//------------------------------//
// Preening by Sam Cole 
// Story: RariTwi Group Collab 
// by Anonymule 
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It was never something she expected when she first received her wings. Well, okay, she never expected to receive wings in the first place, but that was a totally different story. No, now she was Princess Twilight Sparkle of Equestria, Alicorn pony. Her town adored her, her court respected her, and her friends?

"Seriously darling?" Rarity huffed as she looked over Twilight's wings one day after royal court.

"What?" Twilight huffed, instantly regretting that. "I'm sorry, Rarity. I haven't been sleeping too well lately."

"Well of course you haven't, your wings are a mess!" Rarity chided. "Come come, I won't sit around here and let you continue to injure yourself a second longer darling." Rarity dragged Twilight to her private chambers, closing the door as she made Twilight lay down on a cushion. "Has anypony explained preening to you darling?"

"I read all about it right after I got these things." Twilight snorted back.

"No darling, preening is something taught to pegasi during foalhood, not read and learned." Rarity frowned.

"How would you know? You're a unicorn."

"I've also helped Fluttershy preen her wings before." Rarity stated as a matter of fact. "She neglects her wings too. And when you neglect them, somepony else has to help you with them. Now lay still..."

"What are you do-Ah!" Twilight began, but gasped as she felt her friends teeth as they dug into an errant feather, pulling it, twisting it, tugging it, and pushing it. "Oh mama that feels good..."

"See, there is nothing too it dear. You try." Rarity ordered as she backed up.

"As your princess, I order you to." Twilight murmured sleepily.

Rarity gasped, holding a hoof to her chest as she blushed. "I will not let you just order me around as such, Twilight!"

"Please?"

"No!" Rarity relented, holding her ground.

"I'll give you a back rub afterwords. Pretty please?"

"No!"

Twilight considered this for a long moment, knowing that she had to play her big guns now. "I'll tell you a secret, Rarity."

"What kind of secret?" Rarity asked, falling for the bait.

"Just preen me, and I'll tell you this juicy, ripe gossip."

"... Fine." Rarity sighed. She hated that Twilight knew her weakness so well, and was so willing to exploit it, but she just couldn't rest while Twilight, Princess of Equestria, held some gossip just for her. So she went to work, straightening each feather she needed to, knowing which needed the most work by Twilight's gasps and groans. Finally, after two hours of exhaustive oral attention, Rarity was done. She had down feathers stuck to her tongue, lips, teeth, and throat, so this had better be worth it.

"Alright dear, all done. Now what is your magical gossip?"

But there was no reply. Rarity leaned over the princess to discover that the lavender filly was sound asleep.

"So much for my reward." Rarity huffed as she shook her head, floating over a blanket for Twilight so that she may sleep soundly. But as she floated over the blanket, a letter fell out. Rarity hesitantly picked it up, not sure what this meant. But when she saw her own name adorning the paper envelope, she couldn't resist.

Dear Rarity, figured I might fall asleep during your preening. It's been three weeks after all since I had a good night's rest. So as promised, your reward: Celestia really wants to buy some dresses from you. She wanted me to tell you so that you could offer them to her, because she is supposed to be impartial to all Equestria businesses.

"Buwahaha!" Rarity screamed in delight, kissing Twilight on the cheek in her jubilation. "Oh darling, I'll preen your wings anytime you want for this!"

"I'll hold you too that." Twilight groaned as Rarity woke her up.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you, but this is- This is- Buwahaha! Yes!"

Twilight giggled as she readjusted, pulling the cover up around her neck as she went back to sleep, Rarity bouncing giddily down the halls.