Rumble came every day for the rest of the week. He spent most of his time playing pretend with Scootaloo, though he sometimes helped with changing and feeding her.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were quite surprised to see Rumble take such an interest in Scootaloo, even though they knew he use to have a crush on her.
Scootaloo was surprised as well, though that was more because of how good Rumble was at taking care of her. In a way, he'd become her unofficial big brother, and it felt rather unusual.
As the weekend dawned, Rumble once again payed a visit to the cottage that Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash called home. And once again, he quickly went over to where Scootaloo was, and spent time with her.
"Wewaay Wumbwe, you dun' have to keep doing this." Scootaloo said in between suckles. Rumble was currently feeding her a bottle of milk from the fridge.
"You're right, I don't. But I want to." Rumble replied.
"Why is that?" Scootaloo asked "I mean, Diamond Tiawa and Siwver Spoon awen't picking on you anymowe. And you've got some new fwiends in youw fewwow Cutie Mawk Cwusadews. I'm suwe they'd wove to pway with you, even mowe than I do."
"True, but Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy told me you wanted a playmate. Besides, you're rather cute." Rumble explained, as Scootaloo finished drinking.
"You'we just saying that because I'm a foaw now." Scootaloo said, once Rumble had burped her "You can't actuwway stiww have a cwush on me when I'm wike this."
"Well, Spike has a crush on Miss Rarity, and he's a baby dragon." Rumble stated.
"That's diffewent, cause Uncwe Spike is a wot owder than me. In fact, I'd say he's mowe of a teenagew." Scootaloo replied crossly "Whewe as, you awe a schoow aged cowt with a cwush on a toddwer. It's not wight, no mattew how you wook at it."
"I know that. And I don't really have a crush on you, at least not now. But part of me still really cares about you, and wants you to be happy." Rumble admitted nervously.
"Does Thundewwane know about this?" Scootaloo asked.
"I haven't told him, but I think he's already aware of it." Rumble explained "And chances are, he's told Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."
"And they'we aww okay with it?" Scootaloo asked "I mean, it's not exactwy a cwush, but it's stiww not natuwaw."
"Seeing as they haven't said anything, I suppose they don't have a problem with it." Rumble said nervously "Think of as a sort of, parental instinct if you will. I care about you, and the best way for me to show that, is do what I've been doing for you these past few days."
"I see." Scootaloo replied "So, what awe you doing with mommy Wainbow Dash and mommy Fwuttewshy when I'm asweep?"
"We've been playing games, talking a little about our lives, things like that." Rumble answered.
"And do you enjoy doing them?" Scootaloo asked.
"Not as much as I enjoy spending time with you." Rumble said with a smile "So, do you need anything right now?"
"Nope, I'm good. Wet's get back to pwaying knights and dwagons." Scootaloo suggested "It's youw tuwn to be the knights."
"Guess that means you're the dragon." Rumble replied, as he picked up some of the stuffed toy knights.
"Looks like Thunderlane was right after all." Rainbow Dash said to Fluttershy, as the two made their way upstairs for a quick make-out session.
"Well, as long as Scootaloo doesn't want to see it as a crush, and as long as Rumble doesn't try to act on it, everything should be okay." Fluttershy replied, as they reached the guest bedroom "Remember, we're only doing this for 5 minutes. Then we need to put Scootaloo down for a nap."
"Relax Fluttershy, 5 minutes is more than enough time for us to suck face." Rainbow Dash said calmly, hopping onto the guest bed "So, you wanna start off this time, or should I?" Her response was a full force hug, as Fluttershy tackled Rainbow Dash onto the bed and the two proceeded to make out.
"Take that mighty dragon!" Rumble said in a booming voice, as he pretended to be the lead knight.
"Oh, you have slayed me!" Scootaloo said, in an overly dramatic voice, as she pretend to be the dragon "Oh what a world!" Scootaloo promptly made the stuffed toy dragon collapse onto the floor of the playpen. Then, she picked up the stuffed princess doll and said in an extremely girly voice "Oh thank you brave knight. You have saved me from that horrible monster."
"Twas nothing fair maiden. That knave of a beast shall never bother the likes of you again." the knight said boldly.
"Kiss me, for I am yours!" the princess demanded.
"As you wish." the knight replied, and he and the princess shared a long, passionate kiss.
"You weawwy know how to make em kiss Wumbwe." Scootaloo teased.
"Hey, you're the one who insisted that we include some romance." Rumble replied.
