With a delighted expression on her face, Sweetie lifted her ham sandwich right up to her mouth and nommed it. Looking up at her booth’s hanging light fixture, she glanced up and couldn’t help but notice its ornate tiger-eye shaded glass exterior.
“Heh, I told you this was a nice place to eat.” Fluttershy smiled, bringing a clear plastic cup filled with frosted coffee to her mouth. Taking a small sip, she leaned back in her seat a little.
Swallowing her bite, Sweetie looked over the woman and exclaimed, “Believe it or not, but I’ve actually never been to a coffee shop. Like, Rarity gets coffee all the time, but she’s never taken me to a coffee place.”
Continuing to lightly sip on her drink, Fluttershy smiled a little at the girl’s statement. “Well even though coffee- or frappes in my case- are healthier than regular soft drinks or juices, it’s still not the best thing for a person to drink. Especially if it has a blast of expresso or something. In fact, I only really drink coffee on days where I feel like I’ll need the energy.”
“But I thought you said you drank coffee every morning.” Sweetie questioned, taking another bite of her sandwich.
“Heh, bingo.” Fluttershy answered, with a wink.
Smiling at the woman’s cleverness, she put the sandwich back down on her plate and giggled. Wiping the few crumbs off her violet skirt, she questioned, “I guess I should ask in case I ever end up babysitting for you.” She said, looking over at the woman, “Do you let Scootaloo drink soda at all?”
“Hmm.” Fluttershy mused, brushing her hair off to the side. “Well, yes I do let Scootaloo drink soda. Although, not more than a can a day. Considering how much fruit she has a day, I really try not to overdo it with sugary drinks and stuff.”
“Huh? Why can’t she have soda if she has fruit? I mean, is she, like, diabetic or something? She definitely isn’t fat.” Sweetie exclaimed, grabbing a hold of her strawberry smoothie.
Leaning forward a bit, Fluttershy reached over and grabbed a white packet out a small metal basket on the table. Holding it up in the air with a pinch, she questioned the girl, “Well, you see this right?”
Sweetie Belle nodded.
“Well, each of these packets probably contain about 3 grams of sugar. Your average can of soda has about 10 of these.” She says, picking out additional packets with her free hand and setting all of them on the table.
Puckering her lips a bit, Sweetie Belle nodded again.
Smiling, Fluttershy continued her preaching: “Well, the recommended amount of sugar for a woman my size is about 30 grams.” She said, holding back three of the white packets. “As you can see, even a single soda can for me is too much. You can imagine how bad one of those sodas is for a girl Scootaloo’s size.”
“Yeah, but like- why is sugar bad?” Sweetie asked, continuing to sip her smoothie.
“Well, an excess of sugar isn’t going to be life threatening or anything. But, too much of it in a person’s diet, even for an active girl like Scootaloo, can overwhelm their liver and cause things like poor digestion, fatigue, weight gain, and can mess up their sleep schedule.” Fluttershy said, picking up all the packets and sticking them back into the basket.
Nodding halfheartedly, Sweetie Belle raised an eyebrow, “Huh. Well, thanks for the lesson I-uh- guess.” She said, continuing to sip on her smoothie.
Blushing a little, Fluttershy folded her arms and leaned on the table. “Sorry if that was a bit much, Sweetie. I just thought I’d give you some context. I don’t think enough people know how delicate sugar consumption is.”
“Heh, it’s fine, Fluttershy.” Sweetie Belle empathized, reaching out a hand and patting the woman’s arm, “If I knew as much about health and stuff as you do, I’d probably talk everybody’s ear off about it as well.”
“Mmmhmm. I’m sure you’re a little geeky about something yourself.” The woman replied, tilting her head to the side quietly, “I know you want to get into babysitting, but what kind of thing do you want to do for a living. Or, do you know yet?”
Leaning back a bit, Sweetie shrugged her shoulders. “I was thinking I might get into teaching, you know? I just like the idea of helping kids get into reading and writing as much as I am.”
