Ember examined the glowing pool in front of her. It was pretty large, at least a good 6 hooves by 6 hooves across going by pony metrics. Its depth was another story. At least a good 20 hooves deep. And at the bottom, her prize. A large pile of her favorite gemstones. They glowed a light blue hue and lit up the pool. Smaller ones dotted the sides adding to its lit up nature. She was currently standing deep in a cave, a different one then before. It wasn't too far from the one with the hot springs though.

Both she and Flurry Heart were standing in a small cave. Their camp set up just a short ways away. The cave was just be enough for them to be able to walk around the pool and have a fire blazing nearby. Several meters away, the wind could be heard howling outside.

Ember adjusted her clothing. She was wearing a brown bikini and a short brown loin cloth. She wasn't planning on doing any swimming but it was a precaution in case she needed to jump in. The water wasn't too bad, she dipped her toe in and shivered. For a Dragon it was lukewarm but to pony it might be just one level below burning.

She turned to Flurry Heart who was examining the pool as well. She was currently still wearing her broken cargo pants but had on a new white T-shirt. Ember gave her a slap on the back, "Alright Flurry, time to pay up and learn some new lessons. So let me lay down how this is going to work for the first dive."

Ember walked over to the edge, "I want you to use whatever magic or abilities you might have and retrieve one gemstone down there. Then bring it back up and hand it to me. We are going to start out easy then work our way to something harder as we go. Got it?"

Flurry Heart nodded. She went up to the edge, look down the pool and sighed, "Alright. Still bummed about missing out on that hot spring though."

Ember cocked her head, "You won't be worrying about that for much longer. I imagine this pool will be the next best thing for you?"

She raised an eyebrow but shrugged her shoulders when Ember didn't say more. She then put her hands on the bottom of her shirt, tucked her wings in and then quickly pulled it off. Her breasts bounced a bit with their freedom. Her pants were then pulled down, revealing a surprisingly lack of underwear. Flurry glanced down at her crotch. "Can't believe I forgot to put on underwear yesterday morning. Never was one for bras but come on, down there too? Guess it didn't really matter in the end."

As Flurry bent over to pick up her clothes and toss them to the side, Ember stepped over and gave Flurry a light slap on the ass. Flurry 'meeped' while Ember gave a casual grin, "Heh, you do a good job and I'll be sure to make it worth your while alright?"

Flurry Heart nodded, now slightly more determined. She took one big step then leaped into the pool. The hot water nearly caused her to cry out in surprise. It was very hot. Hotter than the hot springs from a few days ago by a lot.

She shot out of the water and ran for the enterance, "Hot... Hot... HOOOTTTT!"

She ran out the cave and rolled around in the snow for a bit. Then the arctic temperature hit her nude form.

"COLD! Cold... Very cold."

Ember watched as Flurry came sprinting back in and dove into the hot water. She sat back and waited as Flurry floated on the water, sighing. She began to look uncomfortable and went to get out again. Ember raised a claw to stop her, "If you plan on doing this all day, then you can forget about sleeping tonight. I want this done sometime this week preferably."

Ember huffed and sank back in the water. She hoped her body would get used to it eventually. She closed her eyes and slowly sank below the water.

Ember did her best to ignore the heat. She had spells for keeping her warm, not cool. But thankfully, after a few trips to the beach with her aunt Twilight, she did have a spell for underwater she could use. Flurry lit up her horn and produced a bubble of air around her head. Flurry took a deep breath to test the bubble and found clean air making its way into her lungs. She then opened her eyes fully.

She was hovering just below the water. Plenty of glowing gems to light her way. She grabbed onto some of them and used them to help push her towards the bottom.

She wasn't a good swimmer but she had the basics down thanks to Aunty Twilight. After a strong push, she soon found herself at the bottom, staring at the pile of gemstones just sitting her. Flurry grabbed one and held in up. It was surprisingly light but also glowed brightly. She held her breath and lit up her horn. The bubble popped and she used her wings to propel herself upwards quickly. The force was enough to have her breaching the surface in seconds.

She gripped the edge and slowly crawled out. Her wings shifted the water off of them and returned to their tucked in position against her back. She got to her hooves and handed the gem to Ember.

Ember licked her lips and gave the gem a nibble. "Yum, just as good as I remember. Now here comes the challenge."

Ember reached into her bag and pulled out a strange looking ring and a small bottle with a red glowing liquid in it. "I had Cadence help prepare these for your training. This stuff is not easy to come by but Cadence just happened to have both of this on hand. Apparently they are tied to some special evenings between her and Shining Armor."

