//------------------------------//
// 7 - Big and Small 
// Story: Blue Wedding Belles 
// by David Silver 
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Sand stepped free from the back, each step making his new suit flow over his sleek form. It was gold, with accents of green, a bit brighter than what he usually wore. The clothing flowed, accenting his form, and yet, there were parts of it that remained rigid, accentuating his strength.

Blue Belle began applauding as he approached, her smile stuck on her face. Having an echo of her family crest casually approaching her was too much. "Prince, I'm speechless. That looks amazing."

"You have done well." Sand trotted over to Blue Belle and paused for a moment before leaning in to nuzzle her cheek. "It is with honor that I wear the colors of my betrothed." He sat before her, looking her over. "You are wearing one of yours. Good. Does it find favor with you?"

Blue felt oddly exposed, not just because she was in a dress, but because it was hers, and not what she had picked out. The mares had chosen well, it fit snugly, comfortably. The colors were pleasing to her eyes, and none of it got in her way when moving about. How had they gotten her precise measurements? "It's quite good. We're both ready then."

Sand dipped his head at that. "Have you decided on what spells you would demonstrate?" He stepped aside to let her by.

Blue Belle shivered, and the gentle press of Sand against her flank helped ease some of that. "I'm about the only one that would be considering magic." She turned to sand, pressing nose to nose, even if his was so much larger. "What sort of magic are ponies expecting to see?"

"Our people have stories of your kind having such great power." Sand gently leaned in, rubbing his cheek against hers. "And great evil. That is what they fear, most of all." He stroked his hoof over her shoulder.

She considered his words. "Then we don't want any frightening magic, clearly. Something harmless and uplifting." She snorted with sudden humor. "I could call the stairs. Nothing is much more 'uplifting' than that."

Sand grinned at that. "Perhaps we should lead with that one? Show that your magic can be useful and practical. And then we will see if they are ready for something a bit more playful."

Blue nodded, some of the tension fading. "I am ready for that. Now, as gorgeous as we are, we should change. These are for the big day, not to be sullied in day to day use." She giggled a little. "Oh, I know I'm nervous. I'm so sorry."

Sand raised his chin. "Showing off your abilities makes you anxious?"

Blue Belle blinked at that, then shook her head. "I'm not nervous about, hm, that." She glanced away and back to Sand. "Have you time to talk, after we change back?"

Sand put his hoof to his chest. "I always have time for my princess."

"What if you are busy? It feels odd to command a prince to interrupt whatever duties he has to listen to me." She hurried behind some blinds and tossed her dress up over them to rest atop before she emerged, wearing only the chest ornament she usually wore. "But if you are offering, I would be foalish to say no. It's, um, private."

Sand blushed at the sight of her. "I will clear my schedule. And you can always ask anything of me." He quickly removed his own suit, allowing the servants to retrieve it as he quickly joined Blue Belle in being sans official wedding attire.

They went, side by side, to her room, where she closed the door gently. "We are fast approaching when a certain something is expected." She twitched her tail. "And it's not something I've ever done before. To be blunt, I am a little scared, magnified by how much larger you are, Sand." She paced back and forth, tension returned to her form. "You have struck me as a gentle and loving pony, but the realities of the situation, you understand?"

Sand nodded. "I do. I am quite large." He shifted in place. "And I've not had a wife before. I can't claim that it won't hurt. But I know it won't hurt on purpose." He took a slow breath. "I will only go as you permit me, dear wife. I may own everything in this kingdom, given time, but I will never own you." He touched his snout to her side. "Your body is your own and none other to make decisions on."

Blue Belle hugged herself with a heavy sigh. "Thank you, husband-to-be. Those are words that needed to be said." She leaned against him and rested her head on one of his legs. "So we are both untrained in this? We'll have to take it slow, and carefully."

"But I will." He angled both ears at Blue Belle. "As slow and as carefully as we need. It is my responsibility to satisfy, not harm, my new wife." He lowered himself to the ground, gently sliding an arm around her, pulling her against him. "My beautiful little wife."

Blue Belle giggled, squirming gently. "So close. But, please, I like you." She nuzzled gently, considering her past state. Part of her wanted to gush out the truth of her origin, but that would risk so much. She had to be wed, or the agreement with Equestria would be threatened. No, if she was to reveal that truth, it'd have to be after the wedding at soonest. "Thank you, for tolerating the fears of your wife to be."

Sand laughed a little. "Fear is a sign that something is worth fearing. Your caution is as appreciated as your openness." He ran a hoof down her back, sending shivers along her spine. "When we are married, we become a team, you understand? Our actions will be for the support of the other, so that we can both lead our best lives."