With a warm expression on her face, Fluttershy leaned her head in and gushed. “Right? I mean, I can’t really say for certain because I’ve always been more of a nanny than a teacher. But, there really is something special about broadening people’s perspectives.”
“Hehe, yeah. I’ve only babysat for my neighbor friend a couple of times. But, the older I get, the more willing my parents are to have me babysit for other people.” Sweetie exclaimed, kicking her feet excitedly under the table, “I’m hoping to do it as a part time job once I turn fifteen!”
“Well that’s good, it’s always nice to have goals.” Fluttershy answered, picking up her frosted coffee again. Leaning on the ornate wooden booth, she told the girl: “You know, I don’t know how much longer Scootaloo will go through this ‘baby’ phase she’s going through. But, I trust you enough to keep things confidential if you want to babysit her. Why, I’ll even pay you.”
Bringing her knees together, Sweetie Belle’s mouth went agape, “Really? Like, in the future?”
Flinching a little at the sudden burst in volume, Fluttershy nodded her head. “Mmmhmm. I’m usually pretty content with taking care of her. But, I’m sure I’ll want a night off or something eventually. She might act like a baby, but I’m sure she can dial it down a bit for a night if she has to.”
“Hehe, right.” Sweetie Belle replied, grabbing the smoothie with both of her hands, “You think we should go to pick her up?”
“Yeah, I suppose so.” Fluttershy replied, scooting over to the end of the booth. Standing up, she stretched her arms up in the air and yawned.
***
“Alright Scoots, lift your arms big and tall.” Jenny encouraged, holding the base of the t-shirt open with her hands. Smiling kindly, she leaned in draping it over the girl’s head and shoulders.
A little off-taken by the actions, Scootaloo watched as her vision of the ceiling was eclipsed by a shroud of blue cotton. “Eep!” she exclaimed, feeling as the fabric was tugged over her head, followed by the tactile sensation of Jenny adjusting her arms so that they were pressed up against her chest.
“Okay, now just spread your arms out through the arm holes like a big girl!” The woman cooed eagerly shaking both her hands like she was holding onto a pair of maracas.
Internally rolling her eyes, Scootaloo kept her lips pursed as she pushed outwards with her hands; effortlessly slipping her hand through the t-shirt’s open holes.
Clapping her hands, Jenny stood back up and cheered, “Woohoo! Go Scootaloo. Who’s a big girl?”
“M-meee.” Scootaloo moaned in a halfhearted manner as she tugged down on her new bunny printed t-shirt.”
Continuing to idly pace forward, the silver haired woman gestured with her hand for the girl to move forward. “Come on Scoots, we need to get lunch started. We’re already behind schedule.”
Looking up at the woman who seemed to tower over her even more so than before, she awkwardly dawdled forward, a little unfarmilar with the prospect of walking in her shoes with no trousers. Looking down at her cartoon printed trainers, she watched as her rubbery shoes mushed down the plush white carpet beneath her.
Treading over the lone colourful foam matt that sat underneath the room’s ‘playground’, Scootaloo finally made her way to the lunch table she’d abandoned earlier. Smiling shyly at Comet, she leaned over on the stale plastic table and sat down.
“Uhhhh.” Comet sounded, smirking deviously as he watched Jenny stare down at the girl with a puzzled expression on her face and her hands on her hips. All the while, Scootaloo fought to figure out what he was smiling about.
Glancing over at the snarky boy, then down at Scootaloo’s bob-cut covered head, Jenny sighed. Reaching down, she placed her hand on the girl’s shoulder, “Scootaloo, you have to get up. That’s not your seat.”
Still flustered by the boy’s expression, Scootaloo’s mouth went slightly agape as she looked back at the woman.
Keeping a stern but sympathetic expression on her face, she kept a hand planted on the girl’s shoulder as she told her, “Scootaloo. I know I didn’t mention it earlier, but the lunch table is only for big boys and girls. You’re not a big girl.”