"It's not a faiwytawe without it." Scootaloo explained.
"I thought you hated romance." Rumble said, feeling quite confused.
"Tat's onwy hawf twue. I dun' actuwway mind it hewe and thewe, but when it stawts to become as fwequent as it tends to be with mommy Wainbow Dash and mommy Fwuttewshy, it gets kind of annoying." Scootaloo confessed "Dun' teww anyone I towd you this."
"And what if I do?" Rumble jokingly suggested "What will you do then?"
"I'ww do someting." Scootaloo replied.
"What sort of something?" Rumble asked.
"Someting you dun' need to know about." Scootaloo threatened "So if you dun' wanna find out, then dun' teww anyone what you just heawd. In fact, why dun' you 'Pinkie Pwomise'? That way, I'ww know you wun' teww anyone."
Rumble sighed "Very well, I 'Pinkie Promise' not to tell anyone how you really feel about romance. Cross my heart, and hope to fly. Stick a cupcake in my eye. Good enough for you?"
"Yes, very good." Scootaloo replied. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy came downstairs a moment later.
"Alright squirt, it's time for your nap." Rainbow Dash said, as she lifted Scootaloo out of the playpen.
"Okay mommy Wainbow Dash." Scootaloo replied, and put down the toys she'd been playing with.
"Do you wanna help me get Scootaloo's crib ready for her?" Fluttershy asked Rumble, as Scootaloo was carried upstairs and into the bathroom.
"Sure. I know what to do." Rumble replied eagerly.
"Good. And while you two do that, Scootaloo's gonna do her business." Rainbow Dash said, as she removed Scootaloo's diaper and placed her on the training potty.
"Wow Rumble, you're really getting the hang of this!" Fluttershy exclaimed, as she fluffed Scootaloo's pillow. Rumble had gotten the crib all ready in a matter of seconds.
"It was nothing, I just like being helpful and seeing Scootaloo happy." Rumble said sweetly.
"Well Rainbow Dash and I appreciate your help, and so does Scootaloo." Fluttershy replied "Have you ever babysat before Rumble?"
Rumble shook his head "Nope. But can you keep a secret?"
"Of course I can." Fluttershy replied, as she locked the bedroom door.
"Promise you won't laugh?" Rumble asked nervously.
"Why would I laugh at your secret?" Fluttershy asked.
"Because it's embarassing, that's why." Rumble replied.
"I'm sure it's not that embarassing. We all have our secrets." Fluttershy said kindly.
Rumble sighed "Well, if you really wanna know. The thing is....... I...... I"
"Go on." Fluttershy said kindly "I swear I won't laugh."
"I still kind of wet the bed occassionally." Rumble confessed "It usually happens whenever mom and dad go away on one of their trips. According to Thunderlane, the doctors call it 'Stress Incontinence' whatever that means. So, sometimes, I'll wear diapers to bed."
"Does Thunderlane change you when you use them?" Fluttershy asked.
"He use to, back when this all started. But, nowadays I can manage on my own." Rumble explained "And it feels so..... good. It just feels like wearing diapers takes away all my troubles, at least when I'm wearing them to bed. Sometimes I've even wondered what it would be like to just wear them all the time. You know, just like a foal. I know it's really weird of me to think that, but it's true."
"Is that all?" Fluttershy asked, somewhat nervously. She really didn't want to pry too far if Rumble felt uncomfortable talking about his secret.
"Well, my bed still has guard rails from time to time." Rumble went on "And when they're attached and I'm wearing a diaper, it feels kind of like I'm sleeping in a giant crib. And something about it just makes me feel so relaxed. I've even sometimes gotten so relaxed that I've unintentionally wet them further. Luckly, Thunderlane hasn't found out."
"Why? I'm sure he'd understand. Accidents do happen." Fluttershy said kindly.
"Because I don't want him to start treating me like a baby." Rumble replied.
"Isn't that kind of what you want?" Fluttershy asked.
"From time to time maybe, but not every waking moment." Rumble explained.
"I see. Well, Thunderlane IS going to have to know about this at some point." Fluttershy sad seriously "You can't keep this hidden forever."
"I know, I know. But I just haven't worked up the courage yet." Rumble replied "So until I do, don't tell him. Okay?"
Fluttershy sighed, but agreed.
"Thanks for understanding Fluttershy." Rumble said sweetly.
