Shining was walking back down the halls of the palace. He was panting a bit, as he was exhausted from carrying Luna. He eventually made it to the garden where he found the foals splashing each other in the fountain. Bright Wing was shouting “Mawco!” while Bucket Bridle and Cannon Feather were both shouting “Powo!” as he got closer to them. Bucket Bridle was getting cornered as he waded through the water close to the edge. Bright Wing could hear Bucket Bridle’s breathing and smiled, knowing he was getting closer to Bucket Bridle. He then shouted “Got ya!” and crashed into Bucket Bridle sending the both of them into the water, making Cannon Feather laugh out loud as Bucket Bridle shouted, “Ya cheated, I saw ya open ya eyes!”
Bright Wing nagged, ”Na uh I won faiw and squea.”
Cannon Feather splashed Bright Wing and shouted, “Ya fowgot about me, Bwight Wing, guess I win!” Bright Wing and Bucket Bridle glared at Cannon Feather who stepped back as they both started splashing him with water, as he laughed “Stop it!”
Shining sighed and came upon the foals. “That’s enough you three, looks like you made quite the mess,” They all gasped upon seeing Shining and got out of the fountain, their training pants swelling around their rumps, making them all giggle. Shining burst out laughing making all the foals laugh before he said seriously, “Alright, let’s get you three inside and cleaned. Besides, I’ve got a surprise for you three.”
A few minutes later, Shining was getting the foals dried up in one of the castle bathrooms, fluffing them up in a towel while he slipped new training pants over their rumps. He struggled a bit as he continued with Bright Wing’s rump.
Bright Wing pondered to himself, “I haven’t really thought of my family since the transformation. If my dad did find out, he’ll probably only take me back if I promise to not go back into the royal guard. As for my mare friend, she’s probably on her way to give me a piece of her mind.”
“Um Bright Wing, is something wrong?” Shining asked.
Bright Wing, having been snapped out of his thoughts replied, “Um Shining, di ya tew owa famiwies we got tuwend ta foals?”
All the foals looked up at Shining and he sweated a bit before he answered, “Well, yeah. Celestia gave the order this morning, and I had guards tell only those closest to you. We told them specifically that you will be cared for here until a cure be found.”
Bright Wing sighed as he turned his head, “Oh boy, my mare friend is going to be ecstatic. She’s probably laughing her rump off at the fact that I’m practically back in diapers.”
Bucket Bridle groaned, “Oh, my mommy is gonna rush over here and make me weaw diapees even if I dun wanna. Untiw I was thwee and a hawf years owd she awways made me wear them.”
“Wait, are you guys worried about your parents?” Shining asked the trio.
Cannon Feather bowed his head as Bright Wing shrugged, while Bucket Bridle whimpered, “A wittle, mostwy out of embewasment.”
Shining smiled as best he could, “Hey, don’t worry, i’m sure things with your parents won’t be that bad. Now how about we go see your surprise?” He asked. They all perked up a bit as Shining lead them out of the bathroom and back to their room. They found foam swords on the bed, gasped, ran up to them, and started playing with them! Shining laughed, “Alright, don’t go crazy with them.” But all the same he saw how estatic they were in grabbing their foam swords, as they began walking at each other, shouting and laughing. Shining smiled as he thought to himself, “See Cadence, I can foalsit too. How hard can this be?”
Hours later after Celestia her buisness in court. She decided to go back to her library to look over books on age regression in her library mumbling to herself, “This could be the cure, but it’s very difficult and a long shot. How can I test it?” A knocking disrupted her train of thought as she turned and asked, “Who is it?”
“It’s Sergeant Battleheart.” A royal guard answered.
Celestia marked the spell book and closed it as she said, “You can come in, Sergeant.”
Sergeant Battleheart walked into the room and replied, “Sorry to disturb you, Princess Celestia, but Bucket Bridle's family has arrived.”
Celestia smiled, ”Have they? Well, hopefully they’re nicer than Cannon Feather’s.” She got up and asked, “Can you get Bucket Bridle? I think he should be playing with Shining Armor right now.”
“Yes Princess Celestia.” Battleheart bowed and ran off.
