A Tail of Difference.

Interrogating the only friends outside of Leo's royal life wasn't something Celestia never thought to find herself doing, let alone in clear sight for anypony to see. Her desperation however, was as thick as her desires to bed the young fox and test those tails of his.

"Alright, out with it!" Celestia demanded angrily, glaring at the three teenagers that she knew could rival her. "Tell me your relationship with Leo, and don't leave out any details."

Whatever she hoped to get out of the girls was beyond impossible. They turned to one another, but Applebloom and Scootaloo smiled briefly before deciding to cooperate in giving the princess a few tugs at her heartstrings. Even Luna herself was smiling inwardly at the proud fact that her own sister was so insecure as to interrogate three fillies, and only one of them having the same intentions as her.

It was sad indeed when the Princess of Molesting would stoop so low. Not even Faust could hide her disappointment before walking away to let them sort out who likes her son more.

"He's just a friend, but we like to think he's our cuddle-buddy from all the time we spend together after class." Scootaloo started, watching as the left eye of the perverted alicorn twitched.

Luna could not help snickering behind her mane.

Celestia couldn't believe it. She was in competition with three brats that have been stealing her fox on every occasion they can get, snuggling with him and possibly doing who knows what. Her lip began to quiver as she thought about how vulnerable Leo can be when he is pushed to lewd ideas with body language. She personally knew the young prince was jello whenever she attempted to get him in bed for more than just cuddling and a few one-sided kisses, but here was three girls possibly doing the same thing behind her back.

She was startled out of her raging jealousy when Luna elbowed her side and nuzzled her neck. She gasped and watched in confusion as the younger princess comforted her with understanding wings.

"Celestia, remember who you are speaking too about our little fox," Luna said softly, giggling with the girls as her sister realized her actions and looked away with a huff. "They are teenagers, barely starting the wonders of a higher education. Their minds have yet to fathom what it means to mature."

Applebloom glared at the alicorn for that one, ignoring the hidden wink Luna gave under her mane. "And what makes ya think Leo is into old mares?"

Luna suddenly found herself despising the farm pony and proceeded to continue playing their little game with much desire to show them who Leo really likes, without making it obvious of course.

"Who says he desires a filly his age?" she countered. "I heard he wants a mature pony that is a little more developed."

"Oh really?" Scootaloo snorted, getting right into Luna's face. "Then why does he choose to bail on a couple of princesses to spend all of his time with us?"

Luna cringed with her sister on that one, knowing darn good and well that was a false strike, but a good one nonetheless. They knew Leo spent every single day of his life with them and would split his time snuggling, cuddling, or just wasting the day or night away to show they are loved and wanted. Luna knew better than to fall for that trap though, she had to keep a cool head and be the bigger mare around these ponies lest she wants to found out as Leo's first mate. The papers would certainly not take too kindly to a reformed princess dating an underage prince, and there was no telling what her or sister would do.

Unfortunately, Celestia had to act no better than these girls and take it too far with them. Luna braced herself for a tiff with words but remained in place and watched the argument escalate.

"That is what you truly believe—that Leo prefers the three of you?" Celestia bellowed in a hardy laugh. "Please, we spend day and night with the boy. And we take turns sharing a bed with him, cuddling all night, beneath my sister's beautiful sky while you continue helping others discover their special talent."

Those words went right through Sweetie Belle, striking her inner desires with a dull blade that twisted in her heart. Her mind was set though, with a sudden burst of determination that might rival Applejack's stubborness.

Luna almost jumped out her skin as she saw that pain and determination behind the singer's eyes, scaring herself with vast thoughts of the young unicorn having the potential to steal Leo away from her. Having said thoughts run their head, she spun around and for a moment she had to flap her wings to make sure she was calm enough to fly away. It dawned to her at the same time though, in front of her were the possibilities of a filly much younger than her taking what matters most to her.

"Luna?" Celestia attempted to stop her, only to meet a gust of wind blowing her dyed mane into the crusaders faces.

"I must tend to something." Luna said out loud, soaring off the balcony.

