Rainbow Dash was looking over her new student puffing out his chest as she shouted, “You ready to fly?!”
Yeah, I weady!” The little foal got into a stance and shouted.
Rainbow Dash looked him over one more time before shouting, “Alright, spread those wings!” He stretched his tiny wings to their fullest extent as Rainbow Dash added, “Now flap those wings!” Bucket Bridle flapped his wings as hard as he could, grunting and sweating. Rainbow Dash shouted, “Harder!”
His wings flapped a lot more, until they became a blur. He levitated an inch off the ground as he shouted, “Wook, Wainbow Dashie, I fwying!”
Rainbow Dash with a smile encouraged him, “I knew you could do it, champ!”
He dropped to the ground with a plop on his training pants as he grumbled, “Aww, I didn fwy.”
Rainbow Dash came over and hugged him and said, “Hey, you did a good job for your first try.”
“Naw I didn, I bewy got off the gwound.” Bucket Bridle whined. Rainbow Dash came up to the foal, scooped him into her hooves, and hugged him close. “Hey, that was pretty good for a two year old.”
Bucket Bridle grumbled, “I two and a hawf.”
Rainbow Dash continued, “Okay, but still you did...um...pretty good. I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”
Bucket Bridle looked back at his small stubby wings and grumbled, “My wings awe so small tough.”
Rainbow Dash laughed and nuzzled him, “It doesn't matter ,all pegasi eventually learn how to fly.”
Bucket Bridle gasped and babbled, “Ya weawwy tink so?”
Rainbow Dash scoffed, “Think so? I know so,” She then got up on all fours and said to him “How about, when your wings are a bit bigger, I teach you how to fly properly?”
Bucket Bridle sucked on his right front hoof, thinking over the proposal and then he shouted, “Otay, that sownds fine!” Bucket Bridle grumbled as he got up. Rainbow Dash helped brush the dust of his training pants and patted his rump a bit making him giggle. Rainbow Dash sighed, “Well don't tell anypony about this, but I think you look super adorable in those training pants. I wish they’d had stuff like that when I was your age, but all I got were those annoying and uncomfortable plastic pants.”
He blushed as he looked at them, “Wew I gwess so….I wike tem to keep me fwom makin acciwents, bu they stiw embewassin.”
Rainbow Dash placed him onto her back, “Alright crinkle butt, want to see me race?” Bucket Bridle squealed, “Yeah, I can’t wait!” As she flew back into the air.
Bright Wing and Twilight were walking together through the rows of games and booths, when Bright Wing whinnied at the sight off a book booth filled with Daring Do books. He waddled down the booth and started to jump up and down shouting while pointing the book on the far right end, “Wow, is tat the newest one?!”
The mare behind the booth smiled and said, “Yes it is, are you a fan?”
He sighed as he opened one book and realised that the words no longer made sense and mumbled, “I was.” Twilight came by as she asked, “Bright Wing, you can read?”
He looked down and whimpered, “Not anymowe.”
Twilight came to the mare and placed a sack of bits on the counter, as she picked up a stack of Daring Do books, and placed them in a saddle bag on her back. Bright Wing looked up with amazement and whispered, “Twilie, it's otay. I can’t wead.”
Twilight smiled, “That’s fine, my brother or I can read to you.” She picked up the foal with the book in his hooves and trotted out of the booth. He giggled and asked, “Ya wike Dawin Do too?”
Twilight nodded and said to her nephew, “Of course, I’m not a huge fan, but I do read them from time to time.”
“That’s gweat!” Bright Wing exclaimed. “I wove Dawin Do! I wove it when she goes into ta pyawmids and ta tempwes, an she gots ta sowve ta puzzwes ta get ta awtifacts.”
Twilight laughed, “You like the puzzles?”
“Yeah, ta puzzwes awe ta best pawts!” Bright Wing shouted.
Twilight laughed, “I’m glad you like them, I think those are my favorite parts too.”
Bright Wing asked, “So Auntie Twilie, do ya got wots of books?”
Twilight replied by saying, “Well I do live in and run a library, so of course I have a lot of books.”
Bright Wing gasped and babbled. “Weawwy? Ya weawwy gots a wot of books?”
Twilight nodded and said to him, “Yeah, I’d say I do.”
“Can I go and see it someday?” Bright Wing pondered, before he suggested. “Maybe Daddy can take me?”
