> Big Baby Mac > by Pensplatter > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 1: It was a bright, sunny day as many of the citizens of Ponyville made their way through their chores and jobs, eager to finish up so that they could enjoy a little leisure time. Unfortunately, there were three little fillies who had the day off from school and were faced with the unique problem of having a tad too much free time and no idea what to do with it. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were lazily lying upon some bales of hay at Sweet Apple Acres, with Scootaloo repetitively tossing an apple up and catching it when it fell down. “Ugh…” moaned Sweetie Belle, “I’m so bored. Do either of you have any idea about what we should do today?” “Well, we could try getting our Cutie Marks again, but I don’t really know what we could try next,” said Scootaloo. “We’ve already asked Applejack and the others about how they got their Cutie Marks, and that didn’t help very much,” said Apple Bloom. “Hmm, we did ask Applejack, but we never did ask your brother how he got his Cutie Mark,” said Sweetie Belle. “Big Macintosh? Well, he doesn’t like talking very much, but I guess he won’t mind, since it might help us out.” “Well then that settles it! Let’s go find him. This may be our lucky day yet!” said Scootaloo excitedly as the three friends headed towards the house to look for Big Macintosh. As they entered the kitchen, the three fillies found Granny Smith pulling out pots and pans out of the cupboard and murmuring, “Dang flappit… Where’d I put those durn thangs…” “Granny, what are you doing?” asked Apple Bloom. Granny Smith turned to the three fillies and gave a friendly wave, “Why hello girls! I’m tryin’ to find my glasses. Have you three seen them anywhere?” The three fillies giggled as they spotted the glasses resting upon Granny Smith’s head. Apple Bloom walked over and placed the glasses before Granny Smith’s eyes and the old pony blinked as the kitchen came into focus. “Well what do ya know, it’s always the last durn place you look! Thank you Dearie. So what can I do for you girls?” “We’re trying to find Big Macintosh, have you seen him Granny?” “Hm, I think he might be out in the barn. He finished his chores rather early today and I think he headed there to get a little shut-eye.” “Thanks Granny. We’ll go there and check.” “Your sister, that nice Twilight Sparkle, and her little dragon are upstairs if you need to speak with them as well!” called Granny Smith as the three little fillies trotted out of the kitchen and headed towards the barn. The three fillies popped open the barn doors and looked around to see if Big Macintosh was around. Their ears perked up when they heard a soft sucking sound coming from the corner of the barn. The fillies followed the sound until they spotted Big Macintosh gently dozing in the corner. He was curled up into a ball, with one of his front hoofs wrapped around a worn, old Smarty Pants doll, while the other hoof was within his mouth, being sucked softly. The three fillies let out a simultaneous “Aww…” as they took in how adorable Big Macintosh looked in his current state. “He looks so cute!” gushed Sweetie Belle. “Though I can’t believe that he still sucks his hoof!” giggled Scootaloo. “I never noticed that before,” said Apple Bloom, although she silently admitted to herself that she rarely saw Big Macintosh sleep, since he was usually working when she came home and he did have a later bedtime than she did. “He looks just a little, bitty baby colt,” said Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo chuckled at the idea and joked, “A baby that big would need would one heck of a mommy!” “Or three…” said Apple Bloom as an idea formed within her mind, “That’s it girls! Maybe Big Macintosh could help us get our Cutie Marks as mommies!” “Come again?” asked Scootaloo, who didn’t quite understand what Apple Bloom had meant. “Well, real babies can get hurt or sick really easily, but if Big Mac pretended to be a baby colt for us, we could practice with him and see if we have any talent at being mommies,” said Apple Bloom. “Oh, I get!” said Sweetie Belle, “It’s just like playing pretend! Rarity and I used to do it all the time, and we’d use costumes that she made herself!” “I don’t know,” said Scootaloo, “do you think Big Macintosh would help us like that?” “Well Granny did say he was done with all of his chores for today, plus he’s said he’d try to help me get my Cutie Mark if he could,” said Apple Bloom. “That settles it then!” said Sweetie Belle who turned to Big Macintosh and began to gently play with his ears as she cooed, “Wake up, little sleepyhead! It’s time rise and shine.” Big Macintosh giggled lightly in his sleep as he felt his ears being tickled and he slowly opened his eyes to find three little faces staring at him eagerly. His eyes popped open, and he jumped with a start. The three fillies giggled as they noticed that in his haste to get up, he hadn’t removed his hoof from his mouth and was clutching the Smarty Pants doll closer than ever to his chest. Big Macintosh quickly realized this as well and quickly put both of his hoofs behind his back, with a light pink blush appearing on his normally crimson cheeks. Trying to distract from his embarrassment, the normally quiet pony quickly said, “Uh howdy girls, what are y’all doin’ here?” “Big brother, remember when you said you that you’d lend a hoof if I ever needed help finding my Cutie Mark? Well, my friends and I don’t have school today and we were wondering if you would help us out?” said Apple Bloom. Upon hearing her request, Big Macintosh let out a relieved sigh. He was well aware of his little sister and her friends’ quest to earn their Cutie Marks, and he had offered to provide his assistance if they should need him (especially if they needed a watchful eye present so that they didn’t get hurt). With the expectations that he would have to either set up some contraption for them or simply act as a chaperone, Big Macintosh said, “Eeeeyup, I’ve got some free time. I’ll be glad to help y’all out.” “Yay!” cried Sweetie Belle as she grabbed Big Macintosh’s side and began to cuddle him, “You’re going to be the best baby ever!” “Eeeeyup, I’ll be… wait a second. Say what now?” > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 2: “Nope,” said Big Macintosh as he entered the kitchen, with the Cutie Mark Crusaders trailing behind him. “Please!” whined Sweetie Belle. “Nope!” “But you promised!” whined Apple Bloom. “Land Sakes! What’s all the commotion I’m hearing down here!” said Granny Smith as she entered the kitchen with Applejack, Twilight, and Spike. Apple Bloom trotted to Granny Smith’s side and said, “Granny! Big Macintosh is not keeping his promise!” “Eh? What promise was that, Big Macintosh?” The pink returned to Big Macintosh’s cheeks as he downed his head and said, “Well, you see… I didn’t understand what they…” Applejack trotted out from behind Granny Smith and cried, “Oh c’mon Big Macintosh, you know I ain’t the patient sort! Just tell me what you promised them.” Big Macintosh leaned in and whispered into Applejack’s ear. A moment later Applejack was laughing hysterically and wiping a tear from her eye as she exclaimed, “A baby?! You promised you’d dress up as a baby for them?” Granny was confused and she turned to Apple Bloom for an explanation. Apple Bloom said, “We figured if Big Macintosh played pretend with us, we’d see if we have any natural talent at being mommies so that we could get our Cutie Marks.” Granny turned to Big Macintosh and said, “Big Macintosh, I’m surprised. All yer little sister wants is to play with you and you’re being so difficult about it? You hardly spend any time with the little filly as is because of yer work on the farm! Furthermore, you made a promise! We Apples are only as good as our word, and I won’t have no promise breakers in this house.” Big Macintosh downed his head in shame and sighed, “Yer right, Granny. I’m sorry.” “That’s a good boy. Now be nice to yer sister and her friends,” said Granny Smith. Spike approached Big Macintosh and gave him a cajoling pat on the side as he said, “Yikes, tough break bro. I’d argue on your behalf, but then they might decide to use me instead!” Twilight added, “This is an awfully kind thing to do for your sister. It could prove to be an invaluable learning experience for her.” “Yay!” cried Sweetie Belle, “We’ve our baby back! Uh… now what do we do?” A mischievous smile appeared upon Applejack’s face as she said, “Well girls, it appears your youngin’ is missing the one thing every lil’ baby pony needs.” The three little fillies thought about what she meant for a moment before Scootaloo exclaimed, “Ooh! I know! Baby ponies need diapers!” Big Macintosh let out an audible groan but his ears perked up with hope when he heard Scootaloo say, “But I don’t think that there is a diaper out there big enough for Baby Mac.” While not too happy about his new name, Big Macintosh smiled and said, “Nope, guess not. Well too bad.” Big Macintosh started to head to the door, believing himself scot-free when he heard Applejack say, “I think I may have a solution fer yer problem