Chapter 4
Interviews 2: Fleur Your Entertainment

Fleur Dee Lis laid about her house with a well-practiced air of nonchalance. Gazing lazily about her living room from her position on the couch, she waited with nay an observable care in the world. Her eyes rolled slowly across the many decorations she had acquired; some of them gifts from past lovers, others charitable donations from lusting hopefuls, and still more pieces she had acquired herself for some reason or another.

All in all she truly despised the place, and needed rather desperately to redecorate. Nothing matched, at all. It was almost criminal.

She waved a noncommittal hoof in the air, barely visible from the other side of couch she’d sprawled herself over. In an instant, a row of ponies appeared before her: butler, maid, and somepony in a suit she honestly couldn’t remembered if she’d fired or not. Or merely intended to. Or maybe that was his brother?

“Yes, m’lady,” said the maid. The other two stayed perfectly quiet. It was an unspoken rule and no small matter that males in her household did not speak unless spoken to. Considering the types she’d... “brought home” in the past, regardless of motivation, Fleur was very adamant that there be as little chatter from the menfolk as possible. Not that she denied them any other rights. They were treated as equals in every other respect.

She just didn’t want to hear them talk. “Yes, Featherduster, I have some rather important business for you,” Fleur said loftily, her gaze landing on the other two ponies to let them know she was, in fact, addressing all of them.

The maid bowed prettily, and the men dipped their heads. “Yes, Miss Fleur. How can we be of service?”

“As you know, I am to be called upon by the Princess either this afternoon or the next. While I am gone, on either day, I want you to go through this room... nay, the entire house, and dustbin absolutely all of these tacky decorations.”

Featherduster, returning her gaze to her mistress, raised an eyebrow. “All of them?” she asked with a knowing smile.

Fleur sat up a little, and nodded. “Well, I trust you’ll know which ones to keep. The rest... do whatever. Give Chef something to beat his cooks around the head with. Just get them off my walls. If anypony on staff wants to keep any of the gaudy things, I say let them. And when I get back, I am hiring an interior decorator and we are going to make this house glow. I may be having the Princess as company sometime soon, after all.”

Featherduster gave Fleur her utmost attention, nodding in all the right places and smiling happily. She had basically been given free reign to loot, burn, or repurpose almost every decoration in the house. And of course she knew which ones to keep. She cleaned the place daily. “Of course, I look forward to it, Miss.”

Fleur returned her maid’s now mischievous grin. “I know you do.”

Just then, there was a soft flash of green fire just above the table, doing well away with an “unfortunately” flammable ornate wooden doll from North Zebrica. In all honesty Fleur couldn’t even remember where she got it. A small scroll rolled about in the dust, which Fleur floated to her and read hungrily, her expression turning from lazy and amused to hungry and full of anticipation.

Featherduster and the two silent stallions looked about, not sure what to do with the sudden tiny arson they’d just witnessed. A small cough from their mistress diverted their attention before they could ponder to thoroughly on the subject. “It seems you’ll have the afternoon to have your way with my decor, Feather,” Fleur explained. Her grin grew wider, her eyelids drooping in what could only be construed as barely-concealed lust. “It’s time for me to go to work.”

Watching Dee Lis stroll out of the house, Feather turned to her coworkers. “Alright, boys. Let’s have ourselves a firesale.”

Fleur chuckled to herself as she heard the raucous cheers and crashing from the other side of her front door.

“And that,” Twilight explained, as she closed a rather large book in front of her, “is the basic outline of the Apprenticeship program. Curriculum, duties, and expectations. Did you have any other questions, Miss Dee Lis?” The alicorn looked up expectantly at the pearlescent mare across the table from her. Much of her initial shock and awe at the unicorn’s delightful appearance had worn off since the start of their conversation. Of course, Spike had had to poke her several times to keep her from drooling on the floor. More than she was, anyway.

Fleur looked thoughtfully at the book, and the last fizzles of magic faded away from her horn as she set her quill down on the parchment she’d been taking notes on. Taping one elegant hoof to her chin, she smiled. “Yes, in fact. Do you mind?” Her tone was soft and considerate, with just a hint of curiosity.

Twilight smiled and shook her head slightly. “Not at all, in fact I encourage it. Curiosity and inquisition are the foundations of a good researcher, after all.”

The pale unicorn raised a subtle eyebrow at the opportunity to make a “curiosity” remark, but moved along, “I was wondering what your basis for theory is. I understand you are an avid pupil of Starswirl the Bearded’s works?”

