Chapter 19
Foalsittin' Can’t be any harder than Farmin’, right?
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“Tink it’s gowing otay at schoow?” Sunset asked Twilight as she levitated a few scrolls she’d been reading back onto a shelf.
The two foals were sitting in their playpen, watching as their mother went about her task of keeping the library in perfect order.
It had been two days since they’d retuned to Ponyville with their new house guest, Diamond Tiara.
Tiara hadn’t wanted to go back to school, knowing the other children were likely to hate her and ostracize her because of what she did in the past, not to mention she was petrified her wearing diapers would be found out.
Twilight had reminded her that, even if that was the case, Diamond had Silver Spoon and Apple Bloom to back her up and protect her should anything go wrong.
This boasted her confidence, as well as a spell from Twilight that ensured only Diamond would be able to take off her tiara, so it wouldn’t fall off randomly and reveal her diaper unless she wanted to.
Twilight finished organizing the library and turned to her daughters, smiling. “I’m sure everything’s fine. Now, how about we enjoy some nice quiet reading while—”
“Twilight!”
The three ponies turned as Spike ran into the room, panting.
“Wat’z up, Spike?” Scootaloo asked, raising an eyebrow.
“You got a—” Spike’s explanation was cut off as he belched and a scroll appear into a flicker of green fire.
“It’s from the princess,” Twilight said, removing Celestia’s seal and opening the scroll. “I wonder what...” she trialed off as she read.
“Um... Mommy?” Sunset asked, noting as her mother’s right eyebrow started to twitch. “Is somefing wong?”
“ARGH!” Twilight shouted, throwing her head up, startling the others. “I cannot believe him. Urg, that good-for-nothing, self centered, colt of a stallion! It’s been over a year, why won’t he just let this go already?”
“Uh, who you tawking bout, Mama?” Scootaloo asked, feeling a little confused.
“Prince Bloodblue!” Twilight shouted the name like it was a curse word. “That idiot is still, after all this time, trying to get Celestia to agree to invaded and destroy Ponyville!”
Both foals’ eyes went wide.
“Why does he wan’ dat?” Scootaloo demanded angrily. “Dis’s our home! Why’s he wanna destwoy it?”
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Oh, because some horrible law breakers destroyed the Grand Galloping Gala and his honor demands that all six be brought to justice.”
“Those six would be you mother and the others,” Spike answered the question on the foals’ minds before they could ask.
“But, why’s he wanna destwoy Ponywiwwe?” Sunset looked very cross. “Wha’s ouw town ewer done ta him?”
Twilight rolled her eyes again. “Because Ponyville is harboring the evil ponies that ruined his honor and the only way to make up for that is for the whole town to be banished.”
“Banished?” both foals squeaked, their eyes wide.
Twilight’s angry subsided and she smiled warmly. “Don’t worry. I’ll go to Canterlot and help Celestia stop Blueblood. At the very least, we can prevent him from trying this in the future. He’s yet to learn how hard it is to debate with Twilight Sparkle.”
“But, you can’t take the girls with you,” Spike said, turning to her. “And I’m coming with you, so I can’t look after them while you’re gone.”
Twilight blinked and her eye twitch returned. “I— I gotta find somepony to foalsit the girls and Diamond while I’m gone.”
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“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight shouted as she flew towards the cloud mansion.
As she landed outside on the balcony, she heard the sound of talking.
“You’ll come and watch whenever you can, right?” Rainbow’s muffled voice said from the inside.
“Oh, of course I will,” the unmistakably quiet voice of Fluttershy said shortly after. “I just hope I’ll finish up with Barry Bear’s cubs before it starts.”
Twilight knocked and silence fell.
“C-come on in,” Rainbow’s voice called, sounding nervous.
Twilight opened the door and saw the two pegasi standing in the middle of the hall, both of them supporting blushes.
Twilight noticed Rainbow was wearing a Wonderbolt uniform. if she weren't so frantic right now, her brain would be able to process why that was, but at present, not so much.
“Um, right,” she shook her head and focused. “Rainbow, I need to go to Canterlot to deal with something that could affect the future of Ponyville. Can you look after the girls while I’m gone? Knowing Blueblood, it'll be a week at the most.”
Rainbow shuffled her hooves. “Sorry, Twilight,” she said apologetically. “Spitefire and Soarin got sick and me and some guy name Swift Strike have to fill in for them.”
“Oh,” Twilight said, realizing why Rainbow was wearing the uniform now.
Since she’d become a member of the Wonderbolts Reserves, now that two Wonderbolts were out of commission for a while, she’d be filling in.
