//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: New Discoveries // Story: Royal Guards in Training // by Foal Star //------------------------------// Cannon Feather was groaning as he put his legs together, scrunching his training pants. He felt the pressure of wanting to go potty, as he got up from the bed and looked around. Frantically he shouted, “Wuna, I gots ta go potty!” Luna was in their room already and replied, “Come thou, lets get you to the potty.” She got up and rushed over to him, as she took him from the bed, helped him go through the door and towards the bathroom across the hall. While he waddled off with her he felt his pressure ease, and felt his urine soak into his training pants. As he began to waddle, he felt them sag around his legs. Luna quickly slipped them off from his rump. She then placed him on the training toilet and let him pee the rest into the bowl. After tinkling for a while, he looked up and mumbled,”I sowie..I..didn't...I...I” Luna hugged him as she cooed, “There there, it’s alright.” She then lifted him off the training toilet, and with a glow of her horn another pair of training pants appeared. She then slowly slipped them up over his rump and cooed, “That wasn't so bad, huh?” He whimpered, “Is fine, thank ya fow hewpin me get to ta potty.” Luna ruffled his mane and cooed, “It’s alright little one, I’m happy to help.” As she used her magic to lift up the training toilet and empty its contents in the big toilet, then flush it away. After setting the training toilet back down, she helped Cannon Feather onto a stool and helped wash his hooves in the sink. “Now, I saw in your dreams that you're scared of your aunt and uncle, is that true?” She asked him. He nodded and turned to Luna with a worried look, “Yeah, I am. I scawed tat they gonna take me now becawse wegawy I a fowl.” Luna hushed him and held him close, “It’s alright, you heard what thy sister said, we will never let them take you.” He looked up and babbled, “I beweive ya. Bu I gots ta ask.” Luna looked down and asked, “What is it?” Cannon Feather paused as he whispered, “Wuna, can ya be my mommy?” Luna paused for a long time, looking down at the foal while stroking his fur. At last she told him. “Yes, I would love to be your mommy.” “Weally?! Does that me I a pwince of ta night?!” Cannon Feather squealed. Luna laughed, “Somewhat. Thouest will have to sleep during the night. But I will play with you and teach you how to be a good prince.” Cannon Feather babbled, “I’ww do my best to be ya son.” He hugged her and snuggled her fur as Luna nuzzled him back and replied, “Alright, you need to get back to bed.” He nodded as she escorted him back to his room. There the other foals got up from the bed and Bright Wing asked, “Di ya make it!?” Cannon Feather shook his head, “I soaked my twinain pants.” The two other foals groaned, “Dawn.” Cannon Feather giggled as Luna ruffled his mane and added, “But you did get some of it in the potty, so I think you did a pretty good job.” Cannon Feather chirped, “Tanks Mommy Wuna, ya ta best!” Luna smiled, then turned to them and said, “Now, you three all should be going to sleep. it’s the middle of the night.” Cannon Feather waddled into his bed as her horn lit up. Suddenly small silver stars and moons appeared all over Cannon Feather’s training pants. He gasped, “Wow, what awe these fow?!” Luna replied, “They are special wetness indicators, they’ll light up if you have to use the potty. Hopefully they’ll wake you up.” Bright Wing and Bucket Bridle looked underneath their blanket, seeing the same indicators, and then they (along with Cannon Feather) shouted together, “Tanks Wuna, ya ta best!” Luna bowed, “Thank you,” They all snuggled under the bed but they all looked nervous, prompting Luna to ask, “What are you foals worried about?” Bright Wing sighed,”I gots ta go see my daddy tomowow, is scawy.” Bucket Bridle shivered, “I gots to go see my pawnets and see if they want ta adopt me.” Luna asked, “So, Bucket Bridle, you sure about what you want?” Bucket Bridle nodded and mumbled, “I sure, I made up my mind.” Luna nodded, “Okay, well I wish for each of you to