The three guards were lead back to their room in the castle by Morning Dew, waddling in their sagging diapers swaying between their legs, with pee leaking all over. Morning Dew giggled a bit each time she heard a squishing sound from the diapers. They eventually made it to their room where Comfy Rump stood with a smile “Oh, hello you three!” She came over and hugged each of them kissing and nuzzling them. She then patted their rumps and gasped! “Oh dear, you three are soaked! Come on, let's get those diapers changed.” They waddled to their bed and laid down, grumbling all the while. Morning Dew whispered, “Well I best get going, I just wanted to make sure these three got home all right.”
Comfy Rump hugged her, “Thank you for escorting the foals.” She then kissed Morning Dew on the cheek as Comfy Rump turned to the toddlers and began stripping off their soaked diapers. Morning Dew asked, “So I guess you do this often?”
Comfy Rump laughed. “Yes, I’ve changed hundreds of diapers before. Trust me I’ve seen and smelled worse, especially from my own son when he was in diapers. For a while I actually didn’t think he’d ever be potty trained,” She then came across the golden training pants around Bright Wing’s rump and mumbled, “I hate when nobles dress their foals in these, they’re extremly prone to leaking and not very comfortable. You’d have to have a tiny bladder not to soak it through.” As she took them off Bucket Bridle asked, “Ya not gonna put us back in diapees?”
Comfy Rump cooed as she replied, “Oh, don’t you worry. I’m going to get you all cleaned and back in regular training pants.” She then began wiping down their crotches and rumps with foal wipes. Morning Dew smiled at them as Battleheart entered the room. He asked, “So is everyone doing okay?”
Morning Dew nodded and mumbled, “Yeah, everything seems to be fine now.”
Battleheart held her close as he whispered, “You were very brave back at the mansion, standing up a noble like that.”
Morning Dew blushed as she replied, “It...it was nothing.”
Battleheart shook his head, “No you're one of the bravest ponies I've ever met. Believe me, not a lot of ponies would’ve done what you did. Most would’ve been silent.”
Comfy Rump finished pulling up the training pants on Bright Wing, who looked at them as they crinkled. They had little stars and moons on them and he whispered, “I didn’t tink I would miss my twainin pwants so much.” He began walking around in them as Comfy Rump smiled down at them and cooed, “Oh those training pants fit perfectly, and I love those wetness indicators, very creative.”
“I'm so happy their nanny has approved of them, I created them,” Luna cooed and explained as she entered the room. The ponies all gasped and bowed as Luna replied, “It’s alright,” As the ponies rose she heard, “Mommy!” and watched as Cannon Feather rushed into her legs. She blushed as he hugged her legs and Luna held him close. She kissed him on the forehead and snuggled him, “My little prince of the night, are you doing alright?” She asked him.
Cannon Feather bounced up and down in excitement as he shouted, “I doin gweat, Mama! We went ta the pawty, ten we thewe ta nasty food away, and ten I saved Bwight Wing fwom my eviw Uncwe and Auntie!”
Luna nuzzled him again as she whispered, “Sounds like one great adventure, you’ll have to tell me everything later. But for now, let's get you and your friends to bed.”
Bucket Bridle was going to go to the bed when he turned to Comfy Rump and asked, “Can I sweep hewe fow ta night?”
Comfy Rump came over and kissed him, “Of course you can, sweetie. I think after what you three did, you deserve it.” He smiled at her and waddled away, as Luna helped them back onto the bed and pulled the covers over them. She kissed each foal on the forehead as Bright Wing babbled, “Wuna, di ya weally adopt Cannon Feather?”
Luna smiled, “Yes I did, he’s officially my son now.”
Bright Wing then asked, “Does ta mean ya ow Cewetsia can adopt me too?”
Luna smiled once again, “Of course, but we can discuss that later. You just get some sleep, okay?”
“Otay,” He babbled. He laid back down on his pillow and curled up under the sheets, but then he suddenly cried, “Whews my Hopsey?!”
Luna poofed the purple bunny with her magic and placed it into Bucket Bridle’s hooves. He snuggled his rabbit, as Comfy Rump smiled down at him and left with Morning Dew and Battleheart. Luna stood by as she watched the foals drift to sleep, curling up and feeling comforted and safe.