there.” The group migrated outside to the laundry line, where some of the Apple family’s pure white bed sheets were hanging to dry. Applejack held one of the sheets with her hooves and said, “This ought to fit just right.” Big Macintosh groaned and murmured, “You’re enjoying this aren’t you?” “Eeeeyup! Hehe, sorry Big Macintosh, but this is just too funny to miss,” chuckled Applejack. “Uh Sis?” said Apple Bloom, “Do you have any idea of how to diaper a baby pony?” Applejack’s face fell as Big Macintosh let out a triumphant, “Nope!” “Oh don’t worry honey, I’ll show how to do it. It’s something every mare has to learn to at some point or the other,” said Granny Smith warmly. Big Macintosh’s ears drooped in disappointment as he followed Granny Smith and the three fillies inside with the white sheet. Granny Smith instructed Apple Bloom to get some talcum powder, Scootaloo to get some safety pins, and for Sweetie Belle to get a blanket. The fillies each took a few minutes to find their items, but eventually everything was gathered. The first thing Granny Smith did was lay the blanket down, as she explained that one should never change a baby pony on the bare floor. The next thing she did was take the sheet and began to fold it. She first folded the sheet into a perfect square, and then brought two opposites corners together so that the sheet now had a kite shape. She then folded the top of the sheet down and folded the bottom of the sheet up so that it looked like a long trapezoid. At that, Granny Smith nodded her head and Big Macintosh groaned as he sat down upon the diaper. Granny then took the talcum powder and liberally sprinkled talcum powder below Big Macintosh’s waist and explained to the fillies that it was necessary to prevent the baby from getting a rash. Finally, she brought up the sides and the front of the diaper and used two of the largest pins Scootaloo had brought on each side. Granny Smith beamed at her handy work, but then Scootaloo poked her on the shoulder and whispered something her ear. Granny Smith let out an embarrassed chuckle and she asked Apple Bloom to bring her a pair of scissors. Apple Bloom quickly returned with them, and Granny Smith asked Big Macintosh to turn around. As he lay upon his belly, the old mare cut a small hole with the back of the make-shift diaper that was just big enough to let Big Macintosh’s tail out. Applejack, Twilight, and Spike entered the room and upon seeing Big Macintosh’s padded state they all let out a collective giggle, causing him to flush bright pink again. Applejack chortled, “You look adorable Big Macintosh!” Twilight turned to the fillies and asked, “So did you little ponies learn something about taking care of babies?” “We sure did! Granny Smith taught us a lot about diaper changes,” said Sweetie Belle. “Yeah, but she was one who did most of the work, and we still don’t know that much about taking care of baby ponies,” noted Scootaloo. “Well I’m sure she has more information…” said Twilight, but when she turned to face Granny Smith, she saw that the old mare had fallen asleep in her recliner. “Oh no,” cried Apple Bloom, “This one of Granny’s mid-day naps! Sometimes these can last until dinnertime! Now we can’t learn anymore about taking care of baby ponies.” Just when Big Macintosh was finally getting optimistic, Twilight said, “Don’t worry girls, I think I have an interesting idea that can help you.” She then turned to Spike and said, “Could you head upstairs and bring one of books I had brought over to show Applejack.” “‘Magical Modifications’ or ‘1001 Ways to Make an Apple Fritter?’” “The first please.” With that Spike headed upstairs and quickly retrieved the book. Twilight turned and explained to the fillies and Big Macintosh that she had recently shown Applejack a spell that could be used to lighten the weight of heavy baskets of apples, thus making harvesting season easier. She continued that the spell could also be used on living things and could help the fillies by making Big Macintosh light enough so that even they could lift him with ease, just like they could with a real baby pony. Big Macintosh asked if there wasn’t a spell that could simply make him look younger, so that at least having to be treated like a baby colt would be less embarrassing, but Twilight responded that transformation spells on ponies did not usually last a long time and required a lot of magic. The lightening spell would be much easier and would probably wear off by the next day. Big Macintosh sighed and relented. Twilight Sparkle then had Spike turn to the correct page and she began to focus intently. Her horn began to glow a warm magenta color, which seemed to grow until it formed into a spherical shape. The magical energy then floated off her horn and travelled through the air like a bubble in the wind. The magical ball then landed on Big Macintosh’s nose and popped. The entire group looked around the room to see if anything else had happened. Finally, Applejack asked, “Uh, did it work?” Sweetie Belle cantered up to Big Macintosh and without any hesitation, she grabbed Big Macintosh by his waist and hoisted him into the air. Big Macintosh let out a surprised yelp, but Sweetie Belle simply smiled and said, “Yep, I think it worked.” “Whoa, Awesome! Let me try that,” said Spike, who took Big Macintosh and began to bench press the stallion as if he was a seasoned weightlifter. “Spike! You’re setting a poor example! You have to be gentle when holding a baby pony,” scolded Twilight. “Gosh Twilight, you sure seem to know a lot about taking care of baby ponies, maybe you could teach us about them instead of Granny Smith?” asked Apple Bloom. “I’m sorry girls, but I really don’t know that much about taking care of baby ponies beyond a little common sense.” The three little fillies seemed disappointed, but then Twilight continued, “However, I do happen to know one pony with a lot of experience taking care of others… Fluttershy!” “Oh yeah!” cried Scootaloo, “She takes cares of all those animals and she even watched over us that night we had a sleepover, she must know a ton about baby ponies!” “Well, I’m not sure if she knows quite that much, but I do believe that she would be your best bet.” A look of terror appeared on Big Macintosh’s face that had nothing to do with the fact that he was tenuously balancing in Sweetie Belle’s hoofs. Big Macintosh tended to be a very private pony, and thus far he had managed to hide any romantic inclinations he had towards any of the mares of Ponyville, but Big Macintosh could not deny to himself that he found Fluttershy’s beautiful, kind demeanor appealing. Despite this, Big Macintosh’s fears were not noticed as Sweetie Belle began carrying him out the kitchen door, but Twilight suddenly cried, “Wait!” Big Macintosh silently prayed that somepony had finally come to her senses and would call off this embarrassing endeavor, but Twilight simply continued, “I just realized, young colts aren’t simply carried in one’s hooves. You three will need something to carry him in.” Applejack scratched her chin for a moment before her eyes brightened and she said, “I’ve got an idea!” She trotted out to the barn and everypony heard her rummaging through the equipment stored within. She returned a minute later, pushing a wheelbarrow out before her. She brought it to the door and said, “We use this to gather bucket-loads of apples every season. It’s got more than enough room for him.” Twilight inspected the wheelbarrow and said, “That was very astute of you, Applejack. Though I must admit that it doesn’t look very comfortable. Maybe a transformation spell would be appropriate in this case, since this is an inanimate object and would require less magic.” Twilight lowered her horn to the wheelbarrow, which began to glow the familiar magenta color of Twilight’s magic. With a flash of light, the wheelbarrow had been transformed into a large baby buggy. The buggy was powder blue, with a soft padding covered by a blanket that matched the external color of the buggy and even a pillow in case Big Macintosh needed to be put down for a nap (which he highly doubted)! Sweetie Belle on the other hand, was completed elated by the sight of the buggy. She squealed, “Oh, it’s adorable! Let’s see if it works.” She trotted over to the buggy with Big Macintosh in tow and carefully placed him inside with all the tenderness of a true doting mother. Big Macintosh shifted around upon the padding, resentfully finding himself actually quite comfortable. He drew the blanket over his waist and thankfully found that it covered his diaper rather well. Applejack let a sly smile spread across her face as she teased, “Gettin’ comfy there, Baby Mac?” Big Macintosh shot her a glare, but Twilight had already adjusted the handlebar on the back of the buggy so that it was at a height where the three fillies could grip it within their mouths with ease. The three new caretakers proudly wheeled their new charge out of the Apple Family’s kitchen and began to long journey to Fluttershy’s cottage. