//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 - The D&N // Story: Pinkie 'swaddle' Pie // by Yosh-E-O //------------------------------// ‘Cooing Cuddles’ shared a lot of the ins-and-outs of the milk bar. Most notably being how it was a far larger establishment than just a place to get sweet treats while acting like a foal. “…Most of us even spend some time in the D&N,” she gleefully noted while pointing to where some foalishly-dressed ponies were trotting towards. They just knocked on the paddock door, a gleeful stallion asked them something, they replied, and he opened the bottom door so they could enter inward. “The D&N?” asked Pinkie as she found herself getting into her ‘Silly Filly’ role. “what’s that?” Gemstone, as ‘Cooing Cuddles’, took a big drink from her sippy cup before replying, “It’s Ponyville’s exclusive Day and Nightcare. It’s run by Dr. Dummy who helps each foal, or group of foals, find the perfect way to get away from all the ‘hurts’ and stresses in their lives.” “How’s that?” questioned Silly like a filly. “Dr. Dummy runs the D&N like a hotel,” replied Cooing. “You go in, tell him and his friends what you are looking for, and they get you your own nursery with, or without, a caretaker so you can just be the you without a care in the world!” “Really?” squeed Silly. Cooing finished her drink before gleefully answering, “For reallies!” The two embraced. Pinkie was starting to feel all her worries melt away in being in such a carefree environment with some pony she genuinely felt comfortable around. Nobody said a word about what they were doing, how obnoxious her behavior could be, or held her to ‘Pinkie Promises’. She was just there in the moment enjoying milk and cookies with a friend. “This must be like how Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo feel,” she thought. “Minus the diapers and foal clothing and pretending to be kids again parts.” “I’ve always wanted a playmate like you, Pinks,” smiled Gemstone. “Here I go by ‘Cooing Cuddles’. Most ponies go by different names. Did you pick one out for yourself by chance?” “Uh…,” thought Pinkie with the cutest expression on her face. “I’m ‘Silly Filly’!” BOOMF! ‘Silly Filly’ rolled out her party cannon and fired a blast of cupcake scented confetti into the air. As she squeeled with joy and bounded about in circles. Cooing’s smile grew wider as she clapped her hooves like a little foal. “You are a silly filly!” she cheered. “And we love you!” *** “I’m Dr. Dummy,” greeted the white stallion who had a golden mane. “And this be my little slice of heaven for all those lost foals in need of a relaxing time out.” Silly and Cooing entered into the large playroom that was the D&N’s first room past the paddock. The designs on the wall were like those Pinkie observed in Swaddle Puff’s nursery. Doe-eyed foals doing foal-like things in a sea of happily vibrant colors. “Is that…?” asked Pinkie upon spotting Lyra and Bon-Bon playing patty cake on the floor near a small pile of stuffed animals. Both were wearing very bulky diapers and giggling almost uncontrollably. Cooing put a hoof on Silly’s shoulder. “Here they are ‘Soft Mint’ and ‘Sweet Cream’,” she said. “You come here to forget the real world. Not be associated with it.” “That seems unhealthy,” said Silly. “It’s fun to pretend but even I know you need to be serious sometimes.” “That’s why me and my staff work diligently to assist our ‘foals’ in using this facility as a sort of therapeutic service instead of an escape,” added Dr. Dummy. “My research as a professor back in Trottingham showed me how modern equine medicine isn’t always the best way to help over-stressed ponies find peace in their day-to-day lives. So I looked into what would be possible if play therapy were to be blended with new positive psychology of standard equine therapy to create this.” “Doctor,” a soft-spoken mare who had a yellow mane and pink coat said. “I think we need you in Room 2. The client seems to be having a nervous breakdown.” “Duty calls,” shrugged Dr. Dummy. “I’ll be back around after I help our guest with their woes.” “Wow,” remarked Silly. “I didn’t know this place was so deep.” “Dr. Dummy really cares about the well-being of ponies,” stated Cooing. “However his practices got him kicked out of Trottingham University. So he came here to Ponyville to continue his studies and setting up this delightful getaway from the everyday.” “Who pays for all this?” wondered Pinkie as a mare and stallion in hoovie pajamas chased after each other towards a room with one of the caretakers following close behind. “I didn’t notice any pony paying any bits the whole time I was here.” “The Puff family are huge donors to the cause,” replied Cooing. “So are a lot of other well-to-do pony families all across Equestria who believe in Dummy’s research to help ponies rid themselves of stress and anxiety in far more natural ways than magic or medicine.” Silly sighed and felt her Pinkie Pie self return. “Puff like Swaddle Puff?” she asked. “Oh!” beamed Cooing. “You know him? Super nice guy who really knows his numbers.” “Yeah,” pouted Pinkie as she dug her hoof into the soft carpet. “I kind of was a meanie-meanie pants to him and I want to find and apologize for being a super awful pony to him.” “Hmm,” thought Cooing. “Let’s have us a play around to see if he is here. If not some pony may know where to find him. We’re all about apologizing and being nice and your desire to apologize for whatever you feel you have done will set a positive example to every pony here.” Pinkie felt her foalish side come back out. “Okay!” she cheered. “Let’s go have fun and make everything right!”