“B-but I was sitting here earlier.” Scootaloo whined, her hands still clung to the corner of the big blue plastic table; as if the approval from Comet really meant something.
Smiling passively, she glanced briefly over the Comet’s amused expression then back down at the girl’s glossy eyes. “Ooh, honey. That was before you make an uh-oh in your pants and I found out you were just a big baby.” She cooed, reaching down and grabbing the girl by the underarms.
Feeling the woman’s hand grasp around her sides, the young girl couldn’t help but passively kick her legs in a vain defiance. “B-buh I’m notta baby. I-I can talk!”
“Well that’s cute dear.” Jenny cooed, as she continued to effortlessly lift the girl in the air. Bringing her over to the highchair adjacent to the room’s ‘other baby’, she set her inside.
Sinking back into the highchair’s plush rainbow speckled white padding, she couldn’t help but keep her hands passively held against her chest as she stared at the woman.
Reaching behind the contraption’s sizable plastic tray, she pulled the bottom part of the harness up and began pulling the one of the straps over the little one’s shoulders. “Scoots, I know you’re very book smart. But, I have rules against letting kids who haven’t begun potty trained eat at the big kid table.” She stated, pulling the second strap of the harness over the girl’s shoulder, “It’s nothing against you, I just don’t want to be unfair to someone like Comet who had to wait a loooong time to sit at the big kid table.”
“Heyy!” Comet whine, glaring at the teacher.
“Hehe, as I was saying.” Jenny said, stopping for just a second to give the highchair’s white nylon an experimental tug, “I just don’t want you eating unsupervised is all” She argued, playfully ruffling the girl’s hair before departing.
She watched, disappointed as her caretaker left for the room’s lone refrigerator, she crossed her arms and pouted. Sitting in the same contraption as the room’s resident two-year-old, she couldn’t help but feel a little too little.
Unaware of the child’s mood, Jenny continued to fetch lunch for the remaining children. Shutting the fridge behind her, she walked right by Comet and approached the little ones with identical plastic green plates.
Tai, being a happy toddler, bounced up and down excitedly at the sight of her lunch. Not only was Jenny approaching her with a big grin, but she also had food.
Scootaloo on the other hand held a much saltier expression on her face, still a little too annoyed about the patronization to accept her fate. “B-but I want my sandwich!” She whined, looking down at the plate, noticing a compartment of dry cereal, pink grapes, and a slurry of applesauce.
“Jeennnnnny! Do I have to wait on the babies to eat?” Comet exclaimed, slumping in his seat dramatically, not particularly happy to have to sit any longer than he needed to.
“Babies? I’m not a baby!” Scootaloo whined, leaning in on her highchair tray and shooting the boy an annoying glare.
Jenny, who’d just set down the plates and two rubber tipped spoons smirked. “Shhh, don’t-“
“Not a baby? What kind of big kid wears diapers and poops her pants?” Comet snarkily replied, leaning onto the big blue table, resting his chin on both his hands.
Snapping her head back a bit, Jenny glared at the little boy, “Comet, you know better than to be mean like that. Now say you’re sorry.”
Rolling his eyes, Comet muttered, “Fine, I’m sorry.”
Not wanting the situation to escalate any more, Jenny nodded a little. “Good, you’re excused. Just don’t get into anything, or I’ll have you in one of these highchairs next.
Tai, who couldn’t care less drooled a bit reaching down with her hand and grabbing a fistful of cereal with her hand. Bringing it to her mouth, she threw it in her mouth and quietly nommed it, savoring its dull sweet flavor. Staring passively in front of her, she watched as Comet scurried away to the room’s playset.
Glancing at Scootaloo, Jenny set her spoon down into the sauce and quietly grabbed a second sky-blue apron for her. In a somewhat devious manner, she smiled at the child and began fastening the piece around her neck. “You know, for being the oldest kid here, you definitely are the fussiest. Why, if you’re gonna be a big baby, why not have fun like little Tai here?”
