Blue Belle's eyes were as wide as they dared permit. "My word." All around were various tawdry items designed for use in private places only seen by other very trusted ponies. Some of them, she determined, perhaps hidden even from them. From the outside, the store was blank, with only a single sign that itself gave no hints of what was sold within. The door inside was a thick sheet that ensured light was always blocked from the outside.

Inside, there were many shelves packed with books and display cases with devices in all sorts of shapes and sizes. "My word," Blue repeated, but softer, almost a gasp.

The Eunuch walked easily through the store. Their interest in the items seemed academic at best. Most of their time was spent keeping aside Blue Belle. "Should I summon the proprietor for you?"

Blue nodded. "Please." She swallowed nervously, trotting after the Eunuch to reach the counter.

"He'll be here in a moment, Ma'am." The Eunuch didn't sound even slightly stressed or upset.

But it wasn't a stallion that poked their head out from a bead curtain leading into the back. It was a middle-aged mare with a warm smile. "They weren't lying!" She cantered the rest of the way free. "The future princess visits me! To what do I owe this honor?"

Blue blinked, taken aback. "I am going to marry your prince." She wondered if she should curtsy. "A pleasure to meet you, Ma'am."

The owner gave an airy laugh. "That much I have heard. You are even more adorable than they said. Look at you! Now, how can I help our little future-princess? I did not think you would come here, of all stores to visit first."

Blue colored at that. "Well, this is the store I came to, so it must be the correct one, even if I don't know where else there is to go." She fluttered her eyelashes with a momentary self-consciousness. "May I be frank?" She ascended some stairs of her own magical crafting to reach the counter and be closer to eye level with the shopkeep.

The shopkeep's gaze moved from Blue Belle to the Eunuch before returning. "How can I say no to a request like that?" She leaned in with a smile. "In this place, a pony is either frank, or entirely silent. Rare is the middle ground."

"I am a tiny mare, in more ways than one." Blue's cheeks felt like they were on fire with how warmed with blood they'd become. "And Prince Sand, he is, hm, a bit, shall we say, large, in all ways. I would not wish to fail to uphold my duties, as princess."

The shopkeep clasped her hooves to her chest, face awash with glee. "You do him proud! I do not think we've had a princess from Equestria before. We've had stallions of ours marry little mares, but a princess? This is a first." She leaned in. "But don't be worried! Prince or Princess, the matter is the same." She inclined her head. "Though I was told princesses of Equestria were larger. No matter! Here you are. I am quite pleased you came to me for help."

Blue Belle smiled. "I cannot ask Prince Sand to take me here. What would his subjects think if they saw him doing that?" She fluttered her eyelashes. "So, hm, what do you suggest, exactly?" She turned to marvel at the selection of items. "I will confess I haven't the slightest idea where to begin."

The shopkeep blushed a bit. "I am the same way. Perhaps we could start with what you know of making love?"

Blue tilted her head. "Do you have any books? That would be easiest."

The shopkeep put a hoof before Blue. "No. This is not a matter for book learning. What we speak of is in here." She moved that hoof to her own chest. "What do you know, without looking it up?"

Blue Belle's ears wilted slightly. "Not much."

The shopkeep inclined her head slowly. "Oh! Oh. Our little princess has come to us as virgin as the white snowy fur she wears. Poor thing, no wonder you are confused. Well, then you put yourself in my care, and let me guide you through. I did not realize I was helping in that special time."

"In that?" Blue Belle felt a little lost, like she had been thrust into deep waters with no boat.

The shopkeep said gently, "Sex is one of the most important events of a pony's life." She winked. "Though we like to pretend it isn't. I know better." With soft laughter she went to an aisle and began running her hoof along the shelves. "Now, to begin, I will dispel some rumors. Despite our size differences, a stallion of ours is not larger than a foal of yours. However—" She looked over her shoulder back at Blue. "That doesn't mean that you want to feel like you're giving birth every time you come together, I imagine, hm?"

Blue Belle stared a moment before shaking her head. "No! Certainly not. I would much prefer not to even think about that."

The shopkeep giggled gently. "Then we start here." She pulled down a box with a few items in it. "Mmm, this. Then that. And this one." She came back with three things cupped in her hooves. She let them fall to the counter, revealing them to be three sexual toys of increasing size. The largest was larger than any part of Blue Belle. "You'll begin with these. Start with the first, working up to the last, when you're ready."

Blue Belle looked at the series of 'toys' with something like fear, maybe awe, and a little dread. "You really think I'll be able—" She tapered off, unable to finish the question, just staring at that last one.

