//------------------------------// // Braeburn // Story: Bathtime for Ponies Part 2 // by Starry Eyed //------------------------------// Forget the ponies; you’re going to need a bath when this is over. You keep running after Braeburn, who absolutely does not want to get a bath. You remember that Braeburn didn’t move to Appleloosa until it was built, which won’t happen for a few more years. You realize now that it will be the perfect place for him, considering how much he loves being out in the dirt. You have been chasing Braeburn around an old dry dusty trail, similar to the environment of Appleloosa, and have both been coated in a layer of the dry dust, which is quite hard to wash. You collapse, needing a moment to regain your energy, “Half the fitness of Lil’ Mac, half the hatred of bathing of Applejack, all the trouble I could ask for.” You stand up and brush yourself off, “Braeburn, the family will be getting home soon, it is getting late after all. If we go now, we can have the bath over with in time for you to play with them a little before bedtime.” Braeburn stops momentarily, considering your point. On the one hoof: he doesn’t like baths, bedtime, or stopping right in the middle of such a fun ‘game’ of chase; on the other hoof, he REALLY wants to play with the rest of the Apple Family before bed. Even as young as he is, Braeburn falls to his rump, crosses his forelegs, and pouts at the unfairness of the situation. You shrug, if bathing is the worst of his troubles in life, he seems to be doing pretty good. You pick up Braeburn and a dust cloud forms. You can no longer tell if the dusty haze is coming from the road, him, or Faust forbid, you. At this point it doesn’t matter anyway. You take Braeburn back towards the house. On the way back, Braeburn squirms, not liking to be carried. But you’re a good foalsitter, so you put him up on your shoulders, letting him ride up high. Braeburn gasps in sheer delight, he’s never seen the world from this high up before, not even close. Braeburn loves the whole cowboy theme, and is loving his very first ride. You laugh a little at the thought of just how weird this would look back on earth, with the cowboy being the ‘horse’ and you being ‘pony’. You question how ponies even know about cowboys, but remember that you are a time traveling foalsitter and drop the subject on principle. Once you get back to the house you head straight for the tub and start the water running. Braeburn sits next to you as the warm water fills the tub. You look at yourself in the bathroom mirror, more than a little upset that your clothes are dirty now. Braeburn notices this and looks sorry. You assure him that it’s ok, this time. “In fact, if I hadn’t gotten dirty too, I wouldn’t have been as willing to let you ride back. I’d say things worked out for the better, wouldn’t you?” Braeburn smiles in the gleeful way that he is famous for, and you return it. The bath is half full (for foal bathing purposes) but that’s actually more than you intended. You turn the water off and put him in the tub. Even as little as he is, the water barely reaches the bottom of his stomach. You go ahead and ladle the water over him with the dish, trying to get as much of the dirt off of him before you start a proper bath. You don’t think using the brush is necessary but use it anyway to be sure. Like most foals, he is ticklish and giggling fits ensue. You scrub him from head to hoof, which doesn’t take too long considering he fits under your arm. Once he is brushed, you want to rinse him, but the water is now very dirty, just as you anticipated. You unplug the tub and turn on some new water to pour over him. By the time the rinsing is done, the tub is practically emptied. You plug the tub again and let him help you adjust the water, half because you want it to be just right and half because it’s a fun exercise for both of you. Unlike you, Braeburn doesn’t know how to get the water just right. This results in him changing it from scalding hot, to freezing cold, and back again. Rinse and repeat, pun intended. You try to maintain as much balance as possible, and pour the bubblebath formula on him, since he’s in the tub already. The warm water flowing around him dissolves the patented apple-bubblebath formula into the tub, and gets his coat perfectly clean in the process. You now apply the apple gel shampoo that you use on all Apple family members and massage it into his mane. Braeburn’s coat may be clean, but you are still dirty. This causes the air in the bathroom to have a unique smell, which is a mix of dry dirt, soap, and apples. Once you have his mane lathered, you scoop up some of the bath water and rinse. The golden brown mane of his instantly shines out from under the suds, and after ten more rinses his mane is sud free. You move on to the tail, which is his least favorite part. Almost nopony likes having their tail scrubbed. You proceed the same way you would with the mane, and after twenty seconds you scoop up some water to rinse. You are extremely tired now after a long day of (trying to) keep up with him, and end the bath without playtime. Braeburn isn’t even disappointed, because by now you can hear the rest of the Apple Family getting home from working on the orchards. You unplug the tub and set him on the mat beside you. In half a minute you have him dry and ready to go. You open the door and greet the rest of the family. You double check to make sure they can handle it from here and close the bathroom door again. Braeburn’s not the only one who’s going to need a relaxing bath after today.