//------------------------------// // One in the Oven // Story: Tending Twilight // by Hodgepodge //------------------------------// Applejack woke up early the next day, like always. With a grunt, she rolled out of bed and walked towards the peg her stetson hung on, setting it on her head. Looking out the window across the acres and acres of apple trees, Applejack sighed. She wanted desperately to leave and go talk to Twilight, and see what was going on. But she had responsibilities that came first… Reluctantly, she turned away and trotted out of her room and down the stairs. Talking to Twilight would have to wait. As she set up the first tree for bucking, Applejack wondered what a filly that was half her and half Twilight Sparkle would even be. Would it be an earth pony or an alicorn? Applejack shuddered at the thought - Apple Bloom had been hard enough to wrangle as a baby, she didn’t know how she’d cope with a foal that could fly and use magic. Then again, she thought, maybe it would be neither. As Bucky and Kicks sailed into a tree with enough force for all the apples to fall from its boughs, Applejack considered the idea foal might be a pegasus or a unicorn… That would be a little easier to handle, but AJ had to admit she was inclined to hope for an earth pony. She knew how to help raise an earth pony foal, knew how to teach them to use their magic, how to help them value what made the earth pony way so special. Applejack had no clue where she’d even begin with a unicorn or pegasus - but she’d sure as sugar try her best, she supposed. And, Applejack asked herself as she lined up with another tree, was she even ready for this? It seemed real, real soon to be thinking about children. She’d wanted to be married before she even considered it… And hay, she wasn’t even sure if she was ready to propose. Would Twilight leave her if she said she wasn’t ready? Maybe she’d say it was fine, but secretly hope AJ would change her mind, and the issue would hang over them like a rotten fruit dangling from a bough, ripening each day with hopes and expectations Applejack wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to meet. Applejack made her way through the orchard automatically while her mind worked double-time. It was later than she would have liked when she finally got done with work. Her legs ached, but it was a good ache, the kind she’d usually take pride in as a sign of a job well done. But she couldn’t focus on that right now. She still hadn’t decided what she would say to Twilight, but she knew she had to say /something/… And soon. Ignoring her strained muscles, she walked solemnly towards the library, turning things over and over in her head. --------------------------------------------- “Howdy Spike!” Applejack grinned at the dragon as he opened the door, but it was paper thin. “Is Twi’ about? Got t’talk to her.” “Hey Applejack… are you alright? You look really nervous?” Spike replied, tilting his head uncertainly. Twilight and Applejack were probably among the most stable of his 6 pony friends, but he still worried - they’d both had their moments. “Ah… I’m jus’ fine, Spike!” Applejack replied, her smile strained further as she had to outright lie, even if it was a small one. “Jus’ need to see - Twilight!” Applejack rushed over to her marefriend as she appeared at the bottom of the stairs, her wings flapping with alarm at the franticness of AJ’s approach. “Whoa! Applejack, I’m happy you’re so glad to see me, but maybe we should go upstairs and talk? You seem kind of agitated… Can I help?” Twilight smiled kindly. Maybe AJ was having some problem with her crops, or there was some issue with the everfree forest and she didn’t want to mention it around Spike. “That’d be great, Twi’, thanks,” Applejack replied, her smile genuine this time - even when she was dealing with something like this, the alicorn’s calmness calmed her, too. She felt like a stronger pony with Twilight there. And they’d both need to be strong to talk about something as serious as this… Upstairs, in Twilight’s bedroom, AJ swallowed. Her eyes darted around the room, but there was no more evidence left out. Twilight had carefully thrown away the used diaper earlier that day, and hidden her pacifier in its usual spot. “Was there something you wanted to talk to me about, Applejack?” Twilight asked again, breaking AJ out of her