> To Preen a Filly Princess > by Art Inspired > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Part One > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Belle awoke one morning with a rather sore feeling in her back, like she’d been laying on something far more lumpy than her bed all night long. She rose while rolling over to her stomach, her vision blurred by the light coming in through the curtain, and slowly, she got out of bed. Her back still sore, poor Sweetie Belle limped tirelessly to her bathroom just a few steps away. She was truly having the hardest time getting herself woken up that day. On came the overhead lights, and swish came the water from the faucet hitting the sink below, not that she’d seen much of anything yet. The filly's eyes had been for the most part closed thus far, but with the cool splashing of water on her face, she finally made the first sound of the day. It was her groaning, “Oh… My back feels… so strange.” She said this more like it was a painful sensation rather than an awkward one. She looked up shortly thereafter to take a gander at the mirror. She focused in on where the great amounts of pressure was being applied, and gasped. “A-are those what I think those are?!” she questioned quite loudly. Before her was a slightly grown filly still without her cutie mark, but with a horn, and a pair of wings as well. Uncommonly, this would make Sweetie Belle an alicorn princess, but what brought about such a drastic change in her life? At such a young age, and so randomly, too. Sweetie could only expand these new instruments of flight, and observe every smooth, silky white feather on them. As her hoof briskly smoothed the left one's ruffles, a tingling sensation ran down her spine. “Whoa… They're kinda sensitive!” “Sweetie Belle? Are you alright in there?” Rarity asked, her voice being muffled by the walls between the two. “I don’t know!” Sweetie said while leaving the bathroom. “Well, can I come in?” “Uh, yes, please do.” While Rarity slowly entered, Sweetie noticed how Rarity looked around the room first before her eyes finally fell on her sister. “What’s going on in here?” Sweetie Belle could only stand there, unsure as to whether she should show Rarity this or not, but it was too late by then, so she turned around. Had it been anything else, such as a cutie mark, or even a bruised hoof, the eldest wouldn’t have taken it as such a bad thing, but to see Sweetie Belle with a pair of wings broader and definitely more reliable than Scootaloo’s own was almost too much for Rarity to stand. Sweetie Belle merely blinked, and said, “Before you ask, I woke up… like this. I have no idea what’s going on.” By now, Rarity’s eyes were quite wide, and she was profusely nibbling her bottom lip in a futile attempt at making any sense of this. “H-how is it… even possible?” Then, out of the corner of Sweetie Belle’s right eye, she saw a note held down by a small, shiny tiara resting perfectly on her desk behind Rarity. The fabric underneath the gold was lined with red corners, and below was the distinctive signature of not just the two princesses, but Discord as well. His signature, however, was simply a printed picture of himself with a cocky grin, and he kept giving the thumbs up with his tiger paw. Rarity turned to look, motioned the piece of paper closer, and read it aloud. “Dear Belle Sisters, Princess Luna and Princess Celestia apologize for this mishap. Last night while Discord visited the castle to better his chaotic magic, he accidently gave Sweetie Belle wings. We are unsure whether or not this can be reversed, but until we find a solution, she is technically a... princess.” She flipped the card over, and then said, "That’s all that was there…” Sweetie Belle blinked. “I’m… not sure I should go to school today.” “What ever do you mean, Sweetie?” Rarity asked. “I mean, it sounds as if they’ll fix it in a day or two. Right?” Sweetie blinked before resuming to make sure Rarity would keep listening. “Plus, Apple Bloom is out today, too. She's up north helping some of her family members take down a chicken coop, and Scootaloo is at the hospital getting some sort of checkup. Even Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, they’re out sick! Although, I doubt that’s the truth. Heard they also got some new jacuzzi, so they probably deceived their parents or… something. I mean, they talk about how they get whatever they want all the time!” Rarity nodded, her eyes warily looking over while her hoof was brought up to her chin. “Yes, well, knowing those two’s parents personally, I can honestly vouch for your statement.” “Then I get the day off?” Rarity smiled, and nodded again. “Just take care of the house while I'm gone. Now, seeing as how this involves Discord and my little sister, as I'm sure you can guess, I’m