Bright Wing woke up to the sun’s rays streaming through the window. He looked at the other foals still deep asleep underneath their blankets, as he looked out at the sun rising up through the window. Bright Wing slowly got out of bed and slowly fell to the ground. He checked his training pants, smiling supn eeing that they were only slightly wet. He whispered to himself, “Tanks Wuna, tese twaining pants awe ta best,” He then slowly walked out of the room and saw that no guard was posted, he looked around suspiciously but shrugged it off when he figured Celestia and Luna had forgotten to post one in the excitement of last evening’s rescue mission. He waddled down the hall with the crinkling sound echoing everywhere. Looking back at the training pants, Bright Wing whispered, “Oh I neva goin to eva take these off.” He then looked up and saw Shining Armor walking down the hall. Bright Wing ran after him as Shining turned and smiled, “Oh hello, Bright Wing. What are you doing out of bed so early?”
Bright Wing giggled, “I was twying ta sneak up on ya.”
Shining eyed him, “Oh really, crinklebutt? I heard those crinkles from a mile away.”
Bright Wing squealed, “Bu I wove tem, and I went ta the potty awot wast night and I made onwy a wittwe accident.”
Shining ruffled his mane and said with a smile, “That's wonderful, I'm so happy for you, champ. Looks like you’re making good progress with your potty training.”
Bright Wing smiled, before he then asked. “Shining, can I tawk to ya abowt somthin?”
Shining nodded and with an assuring smile he whispered, “Sure, what is it?”
Bright Wing explained, “I...I don know who I want ta be my famiwy. In fac...I...I don know if anypony wants me. I know I can’t go back to Cannon Feathew’s Aunt and Uncwe though, tey once fwushed him down the toiwet fow fwushing an expensive piece of jewewry. Fow months aftewawd he says he couwdn’t go neaw ta bathwoom fow feaw he’d get fwushed again,” He shivered, as he added. “I don wanna end up in anothew bad famiwy. I wucky Bucket Bwide and Cannon Feathew wescued me when tey did, I’d have pwobaby gotten a ton of spankies fow weaking on the fwoor.”
Shining asked Bright Wing, “What about Morning Dew, she seemed nice.”
“She is, she weawwy nice...bu...bu I awso do want ta weave my fwiends,” Bright Wing added. “And Cannon Featha has awweady adopwted by Wuna.” He babbled.
Shining scratched his chin, “That is a problem. You want to be adopted by a loving family, but you also don’t want to be seperated from your friends. But why are you telling me this?”
Bright Wing asked Shining, “Can ya hewp me, pwease? I pwomice to awways use ta potty if you foawsit me.”
Shining pondered, before he said to Bright Wing. “Well, that’s very sweet of you to offer...but I don't know if I can help you. This is something you have to figure out for yourself.”
Bright Wing sighed, “Wew Shiny, I weawwy wikwed it when ya pwayed with us, and I awso wiked pwaying with Cady...and...and I weawwy wove Cady.”
Shining asked, “So you love me and Cadence?”
“
Yeah, I do. Ya both weawwy nice.” Bright Wing replied with a blush.
Shining whispered, “Well..to be honest, I've grown attached to you as well. You and your little friends may be troublemakers, but I can’t deny I see a little of myself in you all.”
Bright Wing looked up and asked, “So um..” Shining blushed and turned his head as Bright Wing asked, “Shiny...can..can ya adopt me?”
Shining Armor paused for a few moments, before he turned back towards Bright Wing and said, “I would love to, and I’m sure Cadence will agree. She’s got plenty of foalsitting experience and I’m sure she’d love a chance to get back in touch with her skills.” He came up and hugged Bright Wing who snuggled into Shining’s fur as he whispered, “Does tat mean ya my daddy now?”
Shining ruffled his mane and cooed, “Yes it does, my little royal guard,” And hugged Bright Wing close to his chest as he asked, “Now do you need to go potty?” Bright Wing nodded as he scrunched his training pants and ran off with Shining following close behind. “Hey, wait for me, champ.”
Celestia stepped onto the castle balcony, having finished raising the sun. As she entered the throne room and came close to her throne, she was surprised to see Comfy Rump was there, waiting for her. ”Comfy Rump, you’re here early?” Celestia asked her.
Comfy Rump turned to Celestia and said to the princess, “Oh, I'm sorry. I just wanted to come by to talk to you about..some..things.”
Celestia eyed Comfy and asked her, “What things?”
Comfy Rump looked up and said, “Bucket Bridle has always admired you, even as a colt he talked about you all the time.”
Celestia blushed and hoped Comfy wouldn’t notice too much. “Really?” She commented.
Comfy Rump nodded continued, “Not only that, I fear I may be.well..embarrassing at times, and with my busy schedule I never really gave notice to his desire to become part of the royal guard,” Celestia stood by as she took a breathe and said to Celestia, I think you should adopt Bucket Bridle.”