have a good night’s sleep.” And they all shouted in reply, “Night, Wuna!” She smiled at all three foals, as she gave Cannon Feather a look of longing. He just looked back at her with his big blue eyes as she slowly walked out of the door. Bright Wing turned and asked, “Hey, Cannon Feathew, wha di Wuna ask ya about eariwer?” Cannon Feather whispered, “Nothin weally, she jus wana know if I was otay afer I had a nightmawe.” He whimpered a bit as he wiped his eyes. Bright Wing asked, “Awe ya otay?” Cannon Feather nodded as he buried himself in the sheets. “I fine, I jus wana go ni nis.” The other foals looked at each other with worried looks as they reluctantly buried themselves under the sheets as well. The next morning Celestia came back into the palace after raising the sun, and saw all three of the foals dressed in tiny suits with Luna fussing over their ties. Celestia smirked slightly, “So, you all ready to be adopted?” She asked them. Cannon Feather shouted. “Yeah, I gonna hawe Wuna be my mommy!” Luna blushed as she looked up at Celestia, who had tears form in her eyes as she laughed, “Well Luna, you sure?” Luna nodded, “Yes sister, I am sure.” Celestia smiled as she turned to the other foals. “Bucket Bridle, do you still wish to live with your parents?” He nodded and babbled, “Yeah, they fine, fow the most pawt.” Celestia turned to Bright Wing who shrugged, “I don know. I gots ta tawk to my pawents befowe I’w decide.” Celestia nodded and replied, “Ok. Just remember Bright Wing, you can still make the decision to stay with whoever you want. You don’t have to go back with your parents if you don’t want to.” He nodded as he replied, “Yeah, I’w wememba.” She looked down and asked, “Now, did you all eat breakfast?”’ “Yes!” The foals shouted. “Did you go potty?” She asked them.. “Yeah, bu not in the twaining potties.” The foals mumbled, knowing that they had been changed earlier. Celestia smiled, “It’s alright, you’re still learning,” She came over and nudged them as she then said, “Now, give me a hug before you go,” The foals all ran up to her, and she hugged them close to her chest as she kissed each of them on the forehead. “You all be good and behave,”, She told them. “We will!” They all shouted, as Shining Armor and Battleheart came into the room with a foal carriage. Celestia looked up and asked, “Shining, Battleheart, you ready?” Battleheart nodded, “Yes, Princess Celestia.” Celestia laughed. “Oh, Shining, why are you wearing your armor?” Shining firmly replied, “I'm the captain of the guard, I might as well look the part when I’m on duty.” Celestia just smiled, “Alright, did you pack the snacks and extra training pants?” Shining blushed and nodded, “Yes the foal supplies are all stored in the carriage.” The foals all giggle as Luna replied, “Oh, don’t you worry, Shining, I’ll tag along. I myself have to formally adopt Cannon Feather.” He giggled as he looked up at Luna. “Tat means I can caw ya Mommy, wight?” He asked. Luna laughed. “Yes, you can call me Mommy.” Cannon Feather hugged her legs, Luna lifted him up and hugged him close to her chest, as Celestia turned to Bucket Bridle and nuzzled him, “So you ready to be a Rump again?” He groaned,” Di my mommy tew ya my owd name?” Celestia laughed as she hugged Bucket Bridle close, “Yes she did, but to me you’ll always be Bucekt Bridle. I’m going to miss you.” He hugged her close as she nuzzled his fur, “I gonna miss ya too.” He told her, then kissed her on the cheek and waved goodbye to her as he ran back to his friends. They all waved to Celestia, and she waved back, while they walked out of the the palace. Celestia watched them leave until the doors closed behind them. She sadly walked to her throne with her eyes growing wet. She brushed her tears aside as she settled herself on her throne and looked forwards as she prepared for the day court to begin. Later that morning after Luna and Cannon Feather went back to the legal office, and Bright Wing was dropped off at his father’s, Shining Armor was escorting young Bucket Bridle through the streets up to a small house down the road. Bucket Bridle grumbled as he came up to the door, a bit