Fleur wakes up to hear a pony trotting up the stairs. Heartsong called “Fleur, Fluttershy down stairs awaiting you.”

Fleur said “Send her up.” She then gasped as her wings folded against her sides. She cast a spell quickly hiding her Alicorn form. Fluttershy entered and asked sadly “Why weren't you there yesterday?”

Fleur said “I’m sorry, the meeting went a bit long, we’ll have our lesson today.”

Fluttershy said smiling “Thanks.”

Fleur smiled as she said “I haven’t taught anypony my talents in a while.” She thought (Longer than anypony can imagine.)

Fleur and Fluttershy entered the practice hall in her home. The room was filled with training dummies of different colours. Fleur asked “How has you individual practice gone?”

Fluttershy smiled “Good, also I did pretty well against the Changelings.”

Fleur sighed “I was at Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns when they attacked. I had to protect the school.”

Fluttershy asked “So what am I learning?”

Fleur smiled “I’m teaching you how to mix elemental magic together, watch and learn.” Fleur’s hooves glowed as fire and lighting coursed through them.

Fluttershy asked “Are those the only elements you can mix?”

Fleur frowned “All elements can be mixed but fire, and lightning mix best, with ice and lightning the next best.” Fluttershy focused her magic into her hooves causing a similar effect to what Fleur did before. The electricity and ice became unstable and subsequently exploded. Fleur gasped “Fluttershy, are you alright?”

Fluttershy said “I’m fine.” Her coat was black from the explosion.

Fleur smiled “Well then let’s clean you up.” Fluttershy smiled and nodded, they trotted to Fleur’s bath. Fleur got the water ready and then invited Fluttershy in, Fleur began washing the soot out of her coat and feathers. Fluttershy squeaked as Fleur began to preen her feathers.

Fluttershy said “Um, that’s a little personal.”

Fleur laughed “One thing about this style is that the teacher of this art teaching is student means you are committing to them, weather as a father, daughter or lover. You are the only one who I taught this art, my friends were taught this art as well by my father.”

Fluttershy asked trying to hide her blush “Who was your father?”

Fleur said as she stopped preening Fluttershy “He was a proud stallion, a leader of many ponies. In fact he was royalty.”

Fluttershy gasped “You are a princess?”

Fleur sighed “No, bastard daughter but I was mighty good fighter, Captain of the Guard back in my day.”

Fluttershy asked “You day?”

Fleur sighed “It's northing you need to concern yourself with.”

Fluttershy asked ”Are you sure?’

Fleur said “Yes, now let’s get you cleaned up.” Fleur began continued to preen her feathers. Fluttershy’s face glowed bright pink. Fleur finished and the pair relaxed in the tub for the next hour.

Fluttershy sighed “I better get back to Ponyville, Big Mac has been taking care of my animals for a few days and I need to get back.”

Fleur nodded as she smiled at the mare who dried herself off with a towel. Fleur sighed (I would so go for that if I was 900,000 years younger.) Fleur dried herself off and grabbed her bathrobe. She settled on her couch and began reading a Daring Doo book that she left on her couch.

Fluttershy meanwhile sitting on the train thought to herself (How does Fleur see me? Preening is very personal, does she see me as family or as a romantic partner. If she does see me as a romantic partner do I felt the same, way I mean she’s very pretty but…)

A voice called “1 hour until Ponyville.” Fluttershy smiled as she thought about seeing her animals again. When the train arrived in Ponyville, Fluttershy eagerly disembarked. She took off flying back to her home, her training magic control training has made flying easier. She landed in front of her house as the moon rose in the sky. She smiled seeing Big Mac sleeping on her couch.

Fluttershy quietly got into her bed and let sleep claim her. She woke with a start as she heard movement downstairs. She galloped down the stairs hooves and then jumped into room hooves glowing with ice and lightning. She saw a shocked and terrified Big Mac string at her. Fluttershy cancelled her magic and said “I’m sorry Big Mac, I just heard a noise and thought it was an intruder.” She then scowled “ I don’t want another incident with that damn assertiveness minotaur.”

Big Mac nodded “Eeyup as he galloped out of her home.”

She sighed “Great I scared him off, if I liked stallions I would go for him.” A impatient rabbit began tapping his foot impatiently. Fluttershy said “Yes, I was gone for too long. I’ll go feed everyone.” He began jumping up and down, she glared at him “No, I will not feed you first Angel, you must learn to be patient.”

Author's Note

This chapter was quite a close one for Fleur.