Dr. Whooves had hated to leave Twilight when the age regression pandemic was just starting to wear off (albeit at the expense of her having to care for the royal sisters as foals), but he was convinced he’d done his job and Twilight would be able to carry on just fine on her own. Besides, urgent matters related to the space time continuum were calling him away. And since his wife was in the care of somepony else he had to rely on a new partner to go along with him.
This partner looked just like Dr. Whooves if he were a mare and not a stallion, except she was a pegasus and had a pink tie around her neck. “My name’s Time Flies,” She told Dr. Whooves upon meeting him. “But you can call me Timey. Sorry we had to meet under these circumstances, I know you were just getting used to being a big pony again.”
“It’s alright,” Dr. Whooves sighed while looking at his pull-up that he still wore. “It was interesting to be a foal again, even just for a little while. At least it didn’t make me look weird when I could understand what foals were saying.”
Timey smiled. “Well that’s good to hear,” And she cooed. “Are you ready to head out, or do you need to go potty first? It’s going to be a long trip.”
The stallion blushed. “I’ll be fine. I’ve gotten really good at holding it. Besides, I went this morning.”
“Okay then,” Timey declared as she ushered her new travel partner into their time machine. “I’ll take the liberty of operating the controls, just in case there are any lingering mental effects from your regression.” And soon the two time travel ponies departed, headed for a time and place far removed from the one Dr. Whooves had settled into.
However, they hadn’t gotten very far on their travel through time and space when the two ponies became aware of a rather pressing concern. A warning light went off in the cockpit of their machine.
Timey looked at a display and frowned. “That’s odd. I could’ve sworn this baby was all fueled up before I departed. How could we have run out of gas already? Oh well, we’ll just have to stop in the next timeline to refuel and make repairs.”
The timeline which the two time travelers landed in soon turned out to be a rather unusual one. They had ended up in some alternative version of Canterlot that resembled more of a nursery and daycare center than the capital city of Equestria. And a tall unicorn mare with a dark orchid coat and beautiful moderate opal eyes was occupying the central building that looked like a foal’s playcastle. She had an incredibly big horn and a moderate rose mane and tail styled all twisty and curly. She was wearing a bright pink nanny outfit as a strange, satyr creature rested in a foal pouch off to her left side. “Oh, hello!” She cooed in a sweet uppercrust tone of voice. “My name is Nanny Fizzlepop, short for Fizzlepop Berrytwist. But everyone usually calls me Nanny Fizzy. And this is my son, Storm King. Say hello my little Stormy.”
The satyr blushed, scrunching a thick blue diaper that spread his legs apart. He sheepishly waved a claw but said nothing.
Nanny Fizzlepop cooed. “Aw, there’s no need to be shy, little Stormy. We have some visitors. Mommy can handle this,” She set the child down on the soft, carpeted floor of the building after taking him out of the foal carrier and nuzzled him. “Why don’t you go play with the other kids for a while before nap time?”
The Storm King protested as he waddled towards the nanny unicorn. “Nu-uh, wanna stay with Mommy.”
Fizzlepop continued to smile as she picked her son up with her magic. “Oh, very well. This shouldn’t take very long. Besides, before nap time comes potty time and you know what that means.”
Storm King whimpered. “Don’t wanna go. Potty time no fun.” The mare ignored the comment as she turned to her guests.
“What are your names, and what brings you to Sunshine Storms? I’m the head nanny for Equestria’s number one nursery and daycare center. In fact I’m often the only nanny in these parts.”
Timey cleared her throat. “Oh, sorry, should’ve introduced ourselves sooner. My name is…” She hesitated for a little bit before answering. “Er Sweet Bread, and this is my son: Choca Butter.”
“Hey, that’s not my-” Dr. Whooves protested before he was silenced by a hoof from Timey.
Timey went on explaining. “I heard good things about this place and just had to see it for myself,” Then she looked at the Storm King. “I must say, you’re quite lucky to have such an adorable little one.”
Nanny Fizzlepop blushed bright pink. “Well, he’s not really my son. I don’t know who his mommy and daddy actually are. Nopony’s ever seen them. But I just couldn’t leave a little one all alone in this big world, so I adopted him,” Regaining her composure she added. “He’ll actually be turning three in a couple of days,” Then she eyed Timey and Dr. Whooves. “How old is your son? He seems a little old to still be in pull-ups.”
Timey blushed in response while waving a hoof. “Yeah, I get that a lot. But he’s actually younger than he looks.” Her eyes then began to glow ever so faintly.
Dr. Whooves suddenly looked down at himself and saw that he had become a toddler all over again, though thankfully his pull-up hadn’t disappeared. “I’m really only four years old,” He told the nanny unicorn, blushing as he began inventing his cover story. “I just sometimes like to dress up like a big pony with my mommy’s help.”
Fizzlepop smiled anew. “That’s so sweet. But you shouldn’t be in a rush to grow up. You’re only young once, you know.”