Flurry rolled her eyes, "If it has anything to do with her crazy secret sex dungeon, than I don't want to know the specifics."

Ember seemed intrigued but chose to ignore it for now. "Right... So anyways, please take a small sip of this and put this ring on your horn."

Flurry did as she was told. She put the ring on first and immediately noticed something was off. She tried to lift the bottle with her magic but to no avail. It was as if a part of her had been blocked off. "A magic canceling ring?"

Ember nodded, "Better get used to it. I will be using it in future lessons. You can't always rely on your magic and some creatures are magic proof so its best to have the training to deal with the events where magic can't be used. Also..." Ember pointed to the bottle.

Flurry Heart uncorked it and took a quick swig of it. It took all of her will power not to immediately spit it out and even more to swallow it. Flurry Heart gasped, "What... What the heck was that?! Tasted like I was trying to a burned two moons old salad!"

Before Ember could answer, Flurry felt a burning sensation in her back. She shifted as the burning sensation went from uncomfortable to almost painful. Then there was the sensation of her wings going numb. Flurry reached back to check on them only to feel empty air. Flurry felt panic enter her system as she realized her back was completely bare. No wings...

"WHAT THE HELL!?"

Ember patted her bare back, "Relax, the potion just retreated them back into your DNA. You still have them but they aren't usable." Flurry did her best to take it all in while running her hands over every part of her back. It was like suddenly being without hands. It just didn't feel right.

"Ok, calm down now. Its just temporary. I need to get to work here or your going to have to drink more of that potion to make sure it lasts longer, got it?"

Flurry wanted to curl up in the fetal position. No wings... No magic. It just felt so wrong... Her mind just couldn't cope. She needed one or the other back right now. Flurry lifted her hands to remove the ring.

"Flurry!"

That snapped Flurry back into alertness. "Right... Sorry." Flurry put her hands back down. Ember put a hand on her shoulder. She gave Flurry a warm expression. She was going to be alright.

Flurry Heart took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Alright. Just got to swim down and get the gem. Then I can get my magic and wings back."

Ember looked away for a second, "Eh, not quite. Got one more lesson after this one without them too. But I promise to make it interesting at least."

Flurry grumbled but relented. She kept trying to reach behind her back but the feeling of nothing there... It just felt so freaking wrong. Her best bet was to ignore it sure but that was the problem. Ignoring the fact that something wasn't there just made it feel weirder.

Flurry walked over and stood over the pool once again. "Fine... Whatever. I'll go get your gemstone." Flurry said it with a monotone voice. But even though the feeling of her abilities were gone, she was feeling a bit... Excited? It was a weird feeling to be sure. There was a thrill to this now. A bit more danger to this. This was like jumping off the castle with a parachute with her wings tied up. Something that she couldn't help but admit she did try once while looking for a good adrenaline rush.

Flurry jumped in but held on to the edge. She knew how to tread water but wanted to save her strength. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and submerged.

She felt around and grasped the side again. Finding a gemstone to use as leverage. She opened her eyes and eyed her prize, slowly working her way towards it. She got about half way before her lungs began to ache. Deciding to not risk it, she swam back up and broke the surface again. Ember was sitting on the edge with her feet in the water. "A bit trickier now without magic or wings huh?"

Flurry Heart nodded, "It is but I think I can make it. I just have to get to the bottom faster."

Flurry held her breath and retreated back below the water. "I just need to keep my heart rate down. Be calm. Work my way down quickly but efficiently.

Flurry held onto one of the small gems poking out. She then leaned back, putting her hooves against the wall. She angled her body downwards as best she could and then, kicked off hard. She shot down the pool. Just as she was about to slow, she began to kick with her hooves. Her arm stretch out as she practically smashed into the pile. But she was able to grab one. She then glanced up. Lungs were starting to ache, need to get out now.

She looked to her left and saw a glowing crystal jutting out. Grabbing onto it, she pushed herself down, her hooves touching the ground next to the pile. She bent down as much as she could, then pushed off with all her might. She shot upwards and just as the air left her mouth, she surfaced. Flurry gasped for air and clung to the edge. She quickly pulled herself out, holding her prize in the air as she laid on her back.

"Bah... Ha... I... Got it."

Ember took the gem from her hand and examined it, "Nice work Flurry. You got this faster than I thought you would. Now comes the hard part, put lucky for you, you get to choose how this goes."

Flurry slowly got up into a sitting position as Ember sat next to her. "Alright Flurry, you can either do that again 10 more times, building up the strength of your lungs and body. Or just a single time more but with added danger of interference. What will you do?"