“I’m really sorry, Twi,” Rainbow said, putting a hoof on her shoulder, then winking at Scootaloo, who giggled. “Trust me, if not for this, I’d be more than happy to look after Squirt and Sunset here.”
“I’m sorry too, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, stepping forward. “Barry the Bear’s wife is giving birth to her cubs in a few days and I’ve gotta make sure she's comfortable enough and that the birth goes well.”
Twilight sighed. “That’s okay, Fluttershy,” she said, turning around. “Thanks anyway, girls. I’ll see you later.”
She flew off again her mind wandering.
They couldn’t either. She’d spent the last half hour looking of somepony to look after the girls while she was in Canterlot.
Rarity had a massive dress order to fill and Pinkie Pie was off in Trottingham for... well, the Cakes hadn’t been able to tell her too much about the why, but, considering this was Pinkie, that wasn’t much of surprise.
Twilight landed and sighed.
How was she going do this? She couldn’t leave the girls alone, but she couldn’t take them with her and she needed to go to ensure Ponyville continued to exist.
“Uh, Twilight?” an unmistakably accented voice said from behind her.
Twilight turned to see Applejack standing there, an empty basket on each side of her saddlebag. She was looking at Twilight, her head cocked to one side.
“You okay, sugarcube?” the farm pony asked, stepping closer. “Something’s wrong, ain’t it?”
Twilight sighed. “Yes, something is wrong, Applejack. First I get tricked in looking after Diamond Tiara until her father can get back by her father, not that I’ve any problem with looking after her, since she learned her lesson, it just would've been nice if he'd been straight forward about it, but now I’ve got to go to Canterlot and deal with a stuck-up prince who wants to destroy our town just because he feels his honor was offended at the Gala and is too self-centered to think passed that or just let it go, but I can’t take the girls with me, but I can’t leave them alone, but nopony seems free to look after them while I’m gone so I don’t know what to do!” she finished as a shouted.
She took in a huge breath and face-hoofed. “I just wish I knew what to do.”
Applejack thought for a moment, then smiled. “Ah’ll look after ’em.”
Twilight looked at her, blinking. “You...? You would?”
Applejack became nervous at the look on Twilight’s face.
Before she could do anything, Twilight leaped forward and pulled the farm pony into the more powerful bone-crashing hug she’d ever felt.
“Oh, Applejack!” she cried, spinning the poor mare around. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“Twilight!” Applejack gasped, her face turning the slightest shade of blue. “Ah can’t... breath!”
Twilight let go off the earth mare, chuckling sheepishly. “Sorry, AJ. Um, are you sure you can handle looking after them for a week?”
Applejack, after regaining her breath, smiled. “Ah’m sure, Twilight. How hard can it be? Foalsitting can’t be any harder than farmin’, right?”
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“Sunset, Scootalo, get yer flanks down from there this instant!” AJ shouted, trying in vain to grab either of the foals as they zipped through the air.
It had been less than two hours and she was struggling already to keep the foals under control.
How had it gotten to this?
Twilight left, leaving more lists than the farm pony had through she’d needed to, explaining how to look after the girls while she was away.
“Not to worry, Twi. I got this handled.”
She couldn’t believe she’d said that. It sounded so stupid to her now.
For reasons she couldn’t understand, Scootaloo had, for whatever reason, suddenly become able to fly and Sunset’s magic had started working.
Now both foals were flying, by wings and magic, around the library while the poor earth pony tried her hardest to get them down.
“How does Pinkie do this with Pound an’ Pumpkin?” she wheezed as the foals flew over her head again. “I was wrong. Farmin’ ain’t got nothin’ on this.”
She just noticed Sunset float into the kitchen. Her green magical aura surrounded the front of the fridge, which opened, revealing multiple bottle of milk.
“I left enough milk in the fridge for the girls while I’m gone. It should be just enough to tied them over until I get back,” Twilight’s words echoed in her mind.
Maybe they’ll be hungry and settle down after this? she thought desperately. Oh, please, Celestia, let them settle down after they’ve eaten.
An orange blur shot passed the farmer’s head, followed by a crashing and several screams.
Applejack ran into the kitchen and her eyes bugged out.
Scootaloo and Sunset were sitting on the floor, covered in milk.
Around them, on the floor, were all the bottles Twilight had left for the girls spread across the kitchen floor.
Oh, sweet Celestia! she started shifting from one hoof to the other, her mind panicking. What am Ah gonna do now? Twilight said Sunset still can’t drink formula yet. How can I feed them if there’s no more...?
Her eyes widened. “Zecora!”
