Yosh E O'Ducky's Potty Training Tales

by Yosh-E-O

First published 12th of January, 2020

Stories I wrote from the Slice-Of-Life / Comedy series 'Potty Training tales'

These are the stories I have contributed towards the ongoing anthology of Slice Of Life adventures in potty training. This project was started by Super Pink Brony 12 and Latecomer.

If you like what I contribute, I encourage you to see all the tales included in the series that give Slice Of Life and Comedy fun in that awkward time in foal development.
https://www.fimfiction.net/story/438560/potty-training-tales

This is also an open series where anyone can join in! Pick a character, send a note to SPB 12, and add your fun ideas on how a character played a part in, or got through, the big step from little foal to big filly / colt.

Silver Stream -- On Land & Sea

At long last, the hippogriffs were free of the tyranny of The Storm King. The time had come for Queen Novo to lead her people back to the surface and once again, take to the skies to rebuild their homes atop Mt. Aeris. But there was a problem. One that was quite embarrassing but definitely needed proper addressing. This being getting her people acclimated to the old ways of maintaining proper hygiene.

The problems started when Queen Novo lead a small regiment up to fully assess the damage done when Tempest Shadow had assaulted the kingdom to get at the enchanted pearl.

"Mom?" Princess Skystar nervously giggled. "I've got to do that thing we did in the potty pool, and I don't know what to do with no potty pool to go too!"

Queen Novo looked around to see that her daughter's outburst on the matter had brought rise to others in her assessment party starting to squirm. "Hold it!" She cried out of concern that someone would act without having a plan to best handle this unplanned for problem.

"But, Mom!" The orange-colored hippogriff whined audibly. "That's the reason I asked, because I just can't hold it anymore!"

Queen Novo panicked as she quickly spotted a destroyed building. "There!" she ordered. "Go there!"

"Okay!" Sky Star cried as she swooped into the run-down home, did her business, and came out a total chatterbox for how relieved she felt.

"I'm next!" A guard boomed as he darted in from where Skystar came out.

The process of hippogriffs going in and out of the derelict house started to reveal that the ruined building made a poor choice for a latrine. The wait for turns also caused some to have 'accidents'. Meaning Novo had to call off the whole expedition.

❊ ❊ ❊

Queen Novo and Princess Skystar, accompanied by some elder hippogriffs, started making trips back to the surface. This time with the goal of not only getting Mt. Aris back in shape but also to prepare her people for a life as hippogriffs over sea ponies, sea ponies that relied heavily on ocean currents eliminating liquid waste and cleaner fish processing the heavier stuff.

"What about diapers?" Skystar inquired to her mother. "Didn't I wear those until I was able to use the restrooms in the castle?"

Queen Novo blushed. "You're pretty old for diapers, Skystar." She remarked.

"But Mom!" Skystar chimed. "Aren't they supposed to make it so we keep things clean and tidy without making our environment like we did to that old house?"

Queen Novo was about to try again to quell her daughter's suggestion when an elder approached. "Your Majesty," He said with a blush. "For as outlandish the suggestion may be, I do believe it may be what is needed until we get the aqueduct and sewer system up and running again."

The Queen grew a stern expression. "I won't be caught dead in one of those," She scoffed. "And neither should any of my subjects after how we were humiliated by being forced underwater by The Storm King.

"Oh!" Skystar cheered. "What about those training pants thingies that have the fun pictures on them? They really helped when I was having some potty problems during the night!" Novo's eyes rolled.
"Your daughter has a point," The elder stated. "Some of us still have ourselves so trained that being able to hold out until we head back to Seaquestria isn't a problem. However the younger ones may not be so capable."

"Hee hee!" Skystar giggled with glee. "I can't wait to wear those cute ones with the little birds on them! They were so fun and would remind me about how important it was to not make an accident, because they'd fly away if I did!"

Queen Novo sighed. "You're definitely your father's child," But she nevertheless relented. "Fine. I'll send the necessary word to Equestria to see about making this idea of yours work."

"Yay!" Skystar cheered as she unintentionally had a bit of an accident. "See, Mom?!” She blushed. “This wouldn't have happened if I had those special training pants on!"

Novo put her paw to her head and sighed.

❊ ❊ ❊

The first delivery of the requested garments came within a span of a week. However, as ponies didn't have much familiarity with hippogriff sizing and shape, they were aided by the more closely-looking griffons who, when paid handsomely, had no problem in aiding the Equestrian manufacturers in designing the first batch.

"Bummer!" Skystar booed upon seeing how it had no design on it. "Why so boring?"

"Because you're not a hatchling," Her mom replied. "And neither is anyone else who comes up during reconstruction."

"Total bummer." The princess as pouted she put herself into the padded garment. The fit wasn't great but it was definitely tolerable. Far more tolerable than the alternatives currently available.

❊ ❊ ❊

The next few weeks were focused on the repair of the aqueduct and sewer system. The hippogriffs had no real experience in plumbing and consulted some plumber ponies and griffons to create a simple system, a system that would allow for fresh water to come in to every rebuilt home and business, while being linked to the old sewer system that went straight into a cave which let out over the ocean.

The training pants were helpful as the process went on. The older hippogriffs were the first to have no need of such garments. And with better ease-of-access to sanitary restrooms, the younger hippogriffs like Skystar, needed them less and less.

"Hey, Mom!" Skystar chirped as she flapped around her mom. "I'm a big girl again!"

"Thank heavens," The queen replied. "Though I will admit this was a good way to transition our people back from the sea."

"Hee hee!" The cheerful princess giggled. "Two great ideas in a single year! I am definitely proving that I'll be ready for the throne when you’re ready to retire and leave things to me to keep Mt. Aris safe!"

"Actually," Queen Novo informed her daughter. "Seaquestria will continue to stand."

Princess Skysar's beak dropped. "REALLY? But how?"

Novo held the enchanted pearl in her hand. "I'm going to get Princess Celestia to assist me in breaking the pearl down to where its magical effect will be of no desire to any wannabe Storm Kings.”

"Wow, Mom!" Skystar cheered. "That's brilliant!”

The queen beamed with pride. “If you think that’s brilliant,” She went on. “I intend to give a shard to everyone in our kingdom so they can go from Mt. Aris and Seaquestria whenever they please.”

“Wowie-Zowie, Mom!” Skystar glowed as she ran around in circles. “Shelly and Sheldon will be so happy knowing we can go back and forth to play on land and sea! It’ll be so much fun, and maybe we can even get my old dolls out and play together!”
Queen Novo sighed. "I really need to find a playmate for you.".

"You mean like that pony with the broken horn and cute little fuzzy guy who came to us for help just before The storm King attacked? I really liked her. She was fun and that little guy was so silly!" Skystar commented.

Novo felt it best to not remind her daughter of how it was , the now reformed, Tempest Shadow and Grubber to whom played dolls with her the very night of the attack and how Novo had caught the broken horn unicorn trying to steal the pearl during the night before the attack started.

"Hmm." Novo considered upon recalling how her niece, Silverstream, was very much like her daughter and how bringing her topside may be the perfect way to keep Skystar distracted while she focused on the rebuilding of the palace and finalized the completion of the Mt. Aris train station.

❊ ❊ ❊

“So awesome!” Silverstream shouted as she used a shard of the enchanted pearl to transform herself from a seapony back into a hippogriff. “I can’t believe we’re able to finally come out of the water!”

Skystar felt her pink-colored cousin’s enthusiasm. “It’s great, right?” She bounced. “Take a deep breath!”

Silverstream made a very audible inhalation of air before letting it out with a joyful expression across her face. “Wow!” She announced. “Actual air is amazing! Oh! I wonder if I can still fly?”

Skystar was going to say something but knew her cousin was one who had to live the experience over being told about it.

“Ow!” Silverstream whined as she crashed into the sand. “Guess I need to learn how to fly again, too.”

Princess Skystar saw this as good as any time to get the above-water potty training started. “That reminds me,” The orange hippogriff stated while reaching into a satchel she was carrying. “Are you ready to re-potty train along with me?”

Silverstream took to her feet quickly with anticipation. “Of course!” she glowed. “It’s got to be cool if it’s something you have to do to get back into being a hippogriff again! I can hardly wait to be able to explore everything topside as much as under the sea! There’s just so much to see, do, and know!”

The princess reached into the satchel and pulled out a pair of training pants that were the same size (and shape) as the ones she was wearing.

Silverstream’s enthusiasm became considerably less than before when she saw the drab designs. “I remember them being a whole lot cooler when I was a hatchling,” She grumbled. “Where are the fly-away birds for making whoopsies?” Skystar’s eyes grew wide.

“I said that too!” Skystar replied. “However, Mom says it would be degrading to make hippogriffs our age wear what hatchlings wear to get used to being topside again.”

“I know!” Silverstream suggested as she took the training pants from Skystar. “What if we drew on them?! We could do it like we did in art class before the Storm King kicked us out of our home!”

Skystar beamed. “I like how you think, cousin!” She cheered. “Let’s go have some fun and show Mom how my idea to get everyone topside again is the absolute best!”

Before heading up to Mt. Aris, Skystar had Silverstream relieve herself behind a tree surrounded by tall grass. She then helped her cousin into the training pants and led the way up to the city.

Silverstream blushed as the feel of the padding on her flank was quite noticeable. “So what do I do if I have to go potty?”

“We’ve got a couple of restrooms going but not many,” Skystar explained. “So you need to learn to hold it like you did as a hippogriff instead of as a seapony.”

“There’s a difference?” Silverstream wondered aloud, clearly baffled.

“Oh, definitely!” Skystar declared. “You may not even realize it until it happens, and it’s not fun at all without the water current and cleaner fish around to make it go away.”

Silverstream thought on it until she felt a warmth developing around her waist. “Wow,” She thought aloud. “The sun is warmer than I remember it being.”

Skystar looked for where the sun was and noticed it not directly glowing its golden light upon her cousin. “Where do you feel the sun at?”

“Behind me!” Silverstream squeed. “It’s so awesome!”

Princess Skystar allowed her eyes to make a quick check of her cousin’s training pants and found them to be colored yellow with a slight droop. “Silverstream,” She said as kindly as possible. “That isn’t the sun you are feeling.”

“It’s not?!” Silverstream gasped while looking around. “Then what is it?”

Skystar put a hand upon her cousin’s shoulder. “You got distracted and so excited that you didn’t notice you had to pee, and your hippogriff bladder let it all go.” She explained as delicately as possible.

Silverstream blushed as she dared to look at what the princess had taken notice of. “No-no-no!” She cried. “How did this happen?”

Skystar reached for her satchel to grab another pair of training pants, along with some items to help clean her cousin up and properly dispose of the used garment. “It gets easier,” She assured while gesturing towards a more private spot surrounded by tall grass. “Let’s get you cleaned up, and continue up to see all the cool new things everyone has done towards rebuilding our home.” Silverstream pouted.

“I bet I wouldn’t have had an accident if there were fun pictures on this thing,” Silverstream moaned. “I know I never wanted to make the birdies fly away on mine when I was little. Terramar and Mom tell me all the time how that’s what got me to be a big girl when I was a hatchling.”

Skystar shrugged. “And this is why I thought you’d be best to come up and show my mom how this idea is going to work! She may think my ideas are silly, but I know she’ll have to take them more seriously if my super-cool cousin agrees with me, too!”

❊ ❊ ❊

The capital city of the hippogriffs was bustling with construction. There were even ponies and griffons aiding in the rebuilding of the city.

“Where are all the kids?” Silverstream wondered as she noticed all of the hippogriffs in sight appeared as old as (if not older than) her parents.

“Mom wanted the elders out first because she says they remember how to be a hippogriff better than all us kids,” Skystar replied with a pout. “Even General Seaspray got to come up hear

Meanwhile, the pink feathered hippogriff continued to scan the scene, and was blown away by how well her original home was developing. “It all looks so awesome!” She cried aloud. “I don’t remember much from The Storm King’s attack, but I do remember it being really scary and how we were all emergency evacuated into the castle to go into the pool leading down into Seaquestria.”

“Kind of convenient, right?” Skystar pondered. “Though Mom says that the hippogriffs had been friends with the seaponies of generations past and were always welcome to their city under the sea if we ever wanted to come down for a visit.”

“Why didn’t we ever get to visit before The Storm King attacked?” Silverstream wondered.

“Likely because of The Storm King,” The orange feathered hippogriff concluded. “The transformation pearl was given to us by the sea ponies, and Mom wanted to keep it as much of a secret because she wanted it safe. Didn’t really help much when the Storm King found out anyways.”

“Makes sense,” Silverstream shrugged before she then felt her stomach churn. “Oh, uh, I think I have to do the other thing…”

Skystar gasped in worry as she didn’t know how or if her cousin’s bowels would hold up until they found a public restroom! “Can you hold it?” She asked Silverstream with hope.

“I’ll try,” groaned Silverstream. “It just really really wants to come out, and that wouldn’t be good at all!”

Skystar thought fast and recalled where the nearest restroom was. “This way!” She called while taking her cousin’s arm. “Just keep holding it!”

❊ ❊ ❊

“…Well,” Skystar began as a very embarrassed Silverstream looked up at her with tear filled eyes. “We almost made it.”

“I really, really tried!” The pink coated hippogriff pouted.

Skystar felt like a mother and, as such worked to comfort Silverstream. “I know you did,” She acknowledged. “You can’t help that the restroom was fully occupied, and that there was a line to get in.”

“I had no idea it would be so hard to be a hippogriff again,” Silverstream stated as she worked to ignore how she was being cleaned up by her cousin. “I guess it makes sense that all the grown-ups are topside while we are kept under the water.”

“Oh, Silverstream,” Skystar cooed while working another pair of training pants onto her cousin. “You’ll get this just like you’ve gotten everything else.”

“Really?” Silverstream declared with hope reflecting in her eyes.

“Of course!” Skystar encouraged. “Wasn’t it you who helped me learn all those cool tricks?”

The pink-colored hippogriff felt her enthusiasm returning. “Ooh!” She awed. “Maybe I can do stuff like that in the air once I get used to my wings again?”

Skystar laughed as she helped her cousin to her feet. “Most definitely!” She cheered. “But let’s first go see my mom and show how there’s nothing wrong with fun prints on training pants for getting potty trained above water.”

Silverstream’s wings flapped with excitement. “Definitely!” She cried. “I wonder if your mom will let us come up with the designs? I know those birds that flew away when I made an oops helped me a lot. I liked having fun, friendly birds and making them go away made me super duper sad!”

“You know what?” Skystar smirked. “The two of us can do anything because we are the most awesome hippogriffs ever!”

“Yeah!” Silverstream eagerly flapped her beak. “I remember your mom always saying that the two of us together was just too much!”

Skystar nodded. “That’s right!” But then feeling a familiar urge in her bladder. “However, I need to use the potty now.”

“Ooh!” Silverstream beamed. “Can I change you if you have an accident?”

Skystar blushed. “I’m hoping I won’t.” She replied while heading off towards the nearest restroom.

Silverstream sighed. “Oh, okay.”

An even more bashful Skystar then told her cousin.. “You know what, you can change me if I don’t make it.”

The pink hippogriff stomped the ground with delight. “Yay!” She cried as she ran and gave Skystar a big hug. “You’re the best cousin ever!”

Skystar felt her bladder release as a result of how much pressure her charismatic cousin put upon her. “Well,” she gulped while feeling a burning in her face. “Looks like you just got your wish.”

Totally ignoring how it was due to her tight hug that her cousin had an accident, Silverstream imitated all the motions that Skystar had done for her. “Okay,” She said while gesturing to the spot where she had been changed. “Come sit here and Momma Silverstream will get you all better.”

Skystar followed the instructions and smiled up at her cousin. “You know something, Silverstream,” She thought aloud. “Do you remember when we’d play house when we were younger?”

“Yeah!” Silverstream gleed as she went about mirroring what Skystar had done for her. “It was so much fun, and Terramar made a great hatchling!”

“Idea!” Skystar squeed. “Once we get you back to being a big girl again we can bring Terramar up, and we can play house with him as the hatchling again!”

“I love it!” Silverstream squeed. “Get me some birds on these things and I’ll be the best big sister ever to lil’ Terri-Mary!”

