A Tail of Difference.

Rarity slammed her hoof down hard on the table of the few sewing tables she found free to her usage, gripping the newly designed emerald encrusted cotton and turning it over to the correct side she lined out with white chalk. The vest in front of her fought hard against her needle, an audible crack in her neck signaling how determined she was. She kicked her seat away as Spike did his usual assistant work with fetching the necessary components she calls for.

"Finally through!" she exclaimed, holding up the small garment to her eye level, a cross of black thread pulling the seams around the shoulders together without any tear. She began to work on the next piece, sweat on her brow. "Now I just have to sew the back together and I will be finished with everything but the collar."

Spike retrieved more thread then glanced over his shoulder. "You've been at it for hours now, Rarity. How about taking a break?"

"I'm perfectly fine Spike," the frustrated mare insisted, but how unkempt she was said it all. She tried to push the needle into the next seem, but her magic was fairly loose around said needle, her focus diminishing by her headache and lack of sleep. "It will not be much longer. I just have a few seams left, and Sweetie Belle's dress will be finished."

Spike tilted his head. "Why do you need to make her a dress?"

Rarity stopped what she was dong and sprang from the table, glaring at her assistant. She couldn't keep herself tamed, not could she remain calm.

Alarmed, Spike turned back to the fabrics on his side of the room, his whistling the only thing to keep him occupied.

"Leo is a prince, an oddly appealing prince, but still a prince." Rarity said, indicating great interest. "He is in the same age group as Sweetie Belle and there is a possibility that she may have her happily ever after, which is why I am going to do everything I can to help make it happen."

Spike had nothing to say, only knew that it was going to probably be a bad idea.

***

The uneven rhythm of snoring awoke Faust from her deep sleep and filled her mind. Her eyes slowly opened. She looked down at the source sleeping in her bed with his long body curled around hers. Tangled hairs in his goatee circled the end of her man, slipping carefully when he loosed his hold on her. Beneath the cover, both of them were locked together, needing their touch to better their new day. She caught glimpses of him smiling peacefully, undeniable happiness, as clear as the sunlight shining through the curtains. It made her smile too.

Faust's wing moved against his chest when she turned to snuggle in his neck, the smallest of giggles, a simple nuzzle to the spirit's skin pulling him out of his dream.

Immediately he snapped his eyes open and saw the smiling goddess hugging his back. A cool breeze of her breath fanned his skin. He wondered when they climbed into bed together.

"Faust," he said nervously, a hum from her voice telling him she was awake. "When did we get like this?"

"Last night," she yawned, still smiling. "We were talking about Leo and Amaterasu, and I asked you to stay for the night. You were awfully tired."

Discord had a blank look about him as he attempted to process what happened last night. He could not recall anything but their conversation before he tiredly climbed into bed with her.

"Did we do anything?" He had to be sure with the mare nothing other than talking happened.

Faust shook her head.

"Unfortunately, we did nothing but talk." She groaned, holding him tightly. "Now go back to sleep, it's barely morning. Celestia and Luna can handle Leo for the day."

Discord did not argue, although it felt awkward to sleeping with her. Still, there was something in his gut telling him that Celestia and Luna were not trustworthy watching the pup.

***

The sound of bird chirping outside the window pierced Luna's ears. Lazily, she opened her eyes to the morning light beaming across her flank as she processed her snuggly friend snoring lightly in the comfort of her wings, while maids were doing the jobs and exchanging whispers.

He's not even a pony, the first maid glanced at Leo, unaware that the princess was peeking through her lifeless mane. But he's so bucking adorable.

Do you think he's up for adoption? the other asked.

He is the queen's son,

I didn't even know we had a queen.

Her duties are far more than just watching over Equestria. From what I heard when I listened through the keyhole, she's apparently an almighty goddess and the new prince is a god as well, but he's the last of his kind.

Poor thing, he must feel lonely.

Oh no, get this. I heard that the queen has feelings for Discord.

"Harlots," Luna scoffed after they left the room, "they have no business with mother or Discord, and they certainly will not snake themselves into Leo's good grace." She nuzzled the fox lovingly, making him yawn so adorably that she had to nuzzle him again. "He will be mine anyway."

The slow rising of Leo's eyelids cut through the silence, the fluttering so cute it was like a knife severing the alicorn's tension. Though in his human form, he stood on all fours and stretched like a cat, underneath Luna's wing and warm gaze. Like her, he did not recall what happened last night.