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: Big Macintosh continuously looked around, hoping that he and the fillies wouldn’t encounter anypony else. Just as the group had left Sweet Apple Acres, Scootaloo said, “Whoops, we almost forgot something!” She sped back to the farm, and returned with the Smarty Pants doll that Big Macintosh had been napping with early. Big Macintosh grudgingly accepted the doll, but he knew deep down that it brought him a good degree comfort. He had just been glad that Twilight had not been around to ask why he had been holding on to her beloved childhood possession. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had decided to the take the scenic route to Fluttershy’s cottage, which basically amounted to travelling along the border of the Everfree Forest because Scootaloo believed that a variety of backdrops were good for stimulating a baby pony’s growing mind. Big Macintosh was simply grateful that not many ponies tended to travel along this path, and thus he was likely to be spared the humiliation of being seen in such a compromising situation. Unfortunately, Big Macintosh’s fortune was not meant to last as he and the fillies passed by the back of the Carousel Boutique. Rarity just happened to be in her backyard, hanging her freshly washed laundry to dry on the clothesline when she saw her sister and her friends push a large, strange bundle. Rarity set down the clothespins she had been levitating with her magic and said, “Oh Sweetie Belle, there you are! I say, what do you and your friends have there?” “It’s Big Macintosh! He agreed to help us see if we could get our cutie marks as mommies by playing baby for us.” “Play baby? Oh my word!” cried Rarity as she saw Big Macintosh trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible under his blanket. Rarity’s shock quickly gave way to amusement as she brought a hoof to her mouth to suppress her giggling. Big Macintosh’s cheeks once again flared a shade of bright pink as Rarity stopped giggling with a small, ladylike cough and approached the buggy to get a better view. “Forgive me if I sound callous, but I must admit that this all does seem a tad peculiar. Firstly, where did you all get such a large baby buggy?” Apple Bloom answered, “Twilight used her magic to transform our old wheelbarrow into a baby buggy. She also cast a spell that allowed us to do this…” Before Big Macintosh had a chance to protest, Apple Bloom scooped him up from the buggy, exposing his diaper and the fact that he was clinging to Smarty Pants as the blanket fell away from him. Upon seeing Big Macintosh’s diaper, Rarity resumed giggling, although she found it much more difficult to muffle this time around. Once again she took a moment to compose herself before she asked, “So Twilight decided to assist you all with this endeavor?” “Well, it was actually Twilight, Applejack, and Granny Smith. Applejack suggested the wheelbarrow, while Granny showed us how to change a diaper. Spike was there too, but he didn’t help us much with anything. We were hoping that Granny Smith would help us learn more about taking care of baby ponies, but she fell asleep and it didn’t look like she’d be waking up anytime soon, so we’re headed over to Fluttershy’s to see if she can teach us anything,” answered Scootaloo. “Goodness gracious, it seems like most of our friends have taken part in this little excursion. I would hate to seem rude by not offering my own expertise as well.” Big Macintosh’s face paled upon hearing this, but Sweetie Belle’s eyes lit up as she said excitedly, “Really Rarity? Thank you so much! But… what do you know about baby ponies?” “Well darling, I do know that raising a young pony requires instilling them with a strong sense of identity and self-esteem” “Um, how exactly are we supposed to do that?” asked Apple Bloom as she placed Big Macintosh back into the buggy and followed Rarity and the other fillies into the boutique. “In my humble opinion, there is only one answer to that question… fashion!” answered Rarity with an enthusiastic flair. She then continued, “Sweetie, take your friends to my creativity room and bring me a few basic supplies, I do believe I have an idea that will serve your little foray rather well… and do remember not to make a mess this time.” Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom bounded with giddy anticipation to see what the older pony had planned, while Scootaloo trotted after her friends and muttered, “Why are we the ones who always have to run around and gather stuff?” Big Macintosh then saw his opportunity to finally speak to Rarity privately and beg for her to help him find some excuse to abandon this whole exercise in embarrassment. However, before he could speak, Rarity turned to address him, “Oh Big Macintosh, I must say that I am surprised that a quiet stallion such as yourself would put himself in a such humbling position just to help my sister and her friends. Then again, such a noble deed is a true testimonial to your generous nature and stature as a gentle-stallion. As you are probably aware, generosity is something that I value with a great regard, thus I shall help you and the girls in any way I can.” After hearing Rarity’s praise, Big Macintosh couldn’t bring himself to beg for her assistance. Such a request would totally negate every positive thing she had just said about him and would make him seem like a true lout. Just then, the fillies returned with Rarity’s supplies. Rarity used her magic to open a few drawers within the room and sorted through them before finding some fabrics that seemed to satisfy her. With unrivaled prowess, Rarity magically summoned a pair of scissors from Scootaloo’s hooves, a measuring tape from Apple Bloom, and a needle and thread from Sweetie Belle. Within a few minutes, Rarity levitated the newly created articles of clothing in front of the fillies for them to judge. Upon closer inspection, the fillies saw that Rarity had crafted a set of booties, mittens, a bib, and a baby pony bonnet, all of which were large enough to fit Big Macintosh. The fillies were all rather impressed by the quality of the garments, and even Rarity herself seemed pleased, although she admitted, “I don’t quite know if they’ll fit properly, since I mostly assumed Big Macintosh’s measurements.” “Well,” said Scootaloo, not missing a beat, “there’s only one way to tell for sure.” Catching her drift, Rarity levitated the garments in front of Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh knew that he should have still tried to be chivalrous based upon how Rarity had complimented him, but he just could not bring himself to accept such embarrassing attire. The stallion firmly tucked his hooves away and turned up his chin in resistance. Believing that Big Macintosh was simply playing the role of a stubborn infant to humor the fillies, Rarity thought for a moment before a devious idea entered her mind. From one of her unfinished hat creations, she magically plucked a large, decorative feather from the rim and levitated it directly in front of Big Macintosh. She then magically began to twist and turn the feather along the skin by his armpits and belly. Big Macintosh bit his lip in a desperate attempt to hold onto what little control he still had over the situation, but that was quickly lost as he burst out giggling from being tickled and threw his hooves into the air. Realizing they had their opening, Rarity and fillies charged Big Macintosh and had the babyish accessories upon him before the stallion could register what had happened. The mittens and booties fitted over Big Macintosh’s hooves perfectly, but Rarity noticed that the bib and bonnet needed some slight adjustments in being tied properly. Big Macintosh sighed in resignation as the unicorn made her adjustments, but upon looking at the finally product, she still found that something was off. Rarity examined the stallion very closely for more than a minute, and she even used her magic to shape a lock of Big Macintosh’s mane that was poking out of the front of the bonnet into a juvenile curl to see if it would pull the look together. Finally, Rarity cried, “Aha!” and summoned the scissors to her side. With great control, she carefully cut two holes at the tops of the bonnet that allowed Big Macintosh’s ears to pop out and wiggle about. Rarity tutted herself and said, “Dear me, how could I have forgotten such a simple thing!” Apple Bloom nodded knowingly and responded, “Don’t fret, Granny did the same thing with his tail and the diaper.” The fillies and Rarity all had a good laugh at that, while Big Macintosh inspected the fabric that his new baby pony clothes were made of. The material was fleecy and warm, but also silky and very smooth to the touch. It had a slight stretchy quality, but also made him feel kind of comforted, like how he felt clutching Smarty Pants at that moment. The Cutie Mark Crusaders then decided that they had better leave soon, for they still had to find Fluttershy. Rarity waved them off as they left, but not before telling Big Macintosh that he had inspired her to design a baby pony clothing collection. She noted that baby ponies did not tend to give the most intelligible feedback, thus Rarity said that if Big Macintosh ever wanted to play baby again, Rarity would have him field test some of her new merchandise. Big Macintosh groaned at the idea of having to wear anymore baby pony clothes after that day, but he soon realized that he had more pressing concerns as he and the fillies passed behind Sugar Cube Corner. