Blue turned in place, looking around her oversized room. "It's time I spruced you up, I think." With her horn glowing, she played the magical song of growth, focused on local plants in a soft calling towards them.

"Mmm, there you are." She settled into a soft bedding of flowers as the various plants began to sprout around her. Exploring tendrils of local colorful vines and shrubs spread from her window. "Bring your local color, mmm, yes, go on."

She kept the spell going, eyes locked on the new plants as they spread. They seemed to know what she wanted. No wild explosion, just the plants growing in their proper places. The more they grew, the more the room was covered with them, a garden made of living walls and coverings.

She let out a sigh, horn ceasing its glow as she sat back. "That's lovely. If I am to be the life-giving princess, I should live in a room that really screams it. Oh!" She leaned in to sniff a flower that had appeared. "Mmm, so this is what our date trees smelled like when they were young. Not bad."

She laid herself back, covering herself in petals and flora, her new blanket and bedding. "This is a lovely room." She couldn't see the hard stone under the covering she had made. It was all soft and colorful. "And soft, very soft. I can sleep like this. And smell all these flowers."

With a giggle, she set about improving the room. Soft plump pillows and plants made for the perfect relaxation area. "Now, I have princess duties to attend to." She started for the door. "You all be good, and be just as colorful and ready when I return, hm?"

Blue slipped out the door and headed towards her teacher of the day. He had spent several days going over how the nobility worked, what their expected behaviors were, and so on. The lesson today would be on etiquette. The room was already set up for it, with a long table laid out before them, bearing three places of food. Which was she to sit at?

Considering her old Equestrian etiquette, she went towards the one closest to the edge of the table. She paused as her teacher lifted a hoof. "Is something wrong?"

"This place is not prepared for you." He waved a hoof to the last place. "You are the guest of honor. With no prince or monarch in attendance, you are the highest ranking pony in the room."

"Ah, very good." That made sense to her, and she took the spot without resistance. "Are we covering dining today?"

"Correct. It is difficult enough to know where to sit as a guest in another's home. Even harder when you are expected to dine in public view." He nodded towards the plates before them. "Reports have been whispered that you eat 'acceptably'. Being a noble of another realm, I would expect at least that. But let's aim for higher."

Blue Belle could hear the distaste in his voice. Clearly this pony didn't believe a princess of any quality could live if they weren't stuffed with fine food and drink. She remembered when she had felt that way about all princesses. "I await your instruction."

"You await many things." The instructor coughed into a hoof. "Slip of the tongue. First." He started drilling her on how to approach each food. Which utensil would be used which way, and the order one should approach their food to look proper.

He described how to interact with the staff and any ponies dining with her. He held up examples of dishes she could expect, the kind of high-end fare she had eaten a few times before. "Now this is a subtle thing. In Equestria, I am told, it is proper to eat quietly. Not so here. To make noises of pleasure after eating is the highest, unspoken, words you can give to the quality of the food you've just eaten. It tells the chef you appreciate the food."

Blue Belle breathed in, slow and steady. "I think I can do that." She made sure her napkin was in place. "If this is the speed you teach at, we will be done well before dark."

He smirked faintly. "You are prepared to belch?"

Blue started at that. "Pardon?"

He rolled a hoof in the air. "That is the most common noise of approval a pony has. After eating, let out a pleased belch. That makes it clear to all ponies around you that you approve of what you have eaten."

Blue blinked several times. "Then you must use more spices."

"Another lesson for another day. For now, shall we begin our meal?" He raised his own utensils, letting Blue copy his movements.

They ate together, his eyes on her and how she ate, what she ate, and each step of the process. He chastised her each time she was off a step, and just nodded silently when she got it right.

She held in the belch until the last bite, giving a satisfying release once her plate was clear. "Mmm, that was good." She licked her lips slowly. "It's good to know that I will not embarrass my prince, when we dine together."

He smirked faintly. "If it does not make you uneasy, perhaps we should get started on the other etiquette lessons. As a unicorn, your horn is where attentions will rest naturally. It is your greatest gift, but also your deadliest weapon. That creates etiquette demands." He clasped his hooves together. "Is there a way to show you don't plan to use it?"

Blue nodded slowly. "I can lower my horn, or simply bow my head, or cover my horn with my hoof." She demonstrated each action. "But the Equestrian style is to bring our heads down to be even, so no pony is above the other."

He stomped at that. "A princess should not be lowering her head for many, save her prince, or a king or queen. No, that won't do. Standing with your hoof at your head is also out." He grumbled with thoughts on the matter. "Surely there's another way to disable that horn of yours?"

Blue Belle rolled her shoulders, stretching her neck from side to side. "It's only a problem when one doesn't know if I will use my magic or not. I, being a polite pony, will not use magic if not asked, sir, at least any that affects another pony." She flicked an ear back. "To use magic on another pony without their leave is an attack."

