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// 22: My Little Princess [Slice of Life] 
// Story: Party Every Day 
// by Esle Ynopemos 
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((Prompt: A princess and a mother.))

“Oh no, you don't!”

Sugar Plum giggled as she crawled away. The little unicorn foal was surprisingly quick for her size, and covered quite a bit of distance.

But she wasn't quite as quick as the pink hooves of her mother. Pinkie Pie scooped Sugar Plum off the floor. “You can try and run, but it's bath time for this little princess!”

The little purple filly made a cooing noise, and her horn glowed.

“Ah ah,” Pinkie said. “That trick won't work!” She took a deep breath and blew raspberries on Sugar Plum's tummy. Sugar Plum squealed, and the the magic in her horn dispersed.  “I call that one the hammer! You can thank your auntie Pumpkin for that,” Pinkie said, rubbing her on the nose.

Sugar Plum giggled and squirmed the whole way to the tub. Pinkie Pie kept her steadily in her hooves with a practiced ease.

Warm water filled the little white tub. Pinkie tested the temperature. “Perfect,” she said, and slid Sugar Plum into the water.

Sugar Plum babbled incoherently and splashed her hooves in the water. It did not take long for there to be more water on the floor than in the tub.

Pinkie put her hooves on her hips. “Where is your mother?” she asked with a false sternness. She grabbed a sponge and a bar of soap and set to washing the filly.

The bath lasted only a few minutes, partially because there was scarcely any water left to wash with. Pinkie lifted Sugar Plum out of the tub and used a towel to dry her off. Cleaning up the bathroom would have to come later, after the filly was put down for a nap.

Pinkie set her daughter on her withers and took a bouncing gait as she carried her to the bedroom. “Choo-choo!” she called, “Thank you for riding the Mommy Express! Next stop, sleepy-land!”

Sugar Plum giggled and shook her head.

“No?” Pinkie asked, tilting her head. She took the filly off of her back and laid her face-up on the floor before the crib. “Well, would you rather go to... tickle-land??”

Sugar Plum squeaked as Pinkie poked her in the sides with her hooves.

“That's the only other place the Mommy Express goes this afternoon,” said Pinkie, nuzzling her daughter. “Sleepy-land, or tickle-land. Which is it gonna be? Huh?”

Sugar Plum reached her hooves out at the crib. “Guh!” she cried.

“That's what I thought,” Pinkie said, picking her up and dropping her into the crib.

Sugar Plum nestled under the covers. She looked up at Pinkie with clear blue eyes that matched her own, and yawned.

Pinkie Pie nuzzled her nose against Sugar Plum's, and flicked the light switch off. “Good night, my little princess.”

As she was in the midst of drying the puddles in the bathroom, she spotted a familiar flash outside and heard the front door open. Pinkie Pie smiled and set her towel aside. She pushed the bathroom door open and made her way down the stairs.

“And there's my big princess,” she said, giving Twilight a peck on the cheek. “How was saving the world?”

Twilight wrapped a wing around Pinkie, kissing her on the forehead. “One tax form at a time, as always,” she said, giving her a tired smile. “How's our daughter?”

“Down for a nap,” Pinkie said, grinning. “But you can help me clean up after bathtime!”