Scootaloo was sitting on a bench trying to comprehend exactly what she had seen. Normally she would have shrugged this off and done something more fun, but she was so bored that she couldn’t help but think of the strange store. I know I saw a big diaper, I mean it was huge! That was the one thing she was sure of. Scootaloo had only caught a single glance at the stallion’s wares after all, but the one thing she definitely saw were diapers that just looked too big to be normal. Still… maybe I was just seeing things. She snorted when thinking of Mrs. Cake though. Figures, grownups are always keeping secrets, she just pushed me out!
A few moments later, she got off the bench and decided to figure out something that she could do. “Let’s see,” she paused to throw a rock across a lake, “homework’s done, did my job, ate breakfast, got thrown out of a weird baby store… Eeyup! I’m bored.” She flopped onto her back and sighed. She scratched her belly a few times. “Maybe I should just go get my scooter out again…”
She knew taking out her most prized possession was only a matter of time. Scooting was the one thing she could do when she was bored after all. She was ever thankful that their clubhouse was, for the most part, a secret to others. Getting to it didn't even require going onto the main part of the Apple’s farm. So she went unnoticed when going to grab her scooter. She squealed in delight as she jumped off the clubhouse’s balcony and used her wings to propel forward.
Riding her scooter was never not fun in her opinion. Worries, stress and memories all faded away to nothing while she simply moved forward on the thing. It was almost hypnotizing in a way. She was so caught up in going fast and having fun that she failed to register the shock of other ponies as she bolted through town. She swerved around, over and even under Ponyville’s citizens in her pursuit of fun. At one point she raced right through somepony’s house.
Finally, Scootaloo slowed to a stop just outside of town to take a break and calm down a bit. “To be fair, Lyra did have her front and back doors wide open,” she said, chuckling at the thought. She had spent the whole day on the scooter and still did not feel exhausted. But stopping for a while did bring back the boredom.
“I guess I’ll just go home now.” She also laughed on the inside in a bitter way when she told her friends she would be heading home. Her home, after all, was their clubhouse and they were always in it. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle had always wanted to visit her home, but she always had excuses. Little did they know, they were always ‘visiting’ her home.
As she walked along, she noticed the stars starting to shine. Her mom always liked to look at the stars. Scootaloo tried to learn the constellations from her mother but never really got most of them. She knew the Big Dipper and Orion’s Belt, but the others just looked like a big mess of dots. She was so enamored with trying to find the stars that she didn’t even notice the upcoming apple tree until she bumped right into it.
She shook the thought of her mother off her mind. Though, as much as she tried, her mother never really left her thoughts. Passing through the apple orchard, she noticed quite a few trees missing fruit. I guess they're done with their chores. She heard a noise off in the distance and listened.
“Wait up, Apple Bloom!” It was Sweetie Belle’s voice.
Scootaloo panicked and dragged her scooter far off the regular path to hide behind a rather large tree.
“Sorry!” The two quickly passed the tree and walked off towards the clubhouse.
Great! Now what do I do? She figured, though, that they most likely weren’t having a sleepover. It would be odd to just show up out of the blue, but she had the excuse that she was looking for her scooter, maybe. “It could work. I’ll just leave it here!” Her plan was to tell them that she couldn’t remember where she left it and her mom said to be back when she could.
She neared the clubhouse and heard giggling as shadows danced across the lit room. Something took her attention away as she looked up and saw all the stars twinkling already. A distant memory stirred for a moment, something so far away but so close to her heart. She closed her eyes and resisted the urge to make noise, sniffle or cry and shoved all thoughts aside. Not now. It’s time to have some fun!
She walked up to the steps as quietly as possible and then jumped through one of the windows. “Boo!”
The two fillies nearly jumped out of their skins and looked at her with shocked faces.
“Too much?’
“Scootaloo, what in the hay was that for?!”
She chuckled from their glares. “Heh, sorry. I couldn’t resist.”
Their glares softened and the farm filly simply rolled her eyes. “So what you here for? Isn't it kind of late?”
She blinked and then remembered her plan. “Oh yeah. I kind of forgot where I left my scooter, so my… mom let me go out here to look for it.”
Sweetie Belle nodded and Apple Bloom scratched her mane. “Sorry Scoots, ah haven’t seen it lately. Maybe you should retrace your steps!”
“Hey yeah!”
She blushed. “Does it count if you forgot which step goes where?”
They both groaned and smacked their heads with their hooves. Then Sweetie giggled. “I’m sure it'll turn up. I’m kind of glad were all here right now though.”
“I thought you two were busy today.” Scootaloo walked close and took a seat.
“Oh, well I was with my parents for a while until they dropped me off at my sister’s. She needed to talk to Applejack about something or other so we came here.”
“Oh, okay.” Scootaloo nodded, feeling a quick sense of relief that nopony had lied to her. She relaxed further and made a very quiet and tired sigh.