Twilight laughed, “Yes it would be nice for Shining to visit Ponyville once in awhile. And I would love you to visit too. I’d especially love for you to meet your Uncle Spike.”
“Otay, wew I wiw twy ta get Daddy ta visit ya.” Bright Wing promised.
Twilight giggled and whispered, “Alright, Bright Wing, I hope you succeed.”
Cannon Feather was stuffing his face with fried doughnuts and drinking a sippy cup full of chocolate milk, while Pinkie Pie sat across from him asking, “So, how do you like the food?”
“ “
It’s gweat! Ta food tastes so good!” Cannon Feather chirped.
Pinkie ruffled his mane and cooed, ”I’m so happy for you.”
Cannon Feather smirked with a big grin on his face, “Tank ya Pinkie Pie, ya gweat.”
Pinkie Pie dawwed, “Oh, no problem, you're just too cute,” Cannon Feather giggled as she then asked, “So, what do you want to do next?”
He pondered and then asked, “Can we go thwow baws at one of ta booths? I want anotha stuffed animaw.”
Pinkie laughed and said, “Yeah, but don’t you think you're doing great so far? Do you really need yet another stuffed animal when you’ve already got so many?”
He turned to a pile of stuffed animals near them he shouted, “Yeah, I tink I got awot of stuffed animaws, bu I wants a wabbit wike Bucket Bwidwe!”
Pinkie laughed, “Well, come on then. Let's win you a stuffed rabbit.”
Cannon Feather shouted, “Yeah, otay!” He quickly gobbled up his food, and let Pinkie grab him and his stuffed animals. She came to a booth where there was a bunch of bottles and baseballs. Cannon Feather shouted, “I want ta twy tat game!”
Pinkie smiled, “Sure, let’s play.” She set him down, and he took up the baseballs and began throwing them, but they only plopped a few feet in front of him as he groaned, “Oh, so cwose.”
Pinkie then came up, helped pick up one of the baseballs and threw it, the ball hitting its mark! Cannon Feather leaped up in joy, “We got one!”
Pinkie Pie nuzzled him cooing, “Yeah we did, good job.”
Bright Wing looked up at the stallion running the booth, who hoofed him a stuffed rabbit. He hugged it close as he looked up at Pinkie Pie, “Tank ya!”
“No problem, kiddo.” Pinkie Pie replied, as she ruffled his mane.
Celestia was sitting on her throne, when she saw Rain slowly walking up to the throne, shaking all over. Celestia became concerned and asked, “Rain, is something wrong?”
Rain looked up with a small smile and shook her head, “No...I just came by to ask about Bright Wing. That’s okay with you, right?”
Celestia smiled and replied, “Of course,” She turned to the gathered nobles and said to them, “Can you all please leave? The court is now close for the day,” She then got up and lead Rain down the hall and asked, “So, what’s on your mind?”
Rain sighed and asked under her breath, “Did Bright Wing get adopted?”
Celestia nodded and replied, “Yes he did, by Captain Shining Armor.”
Rain smiled at this news and whispered, “That's wonderful.”
Celestia nodded and responded cheerfully, “It is, I am more then happy for him and his well being. Now, is there anything I can do for you?”
Rain shook her head and said, “No, not at the moment anyway.”
Celestia eyed the pegasus mare and asked her, “Not at the moment?”
Rain responded with a reluctant sigh, “Look, I’m not rich, and neither should I ask favors of you.”
Celestia smiled and said, “Rain, I don’t care if you're rich or poor. You're a citizen of Equestria. Speak, what do you request of me?”
Rain looked up and said to Celestia, “I...I want to be turned back to a foal.”
Celestia eyes went wide, “Really?!”
Rain continued, “Yeah, I don’t know if it’s a good idea. But, he and I were very close.”
Celestia became solemn and replied, “Rain, I could do this, but the spell performed on Bright Wing is highly advanced and dangerous. If it works there will be no going back.”
Rain continued, “Princess Celestia, if I go through with this I don't wish to be turned back to normal. I want to grow up with Bright Wing so we can reunite later on in life.”
Celestia reluctantly nodded and said, “Well, I think you should talk to Bright Wing and see if he still has feelings. Also consider the fact if you do turn into a foal, it could be hard on your family.”