The two hippogriffs laughed as they finished the change, and headed off to the castle to make their case for fade-away bird prints to be put on all incoming shipments of hippogriff retraining pants.

Author's Notes:

It is my regret that I never could see Sky Star and Silver Stream with my own eyes. I went 100% blind in 2016. I would have loved to see the Hippogriffs but can only guess how they look by brief descriptions friends have kindly provided me.

This said, please pardon any design errors in this story. They are not intentional but best guesses.

Cozy Glow -- From Foal To Fiend

“She’s getting to be that age.” A worried mare said to her husband.

“I know,” The stallion replied with reluctance. “But it covers the ‘you know what’.”

The orange-eyed pegasus mare looked to her daughter. She was so innocent and adorable, just babbling on about how she was ‘best pony’ and how ‘everypony loves me because I’m so cute!’

“Shucks,” The pegasus father with purple eyes stated. “She’s just so gosh-darn cute! If only she didn’t have that ‘mark’.”

The velvet coated pegasus mare sighed. “I just knew something was wrong,” She remarked to her orange-coated husband. “That’s why I thought it best we find a simple place outside of Ponyville in the event bringing Cozy into the world may not go as well as it’s supposed to.” Tears started to form in her eyes as she watched her daughter continue to talk merrily about how she was going to always be loved and be best pony, and how Mom and Dad said she was special and how she’d have everything she ever wanted.

“It’s not your fault,” The stallion assured his wife while putting a wing around her. “She may be ‘different’ but she’s as cute as a button.”

“Momma,” Cozy greeted as her scarlet-colored eyes looked up towards her parents while she shuffled over to them. “Dada.”

Mrs. Glow quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and bent down to face her daughter. “Yes, Cozy?” She asked. “What can I do for adorable little you?”

Both parents watched as a distant expression formed on their daughter’s face, which soon brought about the tell-tale sounds of a diaper being filled. “I go potty!” Cozy cheered. “Now you change me.”

❊ ❊ ❊

Mr. and Mrs. Glow were both very different pegasi. They’d both struggled in school, had a very hard time making friends, and never seemed able to quite ‘fit in’ with everypony else in Cloudsdale. About the only thing that seemed to go right was finding each other and knowing they could relate together far more than with even their own families.

Worried for their foals, both families helped the pair to find a simple home to live in outside of Ponyville. Neither could quite grasp what was being taught about being a ‘working pegasus’ but Glowbright Sun and Daybreak Dream did have talents they could do quite successfully on the ground.

Glowbright was a very meticulous mathematician when working with non-numeric problems. If given a bag of seeds, he could quickly go about making sure each one was planted in exactly the right spot with precisely the right amount of soil, along with ensuring it was cared for even more efficiently than an earth pony farmer could.

Dawnbreak Dream was great with smells and colors. She knew almost every flower’s color, scent, and when the right time was to harvest them for making beautiful floral arrangements, wreaths, etc.

One thing both had been confused about, but never really got worried about, was how they felt so ‘happy’ together and why their ‘horse play’ was not something that should be done anywhere but in the privacy of their home.

One day though, Daybreak woke up and felt rather funny. Glowbright was worried and went to find his family for help figuring out what was wrong with his wife. He would have gone to a doctor but he was told to ask his family first if he was unsure of anything. It was at this time it was learned that Daybreak was pregnant.

Said pregnancy was kept a secret from every pony. Daybreak wore fancy dresses to hide her ‘big tummy’ and Glowbright spent more time doing the flower deliveries to those ponies who’d hire him and his wife for their uniquely-made arrangements.

Both families were present when Daybreak gave birth to a foal. However both were aghast when the newborn foal arrived with a cutie mark already imprinted onto her flank. Fortunately, buying slightly-larger sized diapers helped to hide this bizarre chess piece marking. What it didn’t hide was the foal’s seemingly insatiable need for attention.

Both Daybreak and Glowbright tried to do the normal parent things of letting their daughter, Cozy Glow, work towards being okay if left to herself for short periods of time. However it just wasn’t working and little Cozy would always end up being with one or both parents every minute of every day.

The struggling parents did try taking their daughter to play groups but she would throw quite the tantrum and lash out against anypony who didn’t see things her way. Eventually this resulted in Glowbright and Daybreak just keeping her home as they tried all they could to get their daughter to not be so needy.

❊ ❊ ❊

“Ponies are going to ask why she’s still in diapers,” Daybreak remarked while Cozy beamed cheerfully up at her mom, who went about cleaning her daughter up and placing a new diaper on her. “You don’t like wearing diapers and making messes, do you, my lil’ Glow Worm?” She asked her daughter.

“Like Mommy and Daddy with me,” Cozy cooed. “Diapers make Mommy and Daddy spend special time with Cozy.”

Glowbright let out a sigh as he picked up his daughter and held her close. “But we would be with you lots-and-lots,” He told. “Learning how to use the potty means you get all sorts of great attention from Mommy and Daddy for being a big filly and not making messes in your diapers.”

Cozy giggled in her father’s hooves. “But diaper makes Cozy cute!” She cried. “Foal get lots of attention and I no want to lose attention.”

The parents stared at each other. Cozy Glow was now getting close to being four years old and the diapers had to come off if they were to have any hope of getting her into school.

“I have an idea,” Daybreak suggested with a wide smile. “How about your daddy and I show you how to be cute without dirty diapers?”

Cozy appeared confused. “How?” She asked. “No want to lose friends, love, and no want to lose attention.”

“Don’t you worry, sweetie,” Glowbright added. “Your mommy and I will make sure you’re always getting lots and lots of love!”

Cozy giggled as she kicked about merrily. Her scarlet eyes filled with delight as her blue pigtails dangled adorably down her pink-colored fur.

So it came to be that Cozy would be given special treats for not using her diapers. This stemmed from her dad remembering all the things he knew to be cute from when he was little. “Golly-gee, Cozy!” He cheered when she succeeded in using the special chamber pot they had acquired just for her. “You know who’s adorably smart? You are!”

“Yay!” Cozy cheered. “Gee, golly cute is me!”

“And don’t you forget it!” Her father proclaimed as he helped to clean her up. “Soon you’ll be more swell than those icky, yucky diapers!”

“And what about my oh so adorable hair, Daddy?” Cozy asked while putting a hoof to her curls. “You like my hair, right?”

Her dad glowed with pride. “Your sweet-sweet mom knows how to make you irresistibly sweeter than plum pudding!” he announced. “Nopony will be able to resist our little glow worm!”

Cozy Glow cheered upon receiving such an immense amount of praise. So long as she got the praise she had no desire to use her diapers.

The trouble was that whenever she felt ignored, she’d waste no time in making a mess of herself until her mom and/or dad was forced to pay her every last ounce of attention they could spare.

❊ ❊ ❊

“Being a parent is hard,” Glowbright said as he carried a sleeping Cozy Glow in his hooves one day. “Do you think we are doing something gosh-golly wrong, Dreamy?”

The mare thought about this for a moment. “No,” She replied with a shake of her head. “We can’t put her into one of those schools again. They’d be so mean and I don’t want our daughter being bullied like we were for being ‘different’.”

Glowbright sighed. “Maybe she wouldn’t be teased?” He considered. “We need more time to work on our business, and Cozy needs to learn from somepony who can show her what we were never able to understand.”

“No,” Daybreak stubbornly persisted. “You remember when those other parents caught a glimpse of that cutie mark on her flank? If we didn’t say that we painted it on for her for a chess game we were playing they would’ve never stopped trying to hide their foals from us.”

Glowbright sighed. “Then what do you propose we do?” He asked. “We can’t just keep her trapped in the house forever.”

“Momma!” Cozy cried. “Let me see other ponies. I want to be loved even more!”

Dawnbreak glared at her husband. “Well…” She trailed off while giving her daughter a forced smile. “We’ll give it a try

The small preschool close to the home of the Glow family seemed like a great place to start. There was a great foal-to-teacher ratio and it would serve as the perfect test space for Cozy Glow to learn and make friends of her own.

Unfortunately Cozy’s personality soon came into conflict with the other foals in the school.

“Why you not share?” A unicorn foal asked her. “Sharing is caring.”

Only if you play with me!” Cozy announced. “I make rules!”

Then there was the trouble with the chamber pots.

“I gotta’go potty!” A freshly out of diapers colt cheered.

“No!” Cozy Glow protested. “I need potty first!” And she plowed past the colt without a second thought.

By this time the caretakers were on to Cozy Glow’s antics and made sure she didn’t bully the younger kids in her class. This, of course made the socially awkward filly very upset, and she made no effort not to make a mess right in front of those who denied her what was hers.

So yet again it was back to diapers. This got colts and fillies to tease Cozy quite a bit. At least until she made every effort to sabotage their ability to make it to the chamber pots on time. What Cozy didn’t plan on was being found out by the caretakers.

“You need a time out, little filly!” They scolded upon catching her in the act of trying to hide the key to the bathroom where the chamber pots were kept.

“But I’m cute!” Cozy protested. “You must love me like Mommy and Daddy!”

The caretakers would have none of it, so placed her in the ‘Time out’ corner where she promptly forced herself to use her diapers to get even with those who would deny her what she wanted. Negative attention was as good as positive for how it most frequently got her out of ‘Time Out to prevent a painful rash from developing.

It was a terrible day when the preschool told Mr. and Mrs. Glow that they were not going to deal with their daughter anymore. “She needs discipline,” The caretaekrs warned the parents. “Get her under control and we’ll be happy to have her back.”

❊ ❊ ❊

Years passed and there was no longer any need to cover Cozy’s cutie mark due to how she was at an age where having one was acceptable. However it was always hard to explain how she got it without stating the cover story that it had just happened while playing a game of chess with her parents.

“We just can’t keep sheltering her like this,” Cozy’s mother finally gave in. “Our daughter deserves an education. She deserves all the opportunities we never had. She deserves friends!”

Glowbright nodded in agreement. “I’m with you, Dreamy,” He replied. “I think I know just the place, too!”

“Where?” Daybreak inquired with a look of surprise. “Some place that will actually give our Cozy Glow a chance?”

Glowbright smiled wide as he showed his wife a letter of acceptance for Cozy Glow to attend Princess Twilight’s School Of Friendship. “The Princess Of Friendship will surely be able to help our daughter where no one lelse has even tried,” He beamed. “What do you say?”

Daybreak looked at the paperwork and worried about how Cozy would need to stay in a dormitory away from the safety of home. “I don’t know,” She worriedly remarked. “What if what happened back in preschool happens again?”

“It won’t,” The stallion reassured his wife. “Cozy has been getting better at showing she can handle herself. We’ve built up her self confidence to the point where nopony will ever take it away from her.”

“Yeah, Mom!” Cozy glowed with the cutest expression a filly could ever give. “I’ve been doing a whole lot of reading and it seems so swell to be a part of Twilight’s School Of Friendship! Golly, after reading so much about Twilight and her friends, I just know I’ll be everypony’s best friend!”

The mother looked to her husband and back to her daughter. “Are you sure?” She asked her daughter. “Do you think you can be away from Mommy and Daddy for so long?”

Cozy put on a very strong pose. “Geepers, Mom,” sSe said in a very calm and adorable tone. “I’ll show those ponies how you are the best parents ever! Golly, I’ll show how it is not nice to ever make anypony feel like they don’t belong because of being different.”

Daybreak was taken aback by her daughter’s self-confidence. Cozy was certainly a lot more confident than she or even Glowbright were while they were of school age. “Alright,” She smiled at her daughter. “You can go.”

Cozy went about flying about the house. “Oh, yay!” She cheered. “I can’t wait to be everyone’s friend! Everyone is going to love me and it’s going to be gosh-golly great!”

Her father smiled. He remembered a lot of things from his childhood that were super-cute and made sure to teach his daughter everything he knew about being sweet as sugar. Her mom spent time giving Cozy her mane curls that made her look more precious than any doll could ever hope to be. Both parents knew of how appearances were always important and wanted their daughter to be able to disarm anypony through her charms. Charm, confidence, and charisma always seemed to work in books about lonely ponies in search of understanding.

“I can’t wait to learn the Magic of Friendship!” Cozy cheered as she snuggled into her mother’s embrace. “Then I’ll make sure everypony knows how wonderful you both are as parents and how I’m the friend they’ve always wanted!”

And so after kisses and hugs goodbye, Cozy made her way into The School of Friendship. Her mind set on not letting anypony miss out on her being their best friend ever. It was her right. It was her destiny. It was what would redeem her parents who she knew had been hidden away, and Cozy was not going to ever let anyone or anything keep her from her goal: Of being right up there with The Princess Of Friendship.

Dinky Hooves - The Stork & The Mail Mare

Author's Notes:

This story goes alongside the entry by Super Pink Brony 12 entitled "Big Muffin - Little Muffin"

SPB 12 also helped me to edit the story so it better aligned with his addition in the series I worked with as a base.

Leon, Parker, and Nixi are all characters from my friend, Leon. There are stories here about Nixi, Parker, and Leon that can be read in my collection of tales.

Derpy Hooves, who was known also as ‘Muffins’, ‘Bubbles’, ‘Ditzy-Do’, and other such names, was the least likely mare any pony would believe could be a mother. However, despite having thought she had just eaten numerous batches of bad muffins, she was surprised to learn all the weight and sick feelings meant she was giving birth to a foal.

The Ponyville pediatrician opened the front door of his practice to find the mail mare appearing very confused as she stood frozen in plac,e holding out the mail meant for the doctor as a newborn foal now lay upon the ground. “I say,” He stated as calmly as he possibly could to not distress the already confused mail mare. “I think you must’ve met the stork on your way over here.”

Derpy felt relaxed enough to finish handing over the mail to the doctor after hearing this statement. “Really?” She asked. “But the stork delivers babies to mommies and daddies.”

The doctor remained calm and composed. “Well, my dear,” He said with a smile. “It would appear it is your turn to get a delivery from the stork.”

“Oh, wow!” The grey-coated pegasus chirped. “I’m a mommy!”

The pediatrician looked about to see if anypony was gawking at the scene. Fortunately there were no ponies around. “Okay, Derpy,” He calmly instructed. “Why don’t you bring your special delivery in, and we’ll get you both acquainted as mother and child?”

The wall-eyed pegasus looked to her mail satchel. “But I still have mail to deliver,” She protested. “Ponies get mad when they don’t get their mail on time.”

The pediatrician was amazed at how innocent and simple the yellow-maned pegasus was. “Tell you what, Derpy,” He informed the mare. “I’ll call the post office and let them know you have a doctor’s excuse to be off work to get time with your ‘special delivery’.”

“Really?” Derpy wondered as she was now admiring the foal that was trying to reach for her. “Who will deliver the mail while I’m off of work?”

The doctor laughed. “There’s always somepony,” He replied. “Now let’s get you in here so we can see what the stork delivered to you.”

❊ ❊ ❊

Derpy found it very easy to bond with her daughter, who she named Dinky for how small she was. The bubbly mare also felt something in herself change as she looked into the normal-appearing eyes of her similarly appearing filly. Similar with the exception that she was a unicorn and not a pegasus. There was also her eyes being normal and the fact she was a baby and not a full-grown pony.

As Derpy and Dinky enjoyed their time together, Mayor Mare, the pediatrician, and some local representatives for child welfare went into a meeting on how to go forward. The discussion was focused on if Derpy was fit to be a mother. Mayor Mare remained neutral as the pediatrician argued how Ms. Hooves was showing signs of a fit mother as the child welfare department representatives countered with how some pony with Derpy’s ‘condition’ could successfully raise a foal.

The meeting got quite heated until Mayor Mare finally intervened. “I hear both parties and see how each has a good reason to believe their choice for Ms. Hooves child should be one in the child’s best interest,” She firmly declared. “So I propose a compromise. Henceforth, Ms. Derpy Hooves will retain custody of her daughter. But will, without being made aware of the role of child welfare, be appointed a ‘helper’ to take notes while assisting her in being a good parent. We shall then meet every month to discuss progress and update the arrangements if so deemed necessary.”

Both parties appeared pleased in this outcome and went about preparing for Derpy’s return to her humble home.

❊ ❊ ❊

An independent party was hired to serve as a nanny/caretaker. Her name was Nixi and she was one of the best when it came to parenting strategies, child welfare, etc. None knew where she hailed from but she was always reachable through mailing to a special PO box within Ponyville’s post office.