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4: Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash had decided to spend the day outside playing various games with the Cake twins while Mr. and Mrs. Cake were out at a catering venue, when they saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders wheeling a large baby buggy by. Rainbow Dash flew up the group and asked what crazy shenanigans had the fillies gotten themselves into this time, and the fillies told her everything that had happened so far that day. Upon seeing Big Macintosh, Rainbow Dash had pretty much the same reaction as Rarity, although her rolling around on the ground busting a gut laughing indicated that she wasn’t one for subtlety. Pinkie Pie then bounced over with the twins, and upon hearing the tale from Rainbow Dash, surprisingly offered him her sympathy. Big Macintosh raised an eyebrow in confusion at her reaction, but Pinkie simply jerked her head towards her own two charges and said, “It seems to come with the territory of taking care of kids these days. Just be glad it isn’t wet flour.” Upon seeing Pinkie Pie holding the Cake twins, Sweetie Belle asked the older pony, “Pinkie Pie, since you take care of Pumpkin and Pound Cake so much, do you have any tips on how we can be better mommies to Baby Mac?” Rainbow Dash chuckled at the nickname, while Pinkie Pie replied, “Hm, well something that always important when taking care of baby ponies is feeding them. Have you given Baby Mac anything to eat since you guys started playing pretend?” Apple Bloom shook her head and said, “Nope, I guess we kind of forgot about that.” “Well c’mon, we have plenty of goodies inside!” said Pinkie Pie as she led everyone into Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie and Rainbow gently placed Pumpkin and Pound Cake into their playpen, while Scootaloo plopped Big Macintosh next to them. Upon seeing him, Pumpkin stopped chewing on her toy chicken and held it up to Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh was genuinely touched by her friendly gesture and reciprocated by offering her Smarty Pants. Pound Cake busied himself by stacking a bunch of building blocks into towers, using his wings to help make them particularly tall, then flew over and nudged his sister. When she saw the towers, she babbled to Big Macintosh, indicating for him to follow. Together, all three ponies approached the block towers, where Pumpkin and Pound Cake took Smarty Pants and the toy chicken, and began to move them around the blocks. Big Macintosh stared on in confusion for a moment before realization hit him: the baby ponies were imitating ponies walking around Ponyville! Big Macintosh couldn’t help appreciate how smart the two little ponies before him were, but then he had a rather clever idea of his own. He reached for a stuffed Ursa Minor doll nearby and circled around to the other end of the play city. Pumpkin and Pound Cake continued to be absorbed within their own little world, until they suddenly noticed that the blocks were shaking. It wasn’t a continuous shaking, but rather a thumping that indicate something was approaching. The stuffed Ursa Minor appeared from behind the block towers, accompanied by playful roars by Big Macintosh. The twins squealed in delight at this new development and quickly shifted gears into defending their beloved Ponyville from the rampaging Ursa Minor. Pumpkin held Smarty Pants with her hooves and in a surprisingly accurate reenactment of Twilight Sparkle, used her own magic to levitate one of her own rattles in front of the stuffed Ursa Minor as a distraction, while Pound flew off and returned with his blanket in tow. With the Ursa Minor ‘distracted,’ Pound Cake dropped the blanket upon the toy as a snare, and then gathered him up in a bundle. Together, Pumpkin and Pound carried their captured charge back to the area where their other stuffed toys resided. Upon the completion of their mission the twins toddled back to Big Macintosh and cuddled against him, grateful for his part in the adventure. Pinkie Pie returned at that moment to announce that snack time was ready, but she could not help but go, “Aww,” as she gazed upon the tender scene. She picked up both of the twins, placed them onto her back, and called Apple Bloom to carry Big Macintosh into the kitchen. Pinkie carried the twins over to their high chairs, and to Big Macintosh’s chagrin, he saw that Rainbow Dash had attached a spare tray to one of the normal chairs so that he would not feel ‘left out.’ His shame was all but forgotten though when he noticed Pinkie set a plate of freshly frosted cupcakes on the table before him. Admittedly, Big Macintosh had not eaten anything since breakfast, and the sight of the sweet treats actually made the stallion’s mouth water hungrily. However, just as he was about to reach for one, everypony else but the Cake twins plucked a cupcake from the plate, leaving none behind for him. Big Macintosh looked at Pinkie with a confused (and slightly despondent) expression, to which she replied, “Sorry Baby Mac, but since you’re playing baby pony, I thought you’d be eating the same food as the twins.” Having said that, the Cutie Mark Crusaders each brought over a bowl of baby pony food and deposited them onto the trays before the Cake twins and Big Macintosh. Big Macintosh looked down at the bowl of unappealing green mush before him and stuck out his tongue in disgust. Sweetie Belle beamed at him and said, “We each made a bowl by ourselves, since good mommy ponies need to know how to cook for their babies.” Big Macintosh stared at the twins’ bowls and saw that their meals did not nearly look as foreboding as his own while Sweetie Belle continued, “I made your bowl by myself!” Pinkie Pie then leaned towards Big Macintosh and whispered, “I’ve recently been having a bit of trouble getting the twins to eat, but just now it seemed like they really looked up to you. Could you please show them how good babies eat? Pretty please with a cherrychanga on top?” Despite not knowing the heck a cherrychanga was, Big Macintosh could sense the earnestness in Pinkie’s plea. He steeled himself as Pinkie Pie scooped up the contents of the bowl into a spoonful and raised it to his lips. Big Macintosh saw that the twins were staring at him intently, and he knew there was no way out of the situation. He closed his eyes and opened his mouth as the spoon travelled forward and deposited its’ contents. Upon seeing Big Macintosh eat his meal without any fuss, both of the twins accepted spoonfuls of mush from Apple Bloom and Scootaloo without any resistance. Big Macintosh chewed his own mush and contemplated its’ odd flavor and texture. Suddenly, he felt a strange heat begin to dance upon his tongue and his eyes began water as his internal temperature rose like that of a boiler under high pressure. Rainbow Dash noticed that Big Macintosh was panting and she tasted a tiny remnant of what was had been in his bowl. She immediately picked up the spicy flavor of the mush and cried, “Sweetie Belle?! What did you put in this?!” “Well the other girls had already used up most of the carrots and broccoli, so I grabbed some of those weird green things from the other bowl,” admitted Sweetie Belle sheepishly. Pinkie Pie’s eyes widened as she exclaimed, “Green things?! Oh no, Sweetie those were holler-peño peppers that Mr. and Mrs. Cake were using in a special appetizer for the cutecinera that they are catering today. They are incredibly spicy!” Big Macintosh was rapidly panting now and Scootaloo swore she almost saw wisps of smoke emitting from his mouth. Pinkie Pie grabbed the closest beverage by her and handed it to Big Macintosh, who quickly began to drink. The intense heat of the peppers quickly abated and Big Macintosh continued to drink the refreshing liquid, not even bothering to see what it was until he had almost finished it. When he was finally able to focus on what he had been drinking, he felt his cheeks regained the familiar pink glow as he saw that he had just sucked down the contents of large baby bottle that had been filled with milk. “Wow, you just drained Pumpkin Cake’s all-day bottle in less than a minute! She’s got a big appetite so we usually fill up that bottle with milk and she nurses on it all day. Oh well, at least it was good that you drank milk. It naturally heals the burns caused by holler-peño peppers,” said Pinkie Pie in an amazed tone. “It’s also had a good affect on the tykes as well,” noted Rainbow Dash as she pointed to the twins, who were gulping down their snack time bottles with just as much enthusiasm as they had seen in Big Macintosh. “As for you young filly,” continued Rainbow Dash as she turned to face Sweetie Belle, “You should always know exactly what you’re putting into a baby pony’s food before you give it to him. We should all be glad that Big Macintosh ended up with that bowl rather