The paved road was perfectly smooth to walk upon.

Scootaloo’s stroller was gliding on without the tiniest disturbance. The houses on every side were plain, multi-storied apartment blocks, and there were many young ponies arriving home, or just about to go out into the night. Still, the promenade was broad enough for everypony to fit comfortably, and the decorative shrubbery dampened every conversation down to a comfortable murmur.

It would have been almost monotonous, but the next intersection exchanged the houses for a neat little park area. It was obviously cultivated, likely the result of some clever urban planning, but the park was very quaint, lots of greenery interspersed with hedges and trees, a little path here and a small biotope there.

Halfway through, they could already hear the music. Thump, thump, thump. A group of party ponies caught up, and Fluttershy followed them.

At the end of the park stood the Turnpike, as indicated by a rather unremarkable sign. It looked less like a nightclub and more like a bunker, since only entrance into the otherwise plain building was a set of stairs leading down. The music was pretty loud though, since they had an open bar that apparently served both the dance floor on the inside, as well as the assortment of folding tables on the outside. No wonder they had to be in the middle of the park, where nopony could complain about the noise.

There was a bunch of bikes and skates on the corner, and Fluttershy parked the stroller there.

Scootaloo was unleashed, and she immediately toddled after the party folk. They looked so fancy, of makeup, jewelry, crazy mane colors and stylings, glow in the dark hats and neck ties with ironic slogans on them, everypony had at least a couple.

The stallion in the back had crazy tail extensions. They jingled whenever he moved, but they also glittered so pretty in all neon colors, even when it was dark. They had reached the entrance, and the neon tail vanished down the stairs.

Scootaloo stared straight up at the bouncer. He looked like he meant business.

The bouncer stared straight back at her. She was sure, although she couldn’t really tell.

Scootaloo stared at him. He had something intense about him.

He stared back. No way he would let her in, unless she could convince him how mature she was.

“Why are you wearing sunglasses at night?” Scootaloo said.

The bouncer sighed.

“Look, little filly,” he said, “I’ve got work to do. There’s a nice playground over there, you should go over and play.”

“Scootaloo,” Fluttershy said, “leave the gentlecolt in peace.”

“It’s okay, ma’am,” the bouncer said, “Lots of parents like to come here and take their kids, that’s why we have the outside area. Feel free to have a seat and unwind, you can see the entire playground from there.”

“That sounds nice,” Fluttershy said, “thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” the bouncer said. He visibly relaxed when Scootaloo was dragged off.

Calling the place a playground was a bit much, there seemed to be only a swingset in the grass, and various kinds of seating, for lounging around.

“You wanna go play?” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah, looks like fun,” Scootaloo said, “But what are you going to do in the meantime?”

“I thought I’d just rest here for a bit,” Fluttershy said, “Maybe I’ll have a drink.”

“Wow, I thought you didn’t drink,” Scootaloo said.

Fluttershy just winked, and Scootaloo shrugged before waddling off to the playground.

There was a group of youngsters standing about as close to the club as they dared, talking in less than clandestine hushes. They were obviously trying to devise a way to get in. They couldn’t have been much older than Scootaloo, which meant they were technically adults, but still too young to be let into any clubs. And there’s nothing more hurtful to a young adult’s pride than not being let into a club.

Scootaloo walked around her peers at a distance so they couldn’t hear her pants rustle.

Barely anypony else populated the playground. Near the seatings, another pony about Scootaloo’s age sat. She was kind of fat and wore an expensive looking dress, and she seemed occupied.

On the other side, there was a little filly, shyly looking at Scootaloo behind her long mane.

“Hi there,” Scootaloo said.

The little filly ducked away, but then smiled at her.

“Wanna play?” Scootaloo said.

The filly nodded and pointed at the seesaw.

“Alright,” Scootaloo said.

She sat down on one end of the log and pulled it up by the handle so the filly could sit down on the other end. She gently pushed herself off the ground so Scootaloo came down, and then Scootaloo pushed herself off until the filly came down again.

Up and down they went, and the constant rocking motion was really pleasant. Wow! Scootaloo had totally forgotten how fun this simple plaything was.

Meanwhile, Fluttershy had finished reading through the cocktail menu and still didn’t recognize a single name. Had it really been this long since she’d had a cocktail, that everything was so unfamiliar now?