The Princess’s head bobbed up and down avidly in agreement. “Oh, yes! His work on morphic spell structures and mana fluidity are simply divine in their ease and efficiency! Are you also a fan?”

Fleur rolled her shoulders in a silky shrug. “I respect his work and it’s applications, certainly. But I’m actually more keen on the less simplistic and more dynamic structures and formulae of Lady Spelldust. I find I have a predisposition for the kind of magic she describes.”

Twilight shrank away in hesitation. “Wasn’t... wasn’t she the countess who ground up dead unicorn’s horns and mixed them with dragon’s blood for her... more debasing rituals?”

Fleur waved off the alicorn’s concerns with a smile. “Yes, that much is true, but I was referring more to her work on alicium development techniques. She was a student of Chorus the Crazy, after all. They’ve both done some rather fascinating studies in the field of meditation and spellcrafting. I try not to focus on her... less savory deeds, when she’d done some rather remarkably practical work.”

Twilight seemed pleased with that answer, returning to her original position. “I will admit Spelldust had made quite a difference in how we understand alicium. But I always found her formulae and techniques too complicated in proportion to the work you’re trying to accomplish. I always found it a tad impractical.”

Not one to be outdone so easily, Fleur adopted a more studious pose, settling in for what could be a long verbal exchange. “Yes, but that’s because she was replacing physical components with somatic and verbal. While it does make for much longer casting times, there are many techniques that can shorten or even eliminate those components in small doses. Speaking long-term, Spelldust’s approach is just more... frugal.”

Twilight gave a small, thoughtful “hmm.” “I can understand taking the opportunity where it lies to save money on spell components. If you don’t have the resources to acquire them naturally, buying them outright can be rather expensive. And I imagine you don’t get all of that money by spending it, right?” She asked playfully.

Fleur nodded and smiled in agreement. “Exactly. And all that practice with more complicated methods makes the simpler ones an absolute breeze. I’d say something like, ‘You can’t imagine the kind of time you save with the everyday tasks that way,’ but I mean, let’s be honest. Look who I’m talking to,” she added, waving a hoof in Twilight’s direction.

The purple mare smiled and blushed at the flattery. “Well, I do know what you mean. Now then, it seems you have the kind of practical knowledge I’m looking for, and you do come with some rather impressive letters of recommendation,” she noted, leafing through a small stack of papers to her left. Along with Fleur’s resume, there were several recommendations, and some showcasing of her charity work and public service. “Although I am surprised you had this all ready on such short notice.”

“You can’t exactly be ‘well-connected’ if all those connections drag their hooves." A light, magical hum of telekinesis could be heard as Fleur drew out of her bag a small ornamental piece. Fragile-looking, and comprised of gold and various jewels, Twilight recognized it instantly.

“Is that a crystal lattice? It looks rather delicate. What’s it for?” she asked, leaning across the table in curiosity. The piece looked much like a small crown or circlet, save for the metal workings in the middle of the circle leading to a central crystal that Twilight saw was a small ruby.

“It’s a design of my own making that I thought I would bring with me as a small demonstration. Considering my... competition,” she said thoughtfully, as if considering the word, “I thought it best to have some kind of physical evidence of my work. It’s an illusion spell that I use rather often when communicating with far-away friends and associates. It’s basically a tape-recorder, to put it crudely.” She laid it gently on the table, and leaned forward, hovering her horn above the crystal. Before she tapped it, however, she sat back, and looked at the Princess with an earnest expression. “However, the spell in this lattice is... unique. And there is something I would like to ask you before I activate it, in the spirit of honesty.”

Her curiosity piqued, Twilight nodded for her to continue.

“Twilight, what is your opinion on... hypnosis?” Fleur asked.

The Princess looked at her carefully. “...it depends. I know there are many kinds. There’s hypnosis that is... voluntary, for lack of a better word. As in it only works if the subject wants it too, and is comfortable with the suggestions. The kind that can’t make you do anything you don’t want to. Then there’s special kinds of mental magic, that can force a pony to do just about anything against their will. It’s rare, powerful, and atrocious.” The alicorn’s eyes slanted as she asked, “Why are you asking me this now?”

Fleur took a breath. “Because the spell in this lattice is one designed for, as you called it, voluntary hypnosis. It’s used for meditation, relaxation, and a few more... creative applications. But I didn’t want to activate it without first telling you what it was. Nor did I want to do so before you had given me an answer as to whether or not I was a viable candidate for your Apprenticeship. I pride myself on getting where I am based on hard work and intelligence. Manipulation is for less intelligent ponies of ill intent.”

