Preening

This is prior to their marriage, back when Sugar Blade had just joined the guard

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Sugar Blade trotted around the castle, rather glad to be free of her uniform for the weekend. She was walking through the courtyard, when she spotted something curious.

Prince Moon Shadow was lying quite uncomfortably under a tree. He had his wing partially stretched out, and he had his muzzle to it. It appeared as though he were trying to gnaw off all of his feathers.

Sugar Blade hadn't had much interaction with the infamous prince of Mischief, except for passing glances, and occasional escorts. In fact, her most intimate encounter with him was when she and her parents were attending a ball. While her father had a long conversation with Queen Celestia, she and the prince stood awkwardly to the side, and he gave her a simple compliment on her dress, which she thanked him for.

"Y-your majesty?" She said, slightly confused as to what he was doing.

"Oh! Lieutenant Sugar Blade." He gasped, looking rather embarrassed at her presence. "W-what are you doing here?"

She blinked. "I'm on leave, sire. I'm going to visit my family in Ponyville."

"O-oh, y-yes, I see..." He murmured, hesitantly looking at his wing, again.

"Sir, may I ask, what are you doing?" She asked, curiously.

"Oh, i-it's my wing...I'm just...preening..." He said, awkwardly.

This made Sugar Blade blush. "P-preening, sir...?"

He looked confused. "Is there...an issue?"

"Well, no sir," Sugar Blade began, unsurely. "I-it's just that...preening is considered to be a rather..." She cleared her throat. "Intimate procedure among pegasi. I was...merely...surprised you were so...open about it."

This caused Moon Shadow to blush. "I-intimate? Is it really...?" He looked to his wing again, which had feathers that were ruffled, and slightly crooked.

She stared in surprise. Never had she seen either of the princes seem so flustered, and uncertain. "Sire, did...did nopony ever teach you how to preen?"

The young royal immediately averted his eyes, glowing bright red. "N-no..." He muttered. "M-my mother never had time to teach me, and auntie Luna was often busy with Night Wing..." He looked at his hoof and paw. "So I just sort of...avoid it..."

Sugar Blade pitied the young monarch, and approached him with a tender smile. "Well, we can't let that happen. It's not healthy for you, or your wings. I'll be more than happy to teach you, sir." She said, kindly.

Moon Shadow looked up, thoroughly flushed, to the tips of his ears. "I-I thought you said this was a private thing!" He squawked, his feathers and neck fur ruffling in embarrassment.

Sugar felt the color rise in her cheeks, knowingly. "W-well, y-yes, i-it is, b-but, i-it's important to know these things..."

Moon Shadow felt comforted by her generosity, and scooted to make room for her.

She sat, and spread her wing to demonstrate.

"L-lieutenant?" He paused, before she could start.

"Yes?" She asked, slightly folding in her wing.

"M-may I just call you Sugar Blade?" He asked, rather shyly, unusual to his common rambunctious, mischievous, happy-go-lucky attitude.

She smiled, pleasantly. "Of course, your highness. And in return, may I just call you Moon Shadow?"

He grinned happily at this. "O-of course!"

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And that's how our favorite trouble maker, and little soldier became friends!

I wanted to draw more cuteness for Sugar Blade and Moon Shadow! They just haven't had enough!