“Caaaaause.” Scootaloo groaned staring at the woman face to face with a slightly perplexed expression on her face.
“Cause you wanna be a little fussing butt?” Jenny asserted, backing off a little as she finished dressing Scootaloo in her bib.
Continuing to grab onto the highchair’s plastic chair, she whined, “Nooo! I just don’t wanna be compared to a little baby! I-I’m still a big girl!”
Covering her mouth in a melodramatic manner, Jenny masked her smile, enjoying her opportunity to toy with the girl. “Huh? But, Tai is sucha good girl. Isn’t that right, Tai?” she questioned, looking towards the toddler’s direction.
Seeing the woman’s perky golden eyes again, Tai stuck out her tongue a bit and loosely clapped her hands.
Blushing a little bit more, Scootaloo sank into her seat as she fought to keep her seldom expression.
“Mmm. Well, we need to get this show on the road anyway.” Jenny said, scooping up some of the cereal. Smiling warmly, she cooed, “Come on honey, here comes the plaaaaane.”
“Mmmmm.” Scootaloo continues to lightly whined, tightening the intensity on her lips as the spoon moves closer and closer to her mouth. All the while, Jenny never dropped her optimistic expression.
Continuing to move the spoon back and forth, she smirked, “Oh, come on Scoots. I know that you can understand me. Please try it, for me?”
Scootaloo shook her head.
Tilting her head to the side, Jenny attempted to empathize with the girl. Tilting down the spoon, she poured the cereal back into its compartment and pointed it down at the applesauce. “Do you want any applesauce? Maybe grapes? I know you like fruit.”
“Mmmmm!” Scootaloo continued to fuss, tucking her hands into her lap.
Attempting not to sound too frustrated, Jenny raised an eyebrow and offered the spoon to the girl. “Do YOU wanna feed yourself?”
Once again, Scootaloo shook her head in the vain hope that she’d be able to argue her way out of her highchair.
“Honey, you need to eat something.” Jenny argued, putting the spoon back down and placing her hands on her hips. Tightening her expression, she threatened, “If you don’t. Then I’m going to grab a bottle from the fridge, we’re going to go sit in the rocking chair in the story book area, and you’re going to sit on my lap until you finish it. Understood?”
Frowning a little, Scootaloo huffed a little and nodded, “O-okay. I-I’ll eat.”
Perking up her expression a bit, Jenny loosened her posture and nodded, “Good girl. Now, hurry up, little Tai here is almost done and she’s gonna be fussy if she doesn’t leave soon.”
Reluctantly, Scootaloo reached down with her little hand, gripping the spoon in a lack-luster manner. Dipping the rubber tipped utensil into the applesauce, she brought it up to her lips and passively nommed it. To her delight, it was surprisingly sweet and fresh tasting; despite clearly being on the plate for quite some time.
The caretaker continued to watch the girl with her arms crossed, admiring Scootaloo’s struggle not to grin at the taste. “See, doesn’t that taste super-duper good Scoots? Why, it seems like some little girl looooves her applesauce.”
Continuing to quietly spoon the apple puree, Scootaloo’s expression melted into a bit of a flustered grin.
“Awwh, she DOES love her applesauce, doesn’t she?” The woman continued to coo, confident that she had broken down Scootaloo’s stubbornness. Placing a single hand on her hip and the other on her chin, she teased the girl, “Why, I bet you were just being shy weren’t you?”
Scootaloo, who had just about finished the applesauce given to her, gently nodded as her stubborn facade crumbled underneath the tone of her caretaker’s voice. Smiling sheepishly, she picked up a few grapes with a clenched fist and pressed them sloppily up against her mouth.
“Hehe, see. I knew I was dealing with a big baby bumpkin.” Jenny teased, satisfied to see her little one eagerly dig into her food. Turning away from Scootaloo, she walked back over to the kitchen area and began sorting through its cabinets.