Blue Belle sniffed gently at his mane. "It seems like it's been forever since I had someone to lean on like this. Sand, I was the only child of my parents. There was no brother or sister for me to love, nor did I ever have a lover. All I have is my country." She stared up into his eyes. "I promise to you, in front of all of your subjects, to do all I can for them as well as you."

Sand nipped at her closer ear, a soft gesture, his tongue playing over it briefly. "My dear, there is little more I could ask." He rolled with her, putting Blue atop his considerable form. "There will be some that will be upset, to have a queen that is smaller than them."

Blue Belle had to steady herself on his broad chest, sitting there with legs apart. "Perhaps that's a good thing. No other pony will be allowed to sit upon their prince." She snickered at the idea. "That is a privilege I will carry alone." She sat up, tail swaying against his front. "You make an admirable seat, if you don't mind my saying."

Sand moved his hooves slowly, holding her in place on him. "My wife to be seems comfortable." His nose nudged her underside. "Perhaps we should let her remain so."

The two remained like that for a time, both comfortable with the presence of the other in the quiet. At least until a knock came from the door. Sand opened his eyes, breaking the peace he had slipped into. "That will be one of the servants."

Blue Belle yawned and turned to glance at the door. "Then, shall I let them in?" She smiled as she felt Sand's hooves pulling her a bit tighter. "Or do you wish to keep me here longer?"

"If it were up to me, I would do that." Sand gathered her up and set her on the ground as he rolled to his hooves. "We don't need them spreading rumors, even if some of them are true."

Blue snickered at that, trotting for the door. "Who is it?" she called as she sped towards that great entry to her room. She was a step away when it swung open, two of the servants ponies from before bowing in unison. "Oh!"

"Princess," said the lead of the two, "the King has requested your presence at supper."

Sand nodded at the two. "My princess, I am called." He strode away without hesitation, simply gone in a moment.

Blue Belle stood there, staring at where he had been, before glancing back at the servants. "Do you two know where my dress is?" She knew exactly where it was, but she wanted them to say it.

"You left your collection with the seamstress'." One maid angled her head back over herself. "We'll be bringing it here shortly, ma'am."

The other leaned in, snuffling gently at Blue. "Ma'am, may I ask a question?"

"You just did." Blue chuckled at her little joke. "But why not make it two?"

"Ma'am." She pointed at where Sand had hurried off towards. "Our prince is so much larger than you. Aren't you scared of being hurt, just being with him? I mean no offense, you two are quite cute together, but are you safe, ma'am?"

Blue put hoof to chest, and sagged down onto her haunches. "Safe. That is a complicated question." She sighed as she stood again. "I trust he won't harm me intentionally, but. It's like when I first cast stairs. I knew that it would help me get around easier, but I also knew that if I wasn't careful, I could end up tumbled on the ground, or worse if I really botched it. Life is full of little choices like that." She rested a hoof on her belly. "It's like this dress. I am comfortable in it, but if I got too energetic, I'd feel like an utter fool, probably to some laughter."

The maid pinkened at the mental image. "I would assist you, ma'am."

"And I would appreciate it, but that possibility remains." Blue circled in place. "Wearing the dress could get me hurt, or embarrassed. So I will be careful with it, but I'll still wear it." She touched nose to the maid's own. "We've much in common with my prince, he and I."

The maid glanced aside. "But he's so very much larger than you, ma'am."

The other maid nudged gently. "You are pressing. The princess is patient, but that isn't eternal."

"He and I have the same issue." Blue sighed with a smile. "My being small in height makes many worry about me, doesn't it? We all wish to be larger, I think." She clasped her hooves together. "Because being larger gives us greater confidence."

Blue lifted a hoof and started counting on it. "When I was much smaller, I had many friends that were also smaller than myself." She was also a stallion back then, but she kept that part to herself. "But that didn't stop us from tumbling about as foals are wont to do." She touched the first of her hooves. "I remember tripping once and skinning my knee so badly I needed bandages. All it took was one fall, a single stumble, for me to injure myself."

The maid drew a soft breath. "You are a warrior, ma'am. I am accustomed to royal ladies being are more, mmm, prim? Soft, delicate. You don't seem to be scared of those things." She smiled brightly. "I like it, ma'am. I'm glad to be your servant."

Blue Belle giggled at that. "I'm not always like this, my maid. I can be a delicate flower as well. But, those times aren't here now." She leaned in closer. "And with all the respect in the world to you and yours, I am still quite hungry."

Both maids squeaked and hurried off to address that.