She ran into the living room, strapped the foal carrier onto her back, ran back in to the kitchen, put both foals into it, strapping them in securely and ran out, headed for the Everfree Forest.
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“Zecora!” Applejack shouted, banging her hoof on the door to Zecora’s hut.
From within the hut came, “Come on in, Applejack, my friend. What is this situation you need my help to amend?”
Applejack pushed open the door, panting from running all the way from Twilight’s library.
“Zecora, Ah need yer help,” she said, looking around worriedly. “Ah told Twilight Ah’d look after her foals while she’s dealin’ with some hoity toity prince in Canterlot, but now all the milk she left for the girls is spilt and Ah don’t know how Ah’m gonna feed ’em.”
Zecora paused, putting a hoof to her muzzle, thinking.
“To my knowledge, there is nopony like that you can ask. However, there is a way, if you are up to the task.”
“What is it?” Applejack asked, her eyes wide with hope. “Whatever it is, Ah’ll do it! I prmosed Twi Ah’d look after ’em. Ah’ll do whatever Ah need to keep that promise.”
Zecora smiled. “You need the foals to drink? Do not worry. I have a way to bring you away from this disaster’s brink.” She walked over to a shelf and pulled down a small vile of a green liquid, walked back over and hoofed it to Applejack. “Drink this potion and you will have no need for fright. You will be able to nurse the same as Twilight.”
Applejack’s eyes widened. “Ya mean... Ah gotta nurse ’em?”
Zecora nodded. “You said you would do anything, did you not? Or is that something you have already forgot?”
Applejack gulped.
Well, Ah did promise to do whatever Ah had to ta take care of them. Her eyes softened. ’Sides, at least it’ll feel a little like I’ve got my own foals.
Applejack drank the liquid, gagging a little at the taste and at once felt her body changing, preparing her to feed foals.
“Thank ya, Zecora,” Applejack smiled, reaching into her bag for some bits. “How much do Ah owe ya?”
“Do not think of it, Applejack, my friend,” the zebra said, waving a hoof. “I was happy to help this situation amend.”
Applejack smirked. “Ya’ll just repeated what ya said before Ah came in, didn’cha?”
Zecora just shrugged and gave a sly smile. “Maybe I did, maybe I did not. But are there two here whom you have forgot?”
Applejack gasped and looked to the foals at her sides. Both were still covered in milk, sound asleep.
She chuckled. “Guess Ah’d better head back ta the libarary for when these two wake up. They’re gonna be mighty hungry. Thanks again, Zecora. Yer a lifesaver.”
As she walked out, Zecora called, “Farwell and have a good day, dear Applejack. I hope the foals enjoy their snack.”
Applejack chuckled. If Ah remember how Ma’s milk tasted when Ah was a youngin, Ah’m sure they will.
You just had to ask the great god of irony Murphy that question.
Well that took an odd turn.
Congrats, AJ. You cursed yourself.
Judging just from what my mother has to deal with taking care of toddlers (Early school program thing)...
Nothing is harder than children. Nothing.
Ok, I was a little wary with how you handled Diamond Tiara (it's tricky to write something like that well) but lines like this are so over-the-top inconsistent with the implicit understanding you've allowed us to develop for how you see Equestria that it's grating.
...not to mention, the method by which you set up for Applejack to have to wet-nurse them just piles on the impression that, when quality and your personal fanwank come into conflict, you consciously choose to sacrifice quality.
Logically, this chapter has a lot of problems.
1) Why hadn't Twilight asked AJ to foalsit? Personally, she would have been the first one I'd have asked, after Pinkie and Fluttershy. But when she saw AJ it was like the idea of asking her hadn't even occurred to Twilight. Why would she have asked all of her other friends but not AJ?
2) AJ is acting like she knows nothing about watching foals. But chances are she would have helped to raise Apple Bloom to some extent, especially once their parents died. At the very least, she probably would have foalsat her regularly.
3) Why would AJ have gone to Zecora to ask if she knew anypony who could nurse them? Why would she think that Zecora would know such a thing? If her plan had been to ask Zecora for that potion from the beginning, that would have made sense, but going there to ask her if she knows any wet nurses doesn't. Especially since Mrs. Cake would be an obvious option if she just needed a nursing mother.
4) Why are Sunset and Scoots giving AJ such a hard time? You've made it pretty clear that their mental ages haven't really changed much, but here they're acting like they are just foals. Yes, even older kids will act up a bit when parents are gone, but Sunset should be way beyond that, and judging by the maturity of all the CMC-aged ponies we've seen so far, Scoots should be too.