than one of the twins.” Sweetie Belle lowered her head in shame and said, “I’m sorry. I’ll be more careful next time.” Big Macintosh then noticed that his tongue was still burning a bit and Pinkie Pie responded by refilling the large bottle with milk and said, “You should probably nurse on that for awhile. If you drink it slowly, the burning should probably stop by tonight.” Big Macintosh took the bottle and silently wondered if it was even possible that he could face further indignation. His thoughts were answered when Sweetie Belle said, “Oh, I almost forgot!” She trotted over to Big Macintosh’s chair and carefully removed him from within. She then positioned him over her left foreleg and used the other foreleg to pat Big Macintosh upon the back. Big Macintosh felt a rumble from within his stomach and suddenly a monstrous belch erupted within him. Anypony outside of Sugar Cube Corner would sworn at that moment that the building had jumped at least a foot in the air, but within the kitchen everypony’s hair was swept back as Big Macintosh said in a meek voice, “‘Cuse me.” > Chapter 5 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5: Pinkie Pie carried the twins up to their nursery for their afternoon nap, while Rainbow Dash accompanied the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Big Macintosh outside. Big Macintosh was back inside the baby buggy, and was now begrudgingly sucking upon the large baby bottle to cool the stinging sensation on his tongue. Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep but giggle at the irony of the situation, while Scootaloo asked, “Hey Rainbow Dash, we’ve heard advice about how to take care of baby ponies from almost everypony we know except you. You’re one of the best ponies around here so surely you must know something about taking care of baby ponies?” Rainbow Dash scratched her chin contemplatively and said, “There’s no doubt that I’m the best, squirt, but even I’ll admit that baby ponies aren’t really a specialty of mine.” “Well, what would you do if you were a mommy pony?” asked Apple Bloom innocently. Her question actually brought a light pink blush to Rainbow’s usually sky blue cheeks, and the older pony actually fumbled as she said, “Oh… well, that probably won’t be happening for a while. I don’t even have a special somepony, and I’m not exactly looking for one at the moment anyway. Baby ponies don’t seem to be anywhere in my near future.” “Yeah, but what would you do if you did have one,” persisted Scootaloo, who remained oblivious to Rainbow Dash’s embarrassment regarding the subject. Big Macintosh on the other hand was enjoying himself rather well, especially considering the fact that somepony else was finally getting their own share of awkwardness for that day. Rainbow Dash finally decided to give the subject some thought and said, “Well, I’d want any foal of mine to have a need for speed like me. I guess I would take my foal out for strolls so that they could become more outdoorsy and active.” Scootaloo beamed as Rainbow Dash spoke, turned to the other Cutie Mark Crusaders, and said, “See I knew that Rainbow Dash would have good advice!” She then turned back to Rainbow Dash and continued, “We have already been doing what you said… well kind of. I told the others that we should take Baby Mac on the scenic route to Fluttershy’s because it’s good for baby ponies to be stimulated by a different kinds of scenery when they go out for their walks.” Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow at this and responded, “Wait you’ve been taking the long way to Fluttershy’s? No offence Scootaloo, but you three fillies are still pretty young yourselves. If you keep on taking your sweet old time you wouldn’t be able to reach Fluttershy’s before sunset.” Apple Bloom’s eyes went wide and she said, “Oh no, Granny has a strict rule about me being home by sundown.” Scootaloo’s ears drooped in disappointment as she said, “I’m sorry girls. I guess I messed up. Looks like we won’t have time to ask Fluttershy about being mommies.” Big Macintosh’s ears perked up at this, hoping against hope that his humiliation had finally come to an end, but a determined smile flashed across Rainbow Dash’s face as she said, “Hey, don’t count your griffins before they hatch. You’re looking at the fastest flyer in Ponyville right here. Everybody hop into Baby Mac’s buggy. I can get you to Fluttershy’s cottage with time to spare.” Scootaloo wasted no time climbing into the buggy, eager to obey a direct order from her idol, with Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom following shortly after. Despite Big Macintosh lamenting that he had yet to be excused from this exercise in embarrassment, he felt an odd sting of possessiveness in that his younger sister and her friends had entered the personal space he had created for himself within his buggy. Then again, when Big Macintosh realized that he had begun to think of the buggy as his own, he felt a shudder travel down his spine and he silently prayed for this day and its’ confusing emotions to come to an end. Rainbow Dash took the buggy within her front hooves and said, “Alright, hold tight everybody. Let’s see if you guy’s are ‘stimulated’ by the end of this like Scootaloo says.” With that Rainbow Dash’s wings began to flap rapidly, not unlike Scootaloo’s when she was doing tricks upon her scooter, and the buggy took off like a rocket on wheels. The town’s square was relatively quiet that particular afternoon. Vendors had began closing up shop, ponies were heading home from work, and even the clouds were drifting by at their own gradual pace, content with the pleasant sense of lull that hung in the air. This sense of ease quickly vanished as ponies ducked for cover when a strange projectile some would later define as a UFO, others as a errant, miniature tornado, and one particularly inebriated pony named Berry Punch claimed that she had seen a female Pegasus pushing an overly large baby buggy at breakneck speeds with three fillies and a stallion within screaming for their lives. Rainbow Dash maneuvered through the streets with such precision that on several occasions she came centimeters from crashing into the various city implements that stood between her and Fluttershy’s cottage. Her four charges within the buggy could barely manage to shriek their warnings about an impending collision before a new threat appeared and disappeared equally as quickly. Thus they deigned that they would settle for screaming incoherently for the duration of their journey. Finally Rainbow Dash arrived at Fluttershy’s cottage, no worse for the wear besides the fact that she had almost completely worn down the rubber that had lined the buggy’s wheels. In her characteristic bravado Rainbow Dash called out, “Hey Fluttershy! You’ve got some company out here!” Fluttershy, who had been wearing a white handkerchief with a pink trim that day as a bandana, opened the door of her cottage and peeped out to see the peculiar sight of Rainbow Dash standing before her next to an overly large baby buggy. Rainbow Dash then continued, “I’ve got three fillies and a Baby Mac in here who think you may be able to answer their questions on getting their cutie marks as mommies.” Fluttershy raised a curious eyebrow as she repeated in a confused tone, “A ‘Baby Mac?’ What do you mean by…” Before Fluttershy could continue her question, Rainbow Dash had lifted the lit of the buggy and both mares were surprised by what they saw. Big Macintosh and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were all clinging to each other tightly, each of their faces drained of most of its’ color and their expressions seeming to stuck in silent shrieks of terror. “Uh, guys?” Rainbow Dash asked tentatively and waved her hoof in front of the group, hoping to elicit some type of reaction. The ponies in the carriage collapsed on their backs, causing Rainbow Dash to shrug and say, “Meh, they’ll be fine.” The fillies and Big Macintosh all shook their heads and seemed to come back to their senses, although Sweetie Belle looked slightly green as she struggled to keep the cupcake she had recently eaten at Sugar Cube Corner down. Big Macintosh moved as well to readjust himself once the fillies had left his buggy, but as he shifted around he heard an audible ‘squish’ come from beneath him. Big Macintosh looked down and to his disbelief he saw that the rubber teat of the bottle of milk had come undone, having ended up soaking his diaper in with milk during the chaotic trip to Fluttershy’s cottage. Big Macintosh was aghast that there he was in front of Fluttershy, the mare he had secretly admired for so long, dressed to the pinnacle of juvenile humiliation with a sopping wet diaper to further drive the point home. Although he knew in the back of his mind that reaching for Smarty Pants would only complete the infantile image he was presenting, he desperately craved the comfort the little ragdoll brought to him in his darkest moments. Nothing could have prepared Big Macintosh for what he would encounter next as his mitten-covered hoof landed on the doll and brought it into his view. To his horror, the tiny doll