Skipping the dry cereal on her plate, Scootaloo reached right for the dozen or so grapes clustered on her plate. Pinching a few of them with her hand, she brought them up to her mouth and opened it as wide as possible. Much to her surprise, Jenny had dispersed. Looking around the room, she eventually spotted her caretaker spooning the contents of a big blue tin into something she could quite see.
Ignoring the woman, she turned her attention elsewhere as she began bringing another few grapes to her mouth. Focusing on the toddler in the highchair to her left, she couldn’t help but beam at how equally slobbish-ly she was eating her food. Biting down on the grapes in her mouth, she couldn’t help but bask in their overbearing sweetness; letting the excess juices run down her chin and stain her bib.
Looking over at the much older old, Tai couldn’t help but reflect her unruly grin. “Siwwy!” she cheered, pointing at the girl.
Scootaloo smirked in a bit of a slaphappy manner. Looking down at diaper underneath her loosely fastened vynil harness, she began giggling. “I siwwy baby!”
“Siwwy baby!” Tai giggled, clapping her hands in an uncoordinated manner.
Sticking her tongue out just slightly, Scootaloo brought the last of the grapes up to her mouth and began quietly chewing; letting the juice continue to drip all over her bib and diaper. Smiling, she glanced down as she dirtied the few clothes she had and giggled, “Hehe, Siwwy baby.”
“Siwwy baby. More like messy baby.” Jenny replied, setting her new items onto the room’s one empty highchair. Walking over to Tai, she ruffled her hair. “I’m glad to see you’re getting along though. Why, it sounds like Tai learned a new word.” She said, smiling at the little girl.
Responding in her regular jovially enthralled manner, Tai nodded her head and clapped her hands.
Amused at Tai’s giddiness, a quick turn of the head revealed her caretaker standing with two very cutesy bottles in her hand. Holding out her hand, Scootaloo smiled sheepishly as she grabbed hers.
“Babies under three always receive a baba after their meal. After all, nutrients are important for young girls.” Jenny stated, turning and handing Tai her bottle.
Holding the lukewarm bottle of formula in her two hands, she brought it up to her lips and nommed it’s top. She kept her eyes planted on the bottle as she suckled on it, contently. Unlike the type she’d had before, this one surprisingly had a slight vitamin taste to it. Almost like it’s typical milk flavoring were mixed with a cherry.
to her side, she watched as the little girl right next took the bottle with a far more ‘excited’ approach by holding the thing straight up in the air and drinking it like a hamster.
*Knock knock knock*
“Ooh, Scootaloo. I think your aunty might be here.” Jenny said, walking over to the door.
Scootaloo glanced over at the white school like door as it was cracked open, revealing her aunt standing with her hands placed squarely on her hips.
“Jenny!” The pink haired woman cheered, rushing the woman and embracing her in a big hug. “Oooh, sorry for not saying hi. I was trying to get my other little one fed and whatnot before the coffee shop got too crowded”.
Smiling kindly, Jenny hugged the woman back before the two broke away from each other. “It’s understandable. I can only imagine how busy the mall is around this time of day. You’re doing alright recently, aren’t you? I know you’ve taken it upon yourself to adopt a girl.”
“Yeah.” Fluttershy sounded, rubbing the back of her head. Shaking her once to brush her bangs to the side, she grimaced, “Yeeeeah. Sorry I haven’t been keeping you too up to date with things. Obviously Scootaloo and I have been uh- busy getting to know each other better and stuff.”
Nodding her head, Jenny snickered, “Heh, I understand. You can catch me up on your situation later. You still have my number, right?”
“Mmmhmm!” Fluttershy confirmed, glancing over at her little one and giving her a small wave.
Smirking in a slightly inebriated manner, Scootaloo could feel her face flush with a dull warmth as she sank further into the plush padding of her highchair. With one of her hands still occupied with her bottle, she did a little shimmy with her free one.