Nixi was a unicorn mare who had white fur and a blue mane. She appeared a bit larger than the average mare, but nopony really gave it much thought. Most ponies only cared if she could help them with their foals while making solid decisions to ensure what was best for the little ones.

❊ ❊ ❊

On the day of Derpy’s return from the hospital, Nixi made a solid effort of converting the pegasus’ small home into a warm, welcoming, and safe place for little Dinky. Some questioned her on how she could support helping a pegasus who had no knowledge of how ‘the stork’ happened to find her. However Nixi would calmly touch on how she had seen other situations that were as hard to believe and had her own sons whom ‘came to her’, and which she cared for. This could’ve been questioned further, but Nixi was known for using clever words to share her thoughts. Nopony would ever doubt what she did as a result of just how good she was at being a mother.

Derpy, for her part, was surprised at how much her home had changed since she had been away from it for over a week. “Oh, wow!” She awed. “It’s like a little nursery in here.”

“That it is, Derpy,” Nixi nodded. “Now how about we get Dinky into her crib so I can show you how everything works?”

“Okee!” Derpy sing-songed.

❊ ❊ ❊

Derpy soon found it hard to leave her daughter’s side. She was even noticing her eyesight getting better, for she bumped into fewer-and-fewer things than she once did prior to her visit by ‘the stork’.

Nixi was quick to pick up on this. “You’re an amazing pony, Ms. Hooves,” The white coated unicorn remarked while magically powering a bottle warmer. “I do believe the stork made a good choice when he delivered your bundle of joy.”

“You think?” The wall-eyed pegasus wondered. “I heard some ponies think I’m making up that the stork came and how this filly is mine.”

Nixi nuzzled against Derpy. “I guess we’ll just have to show them that miracles do happen,” She soothed. “But we still have some things to get used to before Dinky wakes up.”

“Okee!” Derpy beamed. She was definitely feeling ‘Bubbly’.

❊ ❊ ❊

Time passed and Nixi had written very detailed reports on Derpy’s progress on being a mother. Some felt Nixi’s findings were all a work of fiction, but anyone who would be ‘casually invited over for dinner’ would see just how independent Ms. Hooves was in caring for her happy-go-lucky daughter (who was more than meeting her milestones). It seemed impossible but it was happening. And by Dinky’s first birthday, Nixi had officially signed and notarized a document that would prevent anypony from taking Dinky from her loving and caring mother.

“Ms. Hooves,” The unicorn beamed towards the wall-eyed pegasus who had her daughter safely harnessed in a travel chair upon her back. “I must go now to tend to some matters back in my home dim-err-hometown.”

“Oke.” The grey coated mare replied. Her mind was more on her daughter than Nixi’s words.

“Just know,” Nixi continued as she hoofed a small envelope to Derpy. “If you ever need anything, please deliver this to my PO box, and I’l come back to help as soon as I can.”

“Okee.” Derpy replied again as the playful babbling of Dinky was her current focus.

“Be well, Ms. Hooves.” Nixi declared as she headed out of the Hooves’ home and soon left.

❊ ❊ ❊

Ponies were amazed over the following year. They noticed how Derpy brought Dinky everywhere she went. She even brought her daughter to work upon being reinstated to return. Most thought this was insanity for how often the mail mare was known for running into walls, posts, trees, etc. However this had now become more the exception than the rule for Derpy.

“Perhaps a miracle did happen?” Some ponies would openly declared as they’d see how the mother and daughter combo worked together in delivering the mail. Ms. Hooves could have easily found someone to foalsit while she was at work, but she wouldn’t have it. Dinky was her ‘special delivery’, her ‘little muffin’ and she felt more confident, appreciated, and loved when her baby unicorn was around.

❊ ❊ ❊

All was going well until the pediatrician saw Dinky still in diapers after her fourth birthday. He pulled Derpy aside to discuss the matter with her. “Ms. Hooves,” He said as caringly as he could. “Your daughter is very bright. And smart unicorns like Dinky start going to school at around her age.”

“Oh, goody!” The bubbly mare chirped and clapped her hooves. “Does this mean I have to deliver some papers to City Hall to get her enrolled into school?”

The doctor seemed surprised at Ms. Hooves knowing of the procedure to get a child started on their education. However he soon realized that Derpy had learned a lot of how pony society worked from being a mail mare. “Yes,” He responded, knowing he should cease trying to talk down to Ms. Hooves. “But, has Dinky showed any interest in not being in diapers?”

Derpy thought about this for a bit. “No…,” She answered and trailed off. “We just say her diaper is like my mail bag and I get to find special deliveries in it that I clean up, just as Ms. Nixi taught me.”

Derpy than laughed. “Dinky’s a mail carrier in her own way,” She continued. “We call her diapers ‘mail bags’ and she lets me know when she is ready to deliver to the nearest ‘mail box’, which is actually a diaper pale but don’t tell her that.”

The doctor was impressed, yet again, on how Derpy’s childlike mind just found all sorts of ways to make positive things that other ponies would never be able to do in a similar situation. “Well,” He tried to continue. “Dinky can’t be making ‘deliveries’ when she’s at school.”

“Why not?” The mail mare asked with a baffled expression. “It’s not a problem if somepony changes her. And she’s always happy to play, and she is safe as a foal in diapers. Potty training was a difficult experience for me, I don’t want to make Dinky go through the same thing I went through.”

The doctor felt he was getting a little hint of what the bubbly mare’s past was like. Perhaps a part of her, without knowing it, was trying to protect her daughter from traumas that had happened to her when she was her child’s age?

Either way, the doctor knew that something had to be done. Ponies would start to take notice and would get suspicious. “Hey!” He announced. “What if we got Nixi back here to help you get Dinky happily out of diapers?”

“Okee.” Derpy replied as she didn’t really know what else to say. Plus, she did like Nixi and knew theuUnicorn cared about her and her daughter. If there was anypony who could help make the difficult aspects of parenthood easy, it was her.

❊ ❊ ❊

“How are your boys, Ms. Nixi?” The mail mare asked as the unicorn went about creating an encouraging system for Dinky to get out of her diapers.

“Leon and Parker?” The unicorn beamed. “They’re doing great. They’re probably both back playing video games right now.”

Derpy’s eyes blinked. “What’s a video game?” She asked.

“Oh!” Nixi blushed. “Just something my little hatchlings like to play while Mommy is away.”

Derpy still remained confused. “How old are your boys?” She asked.

Nixi, knowing Derpy wouldn’t give out any of her secrets, and having no worries in sharing some truths she’d nomrally hide from those who asked for her assistance, replied. “Whatever they want their age to be. They’re good boys when they aren’t fighting over the space battle toys.”

Derpy was now officially lost. “Okee,” She replied again. “How did you get them out of diapers?”

Nixi had to pause as her boys had been in diapers for years. However her boys also were this way due to the magic that made up her realm (and it was also partially by their choice, though where she was from that was not uncommon). “They’re still having some trouble,” She decided to answer. “Though every dragon is different.”

“Dragon…,” Derpy trailed off, focusing on that.

Nixi now knew she was overloading Derpy with information that would not be of any relevance to her task at hoof. “Well it doesn’t mattter. We’re here for Dinky,” She deflected. “So how’s about we go with the ‘lead by example’ approach?”

“Okee,” The wall-eyed mare nodded. That’s what the books she’d consulted had advised “What do I do?”

SHING

WHOOSH

SNAP-SNAP

“Whoah!” Derpy gasped as she was suddenly strapped into a diaper. “I don’t need diapers, Ms. Nixi.”

The unicorn nodded and smiled. “You and I know that,” She encouragingly replied. “However, Dinky seeing your model behavior to go potty will help her see how important it is to not rely on diapers, and instead use the potty.”

“Oh…,” The pegasus considered. “Okee.” Dinky was going to be in for a very big surprise when she next saw her mommy.

❊ ❊ ❊

Nixi’s approach didn’t go exactly as she had planned. Derpy sort of “accidentally on purpose” did the wrong thing with her diaper so Dinky would know what not to do. It all worked out in the end when Dinky used her potty without a fuss, and Derpy offered her muffins in exchange for not telling anyone what had happened.

Dinky soon came around to the idea of making her “special deliveries” to the nearest “mail box”, the only thing that changed is that she no longer had her “mail sacks” to help her. There was just the one, the plastic training potty in the bathroom. Even though she wasn’t afraid of the bigger model, the one that did that cool flush thing, her mother wouldn’t let her use it.

“You’ll graduate to the big potty when you’re a little older and can make it to the potty on time more often.” Derpy advised. And Dinky was never one to disobey an order from her mommy. Her mommy could be so silly, but that was just what Dinky liked about her.

Gabby Griffon -- From Diapers To Deliveries

“Gildy!” A young, grey-feathered griffon chirped. “Take me to Junior Speeders!”

The white-and-brown feather griffon scowled at the fledgling, who was doing some kind of annoying dance. “No way,” Gilda grumbled. “No diaper dweebs allowed at Junior Speedsters.”

The grey feathered griffon started to feel tears well up in her eyes. “But…,” She whimpered. “Nobody help me use potty.”

Gilda grew a rather sinister smile. “Tell you what, Gabby,” She replied. “Let’s see what Papa Gruff can do for you.”

Gabby returned to being all excited as she ran circles around Gilda. “Yay, yay, yay!” She cheered while quickly orbiting the older griffon. “Then I be Junior Speeder!”

Gilda groaned. “Yeah,” She scoffed as she tried to move while Gabby continued to circle around her. “It’ll be good times.” As long as she wasn’t the one having to teach Gabby she didn’t really care. She wasn’t a parent, and potty training was something elder griffons like Papa Gruff did anyway.

❊ ❊ ❊

“What’s that?” The green-feathered griffon squawked. “Who said I would get you out of diapers, missy?!”

Gabby was unphased by Papa Gruff’s displeasure over being even considered for such a monumental task. “Gildy said you can!” She merrily replied while flapping her wings and hopping from side-to-side. “That’s why you Papa Gruff!”

The adult griffon narrowed his eyes. “Gilda, eh?” He considered as he noticed Gabby had a noticeably wet diaper. “Well you’re already wet, and you can’t start off wet. Not unless you want a bunch of stormy clouds on your chart.”

Gabby lowered her head. “I no want to wet my diapers or get stormy clouds.” She pouted.

“Tell you what,” Papa Gruff smirked. “You go have Gilda change that wet diaper of yours and come back dry. Then I’ll help you learn how to use the potty, deal?”

Gabby’s mouth grew an immense, open-beaked smile. “Hurray!” She chirped. “Thank you, Papa Gruff! You the best!”

The older griffon smirked. “Think nothing of it,” He replied while ushering Gabby out of his home. “Now don’t come back until you’re all dry, understood?”

“Okee!” The young griffon giddily said while running at speeds that made it surprising such a sodden diaper could even remain attached to her plot.

Papa Gruff laughed. “That’ll teach her,” He remarked while closing his front door. “Have fun, Gilda. I told you I ain’t running a daycare center. I got enough problems as it is.”

❊ ❊ ❊

Gilda was gathering some rocks to throw at one of the rundown buildings in Griffonstone when an extremely wet Gabby came along side her.

“GILDY!” The grey feathered griffon seemed to shriek. “Papa Gruff says he teach me if you change my diapers!”

Gilda groaned. “Forget it,” She answered with little emotion. “I’m busy. You can just stay in the diaper and find someone else to teach you.”

Gabby smiled. “If I help you,” She proposed. “Will you change me?”

It took almost everything in Gilda to not scream in rage at the fledgling. “No,” She firmly stated. “You’re too little to do what I’m doing, and I’m not gonna tell you.”

“Will getting out of diapers make me big?” Gabby asked while eagerly flapping her little wings. “Then I be Junior Speeder and help Gildy with big griff stuff!”

Gilda knew her anger was not towards Gabby but to Papa Gruff. Papa Gruff was only a papa by name and strongly disliked having been made to take up (and live up to) such a title.

Gilda put down her collection of stones and sighed. “Tell you what, squirt,” She told Gabby. “I don’t have diapers on me right now. But bring me a diaper to change you in, and I’ll change you for Papa Gruff. Then you can go bother him about learning.”

“Okee!” Gabby squeaked and ran as fast as she could given how much ‘water’ her current diaper had taken on since the start of the day.

“Dweeb,” Gilda spoat out while collecting her rocks and spreading her wings. “Fat chance I’ll be changing any griff’s diapers. If she’s old enough to learn about the potty, she’s old enough to learn how to change herself.”

❊ ❊ ❊

“I need a diaper!” Gabby announced as she pulled herself up to see over the store counter.

“That’ll be two bits.” The shopkeeper griffon plainly retorted without looking up.

Gabby appeared confused. “Bits?” She asked. “What’s a bit?”

“No bits,” The shopkeeper replied with a hint of annoyance. “No diaper. Simple as that. You want something here, you have to pay for it.”

Gabby plopped her very soaked backside upon the store’s floor and started to cry. “But, but,” she sputtered. “No diaper means Gildy no change me. No change mean Papa Gruff no teach me to potty like big griff.”

“Not my…,” The shopkeeper started but then trailed off as he noticed the floor around the fledgling was taking on ‘water’.

FA-PUMP!

A small package of ‘Diaper Dweeb’ diapers found itself flying over the counter towards the sad, grey feathered griffon. “Take these to Gilda or whoever!” The shopkeeper growled. “Now get out of here! And don’t come back here until someone else can teach you not to leave puddles on other griffons floors!”

Gabby took hold of the small package of diapers, stood up, and tore out of the shop. All that remained of her was a noticeable puddle on the floor.

The shopkeeper growled while grabbing a mop and bucket. “This is going on both their tabs,” He muttered to himself. “With an inconvenience tax added on for good measure.”

❊ ❊ ❊

It took about an hour for Gabby to find where Gilda had went to throw her rocks. Her journey was met with very disapproving looks from other griffons. However not a single one felt they should do anything more than just give displeased stares and complain about the diaper-clad fledgling sloshing through the town. Each of them were convinced it was the responsibility of only one griffon, the one who was supposed to care for and train the chicks.

“GILDY!” Gabby cried while proudly holding out the package of diapers she got from the store. “You change me now!”

Gilda, again, found herself dropping her rocks while being totally annoyed about how Gabby had managed to find her. “Ungh!” She groaned. “You’ll leave me alone if I change your diaper, right?”

Gabby nodded her head up-and-down. “Yes!” She replied with a chirp. “I go to Papa Gruff and he show me how to use potty like big griff who be able to go to Junior Speeders!”

Gilda eyed the sack she had brought for the stones she carried to her vandalism site. This gave her an idea. “Okay, dweeb,” She sighed. “Let’s get that diaper of yours changed so you can get out of my feathers.”

Gabby smiled as all she heard was the positives and none of the negatives in Gilda’s statement.

❊ ❊ ❊

“Papa Gruff!” Gabby cried as she burst through the elder griffon’s front door. “Gildy change my diapers and even gave me a present to give you too!”

Papa Gruff stomped towards the fledgling and snatched the small sack that was to be given to him. “Fine!” He growled. “So, do you ever feel all tingly before your diaper gets warm?”

Gabby thought on it and realized she was feeling that way right now. “I feel tingly now!” She called out with a smile. “Now what I do?”

Papa Gruff gestured towards his restroom. “Go in there, take off your diaper, sit on the toilet until you hear water going in the bowl, put your diaper back on, and repeat until you go a few days without needing to bother any griff to change you. Simple as that.” He instructed.

“Okee!” Gabby cheered as she did all that she was told. It sounded easy enough.

❊ ❊ ❊

Papa Gruff discovered the surprise that Gilda had gifted him, and was quite furious by the time little Gabby had come out to show she’d succeeded in using the potty.

“I did it!” She cheered. “Diapers dry, water sound went in potty, and tingly feeling all gone! Gildy now take me to Junior Speeders!”

“Great job, kiddo,” Papa Gruff replied as a sinister grin formed across his face. “This calls for a reward.”

“Oh, goody!” Gabby awed with delight as she flapped about Papa Gruff’s house.

Papa Gruff wasted no time in heading to his kitchen. Here he mixed up one of the strongest “special” drinks he could devise that he knew Gabby would drink. It was usually for griffons with certain problems, but in this case it would serve a different purpose. “This’ll fix that Gilda,” He beamed while commented to himself. “Special delivery.”