"Good morning little one," Luna cooed, licking the back of his neck like a loving mother would. She could not stand to see part of his hair unkempt. "Did you sleep well?"

Still in his drowsy phase, the young fox look up to her with half-lidded eyes and smiled.

"I slept fine Miss Luna. You were really warm and soft."

She took that to heart and hugged him just as he finished stretching his tails.

"You flatter me little one," she giggled before holding him to her eye level, "but let's be honest; who is softer and warmer, my sister or I?"

Leo didn't seem to have any problem thinking that over. He knew that there was comparison or competition as well when he was with either princess. More than once of his moments to snuggle with the alicorns he had taken remembrance of which pony was better than the other.

He replied with his smile, and given that he was merely a pup, he could only hope the would suffice for Luna.

"Well Miss Celestia is bigger than you, so she's softer and warmer. But I think it's because she has a big butt." He told her with complete honesty, which did not amuse the princess, except the part about her sister having a large rear.

Still. . .

"So my sister is softer and warmer," Luna repeated glumly. She was about to fall into depression when the little pup leaned in and licked her nose, causing her to blush a shade of light blue.

"But you're prettier than her," he added. "And you're dark blue, which is my favorite color. Plus you sparkle like stars, and it's really cool."

Luna said not a word, in her mind she screamed like a school filly that was going out with her school crush. She tossed the boy upward, and luckily, caught him before he landed on the bed. Everypony knew that he bed was extra soft and bouncy, and by her mother's horn she was not going to let bounce off the bed and crash on the floor.

"Take that sister!" She said proudly, hoof-pumping excitedly.

Leo just sat in front of the mare and watched as she acted like a weird pony. He wasn't sure what she meant, but it must have been important to her.

"Ponies are so weird."

Luna realized how foalish she was acting and ceased all form of boasting. She smiled sheepishly at the boy and blushed a second time whilst taking her mind to more important matters, such as last night being a complete blur to her.

"Leo, do you recall anything from last night?" She asked in a serious tone.

He shook his head and replied, "I only remember going to bed with you and waking up now."

"That's strange," she puzzled her chin. Leo was jumping on the bed with giddiness, but he needed to sit with her to solve this mystery. "I don't remember entering dreams either."

"Maybe you were too tired," he suggested.

Luna wanted to agree with that, her conscience however, kept telling her there was more to it. Her mind was blank though, as untouched as a sheet of paper and I made her all the more curious. Still, she had to step back from the subject for herself. She wanted to enjoy the day with Leo and rub in her sister's face that she was the prettier mare.

"Let's jus forget about it;" she waved it off. "How about we get cleaned up and go have breakfast with Celestia?"

At that moment there was a familiar face poking her head through the door. Her lips curved into a bright smile at the sight of her supposed future coltfriend shifting into his fox form to clean his ears.

"I see somepony is awake," she greeted joyfully, her presence bringing some mischief out of the lunar alicorn. "Did you sleep well with my sister?"

Luna chuckled quietly as her sister entered, the cheshire grin growing slowly.

"We slept very well my dear sister," she said clearly for the pink haired mare to hear, in hope she would be jealous. "We snuggled under the covers and I told him some scary stories next to the fireplace."

Leo gazed at Luna quizzically while the molesting princess shot her a dark glare. Tension started to rise between both sisters. He felt them tremble with aggression, their possession becoming instinctive, but he did not retreat, rather he faced both subtly so his affection was shared. "We did all that?" He hopped onto Celestia's back and nuzzled her, feeling she was left out.

Luna's nod gave him more confusion. "We did little one, and you were so scared of the cupcake story that you cuddled in my chest the entire night."

"You should no better than to talk about such stories," Celestia chastised. "Some of them are true, and you could have given Leo nightmares."

"Nonsense," her sister said with a proud tone. "I am the Goddess of Dreams; there will be no nightmares in Leo's dreams."

"That's not the point." Celestia said flatly.

Luna laughed, turning her focus back to the fox. Her soft lips brushed a tender kiss over the bridge of his nose. She winked at him before fetching towels for the both of them.

"Anyway, shall we make our way to the royal shower?" She asked with faux-concern for Leo, aggravating her sibling. "I would like to help you wash your tails before breakfast."

This completely lured the inner mare in Celestia. She flicked her mane back with her hoof, while using her magic to levitate the fox into her open wings. She felt she was losing the battle.

"I'll join you in the shower," she told her Luna sternly. "I have no faith in you washing his tails. You still need help from me to scrub the knots you have in the morning."