Continuing to approach her little one, she raised an eyebrow the second her eye came in contact with the blue bunny shirt “Oooh, I see someone has a new outfit?” then looked back at Jenny. “How’d that happened? Was she playing dress up?”
“Nooo.” Jenny responded, walking back over to dining area herself. “Actually, miss poopy pants here had a reeeeeealy bad blowout.” She said, tugging at the girl’s baby blue shirt, “thanks for not telling me she wasn’t potty trained, by the way”
Indulding in her opportunity to tease her niece, Fluttershy cooed, “Hehe, it’s nawt the first time she’s done that. Is it Scootaloo?” She questioned ruffling her hair.
“Y-yeahhh.” Scootaloo responded, her tongue still slightly suppressed by the rubber nipple of her pacifier.
“Well I can either send the clothes with you in a vacuum sealed bag or I can throw them away for you.” Jenny clarified, reaching her arms around either side of the highchair, pressing down on two separate buttons, and detaching the tray from the main piece of furniture.
Looking down at her girl, Fluttershy couldn’t help but smirk. “You can just toss them, we were about to go clothes shopping anyway. Oh, heh. I see someone is rocking her undies.”
Lowering the bottle from her mouth, Scootaloo pressed her knees together in a vain attempt to cover up her pants situation. “Nooo, I’m not doing it voluntarily.”
Setting the tray on the main lunch table. “She’s telling the truth.” Jenny reassured, moving on to undoing the kid’s harness. “We got a ton of bunny shirts from the Sydney’s clothing store at the end of mall, following some lackluster Easter sales. So, given Scootaloo’s size, it was just about the only thing that’d fit her from our lost in found. Well, except one thing.”
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow. “Except on thing? What, did you have some other kind of shirt?”
“Hehe, no.” Jenny said, lifting Scootaloo by the underarms and lowering her to the ground. Patting the girl on the head, she smiled in a bit of a devious manner. “We got a bunch of those t-shirts she’s wearing right now. But, since Sydney’s knew we have cribs for little ones to sleep. They also- well- here, let me show you.” she said, trailing off from the two.
Happy to see her aunt, Scootaloo waddled over to Fluttershy’s leg and hugged onto it. Rubbing her cheek up and down her hip.
Looking down at the girl, the aunt returned her niece’s delighted expression. “D’awh. Did you miss me pumpkin? I missed you!”
Staring up at the women, Scootaloo nodded her head excitedly.
“Oooh, at least if what Scootaloo has told me is true, I think you’ll both like this.” Jenny called out, rushing up to the pair with a mysterious turquois- yellow chick covered- fluffy piece of fabric. Unfurling it, she revealed it was indeed a child-sized blanket sleep with some not so subtle white bunny footies sew on.
Covering her face with her baba, Scootaloo muttered a quiet, “Dear Celestia.”
“Hehe, ooh what are you talking about?” Fluttershy smiled, happily accepting the outfit from her friend. Holding it up close for a closer inspection she beamed, “Why, it might be a little too toasty to wear right now. But, the fact that the zipper goes all the way down to the leg means I’ll be able to change you at night without even having to completely undress you. Isn’t that great.”
Her face a painfully obvious hue of red, she just responded with a single drawn out head nod.
Amused by the little one, Jenny ruffled her hair. “Well scamp, I won’t keep you and your aunty waiting. You stay out of trouble now.”
“Hmm. Scootaloo, Jenny gave you something very nice.” Fluttershy said, grabbing her niece by the underarms and hoisting her into a small cradle hold. “What do we tell people that do nice things for us?’
“Thannnkyou.” Scootaloo answered half-heartedly, leaning into Fluttershy’s embrace for support.
Smiling, Jenny waved. “You’re welcome, Scoots. You have a good day!” Watching as the two left her room, she felt a certain rush of relief sweep over her. It made her happy to see her kids leave more happy than when they entered in. Well, except for Comet of course.