was covered with rips and tears, looking as though it had seen the wrong end of a rather aggressive shredder. Possible explanations raced through Big Macintosh’s mind as he recalled how he had held up the doll to protect the fillies and himself when Rainbow Dash had flown through a particularly low-hanging group of branches on their way to Fluttershy’s cottage. It may have even been the whipping winds that had torn at the already fragile stitches of the old doll. Despite these attempts by his brain to inject some logic into the situation, Big Macintosh’s heart had already decided on how to react as he felt hot tears welling up within his eyes. Apple Bloom turned when she heard a choked sob coming from the baby buggy and when she saw her older brother’s state she rushed over and cried, “Oh my goodness! Big brother, are you alright?” Fluttershy then approached the buggy and removed the handkerchief tied around her head and used it to dab the tears in Big Macintosh’s eyes before she said, “Why don’t we start at the beginning, shall we?” The three young fillies then recounted the story of how their journey had begun, from the very start when they had been mulling over on how to spend their day, to their seeking out of Big Macintosh, followed by their inspiration to investigate their potential talents as mommies, to finally enlisting all of their friends’ assistance along the way.” Upon finishing their tale, Fluttershy gave a warm, understanding nod before she said, “Oh girls, I must say that you all have been on quite an adventure today, and I really respect how dedicated you all were on accomplishing your goal.” The three young ponies beamed at this recognition of their hard work, but Fluttershy then added, “However, you three forgot to remember something very important for taking care of a baby pony.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders all looked confused at this claim and each of the fillies racked her brain trying to figure out what detail they had missed. Finally Apple Bloom said, “I’m sorry Fluttershy but we don’t understand. We covered diaper changes, how to carry a baby pony, baby pony clothes, baby pony mealtime, and taking a baby pony out for a walk. What could we have possibly missed?” Fluttershy smiled and replied, “Listening to your baby pony. Did any of you three attempt to listen to how Big Macintosh felt about all this?” The three fillies paused and thought about this for a moment, realizing that none of them had bothered to listen to Big Macintosh once since they had began their journey to Fluttershy’s cottage. Scootaloo pensively said, “But Big Macintosh promised he would help us find our cutie marks. Also, some baby ponies aren’t old enough to talk as yet, so how would we be able to listen to them?” “Just because somepony is willing to help you doesn’t mean you should take advantage of that promise. If someone says they are uncomfortable doing do you a favor, you should respect their personal boundaries. As for listening to baby ponies, even though a baby pony may not be able to talk like you and I can, each baby pony is different. They have different needs and different likes and dislikes. It is important for you to be able to pay attention to each baby pony and not only take care them but help them grow to be as happy and well-rounded as they can be.” Sweetie Belle rubbed her temples with her hooves and sadly sighed as she said, “I never imagined being a mommy pony could be so complicated. I guess today shows that none of us would probably be very goods mommies.” “Oh, I wouldn’t say that,” said Fluttershy reassuringly as she wrapped the fillies in a big hug, “Just like each baby pony is different, each mommy pony is different in her own special way as well. Some mommy ponies play a lot, some mommy ponies work very hard, some mommy ponies are good at lots of different things, and some mommy ponies have one thing that they do better than anybody else. No matter what, cutie marks or no, I’m sure that each of you will be wonderful mommy pony in whichever way she chooses.” Each of the Cutie Mark Crusaders smiled as she pondered on this possibility before Rainbow Dash abruptly interrupted by saying, “Speaking of mommy ponies, yours won’t be in the best of moods if you all are late for supper tonight.” This reminder caused all three of the fillies’ eyes to widen as they bolted up and began to fret about returning home after dark. A twinkle entered Rainbow Dash’s eye as she cheerfully said, “If speed is what you need, I’m your pony. I can carry all three of you home with time to spare.” “What about Big Macintosh?” asked Apple Bloom worriedly as she turned to Big Macintosh, who still in the baby buggy holding the Smarty Pants doll with a forlorn expression. “If it’s alright with you Apple Bloom, I’d like to talk with your brother for a bit longer. He will come home as soon we’re done.” “Well alright. Please do what you can to make him feel better,” implored the little filly as she trotted over to Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash flew over with the baby buggy and said, “Alright guys hop into here, and I’ll deliver you all home airmail style.” Big Macintosh exited the buggy, still clinging to the Smarty Pants doll while the fillies hopped in. Rainbow Dash began to flap her wings once more, raising the buggy air. Just as the Rainbow Dash was departing with the buggy Sweetie Bell exclaimed from within, “Hey! Is this is wet spot?” The next moment Rainbow Dash and the fillies were gone in a blur of rainbow colored wind, while Big Macintosh’s eyes were still downcast. Heartbroken over Smarty Pants’ dilapidated state and embarrassed by his babyish state, he simply could not bring himself to say anything. Luckily he did not need to, for Fluttershy placed her hoof under his chin and lifted it until his eyes met her own. “Let’s get you inside and freshen you up, shall we?” said Fluttershy. > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: She then led Big Macintosh inside. Once inside, his hooves automatically moved to remove the soaked diaper pinned to his waist. However, before he could do so he felt a smaller pair of hooves stopping him. He turned to see Fluttershy blushing, with her hooves upon his own. Before he could ask why, she reached over to a nearby countertop and produced a large, blue pacifier before asking, “Why don’t you let me take care of that. Um, if you d-don’t mind, that is?” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened as he looked at the large pacifier within Fluttershy’s hooves, but against any logical strain of thought he felt himself nodding his head as he agreed to submit to her. Fluttershy’s blush disappeared as a comfortable expression washed over her. With a warm smile, she gently inserted the large pacifier into Big Macintosh’s mouth, which he felt himself immediately begin to suckle, enjoying the strange comfort the simple motion offered him. Seeing him begin to ease up, Fluttershy headed to a draw and returned with a basket of supplies. The first item Fluttershy removed from the basket was a plastic sheet, decorated with yellow ducklings and a blue wave patterned trim. Fluttershy nodded her head towards the sheet, indicating for Big Macintosh to lie down. Big Macintosh complied as he slowly lowered himself onto the sheet. Fluttershy then set to work, humming a lullaby as she removed the two pins from Big Macintosh’s diaper. The stallion felt himself shiver as she pulled the wet diaper out from underneath him, realizing how utterly exposed his nether-region was to the beautiful mare before him. Big Macintosh impulsively began to suckle more quickly on the pacifier, focusing on its’ rhythmic pulse rather than the nervous flutter of his own heartbeat. Fluttershy the quietly said to herself, “Hm, I do believe the girls said something about a spell. Why don’t I try…” With that said, Fluttershy tentatively took hold of Big Macintosh’s lower legs and was pleased to find that she could easily lift them into the air as though he weighed no more than a newborn foal. The mare then pulled the milk-sodden diaper out from underneath the stallion, and then reached into her basket and pulled out a small washcloth. She flitted over to the sink and began to run the water from the faucet. She waited for a moment as she tested the temperature of the water with her hoof. When satisfied, she soaked the washcloth in warm water. She then returned to where Big Macintosh laid waiting and began to softly wipe between his legs. It was now apparent that the washcloth was meant to wipe away any remnants of milk upon his fur, but the warmth of the cloth upon his skin was heavenly and despite his lingering embarrassment over this whole situation Big Macintosh let out a low moan of pleasure. Big Macintosh’s cheeks quickly flushed with embarrassment upon revealing he was enjoying any part of what should have been an utterly mortifying experience for a young stallion. However, as he tilted his head to see if his moan had elicited a reaction from Fluttershy, he was relieved to see that she still had the nurturing but focused expression she had maintained since she had began the