amazed at how little the house has changed. Shining knocked on the door. Comfy Rump open the door with her saddle bags bursting with foal stuff as she squealed, “Bucket Bridle!” She picked him up and squeezed him with all her strength. Shining smiled, “So you're madam Comfy Rump?” She smiled at Shining, “Yes I am! Thank you for bringing my son back to me.” Then they heard a honk and a crash as a clown came bursting through the doorway shouting, “Bucket Bridle!” The foal smiled, “Hey dad.” He was hugged by the clown who whispered, “Good to see you too, pal. Feels like it’s been forever since I saw you in diapers.” Comfy Rump looked back at Shining and asked, “Want to come inside? I made breakfast earlier.” Shining shrugged and replied, “Sure, I don’t mind.” He trotted into a decent looking living room with nice looking furniture, with a stray diaper lying on the floor next to a balloon animal. Comfy Rump carried Bucket Bridle straight into a high chair where she already had a bowl of foal food on the tray with a rubber spoon. Bucket Bridle groaned, “I'm not a baby, Mama.” Comfy Rump cooed as she helped take off his suit and threw it aside. She then placed a blue bib around his neck. “Now Bucket Bridle, you eat your num nums and don’t make a fuss. Or do you want me to start calling you by your birth name again?” Bucket Bridle giggled as he babbled. “Alwight, Mama,” He took up the spoon and started to eat the foal food and his eyes lit up, “Pancakes and syrup?! Whew di ya find this stuff?!” Comfy Rump laughed, “Sweetie, I'm a nanny. I have every flavor of foal food stocked.” Her husband laughed. “Yeah, Id say she overstocked.” Comfy Rump was already seating Shining into a seat and sliding a plate of pancakes in front of him as she cooed, “Thank you for escorting my son here. He’s always been the little adventurer, he used to wander all over the place if I didn’t keep an eye on him.” Shining laughed nervously, “It’s fine, but this is too much.” She laughed. “Oh no, it’s fine. Now eat your food too. Big stallions need their nourishment.” Shining eyed her as he thought, “Does she treat everypony she meets like a foal?” Her husband came up and raised a hoof. “Well let me introduce myself, I'm Laughing Rump. Laugh for short.” Shining burst out laughing as he said, “Well, it's good to meet you. I think I remember you from one of my sister’s birthday parties, you were so silly,” He turned to Comfy Rump who sat down across from her husband, as they all began to dig into their pancakes. Shining cleared his throat and asked, “So, did you two sign the adoption papers yet?” Comfy Rump turned to her son, “Actually, we’ve been holding off on that.” Bucket Bridle looked up, “Why mama?” He asked. She sighed and turned to her husband who nodded. She turned back to Bucket Bridle and said, “Sweetie , there’s something your father and I need to tell you,” Bucket Bridle looked up as she explained, “Bucket Bridle... you were adopted.” Bucket Bridle’s spoon dropped from his mouth as he replied, “Wait, ya sayin ya not my mommy and daddy?!” Comfy Rump shook her head, prompting Bucket Bridle to ask, ”Wai, who’s my weal pawents? And why di ya wait untiw now ta tew me?” She replied, “We found you on our doorstep years ago. Your father and I looked and inquired about you for months, but to no avail.” Laughing Rump explained, “We never told you, because we don’t want to give you false hope. If your parents lived in Canterlot or were just visiting, we don't know. There was always the possibility that they might come back for you.” His wife added, “Quite right, darling. I know this is a lot take in but it's the truth. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you sooner.” Bucket Bridle paused for a few moments and said, “It doesn’ matta, ya both my pawents and I fine stayin hewe with ya.” Comfy Rump smiled, ”That's wonderful, dear, but are you sure?” Bucket Bridle nodded as he looked up with a big smile and his face covered in foal food, “Yeah ya two may be embewassin, bu ya awe my pawents and I wove ya both.” Comfy Rump dawwed as she came up and wiped his mouth with a rag, “Oh I love you too sweetheart.” She then hugged him, making him squeel, as Shining finished eating his pancakes with a smirk. He looked up at a clock mounted on the kitchen wall and sighed, “I’ve stayed here way too long, I best get going.” Comfy Rump nodded, “Right, I better get going too. In fact Bucket Bridle will have to accompany me while I do my rounds. Maybe you’ll get to meet some new friends, they’ll probably be in actual diapers instead of training pants.” Bucket Bridle grumbled, “Otay Mama.” She laughed as he picked him up and placed him on her back, “Alright, come on. We'll sign the adoption papers when we get back,” She and her husband then led Shining out of the house. She turned to Shining Armor and said to her, “Thank you so much for helping our son.” Shining scratched the back of his head, “It was no problem Mr. and Mrs. Rump.” Bucket Bridle waved bye to Shining as he waved bye back with a tear trailing down the captain's face. Bright Wing sat across from his dad, sitting at a small round table. The house they were in was small and a mess, with dirty dishes piled up in the sink and the table covered with trash and moldy food. Bright Wing looked up at his dad who looked identical to him with a stern look, “So you got turned into a foal. Can’t believe it.” His father remarked. Bright Wing mumbled, “So what?” His father grumbled, “I expected more from you. I thought you were going to become a scholar that would rival those stuck up unicorns.” Bright Wing muttered, “I wanted ta become a woyal guawd, ya know that.” His father responded with a sneer, “Yes, ever since you read about them you haven't stopped talking about them.” Bucket Bridle cried, “So I gwess ya don wan ta waise me again?” His father scoffed. “As if. I love you, but it seems both of us will just be fooling ourselves into thinking that we'll be happy if you live here.” “Yeah I gwess so. I’ll go find my mom.” Bright Wing babbled as he jumped down from his seat.. His father paused for a moment as he mumbled, “Funny you would say that, because she’s right here.” Bright Wing eyed his dad. “Wha ya tawkin about, I thought ya two got a devoice?” He then turned to see a familiar mare walk into the room and he mumbled, “Mama?” Luna was at the table of the office, sitting in front of the clerk typing away the final form Cannon Feather had to sign. When the clerk took it off, she laid it in front of them. Cannon Feather took the feathered quill and with Luna’s help he signed the paper. She then signed it as well and she asked, “So, does this parchment make me Cannon Feather’s mother?” The clerk nodded and replied, “Yes, Princess Luna. Cannon Feather is now your adopted son. I guess that makes you Prince Cannon Feather.” Cannon Feather happily shouted, “Mommy!” He jumped into Luna’s hooves, who hugged him close, “Yes darling, you're my little prince of the night.” And she kissed him on the forehead. The clerk smiled, “That’s wonderful, now two foals have been officially adopted.” Confused by the statement Luna asked, “Another foal was adopted today?” The clerk nodded, “Yes a mare came by with one of the foals to be adopted, I believe she went by the name Silver Wing and the foal was named Bright Wing.” “Wait my auntie adopted one of my fwiends?” Cannon Feather shouted! The mare nodded as she replied, “Yes, I was quite surprised myself. But it seems she had a son with another stallion and had the paperwork to confirm it.” Luna replied with concern, “Is there a way to stop the adoption?” The mare shook her head as she explained, “It can’t be done, the adoption papers are signed and sealed. The only way to undo it, is if you can figure out that Silver Wing was lying.” Luna turned to Cannon Feather and asked him, ”Did you know that Bright Wing was your cousin?” “No, I didn’t tink I was weltated to one of my fwiends,” Cannon Feather replied. “Bu we gots ta find a way to stop ta adoption, my famiwy is pwobaby jus usin him.” Luna nodded, “Right, this is most strange. But we should head back to the palace and inform my sister, she knows more about Equestrian law then I do.” Cannon Feather nodded, “Wight, wets go!” He jumped on Luna's back as she rushed out of the office.