“Awwwh, you are a little cuddle bug aren’t you sweetie?” Fluttershy cooed, rubbing hand up and down her little one’s back. Patting her diapered butt she continued to swaddle the girl, “Do you want me to keep holding you, or do you wanna sit in your buggy for a bit?”
Seeing Sweetie Belle’s perky face standing beyond her aunt, Scootaloo ducked her head down as if to hide- despite the fact that everything above her nose was still very much visible. “Y-yeah!”
Watching patiently as Fluttershy carried over her kid, Sweetie Belle kept both her hands planted on the stroller’s handles. “Heh, hiya Scootaloo. How was your stay at daycare?”
“It was good.” Scootaloo replied nonchalantly as she was lowered back into the contraption. Looking down, she adjusted her feet accordingly to slip through their respective leg holes as she sat down. “A bit boring, but it went better than expected.”
“Hehe, Fluttershy. Why isn’t Scootaloo wearing pants?” Sweetie Belle questioned, peaking her head over the side the stroller. Looking down at the girl, she grinned, “How’d you do that, Scootaloo?”
Glancing up at the girl, she puckered her lips and went “Uhhhh.”
Interjecting, Fluttershy set her hand on Sweetie Belle’s shoulder and smiled, “Scootaloo had an accident and might have ruined her last outfit. They did end up giving her a bottle and…” she paused, unrolling the new onesie with her free hand, “This!”
“Oooh, that’s so cute!” Sweetie Belle added, grabbing the footie pajamas and holding them high in the air. Bundling the piece up into a ball, she hugged it a bit- rubbing her cheek against it. “Ooh, it’s like an actual blanket. It feels super-duper soft!”
Looking back, Fluttershy waved her hand at the desk lady then reassumed procession over her niece’s stroller. Pushing it towards the nursery’s open store gate, she looked over at the other girl, “Well Sweetie, they call them blanket sleepers for a reason.”
Continuing to hold the fabric in her arms, Sweetie Belle kept cuddling it as the group made their way back onto the mall’s marble court. Glancing down at the bundle, she kept slowly turning it in her hands, “Hmm, I bet it’d be super-duper cozy.”
“Hehe, well if you want one I’m sure we could find you one.” Fluttershy added, continuing to gaze passively at the decedent mall’s ornate store displays. From each side of her, there were dozens of lit store displays showing off fancy jewelry, expensive clothing, the newest most cutting-edge electronics, toys, and- of course- food.
“Oooh, I dunno.” Sweetie Belle said, her eyes quietly fixed on a picture of a bowl of ice-cream with an alluring periwinkle blue and lavender swirl. Ignoring her desire to indulge in yet another fruit-flavored frozen treat, she looked over at the woman, “I mean, I’m not insecure or anything about being seen in something ‘kid’ like. But, especially right now it seems like it’d be really hot. Let alone the fact that it might be a bad influence on the little one.” She teased.
‘Heyyy’ Scootaloo thought to herself as she eavesdropped from her carriage-like baby contraption. Laying her head back on its rest, she stared passively at the same ice-cream sign as her friend. However, instead of inspiring her to crave ice-cream. It reminded her of something… she still had her bottle of formula in her hand. Bringing the container up to her lips with both of her hands, she lazed her head to the side a little.
“Heh, well I don’t know about that. I’m pretty sure Scootaloo is going to keep being a big baby as long as she feels like being a big baby.” Fluttershy said, personally encapsulated by the aroma of one of the mall’s pastry shops. Ignoring her urge to eat, she kept pushing the stoller along. “That being said, I’m not really sure we’d have any luck finding of a pair of them for you around this time of year. I mean, I have diapers that’d fit you. But not pajamas- or at least not footie pajamas,”
Covering her backside with her hands, Sweetie Belle snickered, “Hehe, eww. You couldn’t pay me to wear diapers.”
Scootaloo looked to her side, despite the fact that her vision of Sweetie was shrouded by the star-sprinkled fabric of her stroller awning. Through the fabric she could hear her aunt jest, “Well, if it’s good enough for my little girl, why not you? What makes you too high and mighty for diapers?”
