Few ponies could truly lay claim to the title of “Child Prodigy”, but for the Melody family household their only daughter, Octavia, fit the bill pretty well. This was made especially clear by the fact that she could play musical instruments by the time she was two years old. And not just as well a two year old could either, she could play the instruments with the kind of skill that for most ponies it would take years of practice to pull off.
This actually attracted a fair deal of attention, and Octavia’s parents became so confident in their daughter’s skills that they saved up to have the best musical tutor in all of Equestria come and teach their daughter. And when even that tutor came away impressed there was only one logical conclusion: Octavia was destined to be a great musician! She was especially skilled at playing the cello despite how much bigger it was than her.
There was one big problem that held back the prospect of further development and further teaching, all the music schools willing to accept Octavia into their programs at such a young age frowned at the idea of what the little one was wearing.
While she didn’t really have a strong attachment one way or the other to the padded undergarments, to the filly it was a matter of efficiency to keep wearing them for as long as they fit. Even by the time she turned three she still wore diapers.
“It’s much better than stopping in the middle of a performance to go,” Octavia thought to herself. “Plus, if I get nervous, I don’t have to worry about wetting myself in a way that everypony will see.”
But Mr. and Mrs. Melody knew that their daughter’s future would require her to get out of diapers, and sooner than they might have liked. Alas, it had to be done.
Of course it wasn’t necessarily something the couple was in agreement over. They debated it quite a bit while taking only the most minimum of precautions to avoid being overheard by their daughter.
“Star Song, my dear,” The blonde haired stallion said to his wife during one such discussion. “Our daughter can’t stay in diapers much longer. The more we delay the inevitable, the less likely she is to cooperate when we make her give up her diapers and start teaching her how grown ponies do their ‘business’ as it were. Why do you think we invested all that money to have one of those new throne model lavatories installed? It wasn’t just for our sakes.”
The mare who closely resembled her daughter in coat and mane replied. “Tempo Beat, I may love you with all my heart, but I also love Octavia. She’s the only child we’ll ever be able to have.” She had to struggle not to break down in tears.
Tempo just declared. “I know you took the news from the doctors about never being able to have children again hard, but that doesn’t mean we hold back the development of the only one we do have,” He firmly insisted. “We both know the time has come. Even you must admit you’ve grown tired of having to change her.”
Star nodded while willing herself to stay strong. “You’re right, diaper changes have started to become a real chore to get through. I just don’t know how Octavia will react when we force her to sit on something so foreign, especially since she’s gonna be expected to do it all on her own eventually. What if something happens to her?”
“Nothing will happen!” Tempo vowed. “Our little Tavi will master her lavatory training just as well as she has mastered the cello. Then we can work on teaching her how to duplicate the performance for others, making sure she understands the signs. She’ll be the envy of all her peers once again, and we’ll be so proud of her.”
“I sincerely hope you’re right, Tempo,” Star agreed. “We’ll start first thing tomorrow. Let Tavi enjoy her diapers for the rest of today, and then she can bid farewell to them with our help.”
But Tempo disagreed. “No, we can delay no longer! Our little princess is ready for her throne even if you think she isn’t!”
Octavia had only the slightest idea of what her parents were discussing. She had already by chance encountered this “throne” in the bathroom. From what she understood it was a tall magnificent bowl of gleaming white porcelain which was built into the ground. Atop the bowl was a seat as well as a lid that appeared to cover up the inside. There was a removable thing above the lid, and a silver, ramp-like device off to the left hoof side.
The little filly also knew that was very, very smelly and very noisy. Although she didn’t know why, it did kind of make her giggle to think that anypony could call it a “throne”, she was pretty sure thrones were much more glamorous and far less scary looking (and sounding) than that… object in the lavatory.
Still, whatever her personal reservations might have been about this “throne”, Octavia had learned long ago to go along with whatever it was that her parents asked of her. They always had her best interests at heart, such as when they had gotten her that tutor and when they had started taking her to show off her talent for special schools. She’d been on her best behavior then even if she didn’t necessarily like where she went or what she did. So she would do so again with whatever her parents were about to make her do.
Mr. and Mrs. Melody approached their daughter while she was doing what she often did when left alone, playing her cello. For only a toddler she was able to move the bow with the kind of practiced precision that would make even the greatest of cello players envious. The parents silently hoped that their expectations of this kind of quick mastery would carry over to the great undertaking they were about to perform. It was time for the Melodies’ only daughter to be properly potty trained.
Octavia stopped playing when she became aware of her parents’ presence. “Hi Mum, hi Dad,” She greeted in that polite tone she’d been trained to use. “You gonna teach me something?”
“Yes indeed, Octavia,” Mr. Melody declared as he approached his daughter, relieved to find that her padding remained in pristine condition. “It’s time you were trained in how ponies your age take care of their ‘business’ as it were.”
The earth pony toddler nodded but didn’t clarify. She knew what her father meant and she also knew that even the childish expressions of it were considered inappropriate for discussion. “So, I not wear diapers anymore?” She asked as a rare frown formed on her face for a brief moment. It quickly faded when she became aware of it.
“Yes.” Mrs. Melody answered. “There is something far more desirable and far more efficient that you are to use from now on.”