Celestia got up with a yawn and giggled, “I can't believe Luna collapsed while playing, hopefully I won’t do the same.” She came out of the library and continued to the throne room, where she saw a pudgy white coated unicorn mare with giant blue eyes, and a pink puffy mane that swirled around her face. On her side was a saddle bag bursting with foal supplies. But what made Celestia’s eyes grow even wider was the mare’s cutie mark, it was a teddy bear! Still Celestia could only smile, “Don’t tell me this is Bucket Bridle’s mom.” She thought. She came up to the mare, who squealed with excitement and bowed, “Princess Celestia! It’s a pleasure.”
Celestia continued to smile, “Yes, it’s a pleasure to see you as well,” The mare was still bowing when Celestia whispered. “Um...you can stand.”
The mare stood up as she apologized, “Sorry about that, um..” She took out her hoof and said formally, “My name is Nanny Comfy Rump.”
It took all of Celestia’s will power not to burst out laughing, as she bowed her head. “It’s good to meet you, Comfy Rump. Are you Bucket Bridle's mother?”
Comfy laughed. “Surprised? Most ponies are when I tell them I’m Bucket Bridle's mother. His name was Padded Rump, but he didn’t like it.”
Celestia snicked, “I can see why.” She thought, but outloud she replied, “Well he should be here soon.”
Bucket Bridle came down the stairs with Battleheart. He groaned as his mother rushed up and hugged him! “Oh, I can’t believe you're a foal!”
“Yeah yeah, is gweat ta see ya too, Mom.” Bucket Bridle mumbled. His mom kissed him and checked his training pants, making him shout, “Mom, I not a baby!”
But Comfy only laughed, “From what Celestia has told me, you practically are dear.”
He groaned, looking at his mother’s saddlebag and shouting. “Ya bwought youw fowl stuff, Mom?!”
She smiled and cooed. “Of course I did, cutie, besides I did just get off work. I had so many foals to care for today.”
Bucket Bridle then nervously whispered, “So wha about Dad, di he come?”
“Oh no,” Comfy replied. “I’m sorry he’s-”
But then they turned to the door as it opened, and a tall white coated earth pony stallion with yellow eyes came through the door. His saddle bags were full of balloons, his face was painted, and he wore a multi colored wig. The stallion immediately shouted, “Bucket Bridle!” As he ran through the hall, but since he was wearing his long clown shoes, he tripped and slid on the ground towards the group as Bucket Bridle groaned. “Oh Dad, why did ya not dwop off ya cwon stuff befowe ya came?”
Celestia couldn't hold it back anymore and started to laugh out loud. Bucket Bridle’s dad got up and smiled, “Sorry about not coming earlier, I had three birthday parties to go to.”
Celestia shook her head still giggling. “It’s alright.”
The stallion came over and hugged his son. “Oh wow, you’re so small now! I’ve almost forgotten when you weren’t so tall! My, how long ago that seems!”
Bucket Bridle sighed and hugged his dad back, “Hey dad, I gwad ya hewe now, bu I stiw can’t bewive ya came hewe dwess wike that! Ya embawassin me.”
His dad just laughed, “Sorry, I would of but after my last birthday party, I came straight here to see you and I didn't even realise i was still wearing my clown costume until I tripped on my shoes.”
Bucket Bridle was placed on the ground as he mumbled. “So whas going on? ya gonna take me home with ya?”
His dad laughed and continued. “Well, only if you want to.”
His mom nodded and added, “We’ll be fine if you decide you want to stay here at the palace though. With your father always so busy I’d have to take you with me to work every day.”
Bucket Bridle looked up at his parents and said to them (after thinking for a moment), “Okay, well I tink I gonna stay. Hopefully Cewestia tuwns me back to a adwlt soon, and meanewhile I wana pway with Cannon Feather and Bright Wing a bit longer.”
His mother ruffled his mane as she replied, “Very well, sweetie.” She then took out a purple stuffed rabbit which made Bucket Bridle blush. “Ya cawy tha awound?!” He asked.