reverie. “Wha-? Oh, um, yeah, sorry Twi’. I guess… well, we’ve been together ‘bout a year now, right?” “It’s actually closer to eleven months and eight days,” Twilight Sparkle corrected automatically, and then blushed, adding: “Of course, who’s counting?” Applejack raised an eyebrow and then chuckled. “Wul alrighty, Twi’... Anyway, we’re pretty… serious, ain’t we? I mean… Nothin’ wrong with a pony being interested in taking th’next step in a, a real serious relationship like this, huh?” Applejack wasn’t sure if she was talking herself into believing what she was saying, or if she really did feel that way. Being honest to other ponies came easy to her - being honest with herself was more difficult. “Um, I guess so?” Twilight said uncertainly. She didn’t know where Applejack was going with this, but something in her voice told her it was important. Maybe she wanted Twilight to move to Sweet Apple Acres? But her books… “And, and, I think, maybe if ah haven’t been thinkin’ of it, you have been, an’ maybe you’ve been thinkin’ a lot more than me about one topic in particular, an’, well… Shucks, Twi’, I… I… I know you wanna have a foal!” Applejack blurted her statement, like trying to spit a bad apple out of her mouth. She felt better instantly, but she frowned as she took in Twilight’s reaction. The alicorn’s wings were spread slightly in shock at AJ’s outburst, but her expression wasn’t one of a mare who’d had her secret discovered. It was the expression of a mare who had no idea what the hay her partner was talking about. “Guhh?” Twilight said, intelligently. “What? I mean…. What?!” “Y’don’t have to pretend, Twilight. Ah saw the book. An’ the bottle,” Applejack said, frowning. She’d been open - why couldn’t Twilight? As expected, Twilight blushed, looking rather like a filly with her hoof caught in the cookie jar. She scrambled for an excuse... “Um, I told you Applejack, that was because the cake tw-” “Ah know the cake twins were never here. Or s’posedta be here. I asked Pinkie Pie. Don’t lie t’me, Twilight Sparkle,” Applejack’s voice took on an edge now. She hated being lied to. “Applejack, I…” Twilight stammered. She knew she was caught now. She had no interest at all in having a foal, and she wouldn’t, couldn’t let Applejack believe something that just wasn’t true. So she’d either have to make up another lie, or tell the truth… Her eyes squeezed shut. Her heart thumped. And then she spoke. “...Applejack… there’s something I have to tell you…” “Ah know! You want t’ hav-” AJ was cut off by a purple hoof, lifted in the universal sign of ‘wait, stop’. “N-no, I don’t, I… I really, really don’t, haha. I mean, maybe this would be easier if I did, you know?” Twilight’s eyes were open now, but they glistened with tears. “I, I bet you’d be an amazing mother, AJ. But, but the truth is…” She shifted, her voice dropping to a squeak. “...The bottle was mine.” Applejack wasn’t sure she’d heard the princess right. At first she didn’t understand the significance, either. Twilight obviously thought it was important, but why? “Uh…” “A-and the book… I was… studying,” Twilight sniffled now. “To… to get in touch with my inner foal?” AJ blinked, still not caught up, but the gears were starting to turn in her head. “Twi’... what’re you sayin’?” “Applejack, I’m… I’m an adult foal. I was going to tell you one day, I, I just, it’s so scary, and I was so afraid of what you might think, and I was so scared!” Twilight’s voice shook with emotion, crying openly now. Applejack was starting to catch up now. An adult foal… did that mean… “...Twi… are ya tellin’ me y’like to… act like a baby?” Twilight sobbed loudly, nodding through her tears. “Y-yes Applejack! I’m so so so sorry! I, I, I’ve always been this way, as long as I can remember! I u-used to be so jealous of babies when I was a filly,” Twilight sniffed, wiping her eyes on the back of her hoof. “That b-bottle was mine… and I have a pacifier, too, and…” Twilight swallowed again. “...Diapers.” Applejack’s eyelid twitched as she fought to keep several different emotions from showing on her face. Fear was one, for her marefriend had just pulled back the veil on a strange world Applejack had never heard of - and not just as part of some fancy unicorn research she’d been doing, no, Twilight clearly expected Applejack to understand this was part of her, and had been since the day they’d