“Hey there,” came a raspy voice.

There was only one other patron occupying the folding tables. The mare was gigantic. Her neck alone was more muscular than Fluttershy’s hind leg. She wore a utility jacket, its shade of blue matching her coat, and bore the obvious marks of manual labor.

“Um, hello,” Fluttershy offered.

“Name’s Victory,” she said, “and I work down at the foundry.”

“Um, I’m Fluttershy,” Fluttershy said, “and I’m the veterinarian of my town.”

“The vet of your town, huh?” Victory said, “Must’ve had a busy schedule to come here.”

“Oh, I’ve left my practice in the hooves of very special friends of mine,” Fluttershy said, “I know they’ll do their best to make sure everything goes well while I’m away. But, um.” She added more quietly. “I also have a professional associate of mine checking up on them, just to make sure.”

Victory laughed. “I like you,” she said, “come, sit down. There’s nopony else around anyway, so you might as well.”

“Seems like a decent enough place,” Fluttershy said.

“It’s usually busier too,” Victory said, “Guess everypony’s held up with those sailor folk. You see, I like coming here because it’s the least stuck up place around. Funny, right? Those snobby types, they think only common folk go here, being in the middle of the city and all. It’s not exclusive enough for them, they don’t like getting their hooves dirty, not like us working mares, am I right? That’s why I like coming here. Oh, and they also sell good tobacco.”

Victory pulled out a cigarette and lit up.

“Want one?” she said.

“No, thanks,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t smoke.”

“Better that way,” Victory said, “but you drink, right?”

“Um,” Fluttershy said, “but only one drink.”

Victory laughed heartily.

The youngster ponies had finally decided to make their move. Another group of partygoers came in, and the youths went over to mingle with them surreptitiously. Only one mare remained behind, looking on skeptically as her compatriots ducked into the group like stowaways, and gained entrance into the club.

Scootaloo and the little filly had finished playing with the seesaw. The remaining party mare walked over to the dress pony, who still sat hunched over in the sitting area, and Scootaloo and the little filly followed.

Dress pony noticed the others approaching. “Aren’t you going to go with them?” she said.

Party mare rolled her eyes. “Why should I?” she said, “those knuckleheads are going to get kicked out again anyway, just watch. Oh, look, who do we have here?”

“Hello,” Scootaloo said.

“Hello there, sunshine,” party mare said, “Looks my little sister found somepony to play with after all. See, dollies? It’s not that hard making friends.”

“Whatever,” dress pony said, “and stop calling me dollies.”

Scootaloo could finally see what she was doing there. Indeed, she had two soft pony dolls before her. The little ponies were clothed neatly in well tailored tiny pony garments, and came complete with a little purse containing small doll accessories, such as a little comb to straighten out the yarn roving manes. The sight was absurd, but Scootaloo couldn’t deny how immaculately groomed and well dressed the dolls were.

“Anyway, thanks for playing with my sister,” party mare said, “you can’t tell, but she’s a little shy sometimes.”

“That’s no problem,” Scootaloo said, “we had fun, right?”

The filly nodded.

“Oh, how well behaved your new friend is, sis,” party mare cooed, “isn’t that just golden?”

There was a commotion at the club entrance. Whoever stood there quickly jumped out of the way, as the young ponies who had previously snuck inside came scrambling out again. Chasing after them came the bouncer, his demeanor much less cool than it once had been.

“I told you the last time,” he fumed, “you can’t come in here until you’re old enough. Now scram!”

“This place sucks anyway,” one of them said, “come on, let’s blow this joint.”

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t let us in,” another one said, “we look old enough, don’t we?”

Scootaloo watched them leave at a rather impressive rate when the bouncer threatened to come after them again.

“That’s our cue to go,” party mare said, “Come on, sis, I promise we won’t stay too long this time. See you later, dollies!”

“Stop calling me that!” dress pony said.

The two sisters left, but the little one turned back and waved goodbye to Scootaloo. Scootaloo waved back.

“Do you know them?” Scootaloo said.

“Ugh,” dress pony said, “yeah I know them. We’re in the same class in school. By Celestia, I can’t wait until I can take the final exam and be finally done with that.”

“Being done with school is not all that pleasant either,” Scootaloo murmured.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” dress pony said, “are you even old enough to go to school yet? You have no idea the misery of which that place makes me submit to every day.”