“What?” The fledgling grey-griffon asked as she made her way into the kitchen, having overheard Papa Gruff speaking.

“Here!” Papa Gruff offered while passing a mug of a very sweet-tasting drink. “Congratulations on your sucess. Big griffs get rewards.”

The drink was so good that Gabby had the whole thing down in a matter of seconds. “Okee!” She cheerfully chirped. “I go see Gildy now and tell her I can potty!”

“Off with you,” The older, green-feathered griffon shooed. “Gilda can take it from here.”

❊ ❊ ❊

Gabby was feeling very sick to her stomach when she finally tracked down Gilda. “Papa, Gruff,” She moaned as she came to a stop in front of Gilda. “I, uh, use…”

Having stopped made the pressure in the fledgling’s tummy beg for release. So she quickly raised her tail, hunched over, and her diaper started to sag.

“Gah!” Gilda gagged as the smell assaulted her nostrils. “What did you eat today?”

Gabby talked as she continued to evacuate herself. “Papa Gruff,” She answered. “Papa Gruff gave special drink for making tingly feeling go in potty.”

Gilda sneered. “Oh, he did?” She asked. “He didn’t happen to tell you what to do when you felt your tail raise and your stomach ached, did he?”

Gabby moaned as she still felt unwell in her belly. “No,” She replied. “What do I do when I feel that?”

Gilda grinned. “You go to Papa Gruff’s house, go into his bathroom, push out that feeling in his potty, and then ask him to clean you up,” She told Gabby. “Then he takes the potty somewhere special to empty it out, like all griffons do.”

Gabby smiled. “And when I do, I no longer a diaper dweeb and go to Junior speeders?” She asked with much hope in her eyes.

“You got it!” Gilda replied while taking hold of a small box. “But... it would seem you… er... ‘got into the mud’ as it were, and I really should clean you up.”

“Mud?” Gabby wondered. Her diaper was beyond filled but her mind was in the clouds as a result of knowing she would soon be a Junior Speedster just like Gilda.

Gilda gave Gabby a quick wash, put a new diaper on her, and placed the old diaper into the small box. She informed Gabby to give that to Papa Gruff the next time she went over as it was proof of how the elder of Griffonstone takes pride in the achievements of his children.

❊ ❊ ❊

This started an ongoing process of Gilda, Papa Gruff, and various other griffons getting ‘special deliveries’ from the young grey griffon. Eventually the town agreed that making an honest effort to potty train her was in every griffon’s best interest.

They also noticed how well Gabby could track down any griff in Griffonstone. So, as she grew older, she was given the task of being the mail griff. This not only allowed the citizens of Griffonstone to send and receive messages without bothering to interact with each other. But, more importantly, make Gabby go away before her ‘Griffony Sunshine’ drove them all to madness.

Author's Notes:

Super Pink Brony 12 helped me edit this. I also am thankful for Latecomer as, when my sight was at its last, I thought Gabby Griffon was a forest-green color. It shows that the last iota of vision I had was a lie but it is nice to have gotten her right thanks to friends, like Latecomer.

Gabby will always hold a special place for me as I enjoyed her 'Griffony Sunshine' and did like how she and Spike became pen pals and delivery buddies.

Gilda - What Goes Up Sadly Comes Down

The joy of childhood is seeing everything as happy and positive regardless of what it may truly be. It is for this reason that raising griffon chicks was always viewed as such a chore. They cost money, took time away from what you wanted, and took forever to get the hint that life is miserable and that’s that.

Gilda, a fledgling just getting the hang of flying, was one of these chicks that drove the grumpy griffons crazy. Unlike most chicks, Gilda did not know how to take a hint and viewed all their attempts at putting her down as opportunities to play pranks.

Gruff, one of the eldest griffons in Griffonstone, was frequently one of Gilda’s targets for pranking. Though this was because he was the grumpiest of all griffons and was so funny to startle. The laughter of the other griffons to how he reacted to little Gilda’s pranks made her feel she was getting positive attention while keeping the other griffs from being a target of her mischief.

***
One day, Griffonstone was visited by representatives from Cloudsdale. Their mission was to establish friendly relations with the griffons through inviting any aspiring youngsters to participate in the Junior Speedsters program.

Nearly every griff of the target age had fallen into the grumpy and resentful state as their older counterparts. All but one.

“She’s the only one?” the Pegasus envoy considered as Gilda merrily flapped around in her soaked diaper. “Normally Junior Speedsters are potty trained.”

Gruff, who was a dark-grey colored griffon, stared down the cloud-white Pegasus.
“Your princess wants relations, right?” he remarked. “Then take her.”

The envoy thought about this while nervously wagging her baby-blue colored tail.
“And there’s no other young griffons who’d wish to participate in this program?” she nervously pursued.

Gruff narrowed his eyes.
“No!” he spat. “Take her, or get lost.”

The Pegasus could not believe how rude Gruff, along with the other griffons, were. However she and her team had come on a mission of friendship and she would see her duties through.
“Alright,” she stated more confidently. “All we would need is permission from her parents, or guardian.”

CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!

Gruff and the envoy both were startled as Gilda had found the pots and pans in Gruff’s house and started to cheerfully bang upon them. Their reactions made her laugh even more as she wet herself now to the point of her diaper coming totally off. This made her feel quite free as she started to flap about Gruff’s home.

“I’m her parent!” he cried while getting up and firmly holding Gilda in his arms. The young, brown griffon took this as a hug instead of being restrained.

“You are?” the Pegasus replied with disbelief.

“How soon can you take her?” Gruff demanded as he saw the oversaturated diaper making a piddle pool on his floor. “I’ll sign her over to you right now!”

The white-coated envoy was taken aback by Gruff’s treatment of his ‘daughter’. However not much was really known about griffons due to relations breaking down about one hundred years ago. So she just felt it best to get out one of the twelve forms her team brought for signing up young griffons for Junior Speedsters.
“Everything is laid out…,” she started to say.

“Signed!” announced Gruff while bringing Gilda towards the Pegasus and putting her on top of the envoy’s back. “All yours now.”

The envoy cringed a bit over how Gilda had not been properly attended to before being placed on her back.
“Don’t you want to know about the program?” she asked. “How we are hopeful this will improve relations between ponies and griffons?”

Gruff sneered.
“This is,” he replied.

There was a short pause.

“So why are you still here?” pursued Gruff. “Don’t want Gilda late for that Junior speeder thing.”

The Pegasus blushed.
“As her father,” she stated. “I kind of thought you may want to say goodbye and, well, get her into a clean diaper?”

Other griffons had started to gather around Gruff’s home as his tantrums always had a way of drawing a crowd.

“Gilda’s father?” one snickered.

“Hey,” another grinned. “If he is Gilda’s dad then he can just be the designated father for all the chicks in Griffonstone!”

A purple griffon giddily flapped her wings.
“That’ll show the old coot!” she stated. “Papa Gruff is going to love his new responsibility.”

“He’ll come after us for this,” a yellow griffon added. “He doesn’t mess around when it comes to getting even with any griff.”

The purple one smiled.
“He’ll be too busy being the town patron to ever truly get back at any of us,” she said. “Plus we’ll throw a few extra bits at him for his ‘service’.”

A red griffon shrugged and smiled.
“Works for me!” he proclaimed. “We’ll tell ol’ Papa Gruff of his new role in Griffonstone the moment those pesky ponies fly their flanks out of here.”

CA-CREEK
THUNK

“Bye-bye, dada!” chirped Gilda as the Pegasus exited the building. “Miss you!”

There was no response.

“Team!” called the Pegasus envoy. “We have one volunteer to participate in this friendship exercise! Let us take flight to Cloudsdale!”

Nearby Pegasi took to the air alongside their leader. And, as they left, the rest of the town made their way in to tell ‘Papa Gruff’ the good news.

***

Gilda was awestruck by Cloudsdale. It was bright and colorful in comparison to the barren and rundown appearance Griffonstone had.
“Pretty-pretty!” she cried excitedly as she started to wobble about on the envoy’s back.

The Pegasus envoy worried that the excitement may bring Gilda to have an accident. So she zoomed to the nearest cloud and plopped the fledgling griffon down.

“Wow-wow-wowie-wow!” delighted Gilda as she had never sat on a genuine cloud before. It was exciting and wonderful and everything Griffonstone was not.

The white-coated Pegasus sighed in relief as the area under Gilda went from white to grey.
“You like what you see, Gildy?” she cooed.

Gilda fluttered towards the Pegasus and gave her a big hug around the leg.
“Love, momma!” she chirped.

This statement caught the envoy by surprise. However she quickly reasoned that the young griffon likely never experienced the type of affection most ponies give to their foals.
“Alright, little one,” she warmly said while getting Gilda back up on her back. “Momma Sky Painter is going to make the most of our month together.”

***

Princess Celestia was very pleased with getting even just one griffon to participate in their effort to reestablish relations with Griffonstone. Everything was alright up until the Balrog swept in to steal their leader’s greatest treasure. Once gone, the griffons went into a frenzy to establish who would lead given the king’s loss of the most valuable artifact passed on to each leader of the griffons. Over time, the griffons went from seeking leadership and teamwork to looking out for themselves and apathy.

“It only takes one to make a difference,” encouraged Celestia as she welcomed Sky Painter back from her mission.

Gilda was flapping about in the throne room until she came to a sudden stop, lifted her hindquarters, and took care of some personal business on the tiled floor.

Sky Painter blushed.
“Please pardon Gilda,” she nervously stated. “The griffons seem to be very hands-off when it comes to raising their young.”

Celestia watched Gilda regain her excitement after relieving herself.
“Accidents happen, Sky Painter,” she said calmly while using her magic to acquire some tucked away cleaning supplies. “Though I may have just the pony to help you prepare Gilda for her time at Junior Speedsters.”

***

“Well aren’t you a bundle of fun?” inquired Princess Cadence as she finished bathing and diapering up the young griffon. “I doubted Celestia’s advice in being a foal sitter as I grew into my new wings. However, between you and Shining Armor’s little sister, I can see it is helping me to really see the power of love, care, and understanding.”

Shining Armor entered into the guest room at the palace that was to be Gilda’s home until her month at Junior speedsters came to an end. His purple-coated, baby sister, Twilight, riding upon his back all snuggled up with her eyes closed.

“I see you finally got Twily to take her nap?” asked Cadence.

“I did,” Shining Armor replied proudly. “I only had to walk around the castle four times for her to finally stop wanting to reach out to look at everything.”

Gilda waddled towards the new guest and the foal on his back.
“Baby?” she asked.

Cadence smiled.
“She’s about your age, Gildy,” Cadence cooed. “Maybe you both can become big girls together?”

“Gilly like that!” she chirped before falling on her padded bottom. “No like diapers!”

Gilda’s loud proclamations woke the resting Twilight Sparkle.
“Big bother,” mumbled the purple Unicorn. “Need potty.”

Shining Armor grimaced as Cadence smiled.
“Okay, Gildy,” she said. “It’s time for your first lesson.”

***

The guest room Gilda was to stay at was complete with its own private bathroom. There were a lot of very interesting things within it that drew her attention. However she was most drawn to the magical aura that Cadence used to help Twilight up on the modified ‘pot’.

FWIP

The young griffon watched as the foal’s diaper was pulled down. Shortly after the sound of water trickling came as twilight grew a big smile.

“I big girl!” cried Twilight. “I show Moon dancer who is best at potty for sure!”

Shining Armor laughed.
“Remember, twily,” he stated while using his magic to help her to wash her little hooves as he used a wipe to get those areas Twilight was just not ready to clean on her own. “It’s not a competition.”

Cadence used her magic to put Twilight back into her diaper.
“Keep this up, Twilight,” she cheered. “And you may get three golden suns on your chart in a row.”

Twilight cooed as she clapped her hooves together.
“Yay!” she squealed. “I potty before bother!”

Shining blushed.
“Mom and dad seem to think giving her the incentive of being fully out of diapers before I was is an incentive for her,” he sighed.

Cadence blushed as she just couldn’t help but feel a connection with Twilight’s older brother.
“Well,” she assured. “You did say it is not a contest and what harm is it to give little Twily more reason to get out of those diapers?”

Shining was about to say something when Gilda started to try and flutter up to the toilet.
“Gilly try!” she proclaimed. “Gilly be big like pony!”

Cadence giggled as she could tell Shining Armor was a bit frustrated over how he had lost Cadence’s full attention.
“Okay, Gildy,” encouraged Cadence while placing the young griffon on top of the modified toilet seat.

FWIP

Gilda shivered as the warmth her diaper had created against her feathers had gone away. However this also caused her to open the floodgates and make the exact same sounds she heard Twilight do that earned the foal such praise.
“Wow, Gildy!” Cadence clapped merrily. “You’re taking to this like a natural!”

The brown griffon beamed with pride.
“Gilly do good?” she asked.

Cadence took care of helping the griffon wash and get cleaned up.
“You sure did,” she added. “Now just let a big pony know when you feel like something wants to come out of you and we’ll have you out of those diapers super-duper quick!”

***

Gilda’s first week was split between Junior Speedsters and working with Princess Cadence on learning some friendship fundamentals while perfecting her ability to use the potty like a ‘big griff’. This made Gilda very excited but, at the same time, she felt very out of place amongst the other Junior Speedsters.

However this all changed when all she had been taught came to fruition upon meeting the cyan-colored Junior Speedsters’ star student, Rainbow Dash.

Eventually, Gilda had acquired her freedom in the skies along with from diapers both day and night. She was so proud and so happy and could hardly wait to return to Griffonstone to share all the wonderful things she had learned. Unfortunately a newly appointed ‘Papa Gruff’ was not at all pleased to see the griff who caused him to become the town patron. He forbid any other griffs from going to Junior Speedsters and assured Gilda that her namby-pamby pony teaching would get her nowhere.

And, just like that, so much progress was lost. Well, not all the progress as Gilda no longer needed a diaper. And, for her, that would be something not even grumpy Papa Gruff could take away from her.

Sky Star - The Princess & The Plush

Queen Novo of the hippogriffs sat on her throne for yet another day of discussions regarding the actions of The Storm King. His presence as of late had become impossible to ignore. “Silver Wing should have been back by now,” She said grimly to herself. “I don’t think I can keep our nation together without him at my side.”

“Momma!” A merry young voice squeaked out before its source crashed into Queen Novo’s chest.

“Sky… Star…,” The hippogriff leader groaned. “Wide awake, I see.”

“Yes, momma!” The fledgling hippogriff cheered. “Let’s play!”

But Novo felt something damp against her feathers. “Ugh,” She tried to say with as little disgust as possible. “No playing until you get that diaper changed.”

Skystar switched from feeling very happy to being very sad. “No Momma?” She asked while already knowing the answer.
It hurt Novo to not be capable of giving her daughter the time and attention that she needed. She and her husband, Silver Wing, barely could raise their child together once word of the Storm King’s conquests had reached Mount Aris. However, with her husband missing for months now, Novo had to do all she could to ensure the safety of every griff under her care. This unfortunatel, meant sacrificing time with her precious little Skystar.

A female hippogriff entered into the throne room. As court was not yet open, Novo knew it to be the royal nanny, Teal Contrails.

“I thought I heard a little griff up and about,” Teal cheerfully said. “With your permission, your highness?”

Skystar looked desperately to her mother, not wanting to leave. “Stay, play with Momma?” She pouted.

But Queen Novo simply handed Skystar over to Ms. Contrails. “I’m sorry, sweetie,” She tried to apologize as sincerely as possible. “Mommy really needs to help every griff who is afraid of the big bad Storm King.”

Skystar lowered her head. This Storm King seemed to be demanding more and more of her mother’s attention lately, though why she didn’t know. “I hate big meanie Storm King,” She frowned. “He needs time out.”

Novo cracked a smile upon visualizing such an outcome for the scourge who had taken over many lands within a very short period of time. No creature ever saw him as a threat as he came off as such a dimwit. However that “dimwit” had quite an army behind him. An army that, despite being more dimwitted than he was, had enough muscle to forcefully smash through some of the best defenses of other nations. Nations they would promptly lay to waste, and plunder their magical artifacts to give the Storm King even more power, and thus the ability to take out even larger nations. It was feared it was only a matter of time before he’d set his sights on the hippogriff kingdom.