diaper change. After she finished wiping his nether-region down thoroughly, Fluttershy set the washcloth back into the basket and picked up a bottle with a clear liquid inside. Fluttershy opened the bottle and the smell of lavender filled the room. The scent immediately took Big Macintosh back to a childhood memory, where he had remembered rousing Granny Smith from bed when he complained he couldn’t sleep. After mulling over his problem for a bit, Granny had trotted outside and headed to the far side of the barn. She returned with the two sprigs of the bright purple blossoms and set them in a vase next to the colt’s bed. She then told him to breathe in the aroma of the lavender as she tucked him into bed. Big Macintosh remembered the scent of the lavender wafting through the night air as he finally drifted off to sleep. The stallion then let out a tiny yawn around his pacifier, to which Fluttershy smiled and said, “We’re almost done. Just a little bit longer, Baby Mac.” Big Macintosh felt a small smile creep onto his face upon hearing her call him. Every other time someone had called him that it had felt like a joke made at his expense or like he was just a part of his sister’s game. Yet, when Fluttershy called him ‘Baby Mac,’ it didn’t feel like that it all. It somehow felt more… right. Fluttershy then rubbed the oil into Big Macintosh’s fur, starting off in his diaper region and then lightly spreading it all over his body. The heavenly scent caused Big Macintosh to yawn once more, this time a little wider, and his eyelids began to droop. Fluttershy then placed the scented oil back into the basket, wiped her hooves with the damp washcloth, and then withdrew a tube of diaper paste. She squeezed the paste into her hooves and then rubbed them together to warm them up. She then applied paste swiftly and carefully, although Big Macintosh did squirm slightly as she lifted him by the legs to apply the paste to his bottom. Once more Fluttershy wiped her hands clean with the damp washcloth and placed the diaper paste back into the basket. She then reached over and removed a white container from the basket. She twisted the top of the container and from the new aroma that entered the air Big Macintosh could immediately tell what it was, baby pony powder. Fluttershy turned the container upside-down and began to sprinkle the powder upon his body in a manner not to different to how he had seen Pinkie Pie dust sugary treats with sugar at the bakery. The combination of the lavender and baby pony powder created a heady sensation within Big Macintosh that was beyond description yet somehow seemed intimately familiar. The air around him had suddenly taken on a dreamlike quality where everything seemed wondrous and appealing, as though the whole world was waiting for him to discover it’s hidden delights. Big Macintosh sighed in utter content and silently wondered if this was how real baby ponies saw the world they lived in. Fluttershy smiled as she saw how much the baby pony powder had put Big Macintosh at ease. She then returned the powder and looked through a series of white, folded pieces of cloth within the basket, searching for something very specific. She finally lifted a piece of cloth, revealing it to be a large diaper. The logic-based portion of Big Macintosh’s brain was perplexed at the sight of the diaper, churning out questions such as: Why did Fluttershy have it? Where did she get it? How had she come across it? As these thoughts buzzed through Big Macintosh’s mind, but they were for the most part muted out by the blissful sense of ease the pacifier and the babyish scents enveloped him within. Fluttershy proceeded lifted the stallion by his legs again and slipped the new, pre-folded cloth diaper underneath him. Big Macintosh could already detect that this diaper was different than the impromptu one Granny had fashioned from their old bed sheet. The padding of this diaper seemed deliberately more layered from the front to the back, perfectly positioned for increasing the diaper’s load capacity. He was also surprised to find that that there was already an elastic rimmed hole on the upper edge of the back of the diaper, allowing his tail to be pulled through with relative ease. Once the diaper was properly positioned under Big Macintosh, Fluttershy reached into the basket and withdrew two large diaper pins. These diaper pins were not the same as the ones Big Macintosh had come in wearing, for those had just been plain, metallic safety pins. Instead, these large pins were painted baby blue and these pinheads were decorated with painted brown teddy bear faces. Fluttershy brought the front of the diaper up and securely pinned each side of the diaper to it, creating a snug but comfortable fit. Big Macintosh then attempted to rise off the changing mat, thinking the diaper change was over, but Fluttershy gently placed a hoof on his chest to keep him down as she said, “Ah, ah, ah, we’re not done just yet.” The stallion then heard a crinkling sound as Fluttershy pulled what looked like a white, plastic bag out from her basket. He then saw that it was not a bag at all, but a white pair of plastic pants, with a brown teddy bear face on the front that matched the one’s that decorated his diaper pins. For one last time, Fluttershy lifted Big Macintosh by the legs and slipped the plastic pants over the diaper. While the diaper had been snug before, with the plastic pants over it, the diaper was now be held firmly in place. Moreover, while this new cloth diaper was certainly thicker than his old diaper, the plastic pants added both another layer of bulk and a distinct crinkle that served to remind Big Macintosh every time that he even slightly moved that he was wearing the bulky, childish garment. Big Macintosh let out another heavy yawn as he tried to twist off of his back and stand on his own four legs. In spite of this, the bulk of the diaper presented its’ own unique set of challenges, making turning onto his belly a laborious effort. Even once he finally managed to achieve that difficult task, once he tried to rise off the ground he found the bulk of the diaper was separating his legs to such a degree that they began to buckle when he tried to stand upright. Just like a newborn foal, he found that the most he could do to was sit on his haunches. He then heard a soft giggle, as he turned to see Fluttershy, who had taken to opportunity to busy herself while Big Macintosh had fruitlessly attempted to get up. In her right, front hoof was a large baby pony bottle filled with warm milk. Once again Big Macintosh noticed that the bottle she held was not the one he had arrived with, which was probably still back in the buggy, but instead was decorated with same teddy bear motif as his diaper pins and plastic pants. This new bottle also seemed even larger than the other one as well. This bottle only raised further questions in Big Macintosh as he wondered why had Fluttershy changed his diaper rather than simply dispose of it or why did she have all of this overly large baby paraphernalia. Big Macintosh felt these questions about to escape his lips, but before they could Fluttershy simply put her left hoof to his lips and said, “You’ve had a long day.” The stallion paused upon hearing this and realized that despite whatever curiosity he held at that moment, it was infinitely outweighed by the sheer fatigue that was a culmination of the day’s various strenuous events. The light daze Big Macintosh had experience throughout his diaper change finally washed over him. Fluttershy gently stroked his mane and said, “We can talk all about it after a nice nap Baby Mac,” Big Macintosh sleepily nodded and was not even fully aware of when Fluttershy gently removed the pacifier he was sucking upon and slipped the nipple of the large bottle of milk into his mouth. He took the bottle into his right, front hoof, while still holding Smarty Pants with his left and continued to suckle as he had been doing with the pacifier previously. As the creamy milk washed down Big Macintosh’s throat, Fluttershy gently scooped him into her front hooves. Cradling the dewy-eyed stallion like a newborn in her front left hoof, Fluttershy flew into one of the back rooms of her cottage. There she approached a large closet and used her free hoof to pull out a large, folded-up contraption. Working deftly with only one free hoof, she quickly expanded the apparatus to reveal that it was a flat-bottom crib. She then reached back into the closet and pulled out a rolled up sleeping mat. She unfurled the sleeping mat and placed it within the crib to serve as the mattress. She then placed Big Macintosh upon the mat so that she could use both hands to prepare the crib. She next grabbed a plush pillow and gently placed it under Big Macintosh’s head. Then she withdrew a soft, fleecy blue blanket from the closet, which she draped over Big Macintosh before tucking him into snuggly. Lastly, she produced a spinning mobile from the closet, which she clipped onto the side of the crib before switching it on. On the mobile were a red, blue, and green plastic pegasus, each lighting up and spinning in a fixed orbit as the