met. AJ’s head span, and it felt as if it were a stranger standing in front of her, instead of her supportive, doting marefriend. Disgust would be an awful strong word for another of Applejack’s swirling emotions. Distaste would be better, although it reminded her of elderly high society mares, and the time she spent in Canterlot as a foal. Thinking of her pretty marefriend, who she happened to think had a pretty darn hot flank, putting on diapers like a baby an’ then possibly even urinating in ‘em? Yeah, AJ had to admit she had an awful lot of ‘distaste’ for that idea. The country pony managed to swallow, and though her lips twisted in an expression that could have been nausea or a prelude to a cough, she licked them and opened her mouth to speak. “...Errggaahh?” Applejack managed, and she instantly regretted it, because Twilight’s lovely eyes were now huge, and rapidly filling with tears. “I’m sorry!” she squealed, her wings flaring alarmingly. “I’m so sorry! I can tell you’re disgusted by me!” “Naah! Oh Twilight, no, c’mere my darlin’, ain’t like that!” Applejack rushed forwards to enfold her crying marefriend in a hug, pressing those lovely wings down. “I’m awful! You must h-hate me…” “I could never hate you, sugarcube, ah just…” AJ gulped. “...It’s a lot t’take in. You musta known that, when you told me?” “Uh huh,” Twilight sniffled. “B-but you came in talking about a foal, and you seemed like you were maybe happy about it and, and I thought… maybe you’d want a foal… who was a little biggerl?” “But you ain’t a-” Applejack stopped as she saw Twilight’s look, a flash of bitterness and hurt in amongst her self-pitying tears. “...Anyway,” Twilight continued, shifting about in Applejack’s embrace. “I had to explain… You thought I wanted a baby! And I hope you understand now more than ever why … well, I don’t want that, not yet.” Applejack stayed quiet for a moment. She really didn’t want Twilight to cry any more. She also really didn’t understand any of what Twilight was talking about. Before they’d even started dating, she’d always fancied she understood Twilight the best out of all her friends. They were both practical mares, for one. Twi maybe went a bit overboard sometimes, but AJ appreciated someone who kept to a reliable schedule. She could trust that the princess wouldn’t let her down - that they’d be strong together, supporting one another, no matter what. And that was it, really, when she got down to it. Applejack, the most dependable pony in Ponyville, had found somepony else to depend on. Somepony else who understood the struggles of being a pony everybody else looked up to, who appreciated her as an equal. But… here was that same mare. Telling AJ she wanted to be treated like a foal - wanted to not have responsibility. Applejack set her jaw. Always somethin’, wasn’t it? More demands, more work, more duties laid at her feet. And this time it wasn’t just the material things, making Twi’ feel like the little filly she apparently wanted to be, and whatever responsibilities she’d clearly hoped Applejack would take on. This time it was about Applejack pushing through to accept this bizarre interest of hers. Being okay, even embracing, the idea of her marefriend wearing diapers. “Gosh, Twi,” Applejack said softly, stroking her back gently, hoof running over those soft feathers. “You sure don’t do things by halves, huh?” Twilight just let out another helpless sob in response, and Applejack held her a little more firmly, trying to help her settle down. Maybe that was why Twilight saw her like that? Some kind of mother figure? Sure did seem to come natural to her, sometimes. They were quiet together for a few minutes longer, Applejack thinking things over slowly, Twilight sniffling and pressing herself up against her marefriend, seeking sympathy - eventually Applejack sighed and cleared her throat. “Sugarcube?” Twilight lifted her head to look at Applejack. “Yuh- I mean, yes, Applejack?” There was something in Twilight’s voice that seemed stilted and forced, like she was holding a part of herself back. “Twilight, I’ll be honest cos that’s all ah know how t’be - I don’t understand this,” Applejack raised a hoof as Twilight opened her mouth, looking ready to burst into tears all over again. “But I love you, darlin’. I love you with all of my heart and then some.” Twi brightened at that, giving Applejack