“Heh, well what makes you too high and mighty for diapers, Fluttershy?” Sweetie Belle deflected, subconsciously tugging the waist of her dress a bit. “No, in all seriousness I’m not ‘too good’ for diapers. But, even for as lame as my outfits are, it’d still be definite downgrade. Not to mention, unlike Scootaloo, I’m not nearly cute enough to pass as a big baby.”
Hearing her friend’s words, Scootaloo beamed a bit as she continued suckling on her bottle.
Fluttershy shrugged her shoulders a little. “Heh, I guess you’re right. But like I said earlier, everyone outgrows their cuteness sometime in their life. You might not be able to rock diapers like my little cutie butt, Scoots. But, you at least can fill out that dress you’re wearing.”
“Fluttershy!” Sweetie Belle groaned, covering her face with both her hands.
“Heh, sorry Scootaloo. Sometimes I forget I’m not talking to one of my friends. I didn’t mean to make you blush.” The woman added, looking at a massive sign and lobby that capped off the end of the mall’s hallway. It was the exactly the clothing shop she came here for.
Looking up at the Vegas-like store sign, Sweetie Belle was blow away by the sight of thousands upon thousands of flickering bulbs blinking in a wave like pattern. “Woah, Esters? That’s like- a really expensive clothing store. Are you sure you want to take me shopping here?”
Continuing to stroll forward casually, Fluttershy nodded her head. “Mmmhmm. I know it seems like quite a lot money. But, your sister gives me free clothes all the time, so it’s no biggie.”
“Oooh, okay.” Sweetie Belle smiled, throwing the footie pajamas into the back of Scootaloo’s stroller. The instant she walked through the store front her nostrils were overwhelmed with the ornate scent of the freesia flowers lining an elaborate stone cherub fountain that sat in the middle the store. Most impressively though, was the circular sky-window that acted both as a source of natural light and to highlight the aforementioned flowers. A little taken back by the sight in front of her, folded her arms. “Hmm, this kind of seems like the kind of store my sister would shop at.”
“You’re definitely not wrong, this place is pretty notorious for its um- elegance. That being said, if you’re feeling a little bored with all the dresses, we could go to somewhere else.” Fluttershy said, looking over at the teenager.
Smirking in a bit of a sheepish manner, Sweetie Belle nodded her head. “For as like as I like dresses. If I really wanted another I could just ask my sister for one. I honestly wouldn’t mind some shorts or t-shirts or something.”
Rocking her head back and forth to crack her neck, Fluttershy replied. “Oookay. Yeah, we can go to somewhere else.” Then began turning the buggy in the opposite direction.
“Heh, sorry for not saying something sooner. I just wasn’t sure what kind of store Esters was going to be.” Sweetie said, skipping back over the woman.
“It’s alright Sweetie Belle. At least I’ll be able to let Scootaloo walk around a bit if we go elsewhere.” Fluttershy replied, looking down the second major corridor of the shopping center. “You wanna go to Clovers?”
“Clovers? I’ve never been. What’s that like?” Sweetie questioned.
Shrugging her shoulders again, Fluttershy turned the cart left and began pacing. “Ooh, you know. It’s a kind of a more casual shop. You know, more what you’re looking for. In fact, I think that’s where I bought the trainers Scootaloo is wearing. Scoots, kick your feetsies?”
“Huh?” the smallest of the three questioned, her eyes focused on a blue haired girl who was passing by on the opposite side of the hall.
“Lift your feetsies real quick, please.” Fluttershy requested.
Puckering her feet, Scootaloo lifted both her stubby legs and tugged down on her shirt as if to cover thighs up as best as possible.
Looking down at the blatantly girl looking pair of shoes, Sweetie Belle smiled. “Oh, hehe. Nice. Yeah, I mean, as long as they have shorts or skirts or something, I’m all for it.”