Comfy slipped it into his hooves as she cooed, “Of course, I wouldn't forget your Mr. Hopsy. You used to be unable to nap without him,” She then turned to Celestia and said, “I know you're the princess and all, but here’s a list of things you should know about my little Bucket Bridle when he was a foal.” She took out a scroll that quickly rolled down to the edge of the hall just revealing how long it was. She smiled and quickly rolled it back up as Bucket Bridle’s eyes went wide. “No Mom! She doesn't need to know aww of tat!”
Comfy only replied. “Of course she does, sweetie. She needs to know how you like your baths, and what your favorites foods are, and what gives you diarrhea.”
Celestia burst out laughing again as she replied, “Okay, Mrs.Comfy Rump, I'll be sure to read the list thoroughly.”
Comfy then whispered, “I trust you will, but I'm serious about the diarrhea, don't ever give him too much milk, or any prune juice or raisins.”
Celestia chuckled. “I'll definitely keep that in mind.”
Bucket Bridle was just staring at the floor, beyond humiliated now, as his dad gave him a hug and a kiss, “We should be back tomorrow. Both your mom and I are doing a party for a newborn foal tonight. Be a good little foal for the princess, okay?”
Bucket Bridle reluctantly mumbled, “Okay.”
The parents waved goodbye as Celestia put the list away and asked Bucket Birdle. ”You sure you don't want to go with them?”
Bucket Bridle smiled and looked up. “I'm suwe, as at weast fow now. They seem to wove embawassing me.”
Celestia bowed her head, “Okay then,” Bucket Bridle squeezed his bunny and was placed on Celestia’s back as she then told him, “Bucket Bridle I ...I might have actually found a cure.”
Bucket Bridle looked up with a happy expression. “Weally?! Why didn’t ya sawy so?!” He bounced around, shouting happily! “Yes! I gonna be a stawion again! Gonna be a stawion again!”
Celestia continued, “Now hold on, I said I think I might have found a cure. That doesn't mean I did for sure.”
Bucket Bridle stopped as he whispered, “Oh.”
Celestia then explained, “Now, I’m going to try to use a reversal spell I found, on you. But I must tell you, that I’ve never used this spell before, and it might not work.”
Bucket Bridle nodded, “Otay, I’w test ya spew.”
Celestia escorted Bucket Brilde to the library, where she placed him on the ground and instructed, “Now, hold still.”
He closed his eyes, hugging his stuffed rabbit tightly! Celestia shot a energy beam from her horn her and tendrils swirled around Bucket Bridle!
Shining was now running down the halls. He looked behind him with a smile, “Good, I think I lost them.” He came around a corner and pressed himself against the wall. making him chuckle a bit as he turned to see to see if the foals were nearby. He looked down at the empty hall as he whispered, “Where did they go?” He felt foam hit his rump, making him turn to see the two foals with their foam swords in their mouths. “Hey, how did you two get here?!” He asked them. But he fell to the ground anyway, and they began crawling over him making him laugh as Bright Wing shouted, “We got ya!”
Shining, still laughing, asked, “How do you two get here so fast?”
Bright Wing replied with a smile, “We just wan awound and waited fow ya!”
Cannon Feather just shrugged and smiled, before a guard approached them shouting, “Hey, Cannon Feather! Bright Wing!”
The two foals looked up to see Bucket Bridle, but he was a stallion now grinning at them (also revealing his cutie mark a helmet with a sun on it). They both gasped, “Di Cewestia find a cuwe?!” Bucket Bridle nodded as they both shouted with glee and hugged him.
Shining sighed as he got up and said, “Well, Sergent Bridle, you’re looking good.”
Bucket Bridle saluted Shining Armor and replied, “Thank you, Captain Armor!”
Shining saluted back as Cannon Feather sighed, “Wooks wike Bwight Wing and I should go see Pwincess Cewestia.”
The two foals both looked back at Shining who told them, “Yes, come on, let’s not keep the princess waiting.” He lead the two back down the halls, as Bucket Bridle followed close behind.
Celestia waited in the library, looking down deep in thought, with a small smile on her lips, “It was fun having those three as foals. But i'm more scared about this spell I used, if it doesn’t work. Then I don’t think there is a cure.” She turned to Shining and the now stallion Bucket Bridle escorting the two foals, with him. She smiled and said, “That will be all Captain Shining, you are dismissed.”