The shopkeep giggled. "It is a remarkable feeling, your first time." She stroked her chin as she leaned in. "But you must tell me something, dear princess. How often will you be coming together?"

Blue flipped her ears back. "As often as is proper!" She turned her mind back to when she was a prince, and their thoughts on it. "Once a week?"

The shopkeep laughed gently. "The doubt in your voice. Do you not have your own urges, or do you plan to follow the prince's step in this every hoof of the way?"

Blue Belle felt color rising to her cheeks. "I don't think he would object to more than once a week."

The shopkeep rubbed her hooves together with glee. "Come come, you must tell me what manner of stallion Prince Sand is!"

Blue flopped to her belly. It was all too much. "He is kind and courteous and I already deeply admire him. I wish to be good princess for him."

The shopkeep tapped the first. "Start here. Get used to having something in there, think of him and how nice he is. When you are used to it, move to the next." She slid a hoof to the second. "And do it again. The last." She slid to the largest, final, tool. "You'll be more ready by that point, but take it slow. Imagine it is him, being slow and so loving to you."

Blue Belle nosed one and gulped. "How long does it take?"

The shopkeep put her hoof to Blue's back. "Oh, child. It will be different for you, but I would guess a week or two, before you could manage this last." She raised a hoof to her own cheek. "Mmm, but don't take that as a requirement. You take your time, and enjoy the process if you can. There is no time limit, and if you are trying genuinely, and the prince is as kind as you report, he will understand that you are not turning him away, but preparing for him, and he will wait."

Blue Belle rolled onto her side, snuggling into that hoof. It was very nice, not unlike a mother's hoof. "Thank you." She breathed out slowly. "But I think I'm ready to buy the first one."

The eunuch coughed into a hoof. "I suggest you purchase all three. We don't want rumors of the royal princess coming and going from here too often."

Blue hopped up, suddenly entirely awake and sharply alert. "Dear no! That's the sort of rumor that can sully one's name quite badly. Good thinking. Please, I'll take all three."

The shopkeep shrugged, completely unconcerned. "Fine with me. Shall I gift wrap them?" She rubbed her chin, considering. "I'd charge extra, but you're the princess, so it's on the house."

Blue's color rushed back. "You're teasing me! It's for me, from me. Who would I be presenting it as a gift as? No, just in a bag, a plain bag, will do."

The shopkeep was solemn. "I understand, Ma'am. Not even from you to you. Mm, this might take a little longer than expected." She grinned brightly. She looked to the eunuch. "Are you the purse?"

"Correct, ma'am." The eunuch turned and got out a bag of bits, paying for the three items. "Do you recommend anything else, while we're here?"

She perked. "Oh, silly me." She rushed off and came back with a little jar. "Use this on a toy before you begin playing with it, it'll help it slide more easily. Wash the toy afterwards, but I shouldn't have to mention that. Still, I did, and I mean it."

Blue Belle blushed anew, just looking at that little jar. "I see." More questions brimmed in her mind, but her ability to actually ask them was at an end. Mental stamina drained, she just nodded. "Thank you."

The silence dragged between the group before the eunuch spoke up. "Anything else? A book, maybe?"

The shopkeep tilted her head. "For the shy princess? Only if she wishes to learn things beyond the basics." She flashed a smile. "She can send you to pick that up, when she is ready, and if she wishes. She does not need that today."

Blue Belle nearly covered her face with both hooves in embarrassment. "Oh, dear. Is it that obvious?"

The shopkeep shrugged, gently indifferent. "I am very good at my job." She shooed the both of them away. "Now, off with both of you. Thank you for making my day, and I hope you make his night; when you are ready."

Blue Belle gave a wan smile. "You are more helpful than I had hoped, thank you." She nodded to the eunuch as well. "To you as well. I never thought about needing guards, but they're quite helpful."

The guard chuckled at that. "That is why we come in different varieties. Eunuchs are the ones to call for such matters, and some others beside." He reached to scoop Blue onto his back. "You are worn. Let me carry you back."

Blue discovered she could still color more. "Won't ponies talk?"

"Perhaps, but nothing offensive. A eunuch providing a ride is hardly new." He set off back to the castle.

And so ended their little shopping trip, but began Blue's mission to be ready to prepare for the mission she had accepted.

"Cadance, I hope you're happy." She huffed as she examined her new bag of goodies. "I hope you and Shining are both happy." She drew the bag closer. "I hope I'm happy."

Blue swallowed thickly. "I suppose we are to find out."

Author's Note

Blue begins training! She got some good information, and made some friends while she was at it. A good day?

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