“Momma will play with you at lunch, sweetie,” The queen said as lovingly as she could. “Now go off with Ms. Connie. We don’t want you feeling all yucky and get that owie, hot-hot feeling between your legs.”

The young princess fell almost limp into Teal’s arms. “Yes, Momma…” She sadly replied.

“I love you!” Queen Novo called out as the nanny left with her daughter. “Momma promises to play more soon!”

Teal and Skystar enterred into the royal nursery. It had everything a little griff could ever want. However, it lacked what Sky Star really wanted. This, of course, being her mother. “Why Momma no play?” She pouted. “I want Momma to make Storm King go bye-bye and be Momma again.”

Teal sighed as she changed Skystar’s wet diaper, cleaned her up, and strapped a pull-on style diaper over her haunches. “I am sure it won’t be long before you see your mom more than you see me,” The nanny replied in a way that tried to convince even herself. “Once Seaquestria is all ready for us to play in, we’ll have no more mean, nasty Storm King to worry about.”

Skystar sat down and moped.

“Hey!” Teal cried as she pointed towards a chart behind the changing table. “See how you keep getting better and better with not going potty in your potty pants?”

Skystar turned to see how the month’s chart was progressively having more stars than clouds. Normally that would cheer up any little one. But for Skystar it wasn’t enough, it couldn’t bring her closer to the one she wanted to be with the most. “It not matter,” She sighed. “Momma never see me be big griff and not use potty pants.”

Teal knew the chick was right in how, especially since her husband had left to confront the Storm King, Queen Novo had not been spending much time at all with the princess. The nanny carefully plopped the sad Skystar onto the soft carpet of the nursery. “You know what, kiddo?” She thought while looking around the room. “Perhaps there may be something we can do about that.”

“Your majesty,” Teal nervously said as Queen Novo had come into the nursery just after her daughter had begun her nap. “May I ask you something?”

Novo turned to face Ms. Contrails. Her expression showing much sadness and heartache. “Is it about Skystar?” She inquired, though she needn’t have asked.

Teal nodded her head before picking up a plush hippogriff. “With your permission,” She anxiously began. “I think I read of a technique known as ‘Synthetic Happiness’ and ‘Play Therapy’.”

The queen seemed more confused and eager to hear the point of what had just been said.

“Skystar misses you very much,” Teal continued while holding up the plush. “If I made a soft plush of you…. Umm… would you sleep with it tonight?”

Novo gave an irritated look. “This better be going somewhere,” She grumbled with annoyance. “A queen sleeping with a stuffed animal is not one that others would look up to during this crisis.”

Teal stepped back. “I’d make one of Skystar too,” She added. “The idea is having your scent on the plush may help the princess feel connected with you, even though you’re not able to spend as much time with her as you’d like. It might also give her a little more encouragement with her potty training. If she can’t have you watch her be a big girl, having something that resembles you may be the next best thing.”

“I’m listening.” Novo replied with a more open mind.

The rest of the day went as most days had gone for Skystar since her dad, King Silver Wing had gone missing. However, there was one key difference. This being a promise from her mother that she’d get a big surprise in the morning. Skystar was giddy with excitement at what ‘surprise’ her mother had for her. She even managed to not wet herself over the night to show her mom how good a griff she was, and how she didn’t want to do anything to ruin getting the surprise.

Novo was at first grumpy at being woken up in the middle of the night by her daughter. But her mood improved considerably when instead being presented with a diaper to change or a puddle to clean up, her daughter instead had a full training potty in the bathroom to show off to her. “Oh, Skystar, that’s so impressive!” She beamed. “If only your father were here to see this.” A tear came into her eye.

Skystar immediately hugged her mom, not wanting her to be sad. “No cry, Momma. I sure Dada come back soon. Then I show him like I show you!”

Novo just smiled as she wiped the tear away, and then set to work on cleaning up her daughter and emptying the training potty. “Once we’re down in Seaquestria, we’re going to have to change our bathroom habits.” She thought to herself. But that was a discussion for another time and place as she pulled the chain and flushed the toilet, making everything in it disappear.

“See, Momma?” Skystar chirped! “I a big girl! I make you proud!”

Novo nodded as she then ushered her daughter back to bed (after both washed their paws). “Yes, Skystar. Now please go back to sleep. And in the morning, I’ll have Ms. Connie make you a special big girl breakfast as a reward.”

But for Skystar, the next morning’s highlight was seeing the surprise her mom had in store for her. Apparently it was a reward for her increasing success with potty training. “Love you, Momma!” The young princess chirped. “Where surprise?”

Teal came into the throne room carrying a stuffed animal. “Ooh!” Skystar cooed. “She look like me!”

“Even better, sweetheart,” Novo beamed as she pulled a slightly larger plush from beside the part of her hip that wasn’t taken up by her daughter. “Well, what do you think?”

Skystar’s face lit up with delight. “Momma!” She squealed upon taking the warm, Novo-scented toy into her arms. “It’s momma!”

Both Novo and Teal smiled.

“Now, my little Skystar,” Novo continued. “Ms. Contrails and I put some ‘magic’ into this plush. So if you miss me, give her a big squeeze. I’ll feel your hug and will make sure you feel my love for you despite how busy I may be.”

“Really?” Skystar grinned.

Teal handed the Skystar plush to Queen Novo who promptly used it to boop her daughter on the beak.

“Really,” Novo replied. “You’re always with me and I’m always with you, sweetie. Where you go, I go.”

“Oh, Momma,” Skystar happily sobbed. “I love you!”

“Love you too, sweetie,” Queen Novo replied while gently rubbing her daughter’s head. “Now go with Ms. Connie and know that from now on, you and I are always together, playing and having a wonderful time.”

The princess didn’t hesitate to get down and walk alongside the nanny. “Look!” She cheered while hopping about. “It’s a special mommy lovey!”

“Have you smelled it?” The nanny asked as they neared the exit of the throne room.

From a distance, Queen Novo heard her daughter squeak out in a high pitch, “It smell like Momma! It is Momma! Momma is with me! Momma help me be big griff!...”. It went on and on until her energetic daughter’s continuous show of joy could still be heard, but not quite made out as the pair headed for the nursery.

“It’s good to see her so happy,” Novo sighed while making sure to tuck the Skystar plush behind a spot on her throne that no other griff could see. “The things you do for your kids. But if it means no more diapers to change, it’s an embarrassment I’m willing to risk.” And she began to wonder if maybe her sister’s recently born daughter might benefit from a similar thing, considering her brother-in-law Sky Beak was always away. Silverstream in a lot of ways reminded Novo of her own daughter.

Ms. Contrails was so happy to see how well Skystar brought her mother to life through the stuffed toy. The way she would talk to it and how ‘her mom’ talked back was priceless. It also started an unending streak of not the young princess having any accidents in her pull-on padding: Either wet or messy.

In fact, the plush gave Skystar the courage she had previously never had to try her luck with the “Mommy and Daddy potty” as her mom had put it. And with ‘her mom’ by her side she was able to master using it faster than anygriff would’ve thought possible. Even Novo seemed impressed when her daughter demonstrated this to her one evening.

Novo felt something tug at her heartstrings upon seeing such a display. Even though her daughter was willing to show off what she was learning, it wasn’t the same as being there to witness the milestone for herself. “They really do grow up so fast,” She thought to herself. “Oh Silver Wing, if only you were here to see this. Our little chick is turning into a fine young griff.”

Months soon went by. King Silver Wing never returned and Queen Novo unfortunately continued to lack the time necessary to spend ample time with her daughter, much as it pained her. The priority now was expediting the development of Seaquestria for when the Storm King’s army would arrive, and preparing her subjects for the difficult transition that was to follow.

This did not bother Skystar as much as it used to. After all, her mother had her beside her on the throne while she had her mother playing with a group of other stuffed friends Ms. Contrails had sewed together.

“Good girl, Skystar!” The unpadded princess would say while moving about her stuffy of her mother, often while she was on the potty, proving why she was a big girl. “You make me proud!”

“Oh,” The princess would blush out of pretend modesty. “Thanks, Momma! You are always with me and making sure I stay happy, and lovable, and adorable, and playful, and…,”

Ms. Contrails watched as Skystar quickly took to creating ‘synthetic happiness’ through the use of her imagination and ‘play therapy’. The nanny had wished that dolls would not be needed to substitute for genuine parent and child relations.

However, with an attack by the Storm King becoming more-and-more likely, she was glad to do what she could to free the princess from the heavy burden her mother shouldered each and every day.

When Skystar was able to start preschool, Novo found it hard to not sleep with the plush version of herself. She knew it gave her daughter security. But at the same time, she didn’t want her daughter to become reliant on a stuffed toy to feel happy. “And…,” She bashfully said, blowing out her bedside lamp while snuggling both the plush of herself and of her daughter. “I never want my Skystar to ever feel like she is alone. Perhaps she’ll make some friends in preschool to help her feel better? Until then, I’m always going to be there for you, my dearest Skystar.” And it was a promise she was going to keep, at least until the Storm King invaded Mount Aris.

Sunburst - Modern Methods

The small town of Sire’s Hollow was gradually getting even smaller. Advances in magic, science, and technology were drawing ponies away from the far away village so they could find education and employment close to larger cities, like Canterlot and Manehattan.

This particular issue was not lost to the town’s faithful residents. However there was no agreed way in which to ensure the future for Sire’s Hollow.

Leading the charge for modernizing the town was Stellar Flare. She long thought the cause of her town’s decline was a lack of planning and forethought. The status quo being a status no. It did no good to cling to the past when the future passed you right by.

Leading the opposite side was Firelight who even founded a preservation society. He felt that the town should be preserved and maintained as a little slice of heaven, free of all the hustle and bustle of what was known of modern cities.

No pony would ever believe these two were rivals. However, as they were childhood friends, they always found ways to bump horns with each other. Plus, their foals were close friends with each other, and like it or not Stellar Flare was a reluctant source of advice on parenting (as well as an often sought after foalsitter) for Firelight’s only daughter.

So it was that Starlight Glimmer, who was a periwinkle colored unicorn, was playing with her best foal friend in the whole wide world, Sunburst. It seemed like it was just like any other day for the two.

“Why sad?” Starlight asked her yellow coated friend upon noticing his unhappy posture.

“Mommy and Daddy are being no fun.” Sunburst replied with a pout.

“What you mean?” Starlight pursed in innocent unawareness. “My daddy is lots of funs. All mommies and daddies are funs!”

Sunburst plopped on the floor. His modern-age, disposable diaper making a number of crinkling and rustling sounds as he did. “Not mine,” He snorted. “Daddy always sides with Mommy, and Mommy always makes me do stuff I no wanna do. She gonna make me potty train.”

“Ooh, what that?!” Starlight curiously inquired, She thought she’d heard her daddy talk about it once, but she couldn’t be sure.

Sunburst just sighed. “I gots to sit on this bowl like thing and do my pee pees and poo poos, then Mommy or Daddy clean me up. I supposed to start on it.”

“You no wear diapers anymore?” Starlight asked.

Sunburst shook his head. “Mommy says I too old for diapers, she gonna make me give them up. Just like she took away my paci,” Then he turned to Starlight, eager to change the subject. “We play before they come back? You always funs.”

Starlight, who was clad in a thick terry cloth diaper that was pinned securely in the front, decided to grab a sparkly ball to roll back-and-forth to her friend. “Sure!” And then she told her friend. “And you can always borrow my diapers when you come over for sleepovers. My daddy always buys lots of ‘em!” Of course the foal didn’t stop to think that her diapers might not fit her friend, but the offer was more important to her than the reality. Hopefully she wouldn’t be getting out of those padded undergarments anytime soon.

In a nearby room, Stellar Flare and Firelight were watching their foals and having another ‘friendly’ argument. As usual as of late, the subject involved child raising. Firelight led off the argument, having learned what Stellar Flare was planning to do.

“Why are you doing that to your own son?” Firelight asked with disbelief. “Why put so much grown-up pressure and responsibility on a foal. It’s just not right. He’s only young once.”

Stellar Flare, an orangish brown coated unicorn with white sock-like features on her hooves, glared at her deep purple colored friend. “Modern Mother Mare has proven that foals of two years are more than capable of learning such things as simple reading, writing, magic, and potty training,” She retorted while focusing her hazel colored eyes straight into Firelight’s brown eyes. “It’s wrong to hold back the potential of a foal over outdated and improper ways of making them into the leaders of tomorrow. You think those big city ponies became such big successes and invented all those modern ways because they stayed in diapers for years and years? Even you have to admit that their modern conveniences are something we can’t live without.”

“Are you even listening to yourself?” Firelight quipped. “You make raising your foal sound like he’s some sort of business or farming method. You’re not even asking him what he wants. Don’t you think you should slow down and let him decide when he’s ready?”

Stellar Flare whipped her ginger-colored mane for effect before firmly placing her hoof upon the table. “Never!” She growled. “I’m just looking out for Sunburst’s future while you set Starlight up for failure! If you don’t get her out of diapers soon she’s going to go to kindergarten still wearing those things, and be teased relentlessly for it. Is that what you want?!”

Firelight leaned closer to Stellar and narrowed his eyes. “Starlight deserves a childhood, I’m in no rush to make her give up her diapers before she’s ready,” He replied with a growl in his voice. “And keep it down. The kids can hear us when you go all dramatic like that.”

Stellar would’ve snapped back if she hadn’t seen the two foals looking towards her. It wouldn’t do good for them to see their parents arguing. “You’re holding her back whether you admit it or not, Firelight,” She simply said while returning to a relaxed sitting position. “You’re also making her more prone to illness with those unsanitary cloth diapers, and delaying her potty training will just make her sick.”

“That’s preposterous,” Firelight fired back while taking care not to raise his voice. “There were no throw-away, single use diapers when we were kids, and I don’t recall ever being unhealthy because of it.”

“Modern Mother Mare shares that ponies don’t retain memories from before the age of three,” Stellar replied with a seemingly know-it-all grin. “So unless you want to ask your parents about your diaper days, you wouldn’t know.”

Firelight saw an opportunity through his friend’s statement. “Three years old, huh?” He grinned. “So that means all that time forcing poor Sunburst to not be a foal won’t even matter until he’s three years old? It won’t even matter if you force him to potty train before that time?”

Stellar Flare was prepared for this response as she casually flicked at her pearl necklace, a gift from her husband who always agreed with her (unless he wanted to sleep on the couch). “Oh Firelight,” She replied in a condescending tone. It amazed her that her childhood friend still didn’t understand how she worked. “Learned behaviors like walking and talking are retained. It’s the day-to-day events of what’s going on around them that isn’t. The same goes for potty training. Better to do it while they’re two and make the process as smooth as possible. That’s what Modern Mother Mare says, and she’s always right.”

Firelight folded his front hooves over his chest and snorted. “Who is this ‘Modern Mother Mare’?” He flatly stated. “And what gives her any right to say what’s right and wrong for our foals?”

“I’m glad you asked,” Stellar Flare merrily replied. “She is a highly educated pony with doctorate degrees in Child Care and Preschool Education. The top pony at her craft in fact.”

“So she’s basically just some pony who is taking all this ‘future’ stuff she’s been fed by all those other ponies to make us small town folk feel and look bad.” Firelight grumbled, always skeptical of such claims.

“Look, Firelight,” Stellar said in a calmer tone. “I understand it’s hard raising a foal by yourself. I also understand what really has you holding onto the past, is the sad loss of Starbright Glimmer.”

At that Firelight felt a lump form in his throat. Starbright Glimmer was his childhood sweetheart to whom he’d proposed to, married, and settled down with. However complications while bringing their daughter into the world made it a difficult choice of either losing his wife, or losing their newborn daughter. Starbright made the choice, and is why he’d named their daughter ‘Starlight Glimmer’, in memory of her mother.

“Sorry,” Stellar Flare apologized as she realized her mistake. “That wasn’t right of me to bring up.”

Firelight said nothing.

“It would be unfair to relate my husband’s position as a police pony putting himself in the line of danger everyday to what happened to Starbright,” Stellar added. “But you and I are the most important ponies in our foals’ lives. We owe it to them to give them every possible opportunity to thrive and rise above all in which we achieved.”

Firelight lowered his head.