Shining bowed and replied, “As you wish Princess Celestia.”
He then left the room and left Celestia with the two foals and Bucket Bridle as she continued, “Now, I have to admit something to all three of you,” They all looked up at her as Celestia explained, “I don’t think there is a cure to your curse. I’ve been researching about your ailment over the greatest spell books I know, and found that this curse may not be curable.”
Bucket Bridle eyed her and replied, “But I’m curious, I’m back to being a stallion.”
Celestia smiled and continued, “Yes, for now.”
Bucket Bridle eyed her suspiciously, “For now?” He asked.
Celestia sighed, “Yes, for now. The spell I cast was the only reversal spell to the curse, but it could backfire and send you back to being foals again.”
They all groaned as Cannon Feather asked, “So wha awe we gonna do afta ya cast ta spew?”
Celestia replied and told them. “I want you three to remain in the castle until I can verify if the spell works for at least twenty four hours.”
Bright Wing nodded, “Otay sounds goo.”
Cannon Feather shrugged, “It dun sound bad ta me.”
Celestia came over and pulled off their training pants, then she lit her horn as she instructed, “Now hold still while I cast the spell.” Tendrils of magic swirled around them and enveloped them in a bright burst of light.
After the light died down, Bright Wing and Cannon Feather blinked as they looked upon their fully grown stallion bodies with smiles. Bright Wing laughed, “I didn’t think that I would miss seeing my old body again so much.” He turned to his rump showing two wings glowing over a spear.
Cannon Feather looking back at his wings unfurling as he snickered .“Yeah it’s almost too good to be true.”
Celestia looked at them with a smile as they both bowed and said together. “Thank you, Princess Celestia.”
She cooed, “It was no problem at all.”
They then heard the door open, and they turned to see a pegasus mare with a unkempt black mane that fell around her eyes, a light grey, coat, blue eyes, and a cutie mark depicting a rain cloud, enter. Bright Wing’s eyes went wide “Rain?”
Bright Wing came up with a small smile, as she came up, slapped him across the face, and shouted, “Is this a joke?! I thought you were a foal!”
Bright Wing turned with a smirk, “I was until a few moments ago, Celestia just turned me back into a stallion.”
Celestia cleared her throat. “Um Bright Wing, who is this?”
Bright Wing turned and said, “This is Rain, my special somepony.”
Both Bucket Bridle and Cannon Feather laughed and dawwed making Bright Wing growl, “Shut up you two!”
They both snickered as Bright Wing turned and said, “Princess Celestia, with your permission, I would like to go out with Rain.”
Celestia bowed her head, “Of course, go right ahead. But don’t be too long."
Bright Wing turned with a smile and asked, “So, Rain, want to go out with me?”
Rain sighed and twirled her mane from her eyes, “Sure, let’s go.”
A short time later, the couple was now sitting outside a restaurant. Bright Wing spoke up, “Rain, you're looking good.”
“Shut up!” Rain shouted, “You left for a whole week without telling me where you were!” She growled.
Bright Wing rolled his eyes, “Oh come on, I told you, I was going to do guard duty in Ponyville, and i’m sure Celestia didn’t want to alert everypony to the fact that I got turned into a foal.”
The waiter came out with a pad and pencil and smiled at the two. “May I take your order?” He asked.
Rain turned and mumbled, “Just get me a salad.”
The waiter blinked and asked, “Um...what kind of salad?”
Rain shrugged. “Whatever you think is good.”
The waiter shrugged, wrote something down, and turned to Bright Wing, “And what can I get for you, sir?”
Bright Wing sighed and mumbled, “Carrot sticks and a sippy cup of apple juice.”
The waiter blinked a few times and asked, ”um…”
Bright Wing sighed. “You heard me.”
The waiter reluctantly wrote the order down and walked away as fast as he could. Rain turned her head and asked Bright Wing. “Still got foalish urges or something?”
Bright Wing replied, “Kind of. The truth is, I have a feeling I'm going to turn back into a foal very soon. And I wanted to tell you that there is no cure.”
Rain blinked a few times before she replied, “Wait, what?! But, you're a stallion here and now!”
