//------------------------------//
// Snips and Snails (Co-op with Trixie and Sunset) 
// Story: Bathtime for Ponies Part 2 
// by Starry Eyed 
//------------------------------//

	In your time as the greatest foalsitter in Equestria, you’ve had to sit down with the parents or guardians of all the foals you’ve ever taken care of. Sometimes they were strict and demanding and other times they became close friends. Sometimes you have had to give them difficult talks about their foals' nutrition, allergies, or other needs.

But this, this is definitely the most awkward conversation you’ve ever had to have with any foals' parents. You had even called Celestia to vouch for you, just in case this didn’t work out.

Snips’ parents sat to your left and Snails’ parents sat to your right. Everyone had awkward looks on their faces. “So what you’re saying is… our kids are, in the future, right? And the future versions of them are here…”

You don’t want them to meet their kids from the future, throwing time and space out of balance and all that jazz, so you just nod awkwardly. At least you can rest a little easier knowing it’s not your fault this time.

Snails’ dad thinks for a moment, and finally responds, “Fair enough. You say they’ll be back tomorrow?”

You appreciate how understanding they are and just nod again. “Alright then, that's fine.”

You feel like you got off way too easy on this one, but you count your blessings and step outside. You talk with Celestia and she assures you again that Snips and Snails (from the future) are loving their accidental time travel, and that she will make sure they are fine until the spell wears off and they switch back to the appropriate time.

Satisfied that everything is fine in the past, you head back to check on the foals.


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“We wouldn’t be in this mess if YOU hadn’t used forbidden magic in the first place.” That sounds like Trixie. The volume of her speech isn’t high, but the tone is nearly condemning.

“You are the one who asked me to help you use the age spell without the Alicorn necklace! I seem to recall you weren’t supposed to do that either!” That sounds like Sunset Shimmer.

“It’s called the Alicorn Amulet. I should have known not to cast a spell that went, “Come to me from time now past.” I just didn’t know it would actually call them from the past.

You turn the corner and enter the room, “Yeah, you girls shouldn’t have used my time machine for a power source. Seriously, what did you think was going to happen?”

You stifle a laugh at what you see and even then you try hard not to burst out laughing. Sunset is telekinetically holding Snails, and both of them are covered in baby powder. COVERED. Trixie isn’t doing much better. She’s holding Snips telekinetically, and has something blotching multiple places on her coat, her hat and cloak nowhere to be seen. Both foals are crying, but more of a baby cry than a sad cry, and both mares look moments away from tears of their own, tears of frustration.

Sunset is scowling madly at you, but you become serious when you see Trixie’s pleading eyes. You walk over and take both of the foals from the mares. “Shhh, it’s okay little guys, settle down.” You then begin humming softly while you rock them and the little guys crying turns to sniffling and finally to cooing.

You look up to see two very stressed out mares that have no idea how you made that look so easy. You motion with your head (since the little ones are still in your arms) for them to follow you, and answer their question at the same time, “You’ve just got to have patience with them. You can take care of yourselves and have lives of your own, foals only have you. It’s not unreasonable that they would need a lot of your time. 

It’s Trixie that responds, “Sorry for the trouble sitter. None of this would have happened if we’d stayed out of your things.”

You shrug, “To be honest, I’m glad, all things considered. It’s nice to have some help for a change. If you hadn’t I would still have had to wash them, but by myself.”

Sunset shakes off some of the baby powder, but immediately regrets getting it on the floor. “I’ll clean that up later sitter. You’ve always taken such good care of the house after all.”

You correct her, “It’s not my house. Not really, it’s one the boss lends me for foalsitting. Though I do stay here sometimes.”

Trixie, not having a house of her own (that doesn’t have wheels) realizes the implications of that, “One? As in one of multiple?”

You motion for Sunset to get the door, “You’ll have to call the boss if you want to rent. Anyway, we need to get these little guys cleaned up.”

Snips and Snails now desperately try to get loose, but your grip has been tempered by countless struggles and the door is already closed. You set the two on the floor and begin to fill the tub. All the while they try to get out, and Trixie washes whatever is on her coat off in the sink. “It’s hay smoothie, in case you’re wondering. Turns out feeding foals is hard work.”