“Um, so I have an announcement to make.” Both fillies looked up to Sweetie who was already blushing like crazy. “Its kind of a weird announcement though.”
Both ponies saw her shuffle her hooves as she refused to greet their eyes.
Apple Bloom stood up and draped her hooves around her friend. “Ah’m sure it’s not that weird. And even if it is, we won’t mind. Promise!”
“Yeah!” Scootaloo agreed with a small smile. I guess.
“Okay. Well, I’ve been feeling kind of weird lately. Like, sad when we play. I try to hide it, but I keep getting distracted by all kinds of weird things.”
Apple Bloom rubbed her chin and tried to think of a time when Sweetie was distracted. “Now that you mention it, ah guess you’ve been doing that a bit.”
Maybe she just wasn’t paying enough attention, but Scootaloo couldn’t think of a single time that Sweetie acted weird. At least, no weirder than normal.
“Yeah. Well for a while I just thought I was a big weirdo. But Pinkie Pie and Twilight talked to me and showed me this book and it actually happens more than you might think so I’m actually not weird at all and—”
“Sweetie Belle, just what are you tryin’ to say?” Apple Bloom asked, getting a little annoyed at Sweetie’s rambling.
Sweetie took one big breath. “I’m a foal!”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared at her, no real emotion on their faces.
“What?” Scootaloo finally asked.
“Uh, Sweetie? You know a foal is, like, a newborn pony, right?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No. Yes… ugh. That’s not what I mean. I mean that’s how I feel. I like being treated like a foal sometimes and playing like one and dressing in kiddie pajamas and hugging my stuffed animals and… maybe other things…”
The fillies stared at Sweetie again, this time their faces were contorted in confusion.
“What kind of ‘other things’?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Well,” Sweetie said in a low voice, “like wearing diapers…”
“Ah don’t get it,” Apple Bloom said plainly. “Why would you want to wear a diaper?”
“I just like it, okay?!” Sweetie snapped back. “It makes me feel safe…”
“Woah, Sweetie. Ah don’t mean anything by it. Ah mean, ah don’t really understand, but ah don’t see a problem with it or nothing,” Apple Bloom said, letting Sweetie relax a bit.
Apple Bloom might not have seen a problem, but Scootaloo sure did. They weren’t little foals anymore. They were supposed to grow up, that’s how it worked; grow up, be responsible, get a job, and be an adult. But now Sweetie wanted to go backwards? That just… wasn’t fair!
“Have you told Rarity about this?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Actually, she’s agreed to help me be a foal when I want to. She’s almost like a second Mom to me now.”
Scootaloo’s eye twitched furiously at that last part. “That’s so stupid!”
“Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom scolded.
“So, what? Just because you can’t grow up like us, you need two moms? You think that’s fair?”
Sweetie quivered. “But I—”
“You can’t just be a filly forever! It doesn’t work like that!” Scootaloo barked at her.
“Scootaloo, that’s enough! Can’t you see you’re making Sweetie upset!?”
Scootaloo looked at her friends as Apple Bloom tried to comfort a sniffling Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom shot a glare at Scootaloo. Scootaloo just looked around nervously before steeling herself and charging out the door. Apple Bloom was left petting Sweetie’s mane as Sweetie fought back tears.
Scootaloo stormed off, not really having any destination in mind. It was late, she needed a new place to sleep. Eventually she settled on a tree far from the clubhouse. “Stupid Sweetie Belle,” she mumbled as she climbed onto one of the branches. “Stupid Apple Bloom.” A cloud floated away letting the light of the stars hit her eyes. “Stupid starlight!”
Scootaloo covered her eyes with her forelegs and started to breathe heavily. That night, she cried herself to sleep.
What you have here....
Is a masterpeice in the works... Good job, and keep it up, you got a like and a watch from me
Thank you very much! 3883354
3883388 youre quite welcome
3883388 im on hiatus for my story, but id love for you to check it out. Im currently joining Super-Stallion and his Foal Adventures.
I have a great idea! I'll take my last story and do the exact same thing, but with another pony! All I have to do is switch up the name and nobody will ever know!
More
Did you even read the story? Because it seems pretty different so far... 3884036
3884096 No, nor do I really care. Looks like the exact same story, though, especially when you just read the descriptions, tags, and titles.
What happened to never judge a book by its cover? Also, the similarities to the tags and descriptions and title was done on purpose. 3884105
3884119 You see, judging books by their covers has saved me a lot of pain. That phrase is about as stupid as playing in traffic. The cover will pretty much tell you whether or not a book will be worth your time, especially considering the cover usually includes a quick summary.
Also, so it's a false pretense to get people to read your story. Almost as low.
I could defend my story to the death and you would still not give it a chance, huh? Your assumptions that I simply copied my last story is wrong, though I'm sure you would not listen. Even if I'm telling the truth. 3884131
3884149 No, I wouldn't. It's the same story as the last one, except with Scootaloo. Sure, it may not be an exact copy, but the entire premise is exactly the same. X pony is an 'adult baby' and hides it from everybody else, but it eventually comes out. Does that about sum it up?