Quickly seizing the opportunity, Mr. Melody instructed. “If you’ll kindly follow us to the lavatory and discard your diaper, all will be explained. Do note that you’ll be expected to replicate what you are taught there.”
So the trio of earth ponies made their way to the lavatory, and the filly removed her diaper with some hoofwork and a series of shimmies, watching as it was picked up and unceremoniously put in a wastebasket nearby.
Now, bare bottomed, Octavia turned her gaze to that “throne” device. It didn’t seem to be as smelly as she remembered it being, and it wasn’t currently loud although she suspected that would soon change.
“This is a toilet.” Mr. Melody said. “Not just any toilet though but the latest in the throne model that comes with a built in flush.”
“‘Flush’?” Octavia blinked in surprise as she stepped back a bit. “What is a ‘flush’?”
Mrs. Melody explained. “It’s how the toilet empties itself after being used. You’ll understand it more soon enough. Now, please listen to what your father and I are about to tell you, for it is extremely important.”
Mr. Melody nodded. “Octavia, by now you must be aware of when you have to go. Your body starts to get all tingly and you can feel things moving inside of you. When that happens, you must come here and make your way onto the seat. Then you must sit down, making sure your rump is positioned over the bowl. Allow me to assist you with getting onto the seat as you are a bit small for the toilet.” Scooping up his daughter, he deposited her oh so carefully onto the toilet seat in just the right place.
“So, I… go?” Octavia asked as both her parents looked at her.
“Exactly.” Mrs. Melody nodded in agreement. “Once you have done what you need to do, you clean up by using this. It’s called toilet paper.” She pointed a hoof over to a paper like substance. “Unlike the wet wipes you’re used to, you put the toilet paper in the toilet when you’re done. And when you are cleaned up enough, then you must flush.”
“How do I ‘flush’ it?” Octavia asked while looking down into the toilet. She could see that the inside of the bowl was partway filled with smooth crystal clear water. She could even see a reflection of herself.
Deciding that this was a good time to provide a demonstration, Mrs. Melody gestured to the silver, ramp-like object. “To flush simply push down that lever, like this.” She then used a hoof to push down the lever.
Octavia heard a great noise as she looked down. She saw the waters inside the bowl were now ominously swirling about. She watched as they grew higher and higher, yet stopped before they could reach her tail and instead retreated down a hole at the bottom of the bowl. The toilet made a gurgling sound and then the waters returned. She was understandably frightened by the display. “That scary.” She declared nervously.
“Yes, I know it seems frightening,” Mrs. Melody reassured her daughter. “But in time you’ll grow used to it and learn that it’s nothing to be afraid of. It can’t hurt you so long as you’re careful, and so long as you don’t put your hooves where they shouldn’t be. It’s okay if you need help at first to do any of this. But once you have flushed, you may get down and wash your hooves. Simply repeat the process as needed every day whenever the need to go arises.”
“Now then, you know what you must do,” Mr. Melody declared. “Let’s see you demonstrate it for your mother and I, Octavia."
“If you don’t have to go now that’s fine, but your father and I would like you to sit here for a little bit, just to get used to the idea,” Mrs. Melody added. “And remember to flush when you’re done.”
Mr. Melody added. “You should feel privileged, Octavia. Ponies used to rely on far less desirable methods to do their business. They even once had to carry around those horribly outdated chamber pots, and some had to empty said pots themselves because they couldn’t afford servants or maids to do it for them. This cuts the middle mare out, sending your waste straight to where it’s meant to end up.”
“And it’s far cleaner,” Mrs. Melody chimed in. “There’s not even really a smell, at least as long as somepony doesn’t forget to flush or the drains don’t get blocked. I know it must seem like a lot to take in, but this is something you must master if you’re ever to succeed in life. No school will ever accept you if you can’t learn how to properly use a toilet. That is why you’re being taught now, before it can really become a problem for you later in life.”
“Now go ahead,” Mr. Melody declared. “Think of it like a performance if you will. The toilet is the stage, you the cello player and the music… well I think you get the idea.” He coughed into a hoof.
The little earth pony did manage to tinkle a little since she had been feeling the need to do that. It felt weird and yet at the same time strangely acceptable to let it all flow out into this great porcelain contraption she’d been placed atop. The sound of her tinkling into the bowl seemed to echo everywhere, not that her parents seemed to mind it at all. They even applauded her for doing so, which really reinforced the idea in the young one’s mind of it being a performance.
“Splendid job, Octavia! Simply splendid!” Her father smiled brightly as he helped his daughter down from the toilet after helping her flush. “I daresay, such a performance from a first timer is truly outstanding! I do hope you’ll keep that up for your mum and I. And do note that you’ll be called on to repeat that performance when others require proof of your toilet training for application.”
Mrs. Melody, however, cautioned her daughter. “But be sure you don’t let your guard down. Even if it’s in the middle of the night, you will be expected to use the toilet for whatever you feel the need to do. You will not have any nighttime protection, so I trust you’ll want to avoid staining the sheets. I trust you know how much of a pain they are to wash.”
Octavia nodded as she was brought to the sink to wash her hooves. She would make absolutely sure she’d never have an accident of any sort! It was completely undesirable.