A Tale of Two Princes

A couple of days had passed since the girls had learned of their two closest male friends' new princehood. To try and make up for unintentionally putting them through their nerve-wracking experience, they'd decided to leave them be for a few days to let them unwind.

Currently, it was a dreary, cloudy afternoon. The first drops of rain were enough to encourage most of Ponyville's residents to head in for the day. It was also, as far as Rarity was concerned, a good enough time to ask the girls over for a discussion, Trixie included. They were all gathered in the kitchen.

Applejack was the first to speak up, "So, what'd ya call all us here fer, Rarity?" She asked, putting a fresh pot of coffee on, "We all agreed to give the boys some space fer a little while so they could relax."

"Well, mainly so we can figure out where we all stand...in..." She trailed off with a sigh. "Let's face it, what do we do about this whole 'consort' deal?"

"What's there to do?" Rainbow cut in, "We tell the guys we like em, maybe some making out." She grinned and bit her lip. It was impossible not to know what was going through her mind, "If things get hot and-"

Rarity quickly interrupted her, "AND need I remind you, Rainbow, just who this involves?"

"Dusk and Spike. So?"

"Well, The Great and Power..." Trixie started in her usual way before she spied the looks she was getting, "Fine...I don't see anything wrong with her idea." She smirked and ran a hand over her body as she leaned against the counter, "After all, what stallion wouldn't crave a piece of this?" She finished off with cupping one of her breasts,

"Because, when it comes to stuff like courtin' and romancin', they're two of the most timid critters Ah think any of us have ever seen. Or do ya need remindin' of how much you scared Dusk?" Applejack crossed her arms under her chest, staring the unicorn down.

Trixie tried to retort, but relented almost as quickly, "Yes, maybe I was a little...overenthusiastic."

"Indeed." Rarity nodded in agreement, "Although, judging by how they reacted, it's safe to assume they consider us attractive at least." A few smiles and at least one blush told her they thought the same, "The question is how do we introduce the notion without appearing needlessly aggressive?

"Say what?" Confusion was thoroughly etched on Scootaloo's face.

"How do we get them comfortable with dating and stuff without scaring them more?" Sweetie Belle clarified.

The group sat in silence for a few minutes until Fluttershy spoke up, "We...we could..ask them..." She offered.

Apple Bloom coughed on the soda she was drinking when she heard this, "Ask 'em? Shy, ya'all saw how skittish they got thinkin' we were makin' moves when we didn' know nothin' 'bout all this consort hoopla! If we up and asked 'em, they might run away ferever!"

"Oh..." Fluttershy blushed, "N-nevermind."

"No harm in suggestin', Shy." Bloom patted her on the shoulder, "But we gotta make sure we don't go comin' off as too forward."

"We could just try being ourselves!" Pinkie chirped, jumping up from her seat.

"And...how does that get the message across without scaring them off?" Sweetie asked, wondering where she was going with this.

"Our wardrobe!" Her smile got even wider.

"While I adore any idea that involves dressing us all up to the nines, Pinkie..." Rarity briefly giggled at a few outfits that came to mind, "Where are you going with this, exactly?"

"They think we're sexy, that's obvious, right?" She got multiple sounds of agreement, "So...we choose our wardrobe and activities to accentuate that while keeping our behavior to our usual friendly mode! That way they'll be able to get used to the idea of seeing us as sexy without it interfering with seeing us as friends!"

"Pinkie, that's genius!" Rarity squealed, "And I can find just the right accessories to go with what we all have!"

"But that's all Ah was doin'!" Applejack half-protested, "And most of us, actually..."

"Don't worry, Darling." the fashionista reassured her, "We just need to become a little more aware of - and avoid - any possible innuendo."

Pinkie giggled, "In-your-end-do!"

Everyone looked at her. Or, almost everyone; Rainbow and Scootaloo laughed like loons at the joke

Rarity just sighed, "...QED."

Meanwhile, back in Golden Oaks, Dusk Shine and Spike were enjoying the peaceful day by painting a set of miniatures they had recently gotten.

Spike was putting the finishing touches on a phantom when he suddenly glanced around, a perplexed look on his face, "Dusk?"

"Hm?" Dusk glanced around the knight he'd just started on.

"You feel that?"

"That odd tickle that just went up my spine?"

Spike nodded, "You trying to ignore it too?"

"Yep!" The two of them just kept painting.

The next day proved to be a bit more active as the nine of them began their initial plans. Closets and drawers were dug through and several articles of clothing ended up selected or discarded.

One notable example was the clubhouse (or 'hangout' as they now preferred to call it) of the CMC. Currently dressed in just their underwear, or birthday suit in Scootaloo's case, the trio was rummaging through a pile of clothing they had managed to acquire from home.