A: It's not just regular foalcon.
B: I don't care for the subject.
C: It's the exact same as the last one.
I don't write Foalcon, or did you miss the everyone tag? You don't care for the subject? Then why are you commenting on it? Its not the exact same, I don't know how many times I have to say this I guess I'll just start ignoring you for now, don't know why you took the time to comment in the first place though. 3884161
I'll just leave my downvote instead, then. Was going to just leave it as is, but comment deletions irk me.
I'm gonna have to go with Peppy on this, but I'll just leave my downvote as well and move on.
I'm guessing you didn't read it either? 3884268
3884289 Why would I want to read something from somebody that can't take negative feedback?
Feedback: information about reactions to a product, a person's performance of a task, etc.
He said in one of his comments that he did not read it, how is that feedback? 3884295
3884307
You don't have to read the entirety something to be able to react to it. I'm quite certain he read the description, did he not? Please don't try to twist things to your own gain if you can't properly do so.
And, if you want, I can provide you with his last comment, too, since he was nice enough to send it to me.
3884289
Don't worry. I like the story don't worry about what others say. It's your story. Do what you want. I can’t wait for more!
3884289 Ignore them, I get down votes all of the time. Two people down voting isn't the end of the world, especially if it's from people who are blatantly trolling you in the comment section. Just ignore them as I already said, they obviously have no lives and are pathetic enough to go to a story and down vote it with no reason simply because they are against the idea of people being different and freedom of expression. I think I've made my point.
3884235 3884268 I see...
You're obviously using an alt account to support your own opinions and bash this story with more than one downvote, Peppy.
Reported.
Edit: Aaaand, Peppy got banned. I knew that second critic was an alternate account.
Ignore the two critics. Pinkie will get them in time.
Story's great!
Dis goin b good
Don't listen to those two users. They don't know the meaning of the word criticism. You can't make a good judgement if you don't read beyond the description. But if you don't like it then you don't have to read it.
That being said nice job so far. Scootaloo needs to apologize, no matter how stressed she was there was no call for snapping at her best friend.
Well. Great.
Nothing more to say actually.
I'm just waiting for the part where Scootaloo freaks out completely while the crusaders are at the clubhouse and shows them just how she's spending her nights and what her 'home' actually is.
Go on dear writer.
Dragon
I'm guessing you or someone close to you indulges in this lifestyle? (rhetorical question. The answer is unimportant to me) I don't understand most of the extreme stuff, like dressing up or diapers, but I think everyone has an inner child and almost anyone can have fun playing with a good set of blocks or a toy trainset. Heck, there are probably a not insignificant number of bronies who watch mainly because they enjoy the escapism of watching children's TV.
It's as Applejack said in the last fic; so long as no one is getting hurt and everyone involved is enjoying it in their own ways, then what they do in their own time is fine by me.
I do kinda wonder what will happen with Scootaloo in this fic however. You could take it three ways:
1) Scootaloo goes baby to regain the feeling of childhood that she has missed for years.
2) Scootaloo goes caretaker, but perhaps with an emphasis on trying to help the 'foal' grow up. This would misunderstand the point of caretaker, as far as I can tell, but it might be what she tries. This one also feels the most OOC, given the characterisations both in canon and earlier in this fic.
3) Scootaloo learns to live and let live. That not understanding something about her friend doesn't stop her from being a friend nonetheless. If you go this route, then the plot is likely to focus more on Scootaloo's homelessness than it otherwise would.
Thank you 3884372
He got banned but his downvote still stays oh well, I'll get over it! 3884439
I'm glad you think so. I probably should have grouped a few comments, oh well 3884746
Yeah, I wasn't so subtle there but oh well. 3885024
You'll see how it goes, as long as you keep reading, heh. How about a hint though, while it is true many of us indulge in the more extreme side (diapers, bottles etc...) the primarily focus of this story was never meant to be just about that. The infantilism is a smaller part of a larger story and that's it.
We don't (at least I would like to think so) need diapers and all of that to feel like a kid again, they simply enhance the experience I suppose. Cartoons, playing, and childish acts are enough. 3885362
3885701
Yeah, I can tell that the previous story was the one that focused more on what it means to the pony/person in question, while this one seems to be more about what it means to friends and/or family.
(given that, it seems likely that my third theory will prove to be the most correct)
Another thought: In this fic, Scootaloo stumbled upon a store catering to the adult foal audience.
1) I'm surprised such a store could exist in a small town like ponyville, even as a side business. I would have thought there wouldn't be nearly enough customers to sustain it.
2) While understand the story you want to tell pretty much required a store like this to exist, I suspect that in the real world over 99% of sales catering to this extreme side would be over the internet only.
Damn
well...that was surprising but I do like the story