Rain sighed, “I know, I guess I’m just angry and frustrated that my colt friend’s a foal. I mean we're going to get married soon and now..I ..I don’t know what to do.”
Celestia looked at the distraught pegasus and whispered, “Just talk to him and see how he feels. If you still wish to be turned into a foal after that, then I’ll do it.”
Rain turned with a smile, “Okay, thank you Princess Celestia.” She bowed her head and left the hall in haste.
The day went by as all the girls and foal meet up back at the palace, eating dinner. The foals laughing and discussing about their day as Rarity grumbled under her breathe, being somewhat moody (not finding Prince Blueblood and learning he had a very bad reputation was some of the worst news she could’ve ever received) while Fluttershy was nowhere to be seen. Twilight looked around and asked. ”Where’s Fluttershy?”
Pinkie Pie replied, “Oh, I think she’s still looking for animals, I’m sure she’ll be back soon.”
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash boasted, “Well, I won the flying competition in front of The Wonderbolts!”
Bucket Bridle babbled, “Yeah, it’s aw twue! Wainbow Dashie won! And watwa we gots ice cweam, and she even taught me a bit on fwying!” He rose off his chair while flapping his wings as fast as possible, but he just plopped back down making every pony laugh.
Pinkie Pie then boasted, “Well me and Cannon Feather beat every game in the carnival, and won a ton of stuffed animals!”
Cannon Feather shouted proudly, “I got a wabbit now, and I named him poofy!”
Bright Wing blushed and added, “Auntie Twile and I wead aw day.”
Twilight cooed, and hugged him, “Yes we did and I loved every second of it.”
Shining Armor came up to the table, smiling at Twilight and hugging his adopted son as he asked, “So Twilight, did Bright Wing behave himself?”
Twilight turned and nodded. “Yes he did, he even went potty with zero accidents.”
“Yeawh, I didn even make a wittwe wettie, and I maded poopies in my potty.”
Everypony dawwed, even Shining Armor who cooed, “Come here, champ,” Bright Wing ran across the room and Shining Armor hugged the toddler close to his chest. Shining asked, “So, did you had fun?”
Bright Wing nodded and babbled, “Yeah I had wots of fun, we pwayed games, ate candy and cake, and we wead fow the west of the day.”
Rain then entered the dining room as Bright Wing shouted in excitement, “Wain, yeah hewe too?!” He got up and waddled over to her, as she scooped him into her embrace and she whispered, “Bright Wing, are you doing okay?”
He looked up and babbled, “Yeah, I doin fine.” She brushed his mane and she grew distant and with a solemn expression she asked, “Bright Wing can we talk?”
Bright Wing turned his head towards Shining Armor who nudged him, “Go ahead. This is between you and her.”
Bright Wing nodded slowly and waddled off with Rain. They walked side by side through the halls of the palace, with only the crinkles of Bright Wing’s training pants. At last, Rain finally spoke up, “Bright Wing, I have a question.”
“Yeah?” Bright Wing whispered.
Rain paused for a second as she looked down and asked, ”Do...do you still love me?”
Bright Wing with a giggle replied, “Tat’s a funny qwestion, of course I do.”
Rain then asked, “So if I was turned into a foal would you still love me when we became adults again?”
Bright Wing hugged her fore legs he then looked up and said, “Wain, I know that I got tuwned to a fowl, and we wove each otha. Bu if ya tuwn to a fowl fow me, you wose awot. Ya wiw wose ya job, ya famiwy, and ya otha fwiends. You’ww be in diapees and make wetties and poopies in tem untiw you weady to use a pwastic potty. You wun be able to enjoy aww the gweat aduwt tings, and you won be abwe to wead. I got tuwned into a fowl against my wiw. I dun want ya to be a foal, I dun want ya to deaw with these things.”
Rain looked away in tears as she whispered, “I would turn back to a foal for you...you know that.”
Bright Wing hugged her leg hard as he whimpered, “I wove you awot too.. Tink about it and tawk with ya fwiends and famiwy befowe ya do anythin, otay?”
Rain nodded, “Yeah, you're right. Even if I don’t become a foal...you’ll always be in my heart.” She bent down, kissed him on the forehead, and ruffled his mane. As she ran down the hall in tears Bright Wing turned to Shining coming up to him, and his new dad asked, ”Hey, you doing okay?” Bright Wing’s eyes flooded with tears as he waddled into Shining’s embrace. Shining hugged him close, while his adopted son cried into his chest.