“Err, what I mean is,” Scootaloo said, “It’s nice to have a place where the things you have to do are simple and you’re always told when you did something well. Everypony has to be there and it’s so easy to make friends. Wouldn’t it be a shame to lose that?”

“Well, if that’s the kind of friends you’re talking about,” dress pony spat, “then that’s the kind of friends I can do without, thank you very much. Everypony at school keeps making fun of me because of my dolls. I like having my dolls with me and spending time with them, but that’s just oh so strange. It’s just impossible not to laugh when seeing something so weird, isn’t it? Don’t you think I look very strange, too?”

“No,” Scootaloo said.

“Well why don’t you take your opinion and shove --” dress pony blinked. “Oh.”

“Are these your dolls?” Scootaloo said.

On one of the plastic stools fixed to the ground, the two dolls sat beside each other, much like dress pony sat in front of them in the grass. She had obviously been in the middle of tending to them.

“Um, yeah, these are my dolls,” dress pony said cautiously.

“Cool,” Scootaloo said, “what are their names?”

“The smaller one is called Skip, and the bigger one is Pip,” dress pony said, “they’re sisters.”

“Hi Skip, hi Pip,” Scootaloo said, “I’m Scootaloo. And who are you?”

“My name is Terry Cloth, of the Linden Family, royal bloodline,” Terry said. She rubbed her foreleg.

“Fancy,” Scootaloo said, “Your dolls are really pretty.”

“Um, thanks,” Terry said, “They’ve been restored recently, that’s why their coats are so clean. They’re my oldest, and they were a bit less … eminent before the restoration.”

“Oh,” Scootaloo said, “Looks like it worked pretty well then. Can I touch them?”

She stepped closer and ran a hoof over Pip’s coat. The sturdy felt really was almost like a real pony’s coat, but constant brushing and grooming had made it so smooth. The little dress she wore wasn’t a mockup either, this was an actually tailored piece of clothing, only small.

“Wow, the dresses are just amazing,” Scootaloo said, “where did you get them?”

“Um,” Terry said. She twirled a strand of Skip’s mane. “I made them.”

“Really?” Scootaloo said, “Wow, It fits her just perfectly. The little ruffles around her shoulders … and the bow on her back! It’s like a real dress. I didn’t even know you could make clothes so nice for dolls. You’re really good at this, Terry.”

“Thanks,” Terry said.

She pushed Skip closer to Pip and, herself, moved a bit nearer to Scootaloo.

“Um, do you want to play with them together?” she said.

“Yeah, seems like fun,” Scootaloo said.

“Great,” Terry beamed, “here, I’ll tell you what we’ll do. You’ll play Skip, and you’re the big sister, and I’m your little sister Pip. And this is the city.” She indicated the corners of the stool. “Over here’s the castle, and here’s the market, and here’s the park.”

“Cool,” Scootaloo said.

“But, oh no,” Terry said, “We have a problem. The princess has sent us to buy fresh fruit from the market. But look at this! Our manes and tails have begun to get all tangled and messy. We can’t go to the market like this.”

“But our manes look really neat,” Scootaloo said.

“Not everypony can sport your … um, energetic, style, Scootaloo,” Terry giggled, shaking her perfectly curled locks. “Here, look. Skip’s a very sensitive pony, and she could never find anything like this acceptable.”

Indeed, in the broad of Skip’s otherwise smooth mane, there was a single hideous tangle.

Scootaloo gasped. “That can’t be,” she said, “we need to visit the coiffeur immediately. We can go to the market after we’re presentable again.”

“But we can’t go, sister,” Terry said, “the way would lead us directly past the castle. Somepony might see us this way!”

“I know what we’ll do,” Scootaloo said, “come with me. We’ll go through the park, so we can hide behind the bushes when somepony’s there.”

Pip and Skip galloped through the park, and luckily, nopony was there to see them in their dreadful state. They enjoyed prancing around together, and how the wind played with their manes and dresses as they ran. Past the park, their goal finally came into view, the best mane and tail stylist in town.

Pip began running, but Skip held her back.

“Careful, Pip! It’s the main street. There’s lots of dangerously fast traffic,” Scootaloo said, picking up a rock and sliding it over the chair. “There. Now the cart’s passed, we can cross the street.”