“Daddy?” A concerned Starlight questioned as she seemed to suddenly appear in the dining room the two parents were sitting in. “Daddy sad?”

Firelight picked up his daughter and noticed she was wet. He also did notice how the terry cloth diaper showed signs of staining despite his strong efforts to keep it clean. “Only a little, but he’s better now,” He told his daughter and then turned to Stellar Flare. “Perhaps I will take you up on those disposable diapers,” He said in a rather deadpan manner. “Though I need to go get my little chipmunk cheeks changed and ready for her nap.”

Stellar saw Sunburst appear at her side with a worried look and a bulge in the back of his diaper. “No be mad, Mama,” He pleaded. “No help it. I tried to make it.”

Stellar Flare felt that keeping quiet and heading home to sanitize her son was the best course of action given the current situation. Having brought back a bad memory for Firelight, it was best if she didn’t say anything more about the subject. “It looks like my little colt needs some attention, too,” She said in a way to show that she understood having ‘hit a nerve’ with her childhood friend. “You still rock Starlight to sleep with that kite blanket she made?”

Firelight held Starlight close. “I do,” He somberly replied. “It still smells like her too.”

Stellar just used her unicorn magic to levitate Sunburst upon her back. “My place tomorrow?” She hopefully asked.

Firelight gave a look to show that he wasn’t upset with her. “My little ‘Pumpky-Wumpkin’ wouldn’t miss a chance to play with her best friend, diapers or no diapers,” He said while tenderly rubbing at his daughter’s back. “Perhaps I’ll pick up some of those disposable diapers on my way over so you can show me how they work.”

Stellar smiled. “I’ll buy you a pack,” She stated while beginning her trip back home with her son. “I need to get more for Sunburst, and I owe you one for having said what I said.”

“No worries, Stellar,” Firelight replied while nuzzling Starlight. “I know Starbright is still alive and well through our precious Starlight.”

And after a final exchange of goodbyes, both parents went about tending to their children as they each felt best.

Stellar returned home with Sunburst a little later, and changed his diaper. After she was done she took the liberty of escorting her son to the bathroom, placing him upon his potty. “I know you’re trying, Sunburst. But you need to tell me when you think you have to go, instead of waiting until you have an accident.” She somewhat lectured him.

Sunburst just sighed. “Yes, Mama. I understand.” Even if he didn’t really like the idea of training he knew better than to go against his mother. His mother was always right even when she wasn’t.

Stellar Flare smiled. “That’s the spirit.”

Meanwhile, Sunburst was eyeing the huge bowl shaped object that stood nearby. He didn’t know what exactly it was called, only that it was a potty for big boys and girls. Starlight’s dad didn’t seem to like it very much even though he’d installed a similar object in his bathroom. “Mama, when can I use big potty?” He asked.

Stellar smiled again. “Not until you’re a little bit further along in your training, Sunburst. It’s called the big boy potty for a reason.”

Gallus - Big Sister Gabby

Note: Related to "From Diapers to Deliveries" and "What Goes Up Sadly Comes Down".

***

It was a typical day in Griffonstone for young Gallus. No griff was willing to come forward to say they were either his mother or father. So this meant he never had one true home as he was passed around from home to home in which each parental figure cared for his basic needs and nothing more.

The griff who most frequently had Gallus was the newly named Grandpa Gruff. Since his time in caring for Gilda and Gabby, Gruff had been given the title of Papa Gruff as every griff would find a way to toss him a few bits for his ability to get children off and on their own. He resented being forced into being a patron for the citizens of Griffonstone. However the bits did allow him to lead a notably better life than other griffons in the rundown town.

Now that he was beginning to show his age, along with another generation of griffons being hatched since Gilda, the citizens of Griffonstone granted Gruff a new title: This being Grandpa Gruff. He didn’t like this any more than he liked being called Papa Gruff. However the extra bits he received for his public services kept him from being overly apathetic towards his responsibilities.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

“Go away!” Grandpa Gruff squawked one day. “I already have a youngin’ for the day! I don’t need another!”

“Grandpa Gruff!” A cheerful voice chirped through the door. “It’s me, Gabby! I’ve brought you your mail on this beautiful day here in Griffonstone!”

Gabby Griffon was a pain in the feathers due to her ‘Griffony Sunshine’ approach to being a mail carrier, a spin off from her days as a young hatchling. She took to the job quite quickly and was very good at what she did for a seven year old griffon, something all griffons had started to notice when she kept making “deliveries” to them at Gilda or Gruff’s request. The price for her services though was either putting up with her banter for a bit, giving her another letter to deliver, or quickly taking the mail she was delivering, tossing her a bit and shutting the door before she could start talking.

Grandpa Gruff was about to do the latter of these choices when his gaze came upon young Gallus. “Heh!” He cackled while picking up the young griff under his care. “You’re actually going to be of some use to me, kid.”

Gallus, unlike other chicks, was annoying specifically for how much he was like Gilda and Gabby. Most chicks grew to accept being on their own and doing things on their own.

However Gallus had a most curious mind and would occasionally give Grandpa Gruff merry tweets and a smile for changing and bathing him among other things.

The old, grey griffon did the least possible in each of these efforts. However Gallus still seemed to have some of that pesky ‘Griffony Sunshine’ that made Gabby so annoying. “Alright! Alright!” He called back as he carried Gallus with him to the front door and opened it. “Now where’s my mail?”

Gabby beamed as she held out a piece of parchment for the town patron. “Message from Golly Griffon!” She cheered. “Do you have any mail for me to deliver?”

“Actually,” Grandpa Gruff smiled while placing young Gallus down upon his door step. “I want you to deliver him to someplace out of town for me. His name’s Gallus, the latest hatchling they’ve stuck me with raising.”

Gallus, who was a blue colored griffon, looked anxiously towards Gabby. Something about her made him feel a whole lot better than being around Grandpa Gruff, or any other griff for that matter, even Gilda (who usually just called him a diaper dweeb and insisted he was too young to know what she was doing).

“Are you saying I’m done delivering mail for the day?” Gabby curiously asked. “Someplace out of town is where you built me my own home to roost in.”

Grandpa Gruff smirked. “Precisely, so go on and get out of here with him. Just be careful, he ain’t potty trained yet and he probably ain’t gonna be if he keeps bugging me all the time.” He replied before retreating back into his home, slamming the door, and leaving the fledgling Gallus with Gabby.

“Oh, goody!” Gabby cheered while scooping up little Gallus. “You and I are going to have so much fun, Gallus!”

“Fun?” Gallus wondered, not understanding the concept. “What that?”

Gabby giggled. “What’s fun?” She more stated than asked. “Well, I’ll show you! In fact, I even have a song about it!” Gabby started to work her wings, took to the air, and flew off to her ‘someplace out of town’ with Gallus.

Gabby’s home was surprisingly well kept in comparison to other homes in Griffonstone. Truth be told, it did look quite inhabitable in the beginning. However Gabby was one who liked to bring ‘Griffony Sunshine’ to everyone and everything. So she found some loose lumber, hammer, nails, and other materials to improve upon the original, dreary look. She also benefited from finding a book on ‘Home Building & Repair’ in the town library (or what was left of it anyway).

Gallus’ young eyes were drawn to how ‘cheerful’ this home was. It brought a smile to his young face, it was a lot better than Grandpa Gruff’s cottage.

“Now,” Gabby blushed while picking up Gallus, immediately feeling a familiar damp sensation. “I’m guessing you’ve been in a yucky diaper for some time by now. How’s about we get you all cleaned up and smelling nice? Sure wasn’t right for Grandpa Gruff to let you stay in that thing so long, rashes hurt.”

It was true, the fledgling griffon had been in a wet diaper for long enough to make him feel an incredible sense of discomfort. Though, as Grandpa Gruff would say: “It’s not heavy enough, sonny”. And that meant Gallus would need to wait and use his diaper more before the griffon curmudgeon would take the time to clean him up. By that point his diapers were usually all but ready to fall off or leak (and leak they sometimes did, which Grandpa Gruff was never happy about cleaning up).

Gabby sang a song as she warmed her makeshift bathtub up to bathe Gallus. Gabby liked cleaning and preening herself and guessed this fledgling hadn’t had a good wash in a long time.

Gallus found the bath amazing as Gabby told stories and hummed tunes while gently cleaning off all the built-up gunk that had accumulated from half-hearted bathing by the other griffons. It was so relaxing and relieving to feel genuinely clean that Gallus fell asleep in the tub right then and there.

Gallus awoke sometime later in a very soft place. It took him a moment to remember where he was. Then his nose began to pick up on some tasty smells, and his ‘mother’ was singing a merry tune. “Momma!” He called as he sat himself up, the one thing he’d learned how to do on his own. He was then taken aback by the new diaper and smell of powder it was giving off. “Momma?”

Gabby heard Gallus’ calls and cheerfully made her way to the little bedroom he had been placed into to rest. “Looks like someone is up from their nap,” She beamed. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, Momma!” The blue feathered griffon chirped as he felt an urge to flutter over to Gabby and give her a hug.

“Momma? Gabby blinked and then chuckled. “I’m too young to be your momma.”

Tears started to well in Gallus’ eyes.

“Whoa!” Gabby gasped and young Gallus began to cry. “No griff is my momma.”

“Wait, wait, wait!” Gabby sputtered. “You don’t have a momma?”

“No,” Gallus sobbed. “No dada either. I all alone”

The grey feathered mail carrier had heard stories of how some griffons would abandon eggs that they did not want to be responsible for. However she never thought she’d find a chick who had no griff to call mom, or dad for that matter. Whether that abandonment was true for Gallus was unknown, but she didn’t care. “Well,” She commented while embracing Gallus in a hug like he wanted. “I may not be your mom, but I can be your big sister.”

Gallus’ crying slowed. “Sister?” He asked Gabby.

“Yeah,” Gabby beamed as she took pride in turning young Gallus’ frown upside-down. “That makes you my little brother!”

“Little, brother…” The chick considered. “Family?”

“Why not!” Gabby chirped while letting Gallus down. “And you can stay here with your ‘big sister’ whenever I finish my mail delivery job every afternoon. How’s that sound?”

“Stay, here?” Gallus contemplated “No be given to grumpy griffs who all mean and nasty when Gallus goes to their house?”

Gabby smiled while rubbing Gallus’ head. “Why not!” She proclaimed. “I didn’t build that bassinet for no reason. Well, actually, I built it because I wanted to be ready in case a little griff like you ever came along. And of course, I learned to knit so I could make my own clothes, like my hair tie, and…”

Gabby kept on gabbing until she smelled the food she was making on the verge of burning. “Oh, gosh!” She cried. “I forgot about our dinner!” Gabby zipped away before Gallus could say a single word! However, his stomach was starting to growl as he hadn’t eaten in quite awhile, and he was often underfed when someone did give him food.

FWA-BUMP

The fledgling, blue griffon slipped to the stone floor and toddled out to see what his ‘big sister’ was up to.

Young Gallus was impressed at how much effort (and talking) Gabby did in making sure the food turned out okay despite it having been overcooked. She even took time to make some little jokes towards Gallus as she hurriedly put out the fire, collected some bowls, and prepared her ‘table’ for two instead of one.

“I hungry,” Gallus meekly called. “What do I get to eat?”

Gabby chuckled. “You get to eat the same things I do, silly!”

“Not ‘leftovers’?” Gallus asked as he recalled how many of his ‘caretakers’ would give him foods that felt and tasted like rocks.

“Oh, golly, no!” Gabby replied. “We eat good for griffs here, little bro.”

Gallus was astounded at what he was hearing. However an urge he deeply dreaded started to make itself known. An urge that always resulted in an uncomfortable outcome for himself and whoever was in charge of him. But he could never find a way to avoid it.

“Gallus?” The young mail carrier griffon asked as she noticed the fledgling suddenly appear uncomfortable as he squeezed his legs together. “Do you have to go potty?”

“What ‘potty’?” Gallus asked while squirming about, still straining and trying to keep from releasing.

Gabby giggled as she remembered how her potty training went. Papa Gruff and Gilda made getting out of diapers so much fun. They’d play hide-and-seek, chase, and something called handoff until she managed to stay dry for an entire week. They then told her she didn’t need diapers anymore and that they’d be making her a home someplace out of town so she could be less of a bother while serving as the youngest mail carrier in Griffonstone history.

This honor made Gabby very happy as she was really good at finding all the griffs in Griffonstone. Most griffons would pay her bits and tell her to go away. Others would give her a letter to deliver before shutting the door. Most importantly was how she knew where the ‘potty pit’ was while also finding a chamber pot of her own when she didn’t feel like doing a fly-by drop-off at the deep canyon where a lost treasure was said to have been lost (she’d forgotten the name of it).

Gabby’s mental flashback left Gallus more tense as he was very close to making himself uncomfortable. His face was all but turning red. “Sister!” He cried while clenching his gut. “Help! I no want to feel icky until diaper gets heavy and I need change!”

Gabby scooped little Gallus up in her arms. “Right!” She chirped. “To the potty, or I should say chamber pot!”

Gallus looked at the odd looking object in front of him. It was a pot, but not like the ones in Grandpa Gruff’s kitchen. It looked much nicer. He really needed to relieve himself but how was this the place to do it? It didn’t look like that pit he’d heard of.

“Now you take your diaper off. The pot does your diaper’s job for you.” Gabby instructed.

Gallus fumbled at taking off his diaper. This was because he was scolded if he ever just took it off to escape all that was cold, clammy, and wet. “Help?” He whimpered. He really didn’t want to mess up when he was so close, he wanted to do it right.

The caring grey griffon went about removing the diaper before holding Gallus over the opening of the chamber pot. “Guess this is a little big for a little griff?” Gabby considered while retaining a solid hold on the fledgling. “You can go now. I won’t let you fall in,” Then she commented. “Gilda says ponies have a different kind of chamber pot. It’s much bigger, it has a seat, and it’s made of something called porcelain, whatever that is. But no griffon can afford it out here, it’s too expensive.”

Gallus had a very nervous expression on his face as he sat on this pot and listened to Gabby gab on again. Would he end up making her mad if he didn’t do it right? He certainly didn’t want to hear more on how he was a ‘poor excuse for a griffon’ from those who saw him as a chore over a child. Gabby didn’t seem like them, but he was worried that the moment he made one mistake she was going to reveal herself to be just like them.

“Way to go, Gallus!” Gabby suddenly cheered. “You’re a big griffon just like your big sister!”

The blue feathered fledgling didn’t realize nature had taken its course as he was lost in thought over how he wasn’t being scolded for making a mess. “I.... did?” He asked with hope in his eyes.

“Yep!” Gabby chirped as she helped him down. “All that’s left is to use the cleaning cloths to get rid of any yucky stuff that may have gotten stuck to your feathers. Then I’ll empty it out.”

Gallus was so lost in how his ‘big sister’ acted in comparison to Grandpa Gruff and the other griffs who he stayed with on a regular basis. “Big sister… happy?” He nervously asked as he was wiped clean.

Gabby brought Gallus in for a big hug when the wiping job was done. “You bet, little brother!” She assured him while nuzzling him. “You’re a very special griff, and I’m happy to have you as my brother.”

Gallus found tears forming in his eyes. However these were not tears of sadness. They were something different, something wonderful. Something he had never before experienced in his young life. “Love you!” He chirped while burying himself as close as he could into Gabby’s chest.

Gabby was so touched that she, too, felt tears well up in her eyes. Maybe, in some way, looking out for young Gallus would help towards making a far kinder, more friendly Griffonstone? Well, at least she was breaking the cycle.

Over the coming years, Grandpa Gruff had no problem in making Gabby fully responsible for Gallus once her mail shift came to an end. It was a two-for-one as it kept Gabby’s ‘Griffony Sunshine’ to a minimum while only needing to care for Gallus while Gabby was doing her rounds.

Even better was how Gallus wasn’t wetting his diapers anymore. The chick had learned how to use Gabby’s chamber pot, with a special lid to keep him from falling in, while getting his body trained to go potty before heading to Grandpa Gruff’s and holding it in until he returned to the young griffon’s home (the one time he tried to use Grandpa’s Gruff’s pot he’d fallen in and gotten stuck). Even Gilda, who sometimes swung by, started commenting that he was “Not a diaper dweeb anymore” and would somewhat playfully rustle the feathers on his forehead.