Yeah, you know how that feels.

Sunset just accepts that she’s covered in baby powder for now, “Do you really need our help for this part sitter?”

“I never forced you to do any of this. You can quit anytime you want.”

Neither Trixie nor Sunset is a quitter, so they stay. Trixie notices that Snips and Snails are cutely (but pointlessly) trying to just will themselves through the door. “They really hate baths don’t they?”

You turn off the water, “It’s normal at that age. Now, take a foal and let’s go.”

Again, Trixie picks up Snips and Sunset picks up Snails and the two are lowered into the tub. A white cloud forms around Snails from the baby powder washing off, but you don’t think it’ll hurt anything and continue. You open the bottle of shampoo and hold it like you are going to pour it, but not into anything. The adult unicorns get the message, and you prepare to pour the shampoo for them to collect in their magical grip.


But Snips and Snails are still very uncomfortable with the notion of getting a bath, showing no signs of adjusting like normal foals would. You get out the toys, to make it more enjoyable, but Sunset stops you. “That won’t be necessary sitter. We’ve thought of a better solution.”

Trixie conjures up her magic, and the bubbles begin floating up out of the tub, popping like a tiny firework display. The little guys laugh wildly, applauding their little show. “Gentlecolts!” begins Trixie, “Welcome, to the greatest bath magic show of all time! Starring the  great and powerful Trixie, and her assistant, the amazing Sunset Shimmer!” Finishes Trixie in a mysterious hushed tone. Sunset is giving her a 'I'll get you for calling me your assistant' look, but says nothing in front of the foals. 

“Now then, before our performance can get underway, we will have to take two volunteers. Now where do you suppose we could...” but by this point both young colts were raising their hooves as high as they could in hopes of being picked. Sunset, not wanting Trixie to get all the credit, pointed at them first, “Yes! you two in the front row, you will be our volunteers!” They both cheered as if they had really won something, making you laugh a little.

You pick up the shampoo again, wave it around a little for effect, and finally pour it out into nothing in particular. As you pour the shampoo, they collect it in their magical grip. To you it just looks like it’s flying, glowing shampoo; where’s Discord when you need him? The two foals applaud cutely at the display, and are so surprised that they don't even mind what happens next.

The two get to work scrubbing the two’s manes, and you get to work on Snips tail. Snips' tail is too small to even fit in your hand, so you just scrub it with the brush and some shampoo for a moment, and do the same for Snails. Since they have practically no tails to speak of, the whole process is over very quickly. Trixie and Sunset finish scrubbing their manes at this time too, and the bath looks like it really won’t take long.

You are impressed that the two managed to not only distract the two so easily, but even more so that they worked together to do it. You sit back, admiring the show just as much as the foals, and wondering how they are going to pull off the next part. For our next trick, Trixie and her amazing assistant will put on the most amazing firework display of all bathtime! Or should Trixie say...” the two unicorns work together, and bubbles resume floating up out of the tub, popping in colored displays of light. The foals don't notice, but you do, the popping bubbles create rain which is pouring down, rinsing their manes. 

With the bath (and show) over, Sunset takes the two out of the tub and places them on the mat. This time it is Sunset who is running the show, “And for our last trick, I will make the water, disappear!” And with the sunset glow of her horn, the foals are dry, and even the water in the tun is all gone. You yourself clap along with the foals, not sure where the water went.

The five of you step into the hallway, ready to have some snacks. “So little guys,” begins Sunset, “What kind of snacks do you want?” 

All of a sudden, the two foals begin resonating with magic, startling all of you. A massive energy spike blinds you all for a minute, and before you know what happened, the school-aged Snips and Snails have landed in a pile in front of you.

Snips looks around, realizes where they are and asks, “So... what are we supposed to do now?” The two mare blink a few times in surprise but then smile warmly, “Going for snacks, want some?”

The two colts spring to their hooves ready to go, “YEAH!”

You shake your head at it all and let the other go ahead, since you're getting a phone call. You were expecting the boss, but instead, you get your friend Twilight. “Ah, Twilight, how are you today.”

“Pretty good sitter, I just called you to ask a question. Do you know why a tub worth of bathwater got teleported onto me during my afternoon reading?”