Learning how to preen can be a daunting task for a young pegasus. It requires that tough mental concentration and self-discipline to preen every day. Looking at graph 2.A we can see all the feathers named and in order. Every pegasus preens differently, but this diagram shows the most common and simple way to do it.
Preening can have many different meanings, but the most common meaning is a show of affection. Mothers preen their foals until the child learns how to preen themselves. Preening is also a common way to show affection between very special some ponies.
SLAM! Twilight forcefully closed the book she was reading. It was titled Preening Your Wings for Dummies. The new Alicorn was not expecting a lecture on the feelings of preening each others wings. It made her that much more against asking for help from her pegasi friends.
Twilight was positive Fluttershy would have no problem with helping her preen. In fact, Twilight was 99.99 percent positive that Fluttershy would jump at the chance to teach her how to preen. Rainbow Dash would most likely scold her, but only to hide her embarrassment.
Once again Twilight would be going to bed with itchy wings. They were a constant annoyance, and they made studying difficult. Night was descending upon Ponyville, and Twilight knew she wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight.
Twilight started boiling some water. Fresh tea always made her feel better even with her itchy wings. She took her mug of fresh tea and climbed up to the balcony. Spike was already snoring in his basket, and the stars began to sparkle and shimmer in the clear night.
A night that was perfect for sleeping. Perhaps since it was such a beautiful night Twilight could do some astronomy. It would certainly help her mind relax. Using her magic, Twilight gathered around her the supplies she needed for studying. Her notebook, quill and ink, followed by rotating her telescope to the moon.
Something attracted her to the moon like a magnet. She couldn't explain why. Twilight gazed at the moon through her telescope and scribbled notes on her notepad. She gazed up at the moon and thoughts of Princess Luna began to flood her mind.
She couldn't stop the thoughts and soon the scribbling stopped on her notebook. Twilight shook her head and gazed upon her notes. A poorly drawn Princess Luna covered the bulk of her page. She hissed under her breath. This was not the first time she had caught herself drawing the Lunar Princess on her notes.
"Thine magic is shaky. Tis what makes thine art look like a mangled timberwolf."
Twilight knew the use of the archaic language anywhere. Twilight turned her body to face inward to her house. Princess Luna stood smiling at her.
Twilight gave a bow, and quickly stood up. She cantered over to the dark Princess.
"Good evening, Your Highness." Twilight greeted. A feeling to nuzzle the Alicorn flooded her, but she ignored it. She chose to smile at her instead.
"To thee as well, Twilight Sparkle." Princess Luna smiled back warmly at Twilight. A glint in her eyes. It looked almost like pride? "We thought that thou would be in bed at this time."
"Normally I would Princess, but I can't seem to find sleep these days."
"We have noticed."
"How?" Twilight asked, but when Luna returned her gaze with a look the thought hit her, "Oh right Princess of Dreams forgot about that."
The two Alicorns shared a laugh between themselves. Twilight got another cup and poured Luna some tea as well.
"I hope you like Earl Grey." Twilight asked using her magic to hand the Princess her cup. Luna smiled thankfully and used her own magic to take the cup from Twilight. She sipped it with such refined grace that Twilight couldn't help wishing she had.
"Tell Us, Twilight Sparkle, what keeps thou from thine dreams?"
Twilight's wings ruffled uncomfortably.
"Its nothing big."
"Is it thine wings?"
Twilight blushed with embarrassment. How could she not figure out how to properly preen her wings. Pegasi make it look so easy! Twilight nodded to the Princess's question.
"Tis nothing to be ashamed of," Luna said reassuringly, as she took a sip of her tea. Twilight looked back up to her in curiosity. "Normally, they learn from their mothers."
Twilight nodded again. She had just read that in the book. She wasn't born a pegasus nor did she have a pegasus relative. She didn't have a proper teacher.
"Twilight, We were thinking that maybe We could be of some assistance?"
"WHAT!" Twilight screamed, as she jumped onto her feet. Her wings flapped in shock. Luna giggled, but she put a hoof to her mouth and tilted her head towards the snoring Spike.
Twilight began to think about it. What could be more embarrassing than the Princess of all ponies preening her wings! She was about to decline when Luna spoke.
"We are afraid that we cannot be of assistance tonight. Nightmares plague Our subjects, and We must attend them. Please think it over. We will return for thine answer on the morrow."
Twilight could only nod as the Lunar Princess flared her horn and teleported away. Probably back to the castle where she could properly see every ponies dreams or however she did it.
Twilight's wings still itched horribly, and she figured she might as well attempt to get some sleep before the morning. After all Princess Luna was going to be staying up later to tend to her. Why would a Princess do this for her of all ponies? Then again she had known about her drawings.
How would she know that if she hadn't been spying on her for a while now? Actually now that Twilight thought about it she had been drawing Princess Luna after she had freed her from Nightmare Moon. They had just started to get excessive after her coronation.
Could it be that she was falling for the Lunar Princess? Twilight shook her head vigorously. There was no way in Tartarus that she was in love with the Princess.
Maybe, Twilight thought, she should take a break on studying wings and focus more on these feelings that she had towards the Princess. It should prove to be most enlightening.
One thing held her back. What if she didn't like what she read? What if she was in love with Luna?
"I should decline her help. Her preening will only make these feelings worse."
Twilight couldn't help but wonder if the opposite was true. That in reality Luna preening her wings would help her discover her feelings?
The Alicorn sighed and crawled into bed. Her wings itched and burned like crazy, but she would have to sleep on these feelings. She was going to get no studying done tonight.