“Thank you, big sister,” Terry said, “I’ll be sure to look left and right before crossing the street from now on.”

Scootaloo and Terry laughed. When they arrived at the hairdresser’s, Terry eagerly presented a little brush and a little comb from her purse.

“Here’s the professional equipment the stylists will use,” she said, “Look, I’ll show you how they do it. First, you’ll have to take off your dress so it won’t get dirty.”

Scootaloo carefully lifted Skip’s dress and pulled it over her head. How quaint, she even wore a matching set of underclothes beneath. Pip, however, didn’t. All she had on under her dress was a white piece of fluffy terry cloth, pinned around her waist with two little safety pins.

“Pip’s still a baby,” Terry explained, “Poor little thing still needs a diaper. But don’t worry, they also have a foal stylist here in addition to an adult stylist. Here, take this.”

Scootaloo received the comb. Terry took her hoof and carefully guided it along the length of Skip’s mane. As soon as the comb bit into the tangle, it came undone and the mane was left perfectly smooth again.

“You did it, Scootaloo,” Terry cheered.

“Wow, she’s so pretty now,” Scootaloo said, “this is amazing.”

She proceeded to revel in the satisfaction of combing her doll’s mane to utter flawlessness. Terry picked up the brush and complemented Scootaloo’s efforts with her own. Together they brushed and brushed until the dolls shone immaculately.

“This is amazing,” Fluttershy said, “but what is it?”

“I had a feeling you’d like it,” Victory said, “it’s called the Tailreed Trail. Funny name, that, supposedly invented a merchant travelling across an estuary domain in the far east.”

Fluttershy stirred around the bushy reed plume with her straw.

“It tastes of lemon and mint. But also, um,” Fluttershy said, “a bit like a tree, I’d say.”

Victory laughed. “Legend has it the emperors would chuck an entire bonsai in there just to make it look more fancy,” she said, “but I guess the merchant had to make do with what he had.”

Both took another sip from their drinks.

“So, I’m guessing you’re here for the first time?” Victory said.

“Oh, yes,” Fluttershy said, “I don’t usually travel this far too much. Scootaloo hasn’t been feeling very well at home lately, though, and I thought the change of pace would do her good. You know, to get around a bit and see new faces.”

“Oh, I know,” Victory said, “Little Terry’s all the same. She’s a good filly, she really is, and I bet she’d make a whole boatload of little friends if she just had the chance. Shame I can’t say the same about my sister. Keeps the poor thing locked up in that estate of hers. Could go on about her lineage until your ears fell off.”

“Your sister is royalty?” Fluttershy said.

“Let’s just say I’ve distanced myself,” Victory said, “and I haven’t regretted the decision either, if only for Terry’s sake. I’ll gladly take her along to this place after work, and she keeps wanting to come. Seeing her make new friends like this, warms my heart.”

“They do seem to be getting along rather well,” Fluttershy said.

They took another sip from their drinks. It had gotten dark now, but the city’s abundant lighting created an air of smooth tranquility.

There was another commotion at the Turnpike’s entrance, however different this time around. The music had stopped, and ponies were flooding out the door to catch some fresh air. Some of them looked pretty exhausted already, while others were more lively, carrying drinks and making conversation.

Somepony had brought a guitar. He sat at the edge of his audience and began playing. It was a happy, lively tune, and immediately had heads bobbing and bodies bouncing. The guitarist’s apparent bandmates joined him and stomped the ground and clopped their hooves to provide a jovial percussive underscore, and ponies cheered and moved with the rhythm.

“They’re dancing!” Scootaloo said, “Come on, let’s go dance!”

“Dance?” Terry said, “Us? Go dance? But, but, but, but, but, b-”

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” Scootaloo said.

She practically dragged Terry toward the impromptu dance floor, her spring already in line with the beat. Terry desperately sought rescue from her aunt, but Victory just raised her glass and winked.

Scootaloo squeezed between the bystanders and paved a way for her hilariously squirmy friend. Funny looking ponies with shimmering jewelry and glowing bands around their legs let them through, until they had reached the band.

The music was so pretty, Scootaloo couldn’t help herself and immediately threw her legs into the air, shaking her head and jumping from one side to the other. The partygoers cheered and began imitating Scootaloo’s natural, yet rhythmic movements.