The six mares were now at the train station with Fluttershy being held by Rainbow Dash and Applejack while shouting, “Let me go! Those animals are going to come out eventually!”
Applejack grumbled, “Fluttershy come on, they're just animals!”
Pinkie Pie continued, “Yeah, we got a ton at home!”
“I didn’t get to see them! I wanted to see a monkey!” Fluttershy shouted.
All the while Rarity was crying dramatically, “I came to Canterlot in hopes of marrying my true love, but alas, I didn't even get a chance to see my Prince Blueblood!”
Cannon Feather watched in wonder and asked, ”Awe they goin’ to be fine?”
Twilight nodded and mumbled, ”I’m sure they’ll be fine eventually.” She ruffled his mane as she turned to see Shining came down with a whimpering Bright Wing on his back. The foal jumped off and ran to Twilight and hugged her. He hugged her close and whimpered, “Wiw ya be back, Twilie?”
Twilight smiled and hugged him back, “We will, I promise.”
Shining then replied, ”We could come to visit you in Ponyville, if you're not too busy saving Equestria that is.”
Twilight smirked, “Okay, well good luck potty training Bright Wing. Sounds like he’s already getting the hang of it though, just be careful not to let him near the toilet, or you know what will happen.” Bright Wing giggled as Shining blushed. Twilight then walked into the train car with the rest of her friends, all waving goodbye to the foals.
As the foals watched the train puff down the rails, Cannon Feather babbled, “I goin ta miss them.”
Shining sighed, “Yeah me too. Now come on, let's get you all ready for bed.” The foals groaned and reluctantly followed Shining down the road.
Celestia was busy looking over notes and maps in her study when Luna walked in and asked, “Sister?”
Celestia sighed and looked over as she mumbled, “You may come in, Luna.”
Luna looked over the stuff on her sister’s desk, “Are these about the mission on the missing scroll?” She asked.
Celestia continued, “Yes, but I can’t find out where the foals families are.”
Luna looked down at the maps and asked, “Any leads?”
Celestia frustratingly replied, “No, I sent them years ago and I haven’t received word of where they’ve gone. The last I heard they were in Saddle Arabia, but they went undercover and the Saddle Arabians have no clue where they went from there.”
Luna whispered, “The scroll was that powerful?”
“Yes it was, it could alter things in the past and change the future. In fact, I'm surprised the thief hasn't used the scroll yet.” Celestia mumbled.
Luna whispered, “There must be clues.”
But Celestia shook her head, “Not really, if I had any clues I would be rescuing them myself.”
Luna realized her sister was stressed and whispered, “Come on, Shining has the foals and is getting them ready for bed. We should probably check on our sons.”
Celestia nodded, “Indeed, stressing myself over the past won’t do any good, as much as it did,”
Luna watched her sister get up from her desk and asked, “I have one question, why didn't you tell the foals about their parents earlier?”
Celestia sighed and explained, “I didn't want them to think they were dead, Luna. I’m still lingering on the hope that they’re fine, but the thief, whoever it was, was incredibly powerful. And it seems like because of me, those three foals lost their parents forever,” She burst into tears again as Luna hushed her, “It’s okay...I’m sure that things will be fine.”
Celestia smiled and whispered, “I’m not a foal, Luna.”
Luna smirked, “You do sure act like one sometimes, Tia.” Celestia nuzzled her sister, thinking of all the fun times they’d had as foals. How long ago those memories seemed, yet they could remember them as if they were yesterday. As they continued down the hall towards the two came upon the foals running down the hallway. Celestia scooped them into her hooves and hugged them close as she asked, “You all ready for bed?” “Yeah!” They all shouted together. She looked up at Shining who replied, “I gave them baths, had them brush their teeth, changed their training pants, and got them to use the potty. No accidents to report.”
They all laughed again as Celestia cooed, “Looks like Shiny’s a foalsitter, just like Cadence.”
Cannon Feather then went over, hugged Luna, and asked her, “Mama, can ya tuck me in?”
Luna bent down and kissed him, “Of course, now get your crinkle butt moving.” He squealed and waddled off.
Bright Wing came over and nuzzled Shining Armor’s legs who hugged him as Bright Wing asked, “Daddy, can ya tuck me in?”