Twilight shuffled in her seat, a little uncomfortable. Finally, she straightened herself. “Well. I appreciate your honesty, Fleur. I can understand well the allure of using less... favorable means to get what you want. So, since you’ve been honest with me, I should return the favor.” Inhaling softly, she elaborated, “I am happy to consider you for the Apprenticeship, and will have you through to the next round. As for your earlier question, about my opinion on hypnosis... I didn’t exactly answer it, did I?”

A soft smile graced the pearl mare’s features. “No, you didn’t,” she answered, her voice gentle and patient.

Twilight looked around, as if expecting to see somepony else in the room. “I... am aware of some of it’s other applications. The trouble with it, I find, lies in finding someone you believe to be trustworthy enough to... relinquish yourself to. It can be quite fun, I think,” she mused, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her muzzle, “If you have somepony who knows what they’re doing. So, I should ask, what is it you were planning on doing with that lattice, anyway?”

The apprentice hopeful tapped the middle crystal with her horn, and the lattice came alive. Gentle motes of light sprung forth from the various crystals, in all sorts of colors like the gems they sprouted from. The ruby in the middle pulsed softly as it drew the motes into the center in a light spiral. “I was originally intending to just show you the interweaving illusion spells. But I knew you’d recognize the pattern for what it was, a hypnotic focus, and I thought it best to let you know ahead of time.”

Twilight’s gaze settled on the gentle swirling pattern. “That was certainly a good idea...” she trailed off, her voice relaxed as she leaned forward.

Fleur tapped a sharp note on the table with her hoof, and Twilight sprung to attention. Looking about her in a light daze, Fleur apologized, “Forgive me, your Highness, but I thought it best to keep you... attentive while I explained things. If you would like me to demonstrate...” Fleur let the sentence hang in the air, a suggestive grin playing at her lips.

Twilight entertained the thought, more than intrigued, and for a variety of reasons. Erotic hypnosis was always something she’d wanted to try, given the opportunity. And finding somepony willing to do as... tricky. It wasn’t exactly a topic for polite conversation. She considered the mare in front of her, the pearlescent female that she was obviously attracted to. Who had more than enough sense and decency to prelude the offer with what amounted to a disclaimer and an honest request for employment. She could easily have just let Twilight sink into the pattern, and planted the idea of spending more time with her into the alicorn’s subconscious, spurring on her decision to allow her the opportunity to become her apprentice. Instead, she had addressed the issue head-on, and saved the opportunity for hypnotic play as an afterthought.

All of which was great justification for Twilight to let the mare in front of her have her less-than-polite way with the eager alicorn. “I think,” she added, adopting a thoughtful pose, “That I would like to try. Very much.” She returned her gaze to the other mare, who smiled knowingly, with more than a little mischief playing at the corners of her mouth.

“I’m glad to hear it,” she said softly, the smallest hint of a laugh in her voice. She gestured back to the lattice, guiding Twilight’s gaze back to the gentle spiral. Almost at once Twilight’s expression relaxed, her eyes slowly rotating as she found a color she liked and followed it. Fleur noticed her interest, and asked gently, “Did you see something you like?”

Twilight nodded. “There’s... a small trace of yellow. My favorite color. I’m just watching it,” she said matter-of-factly, as if she was less being entranced and more studying a textbook. Of course, to the studious ex-librarian, there wasn’t much of a difference.

Fleur filed the tidbit away for future use. “I’m glad. Although it seems to be moving rather slowly. Do you want me to make it go faster?” she offered, her horn glowing slightly as the pattern picked up speed.

Twilight frowned gently as her eyes moved faster. “No... it’s too quick. Making me dizzy. Slow it down a little,” she asked. Her voice was quieter than before, as she put less effort into talking. The unicorn obliged, her horn’s glow pulsing gently as the pattern slowed its pace. Soon enough it returned to its normal speed, and Twilight’s expression once again relaxed as she sighed contentedly. “Thank you.”

Her head jerked slightly as Fleur almost nodded, then realized the purple mare couldn’t see her, and so the gesture would be pointless. Instead, she opted to wait for a few moments while Twilight stared at the lattice for a time. Normally, she would guide her “subject” with gentle prompts and suggestions, asking them leading questions and giving soft encouragement. Instead, she decided to remain quiet, waiting until Twilight led herself into a more comfortable state of mind.