Scootaloo bumped her chest against Terry’s. That was it. Terry couldn’t stand frozen in place any longer. Everypony was paying attention to her. She was lucky there was nopony she knew, or it would have been even more awkward.

Terry lifted a hoof, and then another hoof, and then she bobbed her head a little. This was ridiculous. Scootaloo was basically doing random flailing. How did she have such an easy time dancing?

Terry tried copying her, crouching down and jumping up, throwing out opposing hooves, and then the other two. The less attention she paid, the easier it became.

They spun in circles and came out standing tall, bouncing to the beat and snapping out their tails. This was amazing. Terry didn’t even have to think anymore, her heartbeat was the rhythm.

Scootaloo and her locked eyes, their bodies synching up, they moved apart and got in close, dancing around each other and standing up, clopping their hooves together as the crowd cheered.

A circle had formed around them in the meantime.

“Look at the fillies go,” somepony said.

“Isn’t that just so sweet,” somepony else cheered.

Even the band caught on and steadily increased their tempo, everypony following suit and dancing more and more wildly, jubilating into the night as if having the time of their lives.

The music eventually ceased and ponies were called back inside as the stage switch was complete. The excited crowd filed back inside. Somepony even ruffled Scootaloo’s mane as they walked past. Nopony dared touch Terry’s coiffure, but she received compliments nonetheless.

“That was so amazing,” Terry bubbled when they were alone again, “I can’t believe how cool that was. Did you see how everypony was cheering?”

“Yep,” Scootaloo said, “they were cheering for us because we danced so good. You’ve had dancing lessons?”

“This was my first time,” Terry said.

“That means you’re a natural!” Scootaloo cheered, “Isn’t that great? You’ll get to dance a whole load more.”

“B-but …” Terry said, “but I don’t even know anypony … why would they dance with me?”

“Because dancing’s fun,” Scootaloo said, “and there’s nothing better than enjoying yourself. Everypony knows that! I’m sure Skip and Pip would like dancing too, right?”

“I guess,” Terry said, “there’s only one way to find out!”

Together, they stormed off to get back to their dollies. Unsurprisingly, it turned out the dollies loved dancing, ever more so with their manes and tails groomed to such a degree of perfection. The venue of the plastic chair soon became too small to showcase their dancing prowess, but before they could go location scouting, there was a delicious interruption.

The bartender arrived, bringing Scootaloo and Terry a tall glass of juice. The drink came with a wave from Fluttershy and Victory.

“Only one glass?” Terry said.

“But two straws!” Scootaloo said. She took one in her mouth. “Come on, Terry, it’s no fun drinking alone!”

In a bout of recklessness, Terry closed in and took the other straw in her mouth. Of course, the glass was way too small, and her muzzle bumped against Scootaloo’s. Both were sent into a brief fit of giggles before they could begin drinking.

“Mmmh,” Scootaloo said, “this is very yummy grape juice.”

“And so cool, too,” Terry said, “didn’t realize how thirsty I was.”

“Isn’t that just the most adorable thing!” came a familiar voice, “I could literally just fall over, right here, right now, from how sweet you two little cuties are.”

“Um, hi, Hera,” Scootaloo said to the mare ogling them like a divine symbol.

“Hera,” Klieg called from the tables, “What are you doing? Let the fillies enjoy their drink in peace. You haven’t even said hello to dear Fluttershy yet.”

“Where are my manners, I’m coming,” Hera said and gasped, “Oh, and the little dollies! Oh my … oh my!”

“Oh my,” she swooned as she departed toward the others.

“Do you know her?” Terry said.

“Yeah, we met earlier today,” Scootaloo said.

“She seems to be quite enamored with you,” Terry said.

“Yeah, I guess she’s like that,” Scootaloo said, “but I think she also does it to impress her coltfriend.”

“Her coltfriend?” Terry said.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo whispered, “That stallion over there. They’re going together.”

The fillies giggled behind their forehooves.

“I think he studies theatre or something,” Scootaloo said.

“Oh,” Terry said, “so he knew what to do when he finished school.”

“Are you going to study too?” Scootaloo said.

“I don’t know,” Terry said, “I don’t know if I’m going to study at all.”

“Have you already had a job?” Scootaloo said.

