess I was wrong about that, Twilight mused.
Now in her room, she sat down on her bed. Spike hopped up beside her, giving a happy squeeze. She smiled and hugged him back.
Cadance put her hands on Twilight’s shoulders, smiling warmly. “Okay, sweetie. Relax. I’ve got this.”
It was hard not to feel like a little girl again. Lying on the bed while her babysitter pulled down her pants and slid a clean diaper into place. Even Cadance’s eyes were bright with love—a side effect of her empowering magic, helping Twilight remember all the great times they’d had.
As Cadance pulled the diaper into place, Twilight tried to memorize every gesture. She wished she could take notes on childcare from the best babysitter ever.
“Looks good,” Cadance commented. She gave Twilight a gentle pat on the back of her diaper. “How’s it feel?”
“It’s… nice.” Twilight wiggled her butt and checked the padding. “It feels so soft.”
Then Cadance was wrapping her arms around her, and Twilight returned the hug. She smiled when she felt a smaller pair of arms wrap around her waist and reached down to pull Spike close.
“Thank you,” he whispered fiercely. “Thanks for being the best sister ever.”
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” Cadance remarked and gave them both a quick kiss.

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                        Chapter Two                        
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Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Twilight put on a friendly smile when Spike came out of the bathroom, fresh from a shower and wearing only a towel. She also tried to hide the diaper behind her back, but Spike blushed once he saw her.
“I’m really sorry, but it’s for your own good,” said Twilight. She grabbed his hand and led him over to the twin-size bed in his room.
“Twilight, I can…” He grimaced. “I can do this by myself. You really don’t have to—”
“Oh, really, Spike? When was the last time you changed a diaper?” Twilight gave him another smile. “It’ll be fine. All you have to do is stay dry for a while and we’ll fix this problem right away.”
Cutting off further protest, Twilight picked up her little brother and laid him down on the bed. When she pulled the towel away, he blushed and looked away. She couldn’t stop blushing either. She hadn’t done this for Spike in years and he wasn’t a baby anymore. He’d have some issues about being touched.
Taking a deep breath, Twilight focused on the diaper in her hand. A violet aura sprang to life around her fingertips, making her feel warm inside. She stepped back and let the diaper in the air between her and Spike, who peeked at the spectacle.
“Just relax,” she said. With a wave of her hand, Twilight pictured the diaper unfolding itself and sailing toward the bed. With her other hand, she telekinetically lifted Spike’s legs up by the ankles. The diaper slid underneath his bottom and she let him back down.
Getting the diaper, though on, wasn’t that easy. She managed to pull the front part up, but the tapes just didn’t reach far enough around Spike’s waist.
Panting from exertion, Twilight wiped her brow and frowned at the diaper. Spike was able to sit up, though he had to hold it in place with both hands.
“Ugh, that’s never going to stay.” Twilight cast another wave of magic, twisting the diaper this way and that. All she managed to do was twist Spike around; he frantically clutched at the thin diaper before it could slip off him.
“Look, it’s fine, Twilight.” While holding the diaper in place, Spike awkwardly shuffled off the bed and over to his closet. “If I can get some underwear over it, it’ll stay on.”
“But it’ll leak!” Twilight shook her head. “No, this won’t work. If only someone could make a diaper in your size—”
She stopped. Spike turned around and stared at her. “What?”
Twilight smiled. “Actually, I think I might just know someone who can.”
The boy’s eyes widened. “Oh, no…”

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                   Chapter Twenty-Three                    
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Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Three
Dear Princess Celestia,
I always thought that growing up meant giving up childish things, but now I see that a grown-up doesn’t have forget everything they liked as a child. There’s so much wonder and magic in the world that it takes being both an adult and a kid to enjoy it all, and I’m glad I’ve got friends who’ll help me remember that.
Yours truly,  
Spike
Fluttershy drew her wings in close as she landed on the boutique floor. She let the Cake twins out of her arms, laughing as they raced through the living room. Then she drifted upstairs to Rarity’s workshop.
She hoped she wasn’t late. It was going to be one of the nursery days.
As she passed by the workshop, Fluttershy greeted the birds, squirrels, and rabbits inside. They all took a moment to stop and wave back before continuing with their clothing assignments. Then she glided into one of the guest rooms, where everyone else was waiting.
It was a lovely sight. Rarity sat in a rocking chair with Spike sitting in her lap. He wore only a t-shirt and a diaper, dreamily gazing at Rarity like usual. While Rarity made a show of fussing over his attire, Fluttershy could tell that she was genuinely happy to have him there and her hand never left the back of his diaper, patting it fondly like a real mother would.
“Glad you could make it, Fluttershy,” Twilight said from the far corner of the room. “Need any help with the twins?”
“No, thank you! They’ll soon be down for a nap.” Fluttershy turned toward her other friend. “To be honest, I could use one, too.”
“You’re just in time.” Twilight pulled aside the blanket, revealing her similar attire of a t-shirt and a diaper. She was lying on the bed, snuggled up against Cadence, recently returned from a six-week stint at the Crystal Empire. Cadance offered Fluttershy a smile as she approached and picked up an old book.
Fluttershy was really beginning to enjoy these nursery days. And she liked it even more when Cadance or Shining Armor could find time to teleport in for a visit. With a happy sigh, she rested her head against Twilight’s shoulder and waited for Cadance to continue reading her story.
THE END