It was when she noticed the alicorn’s eyelids start to flutter that she reengaged herself. “Twilight?” she asked in a quiet tone, so as not to startle the other mare and shake her out of her almost-trance.

“Hmm?” the Princess asked, not looking up. She was putting minimal effort into talking now, letting herself relax fully. It was apparent that she was very eager to let herself go, something that Fleur found both interesting and exciting. not to mention it would make the initial stages of hypnosis much easier.

“I’m going to walk around the table Twilight, and stand next to you. I don’t want you to be surprised, ok?” she explained, as Twilight nodded her acknowledgment. “In fact, I’m going to walk slowly, steadily around the table. I want you to focus on the sound of my hooves, ok? Just relax, and don’t move. Just think about the sound my hooves make while I walk, ok?”

“O... ok,” Twilight murmured. ‘She’ll give up verbalizing entirely unless I ask her too, soon enough, Fleur thought, slightly amused. She gently lowered herself from her chair, and set her hooves down on the ground. Once she was on all fours, she stepped, carefully and evenly, forward. Keeping her tempo even, she craned her neck to watch Twilight as she moved gently around the long table in the middle of the room. She made a point to step heavier the farther she got, just enough to not let the sound fade to terribly across the study room. She noticed Twilight’s ears twitch with each step, as her eyelids fluttered slightly. Coming around the other side of the table, she saw that even the alicorn’s breath had slowed to match her steady pace. Which is just what she wanted.

Arriving next to Twilight, she addressed her “subject” again. “Twilight,” she said simply, waiting for acknowledgment. The purple mare nodded. “Good. I want you to keep breathing like that, ok?” she asked politely. Another nod. “Good. It’s easy, isn’t it? Just sitting there, staring at the light.” Nod. “Would you mind if I touched your back?”

Twilight nodded once more, a small smile tugging at her otherwise blank expression. Fleur raised a graceful hoof to hover above Twilight’s wing joints. “Thank you,” she breathed. She laid her hoof gently at the nape of Twilight’s neck. Almost at once, she felt a slight shudder. At first she was afraid Twilight would snap out of it, but instead she just craned her neck slightly, giving a soft hum. Fleur took it as a green light to continue. Watching the gentle rise and fall, in and out of Twilight’s breathing, she paced gentle strokes across the alicorn’s back to match the tempo of inhale, exhale. Each teasing brush of her hoof across the mare’s fur caused Twilight to raise her neck, or arch her back just slightly. Eventually, her wings started to twitch, and the unicorn got an idea.

“Twilight,” she addressed the mare again.

“Hmmmm,” she purred, both recognizing her name and an invitation.

“I would like to ask you a question. Ok?” Another small nod. “Would you like me to massage your wings?”

Twilight’s feathers quivered in anticipation as she breathed her answer. “Yes,” she said huskily, not raising her eyes from the lattice. Fleur noticed she wasn’t following the color anymore, just staring hungrily into the pattern. She smiled. “Thank you,” she said softly, removing her hoof from Twilight’s back, and tucking it under the alicorn’s wing. It was limp and relaxed in her hoof, as Twilight awaited whatever it was she was going to do. “Now Twilight, like before, I want you to focus on my hooves. But instead of the sound, I want you to focus on my touch, alright?”

“Mm-hmm,” her voice grew louder, more excited. Fleur caught a whiff of anticipation from her nethers.

Gently stroking along the edges of the wing, Fleur hummed softly. She pressed gently into the joints and the indent at the top of the wing, where the feathers met the fur. After a few measured strokes, she addressed Twilight again. “Now, Twilight. I want you to imagine for me. Every time I stroke your wing, you’re going to feel something, undertand? Your body is going to relax, slowly going numb. You won’t fall over, no. But the more I stroke your wing, the less you’ll be able to move, ok?” with each question, Twilight nodded, indicating she understood. “Good, I’m also going to count, ok? But you don’t need to focus on that. Just let yourself relax and enjoy, just focus on your wings.”

Beginning to massage the Princess’s wings again, the pearl mare pressed firmly but gently into the tender flesh underneath the feathers. “One,” she whispered, giving a slow, steady stroke. “Two. Three. Four.” With each number, she saw Twilight’s body relax, give in, slowly droop into the table. She leaned herself steadily into the edge of the wood, until she was just lazily staring at the lattice, her whole body limp and almost unmoving, save for her deep, steady breaths. “Good, Twilight. Now, can you move?”

The unicorn felt the slightest twitch underneath her hooves. “No...” Twilight said, the slightest lilt of concern in her voice.