Celestia nervously replied, “Um..Comfy Rump…”
But Comfy Rump interrupted and said. “I know it sounds crazy, but he loves you, and it’ll mean the world to him if he could live with you. I promise I'll come by anytime you need and watch him and his friends.” She offered.
Celestia smiled, “Comfy Rump, you're a wonderful nanny and a loving mother, and I’m sure you’d do a fine job raising your son again. As much as I’m touched that you would give him to me, I think that this is a decision that should be left to Bucket Bridle to decide.”
Comfy Rump wiped the tears from her eyes, “Yes, that sounds fine to me.” She then walked out of the throne room with Celestia staring at her, wondering what could prompt Comfy Rump to reconsider raising her son by herself again (she suspected Laughing Rump’s job prevented him from having a lot of time to devote to taking care of a foal).
Celestia then looked over, as Bucket Bridle waddled into the throne room and he looked up at Celestia with a bright smile. “Good morning Bucket Bridle.” She greeted
“Mownin Tia!” Bucket Bridle replied, as he ran up to her and jumped into her lap. She checked his training pants and felt them with her hoof, feeling that their were only a little damp she asked, “So, did you make it to the potty?”
“Yeah, I did! I tink I onwy made a wittwe accident.” Bucket Bridle babbled. Celestia giggled and smiled, “That's nice, and I’m so happy that you made it all by yourself.”
Bucket Bridle snuggled her as he said, “Tank ya, Tia.”
Celestia then looked down at him as she asked him, “So, has your mother told you that you can decide who you wish to be raised by?”
Bucket Bridle looked down as he nodded, “I wovve my mama, bu I neva had any sibwings ow fwiends when I was a fowl,” He said to Celestia. “I scawed tat if I weave, I’w neva see Bwight Wing ow Cannon Featha again, tey alweady been adopted.”
Celestia smiled and asked, “So, who did Bright Wing get adopted by?”
Bucket Bridle mumbled, “By Shiny.”
Celestia gasped, “Really?!”
“Yeah I tink Shining’s going to adopt him today.” Bucket Bridle explained. Celestia bowed her head as he whispered to her, “Tia, I wove my fosta mama awot..bu...I wove my fwiends and I wove ya...so..c..can ya be my mommy?”
Celestia kissed him on the forehead, “I thought you would never ask. Of course I’ll adopt you.”
Bucket Bridle giggled and asked, ”So wha, does tat make me a pwince too?”
Celestia smiled and cooed. “After I sign the adoption papers, you’ll be officially be known as Prince Bucket Bridle.” He smiled and hugged her fur. Celestia hugged him back with tears streaming down her face.
A short time later, Celestia had all three foals with her in her bedroom. They were sitting on her bed as she smiled at them, while they talked amongst each other. Bright Wing shouted, “Shining adopted me! Can ya bewieve it?! And since Cady’s his mawefwiend, she gonna pway with me evewy day!”
Bucket Bridle was bouncing on the bed, “Wew Tia jus adopted me, and now I a pwince!”
Celestia giggled, “Alright you three, calm down,” They all looked up at her as she continued, “Now, I know that last few days have been rough and you’ve already been through a lot. But I want you all to know something,” They all looked up as she explained, “Years ago, a scroll was taken from this palace. A scroll that contained unfinished spells from many powerful unicorns, all of which had been collected by Starswirl the Bearded. I sent a few of my most trusted royal guards at the time to go find the scroll, but I lost contact with them,” The foals looked at her, as she looked right back at Bright Wing, “Your mother was a part of the first group I sent. After I lost all contact with her, your father left the royal guard after that, he blamed himself and eventually he disappeared to parts unknown,” Next she turned to Cannon Feather and added, “Both of your parents were involved as well I’m afraid,” And then she turned to Bucket Bridle,”So were your parents,” She sighed as her eyes grew wet, “I am the reason for all of your misfortunes. I am truly sorry. I felt you all deserved to know now that you’ve decided who you’ll be living with.”
The foals all looked each other and whispered amongst themselves. Then they looked back and Cannon Feather smiled and said, “Is not ya fawlt, Cewestia!” She looked up as Cannon Feather continued, “Ya see we wew wiwwing to give owa wives fow ya and so whew owa pawents. We woyal guawds, is what we do. And fow aww we know, they might be stiw awive, wookin fow ya scwoll! Tey just might have gone undewcovew ow someting.”