Shining nuzzled him and whispered, “Sure, come on.” They all laughed as the three adults herded the foals to their, room where Celestia saw the back of the room had a tower of stuffed animals.
Cannon Feather looked up at Luna and asked , “Mama, can I sweep with aw of them?”
Luna shook her head and said, “You can sleep with only one.”
Cannon Feather giggled, “Otay mama.” He picked up his white bunny as Bright Wing asked, “Can I have one of ya stuffed animaws?”
Cannon Feather laughed, “Of cowse.” Bright Wing took a purple dragon plushie from the stack, then the three crawled into their bed and got comfortable under the sheets. After getting goodnight kisses from the adult ponies Bright Wing asked, “Can ya finish ta stowie about ta guawd?”
Celestia smirked, “Sure, but nopony better get out of bed tonight.” She then continued her story of the hero while Shining and Luna left the room.
Luna asked, “So Shining… are you planning to have Bright Wing live with you soon?”
Shining nodded, “Yeah, now that Cadence and I are going steady, Cadence is getting a room ready for him right now. She would be here now if it weren't for her making sure the room was perfect. She’s gonna be a big help in keeping Bright Wing in line.”
Luna then asked, “Did you talk to him yet?”
Shining shook his head, “Not yet, but I’m planning to talk to him later. He was really shaken up about his marefriend Rain.”
Luna nodded and replied, “Yes, I heard about that. I hope things turn out well for the two.”
Shining nodded and whispered, “Me too.”
They both turned when they heard Cannon Feather shout. “Wow! He got mawied?!”
Celestia replied, “Yes he did.”
“Bu wha abou his advntuaws?” Bright Wing asked.
Bucket Bridle added, “An wha abow his pwomice to ta thane?”
Celestia replied with a smile, ”He fufilled his promise and got his axe back, he’s done. And that's why when he finished his story. he ended the tale with: ‘I used to be an adventurer like you, but then I took an arrow in the knee.’” The foals all shouted, “Ohhh!”
Bright Wing whispered, “I don wan a awwo in ta knee though.”
Celestia laughed, “It’s a figure of speech,” And she kissed Bright Wing on the forehead. Then she gently cooed, “Now get some sleep,” She crept out of the room, shut the lights off, and headed out into the hallway. As the royal parents all left together Celestia spoke, “Luna, Shining, I have a favor to ask of you,” The two looked at her as she continued, “I’m going to tell you some things, but you must stay quiet.” They both nodded as she continued, “I believe that these royal guards were turned imto foals by whoever has the scroll.”
They both gasped as Luna replied, “But it was Nightmare Moon who turned them into foals!”
Celestia responded, “It may have seemed that way, but I don’t think she would've turn them into foals without a reason. A scroll with the power to control time could've altered things to make that happen.”
Shining (who was confused) asked ,”But with that power, why would a mage turn ponies into foals?”
Celestia shook her head still bewildered as well and continued, “I don’t know, but we must stay alert, as I fear they may not be the only victims.”
Shining saluted and said firmly, “I will stay on high alert for any suspicious activity, I won’t let you down.”
Luna nodded and agreed, “Right, we must stay vigilant with this danger still out there. Hopefully if this is true, there also could be a chance to reverse the spell.”
Celestia nodded and concluded, “Right. As for now this stays between the three of us. But I’ll tell Twilight about what I’ve discovered as well. I fear she and her friends could also be targets.”
Shining asked, “Should I send guards to keep her safe? We’ve got some fine new recruits waiting for their first assignment.”
Celestia shook her head and said, “Twilight is very capable, and I trust her judgment. Besides, I think if we have any more royal guards trying to fight powerful evil mages, we’ll have more foals in potty training.”
Then as if right on cue they all heard Cannon Feather run down the hallway babbling, “Mama, I gots to go poopies!”
Luna dawwed and ran up to her foal. “Okay dear, come on.” She quickly came over and helped him towards the bathroom as he heard Bright Wing shout, “Daddy, I gots to go potty too!”
Shining smirked and said, “Better go check on Bright wing and make sure he’s okay.”
Then Celestia laughed when she heard Bucket Bridle shout, “Mommy I gots ta go pee!” Celestia quickly followed suit into the foals room. Soon the three adult ponies were escorting their foals to the bathroom across the hall.