Bright Wing continued, “I want to explain to you I’m doing this in spite of that fact, just listen for a second,” Rain paused as Bright Wing explained, “I want to tell you before I turn back into a foal for a long time that I love you, but don’t wait for me. Find another stallion.”
Rain threw back her head and laughed. “Oh come on, Bright Wing. You think I’ll just abandon you if you turn into a foal?”
But Bright Wing responded, “Trust me, Rain, I’m not messing around. The curse placed on me and my friends is very powerful and mysterious. Even Princess Celestia doesn’t know anything about it.”
“So you're just giving up?” Rain asked, glaring at Bright Wing.
Bright Wing firmly replied, “Rain, this isn't how I wanted things to go, you know that.”
Rain turned her head and asked, “So you turned back into a stallion knowing Celestia’s cure wouldn’t work, just so you can go on this date with me?”
Bright Wing laughed, “You guessed it.”
Rain tried to smile as she replied, “This is going to be the strangest dinner ever,” Bright Wing nodded as she then continued, “Look if you're going to turn back into a foal, then let me be your caretaker. I wouldn't mind.”
Bright Wing looked up and said firmly, “No! I don’t want you caring for me, I won’t be a burden to you!”
Rain cried, “Oh come on, I came all the way here from Cloudsdale to see you and now you're just going to tell me I can't care for you?!”
Bright Wing replied, “How do you expect to support me and yourself alone? I won’t let you end up like my father.”
Rain looked to the ground and grumbled. “I’ll think of something, I can find a good paying job. But if you turn back into a foal, how will we stay together?”
Bright Wing looked at her and whispered, “I don’t know, but let’s take this slow and easy.”
Rain reluctantly replied, “Fine, then…” But she was cut off by what she witnessed happening to Bright Wing.
A bright light enveloped him as he shrank in his chair. Rain could only smile seeing her coltfriend now a toddler standing on his back legs ,trying to reach the table for support
Rain dawwed as the waiter came back and gasped, seeing that the stallion from earlier had been replaced by a foal and asked, “Where..where did the stallion go? Who’s the foal?”
Rain turned and said to the waiter, “What do you mean? He’s my son.”
Bright Wing giggled and shouted, “Ya, I a a fowl, and ya got my sippy cup and food!”
The waiter blinked a few times, as he placed a salad bowl by Rain and a plate of carrot sticks and a sippy cup of juice near the foal as he replied,” I swear you were a stallion.”
Bright Wing looked at himself and gave his porky belly a few pats, “No, I suwe I a fowl. I not even potty twained yet.”
This made Rain laugh out loud, as the waiter smiled, “Yes, it must've been a trick of the eyes...should I get you a foal seat?”
Rain turned to the waiter, “Yes, that would be lovely. And if you can, bring a bib too, my son is such a messy eater.”
Bright Wing bounced on his chair shouting, “Yeah, and huwwy! I weawwy hungwy!”
The waiter bowed and ran off making Bright Wing and Rain laugh out loud.
Cannon feather was walking back and forth in their room while Bucket Bridle was sitting on his end as Cannon Feather commented, “So we could turn back into foals at anytime?”
Bucket Bridle sighed, “Yeah, it seems so.”
Canon Feather laughed, “So how about we go get a beer before we can’t drink anymore?”
Bucket Bridle rolled his eyes, “I would but…”
Cannon Feather eyed him, “But?” He asked, hoping for more details.
Bucket Bridle turned and replied, “I have to do something before I turn back,” He ran out of the room and down the halls to the dining hall where Princess Celestia was eating by herself. Bucket Bridle came up and asked, “Princess Celestia?”
She turned and smiled, “Bucket Bridle, what brings you here?”
Bucket Bridle sat down across from her as he said firmly, “Princess Celestia...I...I have to confess something,” Celestia stared at him as he cleared his throat and continued, “One day, while on guard duty a few years ago. I snuck into your room curious to see...um…”
“Curious about what?” Celestia asked.
Bucket Bridle gulped and confessed, ”You see rumors were, that you had a list of guards you had a crush on. So me being young and stupid, me and my fellow royal guards rolled dice to see who would sneak into your room and to find the list.”