Celestia smiled back at them and whispered, “Perhaps, we never got any sort of ransom demands or found anything to suggest they were killed or had died. But how could you forgive me so quickly? Because of me, two of you had terrible childhoods. One of you had to be raised by an abusive aunt and uncle, and another spent it raised by a father that was barely there for him. Even Bucket Bridle grew up not knowing what had happened to the family he was born into, and raised by a foster family that loved him but couldn’t spend much time with him.”
Bucket Bridle then shouted, “Because we wove ya, Mommy tia!” he ran up to her and hugged her fore leg as Bright wing got up and hugged her leg too, Cannon Father got up and joined the hug as well.
Celestia nuzzled all three of the foals, kissing them on the foreheads, “You all are so amazing! So how about, now that you're all officially adopted, we throw you a big party?!”
Cannon Feather asked, “Actuwway, can we go to ta cawnival?”
Celestia laughed, “How about we bring the carnival here instead?”
"Yeah!” Cannon Feather squealed, prompting Celestia to giggle. “Alright.”
(One week later…)
Pinkie Pie shouted in excitement! “Oh wow, this is the Palace of Canterlot?! It looks so cool, and there’s so much room for the best party ever!”
Rarity with her eyes all aglow exclaimed, “The palace is even more beautiful than I had imagined! And better yet, Prince Blueblood is sure to be here!”
Fluttershy looked around nervously as she whimpered, “I..i just want to go see the gardens.”
Rainbow Dash looked around shouting, “Where are the Wonderbolts! I thought they would be here by now!” She flew all over the throne, room eyeing the royal guards.
Twilight followed a short time later, and Applejack was the last of the ponies to enter, dragging a wagon packed full of apple pies and fritters. Twilight sighed and shook her head as she said, “We're all here, willing to help you know. Remember what happened last time?”
Applejack grunted, “I told ya, I'm fine! This ain’t Applebuck Season and this time I know what I’m doin’!” She dropped the wagon and looked around and asked, “Where are the little ones, shouldn't they be here for their own party?”
Twilight looked around and added, “Yeah, they should be. In fact Luna, and Celestia, Cadance and Shining, shouldn’t they all should be here?”
Just then Shining laughed, “Well if isn't my little sister! Long time no see, Twily!”
Twilight smiled, seeing her big brother coming down the stairs with her new nephew, Cannon Feather, with him.
Meanwhile, up in her bedroom, Celestia was sitting on her bed combing Bucket Bridle’s mane as she cooed, “Your mane is so soft, did you know that?” Bucket Bridle giggled and babbled, “Wha does soft, mean Tia?” She smiled, seeing how much of a toddler her adopted son had become. He was kicking his legs, making slight crinkling noises with his training pants, and looking around the room with childlike curiosity. She finished combing out his tangles as she cooed, “Well it just means that it feels nice, like the carpet or your fur.”
She brushed his hoof along his fur as he asked, “So my fuw is soft?”
Celestia kissed him on the cheek and whispered, “Yes, it's perfect and soft, like a cloud,” She then checked his training pants and asked, “Do you need to go potty?”
Bucket Bridle shook his head. “No, I fine. You just took me ta potty a few minutes ago,” He replied honestly.
Celestia giggled, “Oh, right, I’m just making sure.” She let him slide off her lap as he asked, “So, can I weaw my awmomw?”
Celestia nodded, “Of course, come on,” She helped Bucket Bridle into his plastic armor. As he put on his helmet she asked him, “Now, what’s your mission for tonight?”
Bucket Bridle shouted, “Pway! Have fun! And go to ta potty when I need to!”
Celestia laughed and ruffled his mane, “That's right, now come on. The rest of your friends should be downstairs already.” She lead him through the halls and down the steps where the rest of his friends were wearing the their plastic armor too.
Shining hugged Bright Wing closed while Twilight was nuzzling him, “So, you're my nephew, huh?” She asked him. “Funny, I feel like I should know you from somewhere, but for the life of me I can’t figure out where.
Bright Wing wasn’t sure if Twilight would believe him if he told her about who he used to be, so he just shrugged and said. “I must wemind ya of somepony ewse. Bu awe ya otay with a pegasus in youw famiwy? Evewypony in youw famiwy twee’s a unicown.”
Twilight laughed, “Of course I’m okay with it. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be a pegasus and have wings”
“Yeah! Totally! Having wings is like the best thing ever!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she slammed to the ground. The other foals gathered around her as she picked herself up and commented, “Looks like you three need some help learning how to fly again.”
Bucket Bridle gasped and ran down to Rainbow Dash shouting, “You ca teach us how to fwy?!”
Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash and whispered, “Rainbow Dash they’re only foals. I don thin-”
Rainbow Dash laughed interrupting Twilight and boasted, “Twilight, you don’t know anything about flying! The younger the better, I say!”
Bucket Bridle shouted, “Yeah, tat sounds gweat Miss… uh… wha ya name?!”
Rainbow Dash shouted with a smug grin,“I’m Rainbow Dash, little guy!”
“I Buckewt Bwidle.” The foal guard babbled back.
Rainbow Dash threw him on his back and shouted, “Alright little Bucket Bridle, I’ll get you flying or my name isn’t Rainbow Dash, which it is!”
Celestia laughed as she came down from the stairs, “Now Rainbow Dash, be careful. I don’t want Bucket Bridle hurting himself,” The mane six and Shining all bowed as she shook her head and explained, “Please you don’t have to bow every time I come into a room.”
As everypony rose Rainbow Dash asked, “Um… Princess Celestia, is it alright if I to teach Bucket Bridle how to fly for a bit? I promise I’ll be with him the whole time.”
Bucket Bridle pleaded with his best pair of puppet dog eyes. “Pwetty pwease, Mommy?”
Celestia gave him a motherly smile, “Alright, but only because you called me ‘Mommy’.”
Bucket Bridle squeeled shouting happily, “I gonna weawn how ta fwy!”
Rarity then asked, “Um... Princess Celestia, will Prince Blueblood be around tonight?”
Celestia shook her head as she explained, “My nephew will not be attending, I’m sorry. He’s not exactly good with foals, or children for that matter.”
Rarity sighed, “It’s alright, I suppose not everypony has what it takes to put up with the demands a foal brings. Goodness knows how much I ran myself ragged caring for Sweetie Belle as a foal.”
Cannon Feather, upon seeing Pinkie Pie, went over to her and shouted, “Hey, ya the funny pink mawe fwom ta Summa Sun cewebwation!”
Pinkie Pie shouted, “Yepiree, I’m Pinkie Pie!”
“Nice ta meet ya, I Cannon Feathaw.” Cannon Feather babbled.
Pinkie squeeled, “What a cute little name! I guess you're one of the royal guards who’s turned super cute!” She then pinched his cheeks and kissed him on the forehead.
Cannon Feather asked, “Yeah, but now tat we know each othas names, does tat make us fwiends?”
Pinkie shouted back, “Of course! Now how about you and I go have some fun?!”
Cannon Feather responded with a smile, “Yeah, wets go to ta cawniva.” Pinkie Pie picked him up by the waistband of his training pants, threw him onto her back and ran off happily.
Bright Wing turned to Shining and asked, “So Daddy, can I go pway with Auntie Twily?”
Shining set Bringht Wing on the ground, nuzzled him, and said, “Of course, I still have to do my rounds anyway. But you have to promise to listen to her, and stay out of trouble. And you have to make sure to tell her if you have to go potty.”
“Otay Daddy, I’w wisten to hew, I’w be a good colt,” Bring Wing promised, he hugged Shining’s legs as the captain of the guard bent down and kissed him on the forehead. Bright Wing kissed him back as waddled over to Twilight as he shouted, “Bye Daddy!” Shining blushed and waved his hoof, “Bye son, be a good little colt for your Auntie Twilight.” Twilight couldn't help but daww, as Bright Wing asked, “Auntie Twily, can ya pway with me at ta cawnivaw?”
Twilight nuzzled him and even checked his training pants as she cooed, “Of course, come on.” She then lead him outside to the palace gardens where tents and games had been set up. Cannon Feather and Pinkie Pie were already playing games as Rainbow Dash went over to a flying competition shouting, “Come on, Bucket Bridle! I'm gonna get you flying in no time!”
Fluttershy, and Rarity both groaned a bit, seeing that only stallions, mares, and their foals were playing among the games. For Fluttershy she was looking around and saw that all the animals were gone due to the amount of ponies playing. Applejack had already set up her stand. She was sorting her assorted apple products and shouting, “Get your apple pies, apple fritters, and all things apples, right here! Made from Sweet Apple Acres apples.”
Rarity sighed, she didn’t particularly mind foals but she was firmly in the belief that she would much prefer to spoil them, rather than raise them. ”Well, I’ll just go talk to the noble ladies. Maybe they’ll know some things about Prince Blueblood.” She thought, and left Fluttershy who began looking around for the animals. As much as the pegasus liked children and foals, she was always more comfortable with animals. Animals made less noise and were easier to keep track of.