“Not really,” Terry said, “my mom says it’s unbecoming of me.”

“Hm,” Scootaloo said, “why don’t you try working at a daycare?”

“A daycare?” Terry said, “But … I wouldn’t even know how …”

“Ah, you’d be awesome as a caretaker,” Scootaloo said.

“You think so?” Terry said.

“Yeah I do,” Scootaloo said, “you really know how to have fun, and the way you take care of your dolls just shows your attention for detail. Plus, you already know how to make all the little clothes. Just try it out!”

“Yeah,” Terry said, “maybe I will.”

The glass was empty, but the two friends hadn’t moved away from it. There was no reason to, for silent companionship was enough, in this very moment of the long and tranquil summer night, in the skies.

Save for one small detail, that is. Terry had been acting rather weird these last few minutes. She stood ever so slightly curled up, and had been squirming with her hind legs.

“Is everything alright?” Scootaloo said.

“Yeah, uh,” Terry said, jumping up suddenly, “I just really need to go to the bathroom. Excuse me for a moment.”

And off she was.

“I had a feeling we’d meet here again,” Klieg said.

“You were right,” Fluttershy said, “this is a very welcoming place.”

“Naturally I was right,” Klieg said, “for when I choose a place to visit, I always make sure to put forth my utmost competence and understanding to select only the most outstanding establishments, as sure as the sky is enveloped in the radiant gold of the life giving sun.”

“Um, the sky is black,” Fluttershy said.

“As is the inside of the wine bottle he downed,” Hera commented.

“Do not speak of me as if I were a common drunkard,” Klieg said, “for common I am not. Now come, let us go inside. Fluttershy, why don’t you join us for dance and merriment?”

“Um,” Fluttershy said.

“Don’t worry,” Victory said, “I’ll watch the girls. You go have some fun, dear.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy said, “but only one song.”

“Auntie!” Terry had appeared beside the leg of the table.

“Hey there, Terry, say hello to Fluttershy here,” Victory said.

“Hello,” Terry said, “auntie, I need the bathroom.”

“Hello,” Fluttershy said, “Um, I can take her, if you want. I just don’t know where the bathroom is.”

“I know where it is,” Terry said, “let’s just go, please.”

Victory looked on as Terry practically dragged the three adults into the nightclub. She let out an impressed whistle and ordered another drink, waving over to Scootaloo in the process.

Scootaloo waved back.

The night was so wonderfully tranquil. The wind had died down, leaving the air with a refreshing frigidity. There was no song of crickets, this was an artificially cultivated park after all, but the distant movement of the nocturnal city still blended ever so relaxingly with the muted beats from the club’s dreamy electronic music.

Boy, was Scootaloo glad she didn’t have to make such a racket just to go to the bathroom. Not that she didn’t need to go to the bathroom, herself. Quite on the contrary, all the yummy juice she’d been given to drink had left her stomach awfully full, and by now she had to pee quite badly.

She just hadn’t felt like acknowledging the urge during all the fun she was having, very much the way she didn’t feel like going through the bustle of finding a bathroom and getting somepony to take her there. No, it was exactly like Fluttershy had said, Scootaloo should just relax and do her business when, and only when, she felt like it.

Right now, much more interesting was where she was going to play next. There was a distinct lack of options, so the swingset it was going to be. She couldn’t leave Skip and Pip alone, though, so she picked them up and gently carried them over.

She walked relaxedly, outright leisurely, a pleasant shudder running down her spine as her body made her keenly aware of what was about to happen. Scootaloo neatly put the dolls down on a patch of grass and made herself comfortable.

“Hi, Scootaloo,” Terry said.

“Hey, Terry,” Scootaloo said, “you’re back?”

“Yeah,” Terry said, “for whatever reason there was no line at the bathroom. But you won’t believe how loud the music is in there. Makes you want to get out as fast as possible again. So, anyway, what do you want to do next? Wanna sit on the swings?”

“Yeah, I’d love to,” Scootaloo said, but stood still.

“What’s up?” Terry said, “Is something the matter?”

“Uh, it’s kinda silly,” Scootaloo said, “but now I have to go pee.”

“Oh! Let me help,” Terry said with a worrying degree of enthusiasm, “Can I help you? I’m sure we’ll find a potty for you in there somewhere. Do you want me to take you to the bathroom?”