mobile was turned on. A sweet, familiar tune wafted out of the mobile, which Fluttershy couldn’t help but sing along to, “Hush now, quiet now It’s time to lay your sleepy head Hush now, quiet now It’s time to go to bed. Drifting off to sleep The day’s excitement behind you Drifting off to sleep Let the joy of dreamland find you Hush now, quiet now It’s time to close your sleepy eyes Hush now, quiet now My how time sure does fly Drifting off to sleep With tomorrow to start anew Drifting off to sleep With me right here beside you” As Fluttershy finished her lullaby, she looked down and saw Big Macintosh lightly dozing, still nursing upon the bottle she had given him. She stared down lovingly at the gentle giant before her and noticed in his outstretched upper right hoof hung the tattered Smarty Pants doll. She reached forward and softly took the doll from the crib. Even in the deep recesses of his dreams, Big Macintosh whimpered slightly upon feeling the absence of his beloved doll. Fluttershy stroked his cheek with her hoof and soothingly shushed him as she whispered, “Sleep tight, little one.” > Chapter 7 (Conclusion) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 7 (Conclusion): Big Macintosh stirred as he heard the clock chime upon the wall. It a moment for his vision to clear, but when it did he was able to see that the clock’s hands were both pointed at twelve. He then realized he heard a soft, suckling noise and looked down to see that he had once again been nursing upon his hoof in his sleep. With a blush he quickly removed the appendage from his mouth and looked around to see that the lamps were still illuminating the room he was in, thus he felt it was safe to assume that it was midnight rather than noon. He attempted to pull himself into an upright position, but the crinkling of the plastic as he moved reminded him of the diaper snuggly secure to his waist. Shifting to an upright position proved to be an even more difficult than before he had taken his nap, causing him to wonder if somehow his diaper had become bulkier. The answer would have certainly been more apparent if Big Macintosh had noticed the bottle he had been nursing before laid on the far end of the crib, completely drained. Fortunately, the nap had had its’ intended effect and had refreshed Big Macintosh to point where he was now able to stand and walk, albeit in a rather wobbly way. Big Macintosh was able to climb over the bars of the crib with relative ease, and toddled towards the door. Upon opening it he saw Fluttershy sitting at the table in her kitchenette, focusing on something very intently. She raised her head upon hearing the door open and as she saw Big Macintosh she merrily said, “Oh, you’re awake!” “Eeyup,” Big Macintosh responded somewhat timidly, still very confused over diaper change that had taken place before his nap. Fluttershy seemed to sense this, as a blush appeared on her face as she said, “Oh my, there I was lecturing the girls about the importance of listening to a baby pony, yet I haven’t done much listening or explaining, have I?” Big Macintosh merely cocked his head, waiting for her to elaborate. “I’m not very good at talking to other ponies. Everyone in Ponyville knows that about me. Twilight, Applejack, and the others have done an amazing job of helping me become more comfortable coming out of my shell, but it hasn’t been an easy process. Despite that, I’ve always been good at taking care of others. It’s something that I just naturally pick up on and allows me to overcome my shyness and focus on the task at. That’s why I was so happy to see you… like that.” Big Macintosh’s ears perked upon hearing this, and Fluttershy quickly continued, “You and I have rarely spoken before this. Talking to other adult ponies is always harder for me because I always feel as though I have to be careful to say the right thing or act a certain way. Seeing you dressed like a baby pony and how upset you were over what had happened to your doll, I didn’t feel any of my usual anxiety or uncertainty. I just knew that you were hurting and that I wanted to be the one help you.” The quiet mare then headed back to the table and retrieved what she had set down when Big Macintosh had entered the room. Big Macintosh’s eyes widened at what he saw before him. There was Twilight’s old Smarty Pants, delicately stitched back together so seamlessly that he would be hard-pressed to even point out where the huge rips had been just a few hours ago. In a flurry of movement, Big Macintosh trotted over, embracing Smarty Pants in one foreleg and Fluttershy within the other. He fought back the wetness entering his eyes as he quietly whispered, “Thank you.” Fluttershy nodded contentedly as she emerged from his embrace. She then added bashfully, “The diaper change was not only to get you out of that wet one. I’ve had to diaper a few of the animals when they stay inside, especially if they’re not housebroken. The diaper, bottle, and other things I used in your change earlier were some old things I used to use on my friend, Mr. Bear, when he was still a cub. It was actually through him and a few other animals that I learned that certain babying techniques used on even adult animals could have a surprisingly calming effect.” “It’s true,” Big Macintosh mused as continued to warmly embrace Smarty Pants, “I’ve always had to help out with the farm since Granny is so old. I don’t mind it none, but even simple things like playing with toys or taking a nap felt like time wasted. We all had to work so hard to keep the farm running smoothly. That’s why when I first found Twilight’s doll here, I just knew I wanted it. At first I couldn’t make sense of why I would, and I intended to return it. But after I fell asleep with it a few times I finally understood why. Cuddling up with the doll made me feel safe and secure. It made me feel like a little colt again, and that feeling that way was finally okay.” Big Macintosh let out a heavy sigh as though he had finally been released of an immeasurable burden he had been carrying for a long time. Fluttershy flew up and took the great stallion’s head into her hooves, softly stroking his mane and holding his ear near to her heart, just as she would have done for a true baby pony. The mare’s heartbeat did in fact sooth him and he said, “When my sister and her friends asked me to be a baby, I was so nervous. At first I thought it was because I thought it would embarrassing, but then as the day went on I realized I was afraid because… I actually liked being a baby again.” He raised his eyes to meet Fluttershy’s, looking for any signs of surprise or disgust, but all he saw in them was a serene acceptance. He then added, “I think it’s kind of like what you described. The same way taking care of others lets you overcome your shyness, acting a like a baby pony allows me to open up too. Hehe, in case you couldn’t tell, I’m not much of a talker either.” Both ponies had a good laugh at this. However, once their laughter died down they both realized that there was a question looming in the air between. Big Macintosh was the one to finally ask, “So where do we go from here?” Fluttershy mused upon the question for a moment before she tentatively said, “You and I have both admitted that we need to practice opening up ourselves more. If you acting like a baby pony and me taking care of you can help us both do that… t-then why don’t we continue doing it.” Big Macintosh’s eyes widened in surprise at her suggestion and Fluttershy’s face flushed red as she quickly said, “T-that is, if you don’t mind. I-I won’t want you to feel o-obligated to or…” Before the blushing mare could continue her stammering proposal, Big Macintosh gently placed a mitten-covered hoof upon her lips as he smiled and said, “I’d love to.” A wide smile spread across both the mare and stallion’s faces as they embraced each other. Alas, the force of the hug was enough to knock Big Macintosh off of his already diaper-induced wobbly legs, sending both him and Fluttershy both down onto the ground of her cottage. Rather than be put off by this Big Macintosh actually chuckled, “Rarity would be pleased to hear about this. She already asked me if I would give her feedback on her new line of baby pony clothes.” “She would?” exclaimed Fluttershy excitedly as she lifted her head off his chest, “Oh, that’s wonderful! Oh, I could just imagine all the cute, little outfits she could design. You would look so adorable. Maybe she could design some crib accessories as well…” Big Macintosh’s flushed pink once more as he said, “Uh, why don’t we keep this between us for a while before we tell our friends about it.” Fluttershy’s cheeks then matched Big Macintosh’s as she giggled, “Hehe, sorry. I got a little ahead of myself. Besides, I know a little something about fabrics. I’m sure I could make some adorable things for you myself. But first…” She then softly pushed her hoof against the bear’s face that decorated Big Macintosh’s plastic pants. The audible squish that the diaper produced confirmed her suspicions as she said with a loving smile, “It’s look you’re overdue for diaper change, my big, beautiful, Baby Mac.”