off to Twilight’s to try and get this very matter sorted. I probably won’t be back until later on. Can I trust you to be safe here all by yourself for the day?” “Of course!” Sweetie belle squeaked. “Alright then. Guess I'd better not waste much time. Wish me luck!” Just like that, Sweetie Belle watched her sister leave the room, and in moments more, she’d hear the front door close as well. She was alone, all by herself. With a pair of wings. And a crown. Her hoof reached for the crown quickly, and she decided to wear it for a few seconds before looking in the mirror. For some reason, her coat seemed to sparkle, too, along with her mane. Overall, she looked older. That's when a thought ran through her head. “I wonder…” Logically, if she's got the look along with the wings and the crown, then chances are, she's got the magic as well. Just as a test run, slowly, her horn began to shimmer a different, more deeper hint of green. In a flash of light, she had teleported herself to the kitchen. It was so easy, and exactly what she meant to do that she just had to stand there for a moment, and then she huffed, “I really am a… a princess! In other words, the magic must come with the wings. But, how far can I go?” Again, her horn glowed, and just as fast as she'd transported herself to the kitchen, Sweetie Belle had teleported herself all the way to the local school, but not at the door. Actually, instead, Sweetie Belle had teleported herself to the top of the bell tower. She just stood there, feeling the cool air hit her back and mane. “I feel… in control. It’s awesome! Where to next?” At that time, she saw out the corner of her eye, Diamond Tiara’s house. It was then that she’d have figured out what she wanted to do with her newly obtained alicorn authority. She wasn’t sure just how much magical prowess she had, but Sweetie knew well enough not to overdo it. As her horn glittered, just as soon as it started, in yet another splendorous flash, she was right behind the house. She stood there, observing Diamond Tiara’s home from the back yard. It was big, of course, but thanks to the information Sweetie Belle had obtained during many recesses, she knew of a back way into where her dad had installed the jacuzzi. It was a small window found directly next to the backdoor. Sweetie Belle was just small enough to crawl through it, but on her way in, her left wing got ruffled by the more dirty side of the opening. At first, nothing from within disturbed her. She just kept feeling her sensitive wing. Eventually, the sounds of bubbling water, and the two’s distinctly sinister chortles entered Sweetie Belle’s ears, so she listened closely, panting thanks to all the hot steam surrounding her. “I simply can not believe Ms. Cheerilee believed those falsified medical slips!” Sweetie Belle came closer to the jacuzzi, and whispered to herself, “That was Diamond Tiara.” “I know, right! Your dad and my mom didn’t even need to come in!” Again, Sweetie Belle inched ever more closer. “Aaand Silver Spoon…” From what she could see peripherally was a basic back room made of wood. It was mostly empty save for some boxes stacked rather neatly over in the far corner, and naturally, steam was everywhere which made it that much harder for Sweetie Belle to navigate carefully. Finally, she reached the edge where one was supposed to get in, and peeked over the board to observe. On the left was Diamond Tiara, relaxing and germ-free. She wasn't the least bit sick, and neither was Silver Spoon who sat to the left of her friend. Diamond Tiara stated bluntly to her friend, “And what’s even better is daddy isn’t going to be home for a while, so we’ve got this whole jacuzzi to ourselves! He'll never know it was ever even used.” “Yeah,” Silver Spoon began. “Although, it wouldn't be all that bad if we just allowed one more pony, just for some f- Huh?” Silver Spoon had quickly looked over towards where Sweetie Belle spied on them. The filly alicorn made an attempt at ducking behind the coverage and hoped she hadn't been spotted. "Who's there? Come on out!" Diamond Tiara commanded. Predictably, Sweetie Belle had been caught, but that was just fine. She’d heard enough from the two anyways, and in just a little while, she would be the one giving the orders, not them. > Part Two > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Belle rose quietly, and positioned herself so that the two wouldn’t immediately see her wings. “Heh… Hi.” Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stared blankly, though Silver Spoon didn’t really look all that aggravated by Sweetie Belle's presence as compared to her friend sitting next to her. “What do you think you’re doing here?” Diamond Tiara asked. Sweetie Belle still hesitated a bit more, waiting for Silver Spoon to say something. “Well? Cat got your tongue?” Diamond Tiara rudely continued with much sarcasm in her tone. “Well,” Sweetie Belle responded, “I’m waiting for you two to notice something…” “Her coat does look sparkly, Diamond Tiara,” Silver Spoon said after a moment or two. “What do you mean? It looks the same… Actually, she looks more taller than before if you ask me.” Finally, Diamond Tiara’s eyes fell upon Sweetie Belle’s crown. “Say, that’s pure, solid gold. I can tell.” “How?” Sweetie belle wondered. “It’s my specialty!” she pouted, but then quickly resumed, “Anyways, where’d you get it?” Sweetie Belle had finally decided that now was the perfect time to surprise the both of them, and good. With a whoosh, her wings opened broadly for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to see. Even some of the steam surrounding the three fillies was cleared away. All the two in the tub could do was cower, and ask repeatedly, “How in the world?!” They lowered, and along with the wings so did Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon’s cries. At this time, Sweetie Belle chose to speak. “I have been turned into a princess thanks to a mishap caused by Discord! You two remember him, right?” They both nodded with fear in their faces. How could they forget the numerous visits he’s given the town of ponyville? “Why did he-” Diamond Tiara began to ask, but Sweetie Belle cut her off then and there. “By accident. And now, I am a princess, just like Princess Twilight Sparkle. Not sure if they can cure me, not that it’s a curse!” “Yeah?” Diamond Tiara asked. “Well, how do we know you’re really a princess? Hmm?!” “Yeah,” Silver Spoon chimed in. All Sweetie Belle could do was rub her chin, and ponder. “Say, you’re backyard is pretty big... It's probably wide enough for this jacuzzi to fit in, isn't it…?” Her horn had barely glistened before she teleported her, Diamond Tiara, Silver Spoon, and the entire jacuzzi itself to a clearing in the backyard. At that, Diamond Tiara began panicking. The second the jacuzzi was teleported back into the house's back room was the second Silver Spoon started crying, too. “Guys, stop!” They stopped, and Diamond Tiara huffed, “You’re really a princess? It’s not fair!” Ignoring the pouts, Sweetie Belle stepped into the water. “Now, on my way in, I just so happened to scrape my wing. So, they need washing, and preening. I, Princess Sweetie Belle command the two of you to preen my new, royal wings. Diamond Tiara gets the one with the most scuff.” “What? Why?!” she asked, apparently smart enough to obey the order, however. “Because you complain to much,” Sweetie Belle said, almost royally. “As for you, Silver Spoon…” She looked over to her right with a perky, though devious smirk. “You get this one.” She basically presented the wing almost forcefully upon the two, and stepped up to the ledge to balance herself more comfortably. As the two began soaking Sweetie Belle’s wings carefully, the filly princess looked over her shoulder, and instructed the two, “Up and down, in and out of the water…” “How do you know how to preen wings?” Sweetie Belle chuckled. “I go to the spa with my sister and see them doing it to pegasi all the time. I usually don't have much choice in the matter. Uh, Diamond Tiara, don’t drown it please.” “Oh, sorry.” Now, here was a scene Sweetie Belle could truthfully relish in. These two, doing as she said, when she said, and it felt so good. “Mmmh, that’s nice…” She listened some more to the dunking and rising noises of the bubbling waters, sweat running all down her sides. Finally, she was ready for her next command. “Now, smooth out each and every feather… with your mouths.” Silver Spoon didn’t react much. In fact, she’d been more calm about this than Sweetie Belle had expected of her, but even she had to ask, “What?” “With our mouths?!” Diamond Tiara frantically reacted. “Yes!” Sweetie Belle hissed. “Or else… It’s to the moon with the both of you.” They both gasped before looking at one another. With that, how could they disobey? They closed each other’s eyes nervously before opening up, and thusly, they began their work. Drop after drop was pressed off thanks to the lips of the two fillies below her highness, and all she could do was love every second of it. Not only was Diamond Tiara having the hardest time, even to the point of having to grab Sweetie Belle’s tail, but Silver Spoon seemed to be getting into it in comparison. Just as Sweetie Belle would’ve liked it to be. Just before settling her head down on the wet surfacing below her, Sweetie complimented the two, “Good work my lowly subjects!” And with that, the steam rose, and so did the young filly’s enjoyment. As sensitive as they were, her wings being smothered by her enemies only added to the sensation. She didn’t dare lower her backside, though. Sweetie Belle wanted to