“Unless you come from my timeline. Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of names like Fizzlepop or Storm King before.” Dr. Whooves thought to himself.
“Well, I’m going to be staying here for a little while. I’m trying to find a suitable location to open my very own bakery,” Timey told Nanny Fizzlepop as she then picked up the little earth pony. “So, would it be okay if my son attended daycare here? I know he’s probably older than most of the little ones, but he’s very well behaved.”
Dr. Whooves seemed to know what Timey was implying. “She’s giving us cover while she works on fixing our fuel shortage problem,” And then he thought to himself. “Which means I’m going back to daycare, again!”
The nanny unicorn nodded. “We’ve always got room for another foal,” And she commented. “In fact, I think your son could help little Stormy here. I’ve been trying to potty train him for the better half of a year now, but he just doesn’t wanna commit to it. I think it would help if he had somepony in his age group to encourage him. Little ones learn best by example after all.”
The earth pony stallion turned toddler blushed and gulped. He’d already been a potty training instructor twice before in his timeline. He was really unsure of doing it again. But, sensing that it would attract suspicion if he refused he instead reluctantly agreed. “Fine, I show your son how to use potty. I'm really good at it.”
Fizzlepop cooed, smiled and patted her newest charge on the head with a hoof. “I’m sure you are, champ in the making. And I hope some of your ‘expertise’ will rub off on my son. He can’t stay in diapers for much longer, or he’s gonna start being bullied and teased over it and I don’t want that to happen.”
Timey, meanwhile, just winked. “You won’t have anything to worry about. If I’m being honest, the only reason I bother to keep Choca Butter in pull-ups is because I’m not ready to admit he’s fully potty trained yet. He hasn’t really had accidents for months now,” And she then departed while waving a hoof to her “son”. “Goodbye, my little Choca Butter. Be nice to Nanny Fizzy and do whatever she tells you to do, okay?”
Doctor Whooves nodded. “I will.” And he waved to Timey until she was out of sight.
“Alrighty, you two,” Nanny Fizzlepop declared as she looked at both Dr. Whooves and Storm King. “First I’m gonna introduce Choca Butter here to all the other foals, and then it’s potty time before nap time. No ifs, ands or buts, got it?”
Both of the little ones nodded their heads. “Yes, Nanny Fizzy.”
The nanny unicorn then lifted the two onto her back. “Alright then. And don’t be afraid to come and get me if you need something. After all, that’s what I’m here for,” She brought them to a large play area through a set of bright double doors.
After setting both Dr. Whooves and Storm King down on the ground in front of her, she gave a whistle and clapped her hooves together. “Everypony, we have a new friend joining our little community today. Please give a warm welcome to Choca Butter, he’s four years old and from out of town. His mommy’s planning to open her very own bakery.”
All sorts of foals crowded around the newcomer, which made Dr. Whooves blush and shrink. He wasn’t used to being the center of attention like this. “It’s a good thing my wife isn’t here to see this. She'd kill me for sure.” He thought to himself, especially as some of the little fillies started telling him how much they “liked” him.
Fortunately, another whistle and subsequent clapping of hooves from Fizzlepop got all the foals to stop paying attention to Dr. Whooves and instead turn to look at her. “Alright,” She declared in a very warm, maternal sounding voice. “Everypony, please line up for potty time. Those of you not yet in potty training, please form a separate line and wait for diaper inspections. The same goes for those of you who’ve had an accident. Everypony else, stand in the left line for the little colts room and the right line for the little fillies room.”
Dr. Whooves and Storm King got into the left line, waiting their turn to enter the bathroom for potty time. But Storm King was rather hesitant about the whole thing. “Don’t wanna go in there!” He complained to his new friend. “Don’t like potty time!”
“Don’t you wanna be a big pony… or whatever you are?” Dr. Whooves questioned, keeping an eye on the line that was slowly shrinking as other colts got to the front and were either diverted to the changing line or being escorted to one of the stalls.
The little satyr whimpered. “The first time I go in there, I see something big and smelly and it makes scary noises! I think it a monster that wants to eat me!”
“Potty is not a monster,” Dr. Whooves frowned. “It nothing to be scared of. After all, I use it all the time. And now I gonna show ya how to use it too!”
Storm King was anything but convinced by that statement. Yet he knew he couldn’t make a run for it, his mom wouldn’t let him. All he could do was wait as the line to the colt's bathroom got shorter and shorter, and as he got closer to the door he could hear all sorts of strange sounds that filled his little heart with dread.
At least, both the Storm King and Dr. Whooves had reached the front of the line for the colt's bathroom. Nanny Fizzlepop was there, smiling as she led them off to the left hoof side after inspecting them and finding them dry. “Okay, little ones. Just pick any of the open stalls, and make sure you pull down your diapers and pull-ups. If you need any help, wait for me,” And she then departed, though not without warning. “Remember, only one of you may occupy a stall.”
Dr. Whooves waddled along with the Storm King by his side, settling on an open stall all the way at the end of the room. “Go ahead,” He encouraged his friend. “Ya go first. I don’t have to go that badly.”