Celestia eyed him, “So you snuck into my room and invaded my privacy?”
Bucket Bridle continued with bearing, “Yes I did and I..um...instead found your diary opened, and I read some of it, about how you and Luna played together as foals and ruled together as sisters,” She bowed her head as he sighed, “That's where I learned the nickname Tia. I never told anypony about what I saw and told the other guards that the list was a myth.”
Celestia smiled as she stared at the ground, “That's why you called me Tia as a foal.” She realized.
Bucket Bridle closed his eyes and started to shake all over as he continued, ”Yes and I’m truly sorry. If you wish to banish me then you can. I know I deserve it for disrespecting your privacy.” He cringed waiting for what Celestia’s punishment would be.
But Celestia only laughed and said in a soothing tone, “Bucket Bridle, it’s quite alright,..just don’t tell anypony about what you read.”
Bucket Bridle nodded, “Of course, I would never do something like that.”
Celestia winked at him, making him blush. She then cleared her throat and asked, “So, how about some dinner? Hopefully you like your greens now.”
Bucket Bridle gave a rapid nod as he replied,”I have to use the bathroom, I’ll be right back.”
Bucket Bridle quickly left the table as Celestia smirked thinking. “He must’ve looked into my diary from the day before he said Tia to me on the chariot here. But it’s nice to see him speak up. He is loyal, and strong. It’s actually a bit surprising seeing his parents.” She smiled at the thought of Bucket Bridle as a clown, then she heard a toddler shout, “Tia...I...I missed the potty!” Celestia sighed, realizing her spell had failed as she shouted, “Don’t worry, Bucket Bridle, Tia is coming!” She then rushed to the bathroom to help little Bucket Bridle.
Cannon Feather knocked on the door to Luna’s room until he heard a grumble, “Who dares wake the Princess of the Night?”
Cannon Feather replied, “It’s me, Cannon Feather.”
He then heard the door open and Luna stood over him with a smile, “Cannon Feather, you're a stallion again.” She observed.
Cannon Feather bowed his head as he explained, “Yes, Princess Luna, it seems that your sister found a cure.”
Luna waved him in. “Come in, tell thy everything.”
Cannon Feather entered the room and gasped at its size, with the circular bed and the room decorated with a dark blue color.
Luna sat on her bed and instructed, “Cannon Feather, come and sit,” Cannon Feather came over and sat down next to her as she apologized, “Sorry for not being able to finish our game of hide and seek.”
Cannon Feather shook his head as he turned towards her, “No, it’s fine. Playing with you, even for the short time I was a foal, was one of the best times of my life.”
Luna then asked, “Did my sister really found a cure?”
Cannon Feather reluctantly explained, “I don’t know. She said it could backfire and I can become a foal again at anytime.”
Luna looked down again with a downtrodden look in her eyes as she explained, “Cannon Feather, I have to admit, I think I know why Nightmare Moon turned you and your friends into foals,” He looked over as she continued, “Before Nightmare Moon took control of me and turned me eviI, looked over foals dreams for years and I wished to have one of my own,” She paused with tears forming in her eyes. Cannon Feather waited patiently as she then continued, “If Nightmare Moon is a manifestation of my jealousy from years ago, I must've also had a dark want to have foals of my own, so I cursed you and your friends to become my foals.”
She burst into tears as Cannon Feather hushed her and whispered, “Luna, can I tell you something private?” She looked at him as he replied, “Luna, you gave me something nopony ever could’ve given me. You gave me a foal hood that my aunt and uncle took from me.”
Luna smiled, before Cannon Feather’s body shuddered as he felt light envelop him, and he collapsed onto the bed seeing the room grow bigger around him. Luna gasped, “Cannon Feather?”
He gazed back up at her with a grin, “I gwess I a fowl again, Wuna.”
Luna teared up a bit as she whispered, “I’m so sorry C-” Before she could finish she felt Cannon Feather crawl into her lap and nuzzle into her fur. Luna choked up a bit more and held him close as he mumbled, “Is not ya fawlt, and I wove ya.”
Luna whispered, “I love you too.” She then kissed him on the forehead and let him lay there for a bit.