"This is just like Scootaloo before Rainbow Dash and I regressed her." Fluttershy thought to herself, as she opened the door "But would Rumble really be okay with being turned into a foal? Rainbow Dash and I were lucky that Scootaloo forgave us for regressing her. But would Rumble be the same way? And what would Thunderlane think?"
"Feeling sleepy yet Scootaloo?" Fluttershy asked kindly, as she turned on the crib's mobile.
Scootaloo said nothing. She merely yawned, closed her eyes, and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
"Sweet dreams Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash said quietly, as she turned off the lights. She, Fluttershy, and Rumble then made their way downstairs. And while Rumble went to go fetch a board game from the closet, Fluttershy told Rainbow Dash about what Rumble had confessed to her in the bedroom.
"I promised him that I wouldn't tell Thunderlane." Fluttershy explained "But I can tell it's really eating him up."
"You're darn right it is. That's probably why he's been so interested in spending time with Scootaloo." Rainbow Dash replied "He's probably trying to decide whether or not he wants the same thing for himself."
"I know, we have to help him." Fluttershy said with concern.
"How are we gonna do that? Especially if he doesn't want to tell Thunderlane?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Well, I was thinking of potentially doing what we did with Scootaloo." Fluttershy explained "Except this time, we'll ask Rumble what he wants, and let him make the decision on his own."
"And what if he says no?" Rainbow Dash asked "Then what?"
"Then we'll just have to try and help him work up the courage to tell Thunderlane how he feels." Fluttershy suggested "Either way, we won't be able to say we didn't try."
"So, you're going to ask Twilight to whip up another age regression potion, even though we don't know if we'll get the same results?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Only if Rumble decides that regression is what he wants." Fluttershy explained "We got lucky with Scootaloo, I doubt we'll get lucky a second time."
"Are you sure we can't just tell Thunderlane ourselves and let him deal with it?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"And betray Rumble's trust in us? I don't think so." Fluttershy said sternly "He expects us to keep this secret from Thunderlane, and one way or another that's what we're going to do."
Rainbow Dash sighed "Well, I guess I'll go along with your plan for now. But if Rumble decides he doesn't want to be regressed, he's going to have to tell Thunderlane within so many days. Otherwise, I'll do it for him, whether he likes it or not."
Rumble returned with the board game Whodunit? a moment later, and placed it on the kitchen table. When he turned to look at Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, he was surprised to see them looking at him so nervously. "Is there something wrong?" Rumble asked "Am I in trouble?"
"Oh no, you're not in trouble." Fluttershy said nervously.
"There's just, something we wanted to discuss with you." Rainbow Dash added.
"What is it?" Rumble asked.
"Well, you know that Scootaloo has been regressed, right?" Fluttershy asked nervously.
"Of course I do." Rumble replied
"And Fluttershy and I have become aware of your little 'dilema', or whatever you call it." Rainbow Dash continued.
"Yeah, so?" Rumble asked.
"So, would you um like to have the same thing happen to you?" Fluttershy asked "You know, be regressed and all that?"
"Really? You actually want to regress me?" Rumble asked.
"Only if that's what you really want Rumble." Rainbow Dash explained "The choice is up to you."
"You mean, I don't have to be regressed?" Rumble asked.
"Not if you don't want to." Fluttershy said nervously "The decision is yours. If you don't want to be regressed, then we won't force it onto you like we did with Scootaloo. We promise."
"So, what's your decision Rumble?" Rainbow Dash asked "Do you want to be regressed to a foal, like Scootaloo. Or, do you want to stay as you currently are? Think hard about this decision, there's no pressure."
"Whatever your answer is, we won't be mad." Fluttershy said honestly.
"I don't know, this is a bit sudden." Rumble said nervously.
"Take as much time as you need to decide." Rainbow Dash encouraged.
"I, think I need some time to think about it at home." Rumble said, and got out of his chair at the kitchen table.
"Let us know when you've made up your mind." Rainbow Dash called.
"Remember, there's no hurry. Whatever you decide on, we'll support you." Fluttershy added.
"I'll keep that in mind." Rumble replied, and then he headed back home. As he did, he tried his best to make up his mind about what he wanted. On the one hoof, if he decided he wanted to be regressed, he wouldn't have to tell Thunderlane about his secret, and he could spend more time with Scootaloo. On the other hoof, if he decided to stay the way he currently was, he could always pluck up courage and confess, and he'd still get to see Scootaloo on a daily basis. "What should I do?" he thought to himself.