5) I really hope that Twilight is exaggerating Blueblood's demands. Because if not, what he is suggesting is so outrageous and ridiculously evil that he would literally have to be as evil as Sombra to suggest it. And while he may certainly be a stuck-up jerk, I have a really hard time believing that he is that evil.
5b) Does Blueblood realize that one of the ponies he wants brought to justice is now a princess? If so, he is also an incredible idiot. And while an idiotic Blueblood is certainly within the realms of possibility, I think it's more likely that he'd want to get on all of the princesses' good sides. That's how he gets what he wants, after all. And his suggestions would certainly not get him on any of their good sides, especially Twilight's.
6) Why does Spike need to go with Twilight anyway? Other than the obvious answer that the plot demands it.
7) Actually, why does Twilight even need to do this? What can Twilight do to change Blueblood's mind that Celestia can't?
8) Why would this trip take a whole week? Blueblood's got one issue that needs to be dealt with, and it really shouldn't take longer than one meeting to take care of.
9) I get that Diamond should stay in Ponyville so she can go to school, but why can't Twilight take Sunset and Scoots with her? Between her parents, Spike, and whoever is taking care of Eve, I'm sure someone could watch them while Twilight is busy telling Blueblood what an idiot he is. And then finding somepony in Ponyville to just watch Diamond should be easy. I'm sure one of her friends' families would be fine with her staying with them for a few days.
10) Why is Spike running to Twilight before he gets the letter from Celestia? To the best of my knowledge, nothing we've seen has suggested that he knows when he's about to deliver a letter. And even if he can, he's acting like he already knows that the message is super important, but there's no way he could know that.
A Shadow The Hedgehog reference?
That I was not expecting.
4216296 I'm gonna try answering that.
First off, I'm sorry if twi didn't think of aj at because she was feeling anxious. When we get anxious, even the simplest of things slip our minds, even if they're staring us right in the face.
Second, and this answers the thing you asked about scoots and sunset too, while their minds are mature, this was the first time scoots has ever flown by her own power and the same for sunset's magic and while aj might know how to handle an earth pony she does NOT know how to handle overexcited Pegasus and unicorn.
Third, you're right. I goofed on her going to zecora first to ask about the wet nursing. I'll see if I can rework it.
Fourth, this blueblood's mindset is based on the one from the Fic my little alicorn, where he tried to foalnap celestia while she was stuck as a foal so he could force luna to do as he wanted to ponyville, which is the same here, exactly the same.
Fifth, when a guy of high stature that thinks the self better than everyone else has his honor damaged, he does not think straight. Blueblood is such an idiot tht this would happen.
Sixth, twilight needs to do this because she is a resident of ponyville and , since she became a princess, ponyville has become like her own unofficial small kingdom, thus, any large problems invoking ponyville fall to her to fix.
Seventh, it is yet to be mentioned, but twilight's parents are visiting cadance and shining in the Crystal empire right now, so they couldn't foalsit the foals.
Eighth, blueblood will find a way to keep the argument going. He's an idiot who will keep pushing the matter. It wil take him on the seventh day of the discussion about this for him to say something incredibly stupid when twilight mentions one of her daughters was born in ponyville that is insulting to the point it says the lost of a common born foal would be of no consequence that she'll. loose it with him entirely and celestia will strip him of his title and that will be the end of that
And nineth, spike went with her because he's her assistant, and as a fellow member of ponyville, he is allowed to have his say too.
Wow tht took a long time
I hope that has answered your demands and goodnight
4216325 I'll think about that
4216296 I forgot to mention, see the second the to last. Episode of season two when spike runs to twilight and belches the wedding invite
4216366
I still think that's a bit of a stretch, and I would still think that she would have at least thought to ask AJ when she ran into her.
Okay, I can understand their enthusiasm then, though I recommend making that clearer in the story. Show that Scootaloo and Sunset are incredibly excited to finally be flying and using magic. You have them acting like Pound and Pumpkin, who probably thought they were playing a game and were just trying to have fun. Instead, they should be acting like older kids who are excited to finally get something they've always wanted.
Okay, so it sounds like he really is an incredibly evil idiot. Got it. It's not what I'd expected from a fic like this (by which I mean one tagged "comedy" instead of "dark"), but if you want to do it then go for it.
Good point. I hereby rescind that complaint.
That's definitely some narrative convenience there, but okay.
Still seems a bit excessive to me, but okay. Though that doesn't explain how Twilight knows that it will take that long already.
I suppose this is true, but it seems like he probably won't be able to do much to help Twilight fight off Blueblood, so he'd probably be more useful staying in Ponyville to watch the foals. If he is old/mature/responsible enough to do so for an extended period of time. And that's one of those things that I think is up in the air and could go either way. So it depends on how you want to characterize Spike.