The little satyr took a few small steps into the stall. But immediately upon locking eyes with his destination, he froze. The toilet was even bigger than he imagined, even with that special seat that had been fixed in. It looked like it was staring him down with that big bowl shape, just waiting for the chance to strike. “Don’t wanna!” He protested and ran out of the stall, promptly shoving the little earth pony into the stall in his place. “Take him instead!”
The colt rolled his eyes. “Fine, I go. And when I do you see there nothing to be afraid of, then you gotta try it too,” He told his friend. “Just do what I do.” He fiddled about with his pull-up, eventually managing to get it to slide down to his legs. With the help of a small stool that had been placed near the toilet, the little earth pony scrambled up onto the foal seat and sat down, his legs dangling over the sides of the bowl in a delicate balancing act. All the while the Storm King watched with worry.
Dr. Whooves sighed as he started to relax and as soon as he felt his tail hike upward, he began to tinkle, followed by a series of plops and splashes. “See, it that easy!” He boasted once he was done. “If I can do it, you can do it! Just wait for me to wipe,” He carefully reached over to retrieve some toilet paper to wipe his flanks, depositing the used rolls into the bowl. “And now I flush!” He declared, reaching a hoof over to the other side of the toilet to grasp the silver handle and push it down.
The Storm King became aware of a roar as the flush began! “Watch out!” He cried! “You gotta get down right now!”
Dr. Whooves was startled by the shout, and he lost his balance and tumbled backward into the fast draining toilet bowl! It was a struggle to keep his head above the water, since his pull-up was fast filling up with toilet water and dragging him down!
Fortunately, at that very moment Nanny Fizzlepop was on the scene! She quickly fished Dr. Whooves out with her magic and quick as a flash she scrubbed him clean and put him in a fresh pull-up. “You little ones should’ve come and gotten me. That stall was meant for much bigger ponies than either of you,” She scolded. “It’s a good thing I came back to check up on you when I did. Just imagine what could’ve happened had I not been there.”
Storm King blushed and hung his head in shame. “Sorry, Nanny Fizzy.”
Dr. Whooves nodded his head. “Yeah, I showing him how to use the big potty and prove to him that it isn’t a monster. But flush scare him. He try to warn me, and that when I slip and fall in.”
The nanny unicorn’s stern attitude didn’t last long, she quickly reverted back to that sweet and caring persona that so defined her. “It’s alright, accidents like this do sometimes happen.” Then she led her son to another stall, this one housing the same toilet, except this one wasn’t as tall.
This gave Dr. Whooves a clever idea. “Maybe you should label all stalls accordingly,” He suggested to the mare. “That way, there won’t be a simmer accident.”
“You know, that’s a great idea,” Nanny Fizzlepop agreed before looking at the colt sized toilet. Then she cooed to the little satyr. “Yes, I think you’ll like this a lot better. You can use potties like these from now on, okay Stormy?”
Storm King nodded as he was stripped of his diaper. “Yes, Nanny Fizzy.” Then he was scooped up by his mom’s magic and was carefully placed onto the seat of the colt sized toilet. If his new friend claimed that the potty isn’t a monster, then he had to find out for himself. “I must be brave and try for mommy and Choca Butter.” He thought to himself.
“You can do it, stormy!” Dr. Whooves encouraged. “Just relax and let it all out!”
Storm King did just that, and before he knew it he began to tinkle. When he finally stopped he heard what sounded like splashing water. “I… I did it!” He cheered as the familiar smell reached his nose.
Nanny Fizzlepop clapped her hooves. “I’m very proud of you, my little Stormy.” She cooed, using her magic to pull a couple rolls of toilet paper from the nearby rack and used then to clean her son up.
And now I flush, right?” Storm King asked after the used rolls were tossed into the toilet.
“That’s right, my little Stormy.” Nanny Fizzlepop declared, picking up her son with magic.
Dr. Whooves nodded and pointed a hoof at the silver handle. “I know flush is going to be loud, but it not scary,” He told the little satyr. “It really quite cool. It like a magic trick. Just pull the handle and watch.”
Storm King was still a little nervous about hearing that loud noise again, but the thought of seeing a magic trick gave him the courage to see what that trick was. Once he was close enough to the silver handle, he reached out and pressed it down.
The colt sized toilet let out a loud roar, but what the Storm King saw next made him gasp. The water in the bowl was spinning rapidly around, creating what appeared to be a water tornado which pulled everything floating in it, and it was all sucked down through a hole at the bottom with the swirling water following seconds later. It disappeared briefly before suddenly coming back, being crystal clear as it started to refill the bowl.
“Wow! It is like a magic trick!” The little satyr admitted to Dr.Whooves. “But roar still scares me a bit.”
The little earth pony just smiled. “Don’t worry,” He said. “You get used to it.”
“And I’ll be just outside the door anytime you need help.” Nanny Fizzlepop added with a warm smile on her face. That made the little satyr feel much better.