"Bloom, where'd you get the daisy dukes??" Sweetie asked in surprise, staring at the denim shorts her friend was holding. They were cut high enough to show off a substantial bit of backside.

Apple Bloom just smirked, "Remember mah jeans that got ripped on the barn door?"

"Yeah...ohh." Sweetie giggled, retrieving a halter top and matching miniskirt, "So that's why you borrowed Rarity's heaviest fabric scissors."

"Yep. Just need to find a top to go with it."

"At least we know looking hot won't be a problem." Scootaloo spoke up, trying on a bikini to see if it still fit, "We still gotta figure out how to ease Spike into this, though. And we don't know what the limit is."

"Well, maybe we could go ask Zecora." Apple Bloom offered, slipping the shorts on as well as a snug-fitting tanktop., "She's bound to have dated at least once, so Ah'm sure she'll have some advice for us."

Sweetie and Scootaloo looked at each other for a few seconds before the pegasus shrugged, "Couldn't hurt. Let me get some shorts on."

Everfree; Zecora's house

Zecora was in the middle of looking through some of her herbs and ingredients to see if any had expired when a knock at her door grabbed her attention. Needless to say, she hadn't expected to find the CMC standing there, bouncing anxiously on their heels, along with other bits.

"Girls, your fashion choices beg of sin." She commented upon seeing what they had on, "Tell me, whose attention do you seek so strongly to win?"

What followed was several minutes of the trio explaining how Dusk and Spike were named Princes. followed by the consort law; along with three blushing faces as they gave a recap of what happened the other day. "So, we were hoping you could help us figure out to ease Spike into going out with us without scaring him." Sweetie threw in once they'd finished.

"And maybe a way we can help Fluttershy as well. Ah think she's into him too." Apple Bloom added.

Zecora's expression lit up, much to their surprise, "Hmm...that young dragon's also caught my eye. Come in, come in...I'll help things not go awry." She motioned for them to follow her inside.

Cue three sets of wide eyes blinking.

"Y-you too, Zecora?" Scootaloo asked as they hurried in, getting a simple grin in response.

"Wow..." Sweetie squeaked, But...but Rarity was convinced you were interested in Big Mac. I mean, since we always saw you stop by the farm whenever you were in town."

"Wait a sec..." Apple Bloom mulled over something for a moment, "Weren't all those the times when Spike was helpin' out too?

"Verily you see it, Apple Bloom. 'Twas the young dragon who made me swoon." Zecora answered, "My homeland is a place of people varied, but 'twas dragons who with most pride themselves carried. To mate with one was quite the line, for they were held as lovers divine. Spike has those qualities in him too, in addition to gentleness, kindness, as a friend true. With all of this it is no sin, that I offer him my heart to win."

"But what kind of pace do we take? Too slow and he might not even notice." Sweetie asked.

"Yeah, and if we're too fast, it'll be the other day all over again!" Scootaloo added

Suddenly, Apple Bloom's eyes widened in alarm, "Uh-oh..."

"What's with you, Bloom?" Scootaloo cocked her head to the side seeing her friend's expression, "Look like you forgot your homework again.

"Ah just realized...we all know Dusk an' Spikes are princes now..but what's gonna happen when it's made public??"

It didn't take long for the other two to make the same conclusion, "Aw crud, you're right!" Scootaloo growled, "I wouldn't put it past Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to try and snatch him up just because of that!"

"Like hell they will!" Sweetie blurted out, before clapping her hands over her mouth in embarrassment, "S-sorry.." She squeaked, realizing she just swore.

Zecora chuckled at the antics, "Worry not, my young friends. I have the means to your desired ends." She took a few steps back so they could all see, "If stress is on Spike's mind, here he will come a remedy to find. I have a look to ease his cares...and for you dear friends, I have spares."

"What is it? Can we see??" They asked in unison.

Zecora just gave them a mysterious smile, then with a shrug, allowed the cloak she had on to fall to the floor. What they saw underneath was a definite eye-opener; aside from the cloak, her only article of clothing was a linen loincloth, showing off her buxom figure with supple thighs, wide hips, and almost E-cup breasts; the perky, licorice-black nipples standing out proudly on top, "His great stress together we'll ease, with a method from my home, the mind to appease."

Scootaloo stared at the older mare's chest for a moment before looking at her own, "I'm not the only one here who's a little jealous, am I?"

"Worry not about your size." Zecora gave her a reassuring smile, "I shall teach you how best to sway our prize."

While all this was going on, however, an unexpected-and most likely unwelcome-newcomer was listening in on the conversation. Its pale blue eyes narrowed when it heard the words 'Prince Dusk Shine', and a low, chittering hiss escaped its fanged maw, "Mussst tell the Queen..."