a little smile. “But,” continued Applejack. “I need to think, alright? It’s been a real confusing day and I, I jus’ don’t know what to make of all this.” Twilight’s ear flicked. Her own mind whirred. “You don’t understand?... I… I could show you?” she asked, hopefully. Applejack wanted to say ‘no’. She wanted to say she wasn’t ready to see that, or if she ever would be - but Twilight’s demeanour had changed so suddenly, and she didn’t want to be responsible for crushing her. Maybe… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad? “...Sure, Twi’. Show me,” Applejack tried to hide the note of defeat in her voice. Twilight didn’t seem to notice it, anyway. “Oh yay!” Twilight cheered, clopping her hooves together. “Applejack, I’ve waited so long to have someone else to do this with!” She stopped after a moment, suddenly hesitant. “Unless, of course… you don’t really want to?” Her voice was small again. Applejack’s stomach lurched. “I love you, Twi’... An’ I want to understand…” Applejack wasn’t sure if she’d feel better or worse if Twilight told her she would wait. She seemed to want this so badly. “Well, okay then! Let me just grab my, um, things!” Twilight blushed shyly, her telekinesis reaching out to several objects at once. Applejack tried to hide her expression as she noted the pacifier, baby’s bottle, and adult-sized diaper that floated into view. “Hah! Um, well, I um… usually I start with this,” Twilight jabbered, holding up the pacifier. ‘This has gotta be the freakiest thing I ever saw,’ Applejack thought to herself. “Um. Uh huh,” was all she said, nodding dumbly. “As’h yoo can see, it kin’a makesh me tawk funny,” Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, spoke from around her pacifier, suckling on it cutely. Applejack gulped. Her resolve was failing her… Where was that beautiful, strong mare she loved? “Kin’a wike… *ptt!* … Kinda like a li’l baby, huh?” “Yes’m… Ah, I mean, it sure does, Twi’,” Applejack’s response was uncertain, parroting what she thought her marefriend wanted to hear. It did make her sound like a baby. She didn’t like it. “And, and, then I put on the diaper…” Applejack’s face flushed as Twilight lay down on her bed, her legs spread wide. But instead of offering herself to her marefriend in the most intimate way, Twilight’s private parts were soon covered up by thick, white plastic. “You have to be careful to get the tapes right,” she said brightly, easily securing one, before hesitating. “Um… sometimes it helps if some other pony.. Helps?” Twilight looked up hesitantly at Applejack. Her heart thumped. She knew she was pushing, knew she was asking a lot - but AJ would have said something before now if she didn’t like this, right? And the excitement!! The idea of her marefriend being her own Mommy, and looking after her - she could barely control herself. “I… I’m here for ya, Twi’,” Applejack said softly, as her hoof moved robotically towards the lower diaper tape. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. It seemed so bizarre, and Twilight was so strangely needy now, this strange obsession sucking her in like quicksand and bringing AJ with her. She fastened one tape. And then another… Twilight sighed happily, her eyes fluttering closed. She couldn’t believe she was doing this. Applejack… was finally sharing this with her. It felt so wonderful, so right, to give herself over to the strong earth pony, to be looked after by the perfect caretaker… “Done,” Applejack said quietly, now she’d finished diapering Twilight. Hiding that sexy rump with a...diaper. “Thank you… Mommy,” Twilight murmured, blushing as she looked up at Applejack, hoping she would accept the title. AJ’s stomach lurched. She took a step back. “D-don’t call me that, y’hear?” she muttered, and Twilight gulped. It was like the spell was broken now, and Applejack took another step back, as she watched. “O-of course, I’m sorry, it’s just you’re so caring, and so good at this, and-” Applejack stepped back again. She didn’t want to be good at this. She didn’t want Twilight to see her as just, just a mother. “Applejack, please-” “I- I’m sorry… I gotta go!” Applejack whirled, shoving the door open. She ran past Spike, she ran out the door. She let her hooves carry her home, and into her bedroom. Far, far away from the diaper, the baby talk, and the desperate cries of the mare she loved.