"That could be taken to imply you intend to use your magic on ponies, if they give you permission." He frowned at that. "Let us skip past that. What you are telling me is that in Equestria it is common to ask a pony for permission to use magic on them?"

Blue tilted her head at the idea. "Most ponies are polite enough to ask first. It's just good manners, I should hope, anywhere to ask before doing something to somepony." She nodded with certainty. "I do hope that is the case here?"

He shrugged lightly. "Magic is no different than a hoof or a lance. We don't ask to strike somepony with those either." He blinked slowly, thinking over what he had just said. "In combat," he added. "I admit, one does not typically apply a hoof or a lance to somepony outside of combat."

"That's my point. We ask before we do anything to anypony. Why would we use magic without asking? It's a powerful thing." Blue shifted to her hooves and moved towards him. "May I?"

He jumped back in surprise. "May you what?"

"Use magic." She smiled gently at him. "It won't be harmful, I promise. I just want to show you."

He grunted, lowering his head. "Very well. Use your magic on me, then." He sighed softly as he felt the air around him lift up slightly. "This is your magic? What is it for?"

With a bright flash, the frumpily dressed etiquette coach was suddenly bedecked in noble finery. Blue applauded with soft clops. "It will only last a few minutes at best, but doesn't it look lovely?"

He blinked rapidly, pawing at his chest, to find he was now draped in rich fabrics that had never been within his grasp. "I. Um. I don't understand."

Blue Belle nodded. "A silly little spell I learned long ago for trying out new clothes. With it, I can see how I appear with different ensembles before selecting the one I truly desired."

"And so you wish me to dress fancier? But I am not high enough to wear such fine fabrics." He snorted lightly. "Princess, I am happy you appreciate this, but we must remove these things before anypony sees me in them." Suddenly, they were gone, back to his plain dress. He let out a relieved sigh. "Thank you. A pony dressing above their station can raise uncomfortable questions, Princess."

Blue Belle sat on her haunches, peering at him. "But this was not above your station. You are an instructor, who must look respectable." She narrowed her eyes. "I suspect you already own finer clothing than what you normally wear?"

He colored faintly. "I have some nicer suits. I save those for special occasions. In these days, the idea of 'being ready' has changed, even for me."

"I see. Do you find my dress to be acceptable?" Blue showed off her blue silks with a little spin.

His color only grew worse. "It is improper for the princess to ask that of any save her servants or her prince!"

Blue waved a hoof dismissively. "You are of fine breeding, are you not? I have seen you among the nobles at court. You do know what looks good and what does not, yes?"

He pursed his lips as he nodded, slow and silent. "This is correct." He turned his ears back. "Then, speaking as your etiquette instructor, I would say your attire is tastefully modest and will raise no concerns. Speaking as a noble, I feel that the silks do suit you well. Speaking as a fellow stallion, I must confess that you are a fine sight, for certain."

He turned away. "And that is the end of your lesson, Princess."

"Very well. But if you want to see more finery, you need only ask. Perhaps, given the hour, we should move on to ballroom dancing?" She wiggled a hoof at him, causing him to scoff lightly.

"Princess, I am not a dance instructor." His color grew worse as he looked about nervously. "And if I am not giving instruction, dancing with the princess, even a future princess, is reason enough for execution, or joining the ranks of the eunuchs."

Blue Belle sniffed at that. "You know this for certain? Who gave you such rules?"

"Our traditions demand that an unmarried mare's dance partners must be limited to her father, or her male relatives, or those married to female relatives, or those betrothed to them. Unattached males, being seen dancing with a mare, and especially a princess, will always raise suspicions." He let out a slow breath. "So, I must decline, without any slight on you, Princess."

Blue rolled her eyes, horn glowing. "Why are the Saddle Arabians so attached to their traditions? Every time I think I understand, something like this happens."

He turned his ears back at that. "Do Equestrian mares simply dance with whomever they lay their eyes on?"

Blue paused a moment. She had been a stallion back then. Did mares just dance with anypony? She wasn't actually a hundred percent certain. She just knew that she, back when she was a he, saw all sorts of couples moving on dance floors. "I believe they did?"

He grumbled softly at that. "Truly?" He shook his head slowly. "A strange realm, but you are learning our manners. Here, that is not how it's done. In these times, no mare dances with any stallion without the right to do so."

Blue nodded slowly at that. "At least that much makes sense. So what is proper in this situation?"

He bowed formally. "For me to take my leave, Princess. Unless you have a pressing etiquette question?"

Blue shook her head. "No, I believe that's all for today." She stepped over and planted a kiss on his cheek. "And I think that's proper, isn't it? We thank our instructors, hm?"

He scrambled back as if the kiss had burned him. "Your highness! Please, never do that again." He shuddered powerfully. "I." He stammered for words, then fled the room rapidly without another word.

Blue blinked after him. "That was strange. Should I ask him about it?" She shrugged a little. "Another time. That was well and good, but what next?"

Author's Note

So, class, what did we learn today?

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