Flurry glanced back at the pool. She was already starting to feel tired from her last attempt and thought of doing it ten more times... No thank you. But then there was that catch to the other one... "Ember, what do you mean by interference?"

Ember stood up and walked over to her bag. "Oh that's something you'll have to find out on your own. Not to worry though, I'll rescue you before you find yourself in any real danger. We got potions for days that can cover for me if something happens as well. But there will still be a bit of danger to this... Its your choice though."

Flurry, now getting her second wind, stood up. "I'll take the interference route."

Ember grinned, "Good, I was hoping you'd say that. Go ahead and get back in, you'll know when the interference will begin."

Flurry Heart shrugged and jumped back in. She made sure to take a big gulp of air before making the plunge though.

Once the bubbles around her cleared, she began to work her way down just like last time. She had just reached the bottom in record time when a shadow cast itself over hers. Flurry cocked her head and nearly let out her air when a claw reached around and groped her right breast. Flurry glanced back and saw that Ember was now naked, her breasts squishing against her back as she held onto her. "Ah, so this is what she meant. Well if she thinks clinging to me is going to stop me, then she is in for a surprise.

Flurry did her best to ignore Ember as she worked her way nearer to the pile of gems. Just as she was about to reach her hand out, something caught her eye just between her legs. Flurry glanced down and saw a reddish looking rod. Wait, is that a dildo? Is... Is Ember wearing a strap-on?!

Ember reached down and positioned the dildo upwards. She then began to slowly move the large object into her awaiting crotch. Flurry felt some air leave as the thing made its way in. Worst, Ember was starting to play with her breasts more. Squeezing and kneading her right breast with her claw. Flurry did her best to reach out but the things Ember was doing to her, it was hard to concentrate.

Ember pulled out slight then pushed in again, the dildo sliding in and out. Flurry could feel precious air slip through her mouth as Ember went to town on her. Flurry gripped Embers claw, trying to push it away only for her other claw to attach itself to her other breast. Flurry tried to retreat, tried to throw her off, but to no avail. Her head was getting light. The dildo was doing wonders to her marehood right now.

She had been admittedly been feeling pent up lately. Ever part of her just wanted to float there and take the wonderful feelings that Ember was giving her. But her lungs quickly reminded her that air was more important.

Ember slammed hard into her and she couldn't take it. She opened her mouth as the pleasure began to hit its peak.

Ah... Buck... So good... Head going light... Need that Gem... So warm...

Her vision swam. Her body felt weak. Pleasure and darkness began to really take hold.

With the last of her will power, Flurry forced her hand forward and grabbed the gem. Her hooves just barely touched the bottom. With the last of her strength, she pushed off with everything she had. She held out her other hand but she was going too slow. She wouldn't make it.

Suddenly she felt Embers lips on her own. Air erupted from them and into Flurry's mouth. She sucked it in and was able to find some strength again. She reached out and found a rock jutting out of the wall. She grabbed it and used it to push forward one last time. Her head broke the surface and she climbed out, coughing and sputtering. She army crawled out of the water and rested on her side for a moment. Her body felt tired and her mind felt empty.

Ember's dildo exited with a pop. Flurry panted and moaned slightly as she watched as Ember grabbed the gem from her hand, "Well done Flurry. I thought for sure I was going to have to swim you out myself. Despite me having to give you a boost at the end, I'd say you passed. You managed to get to your objective despite what I could do to stop you."

Flurry rolled onto her back, "That was certainly a unique way of trying to stop me." Her mind was returning but her body still felt fatigued.

Ember chuckled, "I decided to mix things up a bit. So how are you feeling?"

Flurry glanced at the ceiling. "Tired and maybe a bit horny now. But mostly tired."

Ember walked over and reached into Flurry's backpack. She produced a sleeping bag and some bottled water. "Then I'd recommend taking a rest. You earned it. You have done well today but tomorrow, I am taking you to a special cave where we will be covering stamina training. Be sure to drink plenty of water." Ember turned to Flurry Heart but she was already out cold. Ember sighed and placed the sleeping bag next to her. Rolling her onto it and then placed the bottle next to her.

"Now then, I am still hungry so if you'll excuse me..." With that, Ember dove back into the water. Peace returned to the cave and unbeknownst to the two, a creature that had been watching them silently. Its green eyes watched Flurry sleep silently. It soon slipped back into the darkness through a hole in the ceiling. Its dark body blending in completely with its surroundings.

Author's Note

Yep, time to get an air of mystery going. Something to help keep things interesting between the clop and Ember's crazy training.