Eventually, the time came for Gallus to head out and be his own griff. He found an abandoned home, which Gabby fixed up for him, and began his struggle between giving into everyday griffon cynicism or keeping that ‘Griffony Sunshine’ alive that he had gained from Gabby. But unlike his ‘big sister’ he knew she annoyed the citizens of Griffonstone and her home was outside of town so as to keep her as far away as possible.

Despite Gallus eventually learning that he too should keep his distance from Gabby, the grey mail griffon did manage to sneak some time in with him when no other griffons were looking. It was this time, which became less and less as the years, in which would give Gallus everything he needed to be made into the student representative of Griffonstone at Twilight’s School Of Friendship. All the while he never stopped considering Gabby his big sister, the one griffon who had cared for him and seen him as something other than just a burden to unload onto others.

Lightning Dust - No Pain, No Drain

The colorful and peaceful land of Equestria was far from all rainbows and butterflies. There were those who even in times of peace seemed to enjoy living life on the edge and to the extreme. This was particularly true in a suburban town outside of Manehattan. Not even having a foal had slowed one couple down from their love and desire of extreme experiences, and this love of the extreme was fast working its way into their daughter’s mind.

“Foals cramp the style, DD,” A pegasus stallion clad in a faux-leather jacket bluntly stated. “Can’t you find some happy homemaker to watch her while you and I go at it? It wouldn’t be fair if I beat you because the little rugrat was slowing you down.”

Diamond Dust, a mare who walked-the-walk as much as she talked-the-talk, had an oversized diaper bag firmly secured on her back. And poking out from the bag was a turquoise-green colored foal with a yellow-gold mane, who had amber colored eyes. Her parents had given her the name of Lightning, both because of their love of anything extreme and because they had soon discovered how fast the little one was when she wanted to be.

“Are you afraid that I’ll shame you even more by beating you with a toddler on my back?” Diamond smugly replied to her challenger. “Perhaps you need the diapers more than she does.”

The pastel-blue colored pegasus, who also wore a pair of aviator goggles, huffed while stomping his front hoof. “Ever here of reckless endangerment, DD?” He spat. “They’ll take her away when you get all bruised up trying to keep up with me.”

Diamond Dust, who had a shimmering mane of silver and a grey colored coat, simply looked back towards her daughter in apparent unconcern. “You see, Lightning?” She pointed out in a mocking tone. “This is what Mommy and Daddy call a chicken.”

“Bok-bok-bok-bok!” The foal cried out in the way her parents had trained her to. She did the motions.

The stallion grinded his teeth and snarled. “I’ll not be taunted by you or that foal of yours, Diamond!” He raged while raising his wings. “But I take no responsibility for your loss when it happens! You chose to bring the little one into this, so I hope you don’t cry as much as she does when you lose.”

“Wishful thinking!” Diamond replied while extending her wings. “Let’s let loose the lightning, baby!”

FWOO-FLAP

FLAP-WOO

“Wee!!” The young filly as her mom took to the air before freefalling to gain speed! She always loved being part of these races. No other foals in Equestria could ever lay claim to such a feat.

“Oh, yeah!” Diamond proudly proclaimed upon returning to their apartment. “Not only did we beat the flank off that no name want to be, but also still got back before your father! We’re crushing it!” The thrill-seeking mother then quickly unstrapped the diaper bag, and little Lightning Dust popped out of it just before it crashed loudly to the ground.

“Oh yeah!” Lightning Dust cried. “Brave no fear grave!”

Diamond Dust smiled down at her daughter and ruffled her mane. “That’s right!” She encouraged without a hint of caution. “There is no glory without risk-”

“-And the brave don’t fear the grave!” Mr. Dust announced as he stylishly entered into the cluttered apartment. It was the best the family of thrill seekers could afford. The two exchanged winks to show they had won their respective challenges before going through a quick series of bucks, flips, and hoof bumps.

“Yay!” Lightning cheered as she turned red in the face, hunched down, and let out a mighty grunt into her diaper as her tail hiked up.

Both parents smiled at how, just like them, their daughter did everything to the extreme. And whereas most parents would shudder at the idea of having to clean up afterwards, these two pegasi just viewed it as another challenge to overcome and conquer. It had served them well since their daughter was born, they didn’t even need to argue about who would take over diaper duty when.

“You were last,” Diamond said to her husband while poking him. “So that load is all yours.”

The daredevil stallion, who was teal colored with a golden mane that was even longer than his wife’s, laughed. “Well, let her finish and then I’ll do my duty,” He replied while poking his wife back. “So go ahead, Lightning. Let it all out!”

“Erf!” Lightning groaned as her back legs spread wider and she finished the total destruction of what was said to be the most absorbent and secure diapers on the market. It was quite a relief to be done.

FWOP!

The parents watched as the tapes ripped from Lightning’s diaper before the protective garment fell unceremoniously to the ground. Fortunately, it had done its job.

“Diaper off!” Lightning cheered. “All in! All out!”

Diamond nodded towards her husband, who proudly collected the defeated diaper and his hardcore daughter. They had been considering this next step for a while now, and the recent display they’d witnessed convinced them that the time had come.

“I think it’s time we upped your challenge level, Lightning!” Mr. Dust announced. “Your new opponent won’t stand a chance! Not against a foal as awesome as you!”

Lightning was confused when, instead of going into her ‘command center’ like normal, her dad instead brought her into the ‘throne room’ as it was called. “Throne room?” She inquired in confusion. “I princess?”

“Warrior princess, Lightning,” Hr father corrected, as he chucked the decimated diaper into the trash and began to clean his daughter up with wet wipes. “And to conquer the throne means you need to prove you can wear ‘All Star Underwear’ without doing any damage to them.”

Lightning looked confused as her father reached into a pack of what looked like a diaper, but neither felt or went on like one. “Behold!” Her father proudly cheered. “The porcelain god needs and demands its daily tribute! It wants what your diapers could not hope to contain, and conquering it will make you another step closer to being the next leader of The Wonderbolts!”

Lightning Dust marched herself towards the rimmed, chair-shaped object. She might have occasionally glanced at it before without a second thought, but now she had a new idea of what it was for. “Go there?” She curiously asked. Yet only with some flapping of her young wings and grasping with her front hooves, could she even glimpse a fraction of this ‘god’ who wanted what her weak diapers could not contain.

Mr. Dust helped his daughter up to see what her small stature and developing wings could not allow her to see. Particularly the unusual bowl that looked like it had water. “It all goes in there,” He said to his daughter in a very dramatic voice. “Only the porcelain god is capable of handling your ‘foal force’.”

Lightning’s eyes happened to spot the shiny, ramp-like object attached near the top right of the throne. “What that?” She asked while flapping her wings and stretching towards it.

Lightning’s father kept a loose hold on his daughter as Diamond came in to see how things were going. “Careful, Moony,” She said in a moment where her maternal instincts managed to override her ‘no pain, no gain’ way of thinking. “Don’t let her get too close.”

Moon Dust simply looked towards his wife and smiled. “It’s cool,” He played while failing to retain the same grip on his daughter he had a moment ago. “I know what I’m doing."

FWIP

FLAP-FLAP

CLICK

FWOO-WISH!

Moon had barely finished his statement when his daughter escaped his grip, fluttered the very short distance to the toilet’s handle, and put enough force down upon it to make it roar into action.

“Momma!” Lightning fearfully screamed upon taking in the mighty sound of the ‘god’ and stumbled back in midair.

BONK

FLIP

SPLAT

“MOMMA!” Lightning shrieked as she landed inside the bowl of the toilet in time for her tail to get wet enough to be ‘gobbled up’ by the ‘mouth of the beast’! And it felt like the rest of her would soon follow as she spun helplessly around, feeling dizzy and disoriented!

“LIGHTNING!” Diamond exclaimed as she shoved her husband aside, rushed over and retrieved their daughter from the toilet with seconds to spare! “It’s okay! Momma’s got you! You’re safe!”

Moon Dust was still making sense of what just happened when he saw his wife comforting and cradling Lightning while sitting herself upon the seat of the toilet. “What happened?” He asked, everything had occurred so fast that he was still trying to process it.

Diamond glared at her husband. “Our daughter almost got flushed thanks to you!” She growled at him! “Go bring me a warm bottle and some towels, stat!”

Moon nodded as he started to turn towards the bathroom door. “The brave don’t fear the grave,” He proudly declared, apparently not concerned about the near miss. “She braved the belly of the best, and will soon know that the toilet fears her more than she fears it.”

Maternal Diamond exploded in full force as she, within a fraction of a second, took hold of a roll of toilet paper and flung it at her husband’s head! “And I’ll be your grave if you are ever this careless with our daughter ever again!” She boomed! “Now get me that bottle and clean towels!”

Moon Dust was usually fearless. However, he did fear his wife when she went into ‘Mom Mode’. “On it!” He replied while heading for the kitchen, removing himself from the situation.

Diamond, meanwhiel, coddled her still shaking daughter. “It’s okay, Lighty,” She cooed while planting a kiss on her daughter’s head. “Momma just put the potty in time out. It will never hurt you again. I won’t allow it!”

Little Lightning Dust allowed herself to enjoy this rare moment of genuine love and affection. For now, the young filly no longer needed to worry about being ‘the best’, or ‘the bravest’. For this moment, Lightning was a foal free of expectations.

The rest of the day was all about loving lightning. Diamond sent her husband out to buy a pack of ‘Silly Filly’ diapers, which were more about comfort than efficiency, dressed her daughter in a minky sleeper, and bottle fed her until the foal fell asleep with a smile on her face. “My precious little bolt of lightning,’ She said with a tear in her eye. “Your dad and I may not ‘fear the grave’, but we do fear losing you.”

Life in the Dust apartment would return to feats of reckless daring do by the following day. However it was the times her mom and dad weren’t so ‘hardcore’ that truly allowed the foal to be free of all that would lead her to go from Wonderbolt material to a Washout. When next they would introduce their daughter to the toilet, it was void of the usual extremes and treated with the delicey that potty training deserved.

It didn’t last long, however. As memory of the near miss faded and Lightning started to grasp toilet usage, the extreme nature returned. Yet even Lightning would not risk another battle with the ‘god’. The fear of what would’ve happened had her mom not rescued her when she did was enough to give the little filly pause. It was perhaps the only thing in her life that could make even her willing to play it safe.

Tempest Shadow - Potty Training With A Twist

Author's Notes:

Tags: [Slice of Life] [Comedy]
Characters: [Tempest Shadow] [Spring Rain] [Glitter Drops] [OC]
Written By: Yosh E-O
Note: Based on the official' Stormy Road To Canterlot' movie prequel book. Creative head canon was used to describe how, in the story, Fizzlepop did not appear to have parents and lived, seemingly, alone as a young filly.

New Horizons was a village that had an excellent view up towards the great city of Canterlot. The fillies and colts were never made aware of how everypony there was an orphan. From the youngest foal to the eldest mare or stallion. However, there did come a time when the village elders would tell the young mares and stallions of the village’s ‘secret’. But all who knew were warned against ruining the ‘Happy Herd’ that still believed all were part of one great whole.

Homes in New Horizons were built and assigned by the town’s elders. Most were occupied by ‘siblings’ who had assigned ‘caretakers’ to guide them into adulthood. The caretakers had their own home within a short gallop range from the children they oversaw.

The New Horizons Nursery was the closest one would ever find any sign of the town serving as one large orphanage. It is here that three unicorn friends: Spring Rain, Glitter Drops and Fizzlepop Berrytwist were starting on their journey to having their very own homes within the village.

“Hey, Spring Rain!” An energetic unicorn who was clad in only a diaper called. “Where’s Fizzy Twister?”

Spring Rain, who could easily be believed to be the eager unicorn’s twin sister, stopped her playful headbutting of a large ball upon hearing her name called. “Glitty Drops?” She asked, before finding herself sitting down on a far squishier diaper than she had remembered it being. “Oh!” She suddenly remembered. “Fizzy is going to use the potty.”

“The potty?” Glitter Drops thought, before seeing the giant ball and sparking her youthful horn to see if, just maybe, it would improve on her ability to move it. “Why Fizzy Twister not play magic ball game?”

Spring Rain sparked her horn as she head bonked the large ball back towards her friend. “Fizzy say potty important,” She replied. “Fizzy says using potty make magics better faster.”

“But she not here?” Glitter Drops asked with confusion as her focus on the ball and using her magic kept her from realizing she was now using her diaper the same way Spring Rain had earlier. “This magic play practices?

Spring Rain continued to keep her focus on her horn, the ball, and how she would get it moved telekinetically back to Glitter Drops. “You know Fizzy,” She replied while feeling the ball push back towards her friend with just a bit less effort than before. “She no focus like we do.”

Glitter Drops felt the ball be a bit less difficult to roll back to Spring Rain. “We her friends?” She thought with a hint of worry. What if Fizzy was already forgetting about them.

“We are,” Spring Rain assured her friend as the ease of pushing the ball seemed a bit less this time. “But she says potty help improve magics.”

The sound of grown-up hoof steps soon came into the playroom. “Hello, Glitter Drops,” A female pony greeted. “Hello, Spring Rain.”

Both foals looked towards one of their unicorn caretakers with open eyes and wide smiles. “Hello, Nanny Fruity!” The two replied while gesturing towards the ball. “See what we do?”

The white coated mare with lime-green hair nodded in approval before using her magic to levitate the foals in the air. “I also see that you both made a little magic in your diapers too,” She giggled. “Remember that putting all your attention on horn magic makes you forget about other things your body is trying to tell you.”

The young fillies blushed as they became instantly aware of how much they were not paying attention to the rest of their bodies. This was soon followed by a tummy rumbling duet as they became aware of how they had skipped snack time.

“Sorry, Nanny Fruity,” Spring Rain pouted.

“Got too into ball magics.” Glitter Drops added.

The nanny just nodded and gave a warm smile. “It’s alright,” She replied. “We’ll get you both cleaned up and then get you both a snack before naptime.”

The unicorn caretaker then pulled a saddle-like covering from her saddle bag, placed it on top of her back, and levitated the two foals onto the saddle-like covering. “By the way?” She asked them. “Have either of you seen Fizzlepop? She’s normally with you two and I saw no sign of her between the nanny’s room and here.”

The unicorns frowned as the answer reminded them of their current situation.

“Fizzy is going potty.” Glitter Drops replied sadly.

“She be big filly,” Spring Rain glumly added. “We still foals.”

Nanny Fruits Basket felt alarmed. Each part of the large nursery had multiple washrooms with modernized toilets, sinks and baths. However she could not alarm the foals on her back by showing panic. She also couldn’t risk a rash, if one had not already formed, on Spring Rain and/or Glitter Drops. All she could do was hope another nanny found the remaining foal of the group, before the overly ambitious filly got herself in some real trouble.

The washroom that Fizzlepop had come to was the furthest away from all the known nanny patrol routes. It featured a stall-style shower, a simple sink with no foal-friendly stepping stools, and the target of her mission. This being a modern-aged, throne-style toilet. “Okay,” She said aloud. “It times I go from foal to big filly!”

Even as a foal, FB was quite the strategist. Though the caretakers in the village nursery always took extra effort in encouraging those in their care to, “Be their best to inspire the rest!”. It was now time for Fizzlepop to show her friends how magic and the potty could be mastered together.

However, as per regulations, the toilet lid was down and little Berrytwist knew that proper potty use meant the lid should be up to show the watery depths that were meant for what her lower-half had been using her diapers for.

Fizzlepop’s young mind went about imagining all the ways in which she could safely lift that lid. However time was running out as her bladder and bowel muscles gave her what the caretaker’s referred to as: “The tell tale signs that it is potty time.”.

“Okay,” Fizzlepop said while managing to hold enough magic in her horn to pull away the tabs of her diaper. “Step one done,” The confines of the diaper had helped maintain a comfortable temperature around little Berrytwist’s hindquarters. The sudden change in how the air felt against her lower half only served to increase the pressures she was told needed to be held until finding a nanny and getting help to use the potty. “Oopsie.” She said aloud, upon realizing she had missed some very important steps. Though she wanted to show she was strong, powerful, and ready to show her undiapered flanks to the world. Plus, as the most daring of the trio of herself, Spring and Glitter, she needed to keep up her reputation.