“Um, no,” Scootaloo said.

She reflexively stood her hind legs further apart, lifting her tail into the air.

“Uh, Scootaloo?” Terry said, “What are you doing?”

Scootaloo crouched her rear down low, making her skirt ride up all the way in the process. Her pantyhose tightened around the madly rustling plastic that enveloped her entire hindquarters. As if the characteristic outline of the lavishly ruffled seams delimiting the voluminous thickness under Scootaloo’s butt hadn’t been obvious enough, there were even bits of stark baby-blue plastic sticking out all around her waistline. And to top it off, the obvious weight sagging between her legs told the remainder of the story.

“Oh,” Terry said.

Scootaloo relaxed and promptly began doing her deed into her clothing’s soft folds. She reveled in the marvellous feeling, finally relieving that pressure in her stomach, as she comfortably let it out right as and where she stood. It was so cool that she didn’t have to worry about the warm liquid splashing all over the insides of her underpants, back onto her skin and soaking into her fur, because a little filly like her didn’t know any better, and nothing else was expected of her. And it felt kind of really, really neat. Scootaloo didn’t even have to worry about answering nature’s call, with another pony standing right next to her!

“Oh, sorry,” Terry said, “Didn’t mean to stare. I just didn’t know you still had a diaper. Um, aren’t you kind of a little big for that?”

“I guess,” Scootaloo said.

The relief was so sweet. Scootaloo’s hair stood on end, her hooves gripping the grass, as she thoroughly emptied herself. By the sheer amount that she went, she had soaked straight through her diaper’s super absorbent core. But that was perfectly fine, because it was exactly why her underpants were actually made of completely watertight plastic taped snugly around her waist, to keep safely inside whatever the diaper couldn’t take care of immediately. Scootaloo had everything taken care of, and all she had to do was to relax and enjoy the funny feeling of the hot puddle steadily rising around her buttocks.

And that was that. Eventually, Scootaloo was finished, and she pretty much just stood up and went right back to playing. No silly bathrooms or potties, just pure fun.

“You finished?” Terry said.

“Yep,” Scootaloo chirped, “wanna go to the swings now?”

“Sure,” Terry said, “But we have to take the dolls, because they wanna go too. Here, you take Skip again.”

Scootaloo took Skip and walked over to the swing. Her diaper’s thoroughly sodden bulk was sagging severely now, but the pantyhose kind of managed to keep everything in place, so she didn’t pay too much mind.

She sat on the one swing and held onto the chain with one hoof while clasping Skip to her chest with the other. Terry sat on the other swing and held Pip close.

The ground was kicked away cautiously at first, but it didn’t take much for the fillies to try and go higher than the other. Soon, both of them began working their shoulders and their bodies in the rhythm of the swing. It was so funny going higher and higher, the four of them, the two ponies and the two dollies, broke out into joyous laughter.

They eventually got over the thrill of being flung into ever greater heights, and toned it down to a more relaxed, even swinging, enjoying the pleasantly smooth rocking motion, as well as each other’s silent companionship. Though it wasn’t exactly warm, Scootaloo never froze because she always had something exciting to do, and whenever she wasn’t moving about, she could just hold Skip close to her chest and enjoy the warming contact.

“So, how are you liking Skyview so far?” Terry said.

“Being honest?” Scootaloo said, “I’ve only been here for a day, and it’s already the most fun I remember having in a long time. Everything about this place is so interesting, I haven’t been bored even once.”

“Yeah,” Terry said, “I’ve been enjoying myself too. Thanks, Scootaloo, I feel much better now. Things have been kind of a drag recently. Sometimes, everypony else can be kind of difficult to talk to, and it’s been exhausting for me. You’re really lucky you have a mommy who takes care of you.”

Mommy.

“Yeah, well,” Scootaloo said, “I’ve been going through a rough time with the grown ups too, lately.”

“You? A rough time?” Terry said, “Aren’t you filly cuteness incarnate to them?”

“Err, it’s kind of a long story,” Scootaloo said, “I just wanted to say that I’m glad I met you, Terry.”

“I’m glad I met you too, Scootaloo,” Terry said. “Friends?”

She held out a hoof.

“Friends,” Scootaloo said.

She bumped the hoof. They kept swinging for a bit longer in silence.