Heh. Sorry about that
4216390
Except in that one, Spike had already received the invitation and was running to give it to Twilight. Then when he got there he belched out the letter asking Twilight and her friends to help with the wedding.
Looks like that Twi AJ is gonna be starting soon. The foals get two mothers. I wonder if they also get a big brother and a big sister too.
I'm guessing that Applejack foalsitting is gonna be the start of what eventually becomes Twijack, right?
wow blueblood....
dick move
4216061 You think Applejack of all ponies would know better than to say such a thing.
So do we get to see the debate?
4217104 bit of a memory flash when twi gets back, yeah
And, I KNOW that Apple Jack is smarter than Jeremy Clarkson...
4216325 i would but i only have discords soul. Luna is nightmare's soul, crona is mia right now, and i wouldent even ask discord to be put under charslis's torture(combies every sadistic bdsm rape, and murder fic together and you would still need to addcupcakes to the mix.). Discord would only call the evil mane 6(rainbow from rainbowfactory, pinkamena, rarity from secreat life of rarity, twi from deathnote equestra, flutershy from a story where she mothers RD by giving her a specal drink to make her feel like a baby and need fluttersy to break her wings and legs, and aj from bad appels.) To tortue him in there own way after they meet on the others 'work'.
My first thought when I realized Twilight needed a sitter: her parents, they'd love to spend more time with their grandfillies. Then I saw AK make that comment. THIS WILL NOT END WELL
4217104 AKA Twilight using the Royal Canterlot Voice to ruin Blueblood's manedo???
4216370 Mind you, not a lot, just enough to get to where Gentles Skies has both this wings and Sweet Dreams has her horn repaired. Please don't make them fillies like Scootaloo and Sunset.
...um, wat?
4217445 I think the author did that on purpose as an insult to Prince "not all high and mighty".
4217520 I figured as much. It's still funny to read though. Bloodblue.
4217525 Eeyup.
Bloodblue: How dare you pronounce my name incorrectly.
Twilight: It's no more then you deserve after the way you treated Rarity at the Gala.
Bloodblue: She's a commoner, and as one, she must abide by my wishes.
Twilight: And you call yourself a prince.
Celesstia: I have to agree with Twilight here Blueblood, that was very, how do I say it, uncouth of you. I have no choice but to do something that I would only use as a last resort.
Bloodblue: B-but, I'm your nephew.
Celestia: That doesn't exempt you from punishment. Luna?
Luna: *appears via teleportation.* *yawn* you better have a good explanation for waking me sister.
Celestia: It's time we used the potion we've been saving.
Luna: but that's only for certain cases.
Celestia: This is one of them.
Luna: Alright. *teleports the potion in.*
Bloodblue: I'm not going to drink that.
Celestia: Would you rather I put you in the dungeon?
Bloodblue: Oh, fine. *drinks the potion.* nothing seems to be.... *is engulfed in a white light.* Goo goo gah gah.
Twilight: Aww, wook, he's so young now he can't even stand on his wittle wegs.
Celestia: Indeed, now, I suppose I'll have to raise him better then his father did. Wish his mother was here, rest her kind heart.
Your doing a goo job. Some rough patches an editor could fix up, but hey, this story has a higher rating then my own.
4217397
Nah, Twilight is more subtle I think. I do believe she`ll make a more reasoned aproach.
One so full of facts and what she can do to ruin him that he`ll simply crawl under a rock and not comming out untill the age of alicorns has passed.
Believe me, the only thing worse to face in a debate then a politician is a researcher. Because unlike the politicians, researchers actually know what they are talking about.
4218554 How about she debates him first and then when he's slinking out, it goes like this:
Oh yes, and Blueblood?
BB: Yes *turns and looks*
IF YOU EVER SO MUCH AS THREATEN MY HOME AGAIN I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU WISH NIGHTMARE MOON GOT HER HOOVES ON YOU!!!!
BB: X_Xp
Lol! Applejack was funny in this chapter!
Why is Sunset so immature here?
I vote to keep the instance of Bloodblue in if that was an accident, because I busted a gut at that. Any story where he's a massive jerk is allowed to do that to his name. XD
4216422 just thought I'd let you know, I've thought about it and changed it from slaughtered to banished
Celestia cannot be considering that.
SApplejack
[Applejacks dilemma] uh oh......
I still kind of don't understand all of Zacora's talk in rhymes, I mean she is a zebra that lives in the ever free forest, with all of the Timberwolves running amok, great now I'm talking in rhymes ack!