make sure those two got a good mouthful before they finished the job. “Just a little bit more… hehe.” Finally, as each pony completed their task, Sweetie Belle brought herself back up restlessly. “Ohhh, yeah… That felt great, you two!” She slowly dipped down lower into the water, and ventured to the far side of the jacuzzi. Meanwhile, the others wiped their mouths clean. Shortly after, Silver Spoon timidly asked, “What now?” “Come closer, both of you.” Naturally, they both complied, Silver Spoon almost more willingly than Diamond Tiara. She came close to Sweetie Belle while the fellow crowned filly still minded her distance. “Ever kiss somepony before?” Sweetie Belle asked Silver Spoon. Silver Spoon blinked, looked at Diamond Tiara, and nodded truthfully. “Yeah, once… Recently.” “Well, I wanna reward you for doing such a good job on my right wing, but if you’re taken…” Sweetie Belle looked over her shoulder only to see Diamond Tiara cower some more. “No,” Silver Spoon said. “It’s okay…” It almost seemed she was happy about it. “Okay then.” With nothing standing in her way, Sweetie Belle came a little closer, puckered up, and made contact. She then felt Silver Spoon’s hoof grab her by the side, letting her know that she was liking it. Soon, Sweetie Belle even felt something slither past her lips, but she didn’t fuss about it much. Silver Spoon tasted great, and Sweetie Belle was so caught up in the moment that she didn’t even mind Diamond Tiara watching the whole while. Finally, Silver Spoon stopped it, and breathed with closed eyes before saying, “I’ve wanted to kiss you for awhile now.” “Really?” Sweetie Belle asked. At that, Silver Spoon’s friend spoke up. “Yeah, that’s why we were kissing! She wanted to use me as a practice dummy for you!” “Oh, you want some as well?” Sweetie Belle asked. All Diamond could do was lift a hoof in defence. “You wouldn’t dare!” That made both the princess and Silver Spoon laugh together, like friends are supposed to. Right then and there, though, Sweetie Belle felt a shift in the air. It was something only she could sense, but the sight was what made the other two jump. Her wings simply disappeared, and just like that, there Sweetie Belle was. A bare back, a bit shorter, and not so sparkly. Just the regular Sweetie Belle. “Uh, oh…” “Ah ha! Now what’re ya gonna-” Diamond Tiara was just about to fly off the handle when Silver Spoon stepped in. “Diamond Tiara! She’s my friend now.” “Huh?” Sweetie Belle asked. “What?!” “Yes.” Silver Spoon stood strong. “She’s my friend, and that makes her your friend, too.” She then turned to Sweetie Belle. “Look, we can meet behind the school on recess to play together, and there’s always spare time for planning on the weekends, and besides, Sweetie’s the most devilish of her friends. Isn't that right, Diamond Tiara?” “True,” Diamond Tiara boasted. “Scootaloo’s too much of a wannabe, and Apple Bloom is way too country for me to even stand!” “Hey,” Sweetie Belle started, but with Silver Spoon’s hoof resting on her shoulder, and to see her smile, Sweetie Belle knew by then what’d happened. “So,” Silver Spoon started up, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow at school?" "Yeah, Rarity will be home any minute now, though. I kinda need to go.” “No, no, of course,” Silver Spoon gestured kindly. “Just know that when we’re at school, and we’re mocking you and your friends, it’s just a formality.” Sweetie Belle giggled as she left the tub, but before leaving completely, she gave her new friend one last peck on the cheek. “Bye!” > Epilogue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sweetie Belle had made her way home just in time, just before Rarity had returned. Luckily the door was unlocked, so getting in wasn't too difficult for the little unicorn. She still wore the crown, but just as Rarity came in to check up on her, she was putting it back down where she'd gotten it from. "Well, looks like it's all resolved now. No more wings I see!" Rarity said gleefully. "Yep, and I suppose we'll ship this crown back to Princess Celestia, huh?" "Yes, I'll take care of that." And with that crown went Sweetie Belle's day as an alicorn, but in the end, she got two new friends out of the ordeal. Friends that she needed to keep secret, sure, but one of them was one she'd sought to gain for a very long time. Tomorrow would come, and Sweetie Belle and her friends would be bothered yet again by Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon as usual. However, during recess that day, Sweetie Belle would sneak to the back of the school where nopony played, and meet up with Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara once again. For the longest time they'd meet there day after day just so that Sweetie Belle and Silver Spoon could see each other again and again.