Fleur addressed the potential concern. “Well, do you want to move?”

Twilight sighed, a small smile playing on her lips. “Not... really...”

“Good. Now, I want you to imagine something else. I’m just going to keep stroking your wing. But instead of your wing, I want you to focus on your nethers. Imagine, with each stroke, a gentle brush across your lips. It can be as rough or as soft as you want. Just think about that, ok?” Twilight’s head bobbed slightly as her lazy smile grew into a sloppy grin. She hummed in agreement. “Good. Now, relax, and enjoy. One...” she said slowly, pressing more firmly into the wing, careful to keep the edges of her hoof at bay, and press with the broader surface. One small scratch, or jolt of pain, and Twilight could snap right out of it. And that would be no fun. “Two...” she felt Twilight shiver pleasantly, her hind legs twitching against each other. The smell grew more prominent as Twilight’s arousal intensified.

“Three...” another leg twitch, this time accompanied by a groan.

“Four... five... six...” with each stroke, Twilight’s quiet groans and twitches turned into moans and shakes, as her scent permeated the air and her thighs pressed against each other.

“Mmm, faster,” the alicorn pleaded, her voice rich and husky.

Fleur was happy to oblige. “Seven. Eight. Nine,” she counted out loud, her voice rising steadily as she moved from broad, slow strokes to shorter kneading motions, right around her wing joint. Just where the wing met Twilight’s back, she rolled her hoof along the tender flesh.

“Ooh... there... please...” Twilight moaned, her voice rising as she all but ground herself against the chair. Her frustration in being unable to move was apparent, but she had already submitted herself to her immobility.

Fleur forewent counting in favor of verbal encouragement. “That’s good, Twilight. You’re almost there. Just a little more. You like it here, don’t you?” she asked, her voice no longer a gentle whisper, instead an insistent egging tone to match Twilight’s louder and louder pleas.

“Yes, oh, Goddess, yes... Please! Ooh...”

Fleur leaned her muzzle in to hover just above Twilight’s back, where she had been massaging the entranced mare. Dropping her hoof, she wasted no time in replacing the grinding motions of her massage with firm bites and licks along the joint.

Twilight responded eagerly, crying loudly into the nigh-empty room as her imagination replaced the corners of her wing with her lower lips and clit. Her imagination took over her consciousness as she felt each stroke, lick, and nibble right where she wanted it.

With the smell of both mare’s arousal permeating the room, it was soon to much for the inexperienced Princess, as her whole body tensed all at once. Unable to flex or move herself into any position to brace against the waves of pleasure all but brow-beating her consciousness, her relaxed and pliable form took the full brunt of her orgasm. She yelled unintelligibly to the sky as her inner walls clenched unconsciously, spasming relentlessly even as Fleur continued to bite and lick and massage the joint that Twilight could no longer differentiate from her own privates.

With one last tensing motion, Twilight remained paralyzed in pleasure as, finally, her captor relaxed her ministrations, and let the alicorn relax once more.

Finally out of her orgasmic trance, Twilight had made a point to clean up the chair she’d soiled. And the floor. And the corner of the desk. Finally mopping up the last of the evidence of her orgasm, she turned an inquisitive stare on Fleur, who had taken to putting away the books and papers they’d forgotten about completely. The lattice was tucked away safely in her bag, to be used at a later date. “So, you seem to be rather practiced at that. Where did you learn something like erotic hypnosis for pegasi?”

The pearlescent mare shrugged and smiled wickedly. “Like I said. I’m well-connected. I have a pony for everything.”

Featherduster was just getting ready to send a rather gaudy-awful piece of Old Victorian decor, whatever the Tartarus it was supposed to be, tumbling to it’s death over the staircase. Then, as the final blow was about to be dealt, she felt a tickle in her nose. “Ha-achoo!” she sneezed cutely. The involuntary spasm sent the decoration flying, and crashing into fragile pieces against a far wall.

The pegasus maid grinned to herself. “Ohoh, talking about me again, Mistress?”

Author's Note

I've actually been looking forward to this scene, and am really happy the way it turned out. I had another idea for it, but it would make Fleur more of a manipulative bitch, and I actually really like this character, what little I've seen of her, and read. So I wanted to make her out to be a decent, dependable, and sexually devious pony. Of course she has her own agenda, but then, so do the other three. It's all about motivation.

And yes, for those of you who noticed, I am an Adam Lambert fan. I love him.

Maybe a little too much.