//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4 
// Story: Flurry Heart's Story: Elements Assemble! 
// by AleximusPrime 
//------------------------------//

Flurry lay on her bed with her head buried halfway into her crossed arms.  She had been crying for quite some time now, alone in her room, after what happened at the ball. Her tears were starting to dry up now, but her eyes were still misty and her cheeks still red.  There was a box of tissues next to her and about a dozen used tissues wadded up on the ground around her bed.  She began to sniffle and used her magic to pull out one of the tissues to blow her nose.  After disposing of it, she sighed deeply and began to look around her room.  Much of it was cluttered in her belongings of a privileged life, but none of it mattered to her right now.
Over on her studying desk was a small photograph of her, her parents, Spike the dragon, and Princess Twilight Sparkle and her friends.  She used her magic to bring the framed picture to herself and set it down in front of her on the bed.  She opened up her arms and held it in her hooves.  Everyone looked so happy in this picture.  It had been taken over a year ago during her ninth birthday party.  That party was thrown for her in the Crystal Empire.  Flurry had only been to Ponyville a few times before and was having a hard time remembering the last time she was there.  She only got to talk with Twilight and the rest of the “Mane Six”, Spike, Starlight Glimmer, Sunburst, Trixie and Discord, but there were still many others in Ponyville.  She felt like there was something she was really missing there.
Her mind then turned back to her home and she could not help but feel misery and lonesomeness just thinking about it.  Summer break was starting, but what was the use?  There would be nothing fun to do.  She was just a princess and she was expected to do many princess things even during vacation.  Already, ponies were pressuring her to attend summer school and she was afraid she’d be forced into going.  With her outrage downstairs, it was likely the entire kingdom would learn of it and just spread rumors about her.  She said what she needed to say to Principal Polished Hooves, but she also snapped and made herself look bad to all the other ponies in that room.  Hopefully anyone hearing about it would take her side and understand that the principal was being very unfair and shifty with his scholarship offer, but what if they all were disappointed with her?  Had she already given herself a bad name for the whole kingdom this night?
Flurry then heard the door creek open and light shone into her room from the hallway.  Shining Armor and Cadance entered and closed the door behind them.  She already knew they were probably very upset too and were not in the mood for scolding her any longer, but she would still have to apologize. She had been facing the opposite direction of her door so Shining walked around to the other side.  Cadance hopped up on her bed next to her and put her hoof around her daughter.  They both had removed their royal clothing and regalia.  Clearly they just wanted to talk as her parents and not as a king and queen.
“Hey.  You alright, kid?” Shining asked her.
“Feeling a little better.