GURGLE-CHURN

FWOOF

“Tail rise means potty surprise!” She cried with fear upon recalling more of the potty training lessons that Nanny Fruits Basket, Nanny Kimono and Nanny Hot Springs had told all foals who were ready for ditching their diapers, and prepared to really start their magical training.

Fizzlepop eyed her target and knew she needed to not only lift the upper lid but also pull herself up onto the sides of the ‘potty pool’ in order to properly do what needed done.

“Special seat avoids wet feet,” Echoed in Berrytwist’s mind as she sparked her horn. This was another step she forgot in ‘The Potty Plan’ where one of the nannies would levitate a special covering so potty training foals did not fall into where their ‘icky-yucky stuff’ went.

FLICK SLAM!

It would have been a sight to see as Fizzlepop mustered enough magic to use her horn to lift the lid of the toilet, throw it back against the back of the throne-like porcelain tank, and find her front hooves and head dangling just barely above the water inside the toilet bowl, her barrel teetering on the outer rim and her hindquarters scrambling as she did not know whether to pull herself up or lower herself down!

Luckily, as this happened, Nanny Fruits Basket had managed to, calmly, play ‘Hide & seek’ with the freshly cleaned and diapered Spring Rain and Glitter Drops to find their purple-coated friend in the ‘Staff Only’ washroom.

“Found you!” The two foals cheered as they saw only the rear of their friend squirming over the toilet.

Nanny Fruits Basket tried very hard to hold back her worry for Fizzlepop’s well-being. Unfortunately her friends’ loud outburst scared the ‘stuff’ out of Fizzlepop before she plummeted horn first into the ‘deep end’ of the watery bowl.

SPLOOSH

THUNK

The two friends sitting atop the nanny’s back couldn’t help but laugh as Fizzlepop plopped into the potty to show only a set of hind legs kicking about while bubbly gurgles came from within.

SHING

SQUOO-LOP-WHOOSH

The nanny managed to remain calm as she gently wiggled the stuck foal from the watery depths, sat her gently upon the floor and used a nearby towel to help dry the shivering, daredevil unicorn off.

Spring Rain and Glitter Drops were laughing so hard at all the silly sounds and sights that they fell off of the nanny’s back. Fortunately their thick diapers cushioned their fall as they simply just rolled on the floor with a massive case of the giggles.

“Need some help?” A white coated unicorn who had red hair and strawberry-red eyes asked.

Fruits Basket sighed as she too tried to hide a snicker from escaping her muzzle. “Kimono,” she said as calmly as she could. “Could you take Spring Rain and Glitter Drops off to the napping room? I need to get little Fizzlepop cleaned up.”

Kimono took in the scene before her and knew this was one that needed her to ask no further questions.

SHING

FWOO

CRI-CRINKLE PLOP

“Okay you two,” Kimono cooed as she brought the giggling duo onto her back. “It’s nappy nap-nap time!”

Neither of the unicorns complained as Kimono couldn’t even help but let out a little snort, for what she knew Fruits Basket needed to ‘take care of’. “Good luck,” She called as straight-faced as possible. “And you’ll get the potty down soon enough, Fizzy!”

As Kimono left, Fruits Basket found the discarded diaper and used it to clean up what had fallen on the floor in front of the toilet. She then removed all her nanny supplies, levitated Fizzlepop in her magic and entered into the shower stall to wash the frightened young foal (who was shivering from her scary experience and from how her mane and coat were drenched in cold, icky toilet water). “Don’t worry, Fizzy,” She assured the foal as warm water and lavender scented soap found its way upon the young filly’s body. “It’s brave ponies like you who will go on to change the world. And to be honest, I don’t mind changing a few more diapers if it means not getting your horn stuck inside a toilet bowl, or worse.”

The foal said nothing. She just felt herself grow tired as the warm water, lavender scent, and soft scrubbing of the nanny put her to sleep. If she had just remembered all the steps and had planned around them, she wouldn’t have fallen in. Next time would be different, and she couldn’t wait to show her friends just how magical potty training could be.

Coco Pommel - Pottying On A Play

Author's Notes:

Tags: [Slice of Life]
Characters: [Coco Pommel] [Charity Kindheart] [OC]
Written By: Yosh E-O & Edited By Super Pink Brony 12

“Hey, hun,” A muscular stallion called out. “Do you think our little flapper is ready to stay up for the Midsummer Theater Revival?”

A cream-colored mare with a fashionable blue scarf and tan sun hat came into the room. “Our sweet little Coco?” She replied with a Trottingham accent. “It would be most delightful to take her to see Charity’s social. However she is still having some, well, ‘wardrobe troubles’ as it were.”

The olive-green stallion lowered his head. “That’s that fancy talk for still being in diapers,” He sighed with his thick, Manehattan accent. “We really need to get her out of them. No kindergarten is going to accept her when her ‘wardrobe’ is outdated.”

The mother looked about their apartment to see if their daughter, Coco, may be within hearing distance. “I simply do not know what to do,” She swooned in an unhappy tone. “It’s like she sees her nappies as part of some elaborate costume and just refuses to part with them. I’ve tried everything I can think of to convince her otherwise, but nothing works.”

The brawny stallion went to comfort his wife. “You’re friends with Charity Kindheart, right?” He questioned. “Perhaps she may have an idea on how to help our precious pumpkin, given her liking of all that fancy dress stuff?”

The mother blushed. “Oh!” She gasped with concern. “I do not feel it proper to bring a foal to tea with somepony of the status of Ms. Charity Kindheart.”

“Sweetheart!” The native Manehattan husband announced. “If a chariot driver like yours truly can win the heart of a peach like you, I am sure our Coco can find a place at the table with her ma and Charity Kindheart.”

The maternal mare let out a laugh as she nuzzled her husband. “I do love your charisma, Oliver Pommel,” She commented. “I would love to have your confidence in being able to just throw caution to the wind and reach for the stars.”

“Ah, sugar lump,” replied Oliver as he pulled his wife into a hug. “You just have a way of bringing the best out of this old trotter. I’m certain Charity Kindheart will know what to do. She seems to have an answer for everything in this town.”

Coco Pommel was still napping as her mother and father had their discussion. She was clad in a flower-print cloth diaper with a pink dress that accented the petals of the diaper. She also had a sunhat that had a flower which matched the ones adorning her absorbent undergarment. However the hat had fallen off from the young filly’s tossing and turning in her bassinet as she dreamed of doing all those things she heard her parents took pride in.

Coco was not a ‘girly-girl’ by any means. However she did like seeing colors match and pretending to be all sorts of different characters from the storybooks her parents read to her. Her father had some really great tales of how he handled ‘grumpy customers’ while meeting famous Bridleway ponies. And her mom would often share the majesty of Trottingham, trips to Canterlot, and what it was like to see the beautiful carpets, tapestries, and clothing that noble ponies and the uniformed guards wore.

The little filly wished more than anything she could grow up to be like any of those things. The many costumes she wore were her way of imagining what her life would be like as somepony else.

“Coco, dear,” Her mother called, rousing the foal from sleep. “We must make haste, for we are expected for tea over at Ms. Charity’s house.”

The teal-haired foal fluttered her big blue eyes, rolled onto her back, and then sat herself up. “Ready, Mum,” She greeted. “Is okay I wear my costume?”

Mrs. Pommel brought her daughter out from her bassinet while looking over her ‘costume’, and frowned. “I’m afraid not,” She sighed upon seeing a patch of yellow on the white part of Coco’s diaper. “Your colors are clashing.”

Coco pouted upon being made aware of how she had wet herself in her sleep. “Sorry, Mum,” she apologized. “Is time for me to get new costume?”

Mrs. Pommel knew this meant getting her daughter cleaned up, on top of finding another ensemble for her foal to wear for the social she had managed to plan amidst Ms. Charity Kindheart’s busy schedule. “Of course,” She relented. “I think I know just the thing too. Come, let’s resolve your ‘wardrobe problem’.”

Coco’s mom quickly cleaned and changed her daughter into a red heart printed cloth diaper, dressing her in a white-bordered lavender sailor collar, along with a scarlet tie around her neck and a tri-shade hair clip in her mane.

Coco looked into the mirror after her mother was done dressing her up. “Who I supposed to be?” She asked upon not recalling any stories of anypony ever being dressed in such a way.

Mrs. Pommel finished packing a diaper bag before leaning down to nuzzle her daughter. “Thought we’d see what you’d look like as your own character today, dearie. Somepony ready to hopefully undergo an important step towards being a big pony,” She replied before setting her daughter upon her back. “Now do hold on, Coco. We are a tad tardy and it would take far too long to put on your saddle seat.”

“Never let go of Mum.” Coco cooed while squeezing her hooves against both sides of her mother’s barrel for safety.

“That’s a good lass,” The proud mother smiled as they headed off to Charity’s home. “Off we go, then. We mustn’t keep Ms. Kindheart waiting.”

Charity was delighted to see Mrs. Pommel and Coco arrive at her humble home. Despite having amassed a small fortune through her years as a costume designer in Manehattan, Charity never forgot how she had arrived in the big city with barely a bit to her name. Her belief was to give back to her community, and so she spent most of her bits building and maintaining a park with an outdoor playhouse, while helping to fund a shop for less fortunate ponies to get food and clothing.

“I see that Coco still likes to play dress-up, is that correct?” Charity asked. “And you think that is why she is struggling in her toilet training?”

“Too hard take off nappy,” Coco added while fumbling at the cloth diaper’s tri-fold that was held together by a safety pin. “I try.”

Mrs. Pommel sighed. “I had not desired for business to come before pleasantries,” She apologized. “But my husband seems to believe you can do what even the best nannies affordable cannot.”

“Not a worry,” Charity smiled while picking up and looking at the young filly. “I see a future star in fashion and design, and want to help Ms. Coco on her way to greatness! Like all little ones, that starts with helping her graduate from diapers now that she is old enough not to need them.”

Coco giggled as she heard the pleasant comments from Charity while being held high enough to look at both her mother and Ms. Charity’s faces.

“Chamomile, dear,” Charity asked while looking towards Mrs. Pommel. “Have you ever thought that your daughter felt her diapers were a part of her ensemble?”

Chamomile put a hoof to her chin. “Well,” She replied. “I never did consider that possibility until you pointed it out just now. Oh dear, perhaps that’s why training her has been so difficult.”

Charity continued to play with Coco while addressing her mother. “Safety pins are great for foals who lack control of their, well, private matters,” She continued. “So perhaps we need another way to help our aspiring designer to not feel so, uh, ‘obliged’ to do her business within her wardrobe. A way for her to understand where her business is supposed to go.”

“What do you suggest?” Chamomile asked with hopeful anticipation.

Charity placed Coco down on the floor to play before continuing her discussion. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with elastics,” She explained. “Elastics allow for less wardrobe adaptations as they are able to fit a pony without the need for cumbersome buttons, zippers or pins. They’re much easier to put on and take off.”

“Pardon my forwardness,” Chamomile remarked with concern. “But how does this help me get the lass to do her business where it is meant to be done? If they can be taken off so easily, what’s to stop her from simply removing her wardrobe by accident, and giving me an accident to clean up?”

Charity laughed before putting a reassuring hoof upon Mrs. Pommel’s side. “Let me work my magic and we’ll find out together,” She proudly replied. “And before you ask, I wish for nothing in return for what I’m going to do. For me, I feel this may be of benefit to other fillies and colts who are like your daughter. It may well revolutionize foal care as we know it!”

It was barely a day later when Charity called Coco and Chamomile over to debut her clothing concept. “Behold!” She cheered with pride. “Care to give the young lady some privacy in the washroom to try these on?”

Chamomile was confused. “Sure…,” She pondered while seeing how the garment was already formed into a diaper without it showing any signs of folds, pins, buttons, etc. The only big difference was a frill-like series of protruding, wave-like fabric that appeared around where the garment would rest upon the lower torso of her daughter.

Charity noticed the hesitation and decided to just move to give Chamomile the diaper. “Come along,” She insisted. “We mustn’t hold up your daughter’s toilet training any longer.”

Mrs. Pommel called for her daughter and with strange garment in hoof, headed for the washroom.

Coco was soon slipped into the new “costume” as Charity explained. “Now, Coco, you’ll notice that your new attire is considerably lighter than your old wardrobe. That means it cannot hold as much of your ‘business’.”

“So, I need costume changes more often?” Coco questioned as she wiggled about in her new attire.

“Not quite,” Charity replied as she brought Coco before a large trench like object. “It’s much more efficient and hygienic to manage your business from a new venue. This is a flush toilet, which is what proper ponies use when they get to be about your age. Using it makes you more like those big ponies you like to pretend to be,” And she then explained. “I designed this fabric so that even a foal like you can easily pull it down without assistance. From there, you simply relieve yourself as necessary.”

Coco discovered that Charity was right on her new wardrobe. It was far easier to slide it down compared to the old ones, there were no safety pins or buttons to fiddle with. But she was still a bit uncertain about using a “flush toilet”. There was one thing she was still confused about. “How do I clean up?” She asked.

Mrs. Pommel presented a paper like substance to her daughter. “With this. It’s called toilet paper. When you’re all done, you simply take some from a rack and wipe until your rump is fresh and clean. It’s even easier than wipes, because you can just discard them in the toilet. And the toilet takes care of the rest. It’s highly efficient.” She demonstrated this by stepping on a brightly colored pedal.

A loud roar filled the washroom that frightened Coco a great deal! Fortunately, her mom and Charity were able to quickly calm her down. And Charity specifically told Coco. “I know it sounds scary, but I assure you it’s nothing to be afraid of. That is simply the ‘flush’, which is what you do when you’re done using the toilet. And I hear some noble ponies are working on a model where you don’t even have to stand. Supposedly, there will be a seat and a much easier way to activate the flush. For right now though, you’ll have to get used to standing over the toilet when you need to go.”

“Think you can manage that when we get home, sweetie?” Mrs. Pommel asked her daughter. “Perhaps we can surprise your father when he comes home from work?”

Coco nodded her head in excitement. “Okay. Try for Mum.”

Chamomile and Oliver were astounded at how quickly their daughter, Coco, took to using the potty. For her, it was like a play where, if she had to relieve herself she just would say things like: “End scene!”, “Wardrobe check!”, and “I need an intermission.”.

Oliver, being the no nonsense Manehattan stallion, soon taught his little Coco that the flush toilet was a ‘talk-the-talk’ that only made scary sounds to try and keep ‘trot-the-trot’ ponies, like her, from giving it ‘the business’.

The new diaper, which Charity made more of upon knowing of how well it worked, made staying in costume and clean super easy as the young filly could easily slip it down, show the potty who was boss, and pull it back on all clean, comfy and stylish upon tending to her hygiene needs.

The ‘hygiene’ aspect was more enforced by Chamomile who, prior to having Coco, had to educate Oliver in the importance of soap, shampoo and deodorant. Chamomile also got him to wear cologne. However this was more for her than it was for him as she loved her rugged husband looking and smelling so suave.

Oliver was especially pleased with how fast things turned around for Coco on toilet training. “I knew Charity Kindheart could help!” He thought to himself while helping his daughter clean up after yet another successful trip to the potty.

Coco, for her part, was just pleased with how happy she made her parents. She never would’ve imagined that mastering usage of a “toilet” could open so many doors for her. And her “big pony” status that accompanied her success with her new wardrobe afforded her more freedom than she had ever known before.

By the time of the Midsummer Theater Revival, many neighborhood fillies and colts were wearing Charity Kindheart’s amazing cloth garment, in order to improve upon making toileting a lot less of an effort for their advancement from foal to big filly or colt.

In time, Coco found she did not need the ‘diaper’ to make her ensemble appear unique and stylish. However she did remember what her mother had put her in on the day she was introduced to Ms. Charity. So, with a little help from Charity herself, she recreated the very outfit she wore on that fateful day to show how much her mom, Charity and her love for clothing design had all come together to help her meet (and conquer) one of her first real challenges of her life.

Many more challenges would come along for Ms. Coco Pommel. However she knew she could always rise to the occasion thanks to the faith put into her by her mother, father and Charity. She never forgot that even long after it seemed like everypony else in her community had. And while most ponies would have only faint memories of those early years, Coco never forgot them or the pony to whom she owed so much for enabling her to take that first step towards being a “big filly”.