Celestia raised an eyebrow at the confusing alicorn and shook away those questioning actions, her attention set back on the three pains in front of her, glaring hatefully up to her while a certain troublemaker watched through the window with a bag of popcorn to share.

"This is going to be a fun sleepover," Discord said, tossing more buttery kernels into his mouth. "Almost makes me pity for Leo, but that boy needs to suffer for turning me into a walking gumball."

"Are they not aware that Leo can start a pack with them?" Amaterasu asked, snatching the handful Discord had and eating it without a care for the glare he gave her. "Seriously, how ignorant can these ponies be?"

"I would not call it ignorance." Discord disagreed. "If anything I would say it is a conflict of love."

"Love?" Amaterasu questioned with a smile, turning to the king as he crossed his arms. She was surprised to see that he was smiling not at the crusaders, but the last pony they would expect to have such a powerful emotion.

"Haven't you noticed that Celestia has been solely focused on Leo?" He insinuated with a chuckle.

Amaterasu looked away and pondered to herself. She smiled to her own admittance of seeing through the problems of the alicorn to the brighter nature that had grown over the years. She almost wanted to admit that her brother was right, the last pony expected to love anybody was much more behaved than normal and focusing herself on winning the kitsune.

Then there was a single doubt that sprouted in her mind, and it made her frown.

"Do you think she could be faithful to Leo?" She asked, watching the black haired pervert continue throwing insults at the crusaders.

Discord shrugged at this and answered as best as he could.

"I'm not sure, but I do hope that she can. After all, breaking the trust of a kitsune is impossible to repair."

"Not to mention a very angry mother would most likely kill her." Amaterasu implied, shaking at her head at the idea of Faust going off the deep end.

Meanwhile in the quiet city of Canterlot, Leo found himself at the mercy of Rarity's work after she closed the store and took him to the back of the boutique for proper measurements. His hopes for new clothes diminished when she got to his neck and snorted, her frustration obvious to him before the scissors were levitated out of the third drawer.

"You are going to need a haircut before I start with your clothes," he winced at the sound of said scissors and prayed for his mother to save him, but there was serious doubt that she could save him from the fashionista.

He turned to the unicorn patting the only seat that could hold him and looked into the mirror with shock. His growth had not just gone to his body but to his hair as well. He could barely see through the hair in his eyes and notice that it was almost touching his waist. His tails were much more fluffy than normal with loose ends sticking out. He was a mess, and it irritated him to see how much his growth spurt was affecting him.

"Come. Take a seat." Rarity chirped, giving the boy no chance to fight like he usually does. She levitated him into the chair and proceeded with covering him and combing that mop of hair out of his eyes before taking a hairband to find her stopping point at the length it needs to be.

Leo felt like a prisoner after the first snip was made, his abnormal hair now at shoulder length as he gripped the chair. He hated nothing more than getting his hair cut, especially when it was only a week ago that he had to suffer through this. It was a long and annoying process with his aunt always finding ways to style it and make him look fabulous. But given the circumstances, he was desperate to look normal before the sleepover started tonight.

He cringed when another long strand was cut and the scissors got closer to his furry ears. He tried to fold them back to his head out of fear that Rarity would cut one of them, but he was forced with magic to keep them straight.

"Stay still darling, or I will snip an ear." Rarity said kindly, staring at him in the mirror as he whimpered. "Oh hush now. You have nothing to fear. I have cut your mane ever since you were a pup."

"Yeah, and you style it every time." He commented, making the mare stop and giggle for a moment.

"A prince must look his best," Rarity cooed whilst removing most of his overgrown fluff around the left ear. "Even when he is around the filly he likes."

"Not just her," Leo mumbled and looked up, before perking up and saying. "Hey, are you going to be a the castle tonight?"

"I did not plan to be," Rarity shrugged. "But since you asked, I suppose I could put my schedule aside and partake in this sleepover Sweetie Belle suggested."

"Wait," Leo blinked at her reflection. "I thought you were the one that suggested the girls had a sleepover at the castle."

"Oh heavens, not at all." Rarity shook her head and began to work on the other ear. "Sweetie Belle was the one who talked your mother into it, something about how it is unfair that you spend most of your time with the princesses."

Leo felt like a jackass at that moment and wondered just how much that girl liked him. He couldn't ask his fashion aunt though, as it was learned from personal experience that a secret to Rarity is a secret that will go to her grave. Plus if he couldn't get her to spill the beans on how to make the chocolate he loves so much, then it was pointless.

A twitch of his ears had him out of that deep thought. With one ear clear of all the extra hair, he could hear the front door open and slam shut with a mare storming inside and calling his name while Rarity stopped to listen. He tried to leap out of his seat but was met with his aunt still using her magic to keep in place. Thankfully the mystery pony up front had a powerful scent, and he recognized it to be the only pony in the world who stays up late to play video games with him.

"Back here, Luna." He called out, and as soon he did, the blazing speed of a needy alicorn came full force with the princess bursting through the curtains to find him under a hostage situation with a pair of scissors.

"What's up?" He waved a hand at her.

"Princess, what a pleasant surprise." Rarity said with a giddy tune to her voice.

"A fair welcome to you as well, Generous Rarity." Luna replied with a slight bow of her head, making the white mare blush. "Tell me, are you almost finished with Leo?"

"I'm afraid I just started, princess." Rarity replied, before returning to her work. "Honestly, his mane is so long and unkempt that I may need time to fix it."

"Can't help it, auntie. I hit a growth spurt." Leo chirped with a smile, receiving a light tap to his head that made Luna giggle as she found a comfy place to sit.

"Hush now, this is a delicate procedure. I do not want a single hair to go unchecked." Rarity was finally getting serious with removing the extremely long hair, and ceased talking casually with her nephew as she levitated the electric sheers out of her personal bag.

Leo could the fear disrupting his control over being in his bipedal form when the sheers were plugged in and pushed against his neck, the sound making his skin crawl as he looked down to the mess that was around his seat.

"How in the world does a growth spurt cause this much trouble?" Rarity asked, albeit a rhetorical one that made her more frustrated.

Leo shrugged his shoulders at the mare, his tails twitching with anticipation.

"I don't know, I'm not control of my body."

"I said hush now," Rarity scolded, turning to her new guest who was examining a few of her tools. "And princess, if it isn't too much trouble, could you be a dear and watch over him while I fetch the shampoo in the front? I am afraid there are knots in his mane."

Luna was more than to do so. She smiled and watched as the unicorn left the room before getting out of her seat to approach the grumbling teenager twiddling with his tails. Her chipper attitude dissolved into a serious frown before grabbing his attention with a peck to the cheek.

"We have a problem," she whispered. "My sister is using our activities to her advantage."

"Activities?" Leo cocked an eyebrow at the alicorn.

"Yes," Luna nodded. "She told the girls that you share our beds. It's upset Sweetie Belle greatly, and I am certain she is now determined to take you from us."

"You've got to be kidding me," the young fox groaned. "She has got to be the biggest loudmouth in all of Equestria."

"That's my sister for you," Luna giggled, knowing it was going to be a long day for Leo. "But do not fret, I have faith in the young filly."

Leo wanted to agree with the princess, but he wasn't so sure that Sweetie Belle would be so understanding that he was already in relationship with Luna and possibly going to have one with Celestia. Herding was an ancient law that still existed, but it was not used for hundreds of years and known as a taboo method for continuing a noble house that was short of descendants that could uphold the name.

He slammed his head against the shelf in front of him and whined as Luna comforted him.

"I hate being me right now."

"Well I love you for being you," Luna sighed contently as she wormed a kiss to his lips. "And besides, if she doesn't agree to a herd, you still have your princess of the night."

"Yeah, but we have to be careful." Leo reminded her. "If anyone finds out, we're going to be in serious trouble."

"I wonder what my sister would say if she discovered our relationship." Luna wondered, only to have her foxy prince laugh and tell her the obvious.

"Simple, she would throw a tantrum and cry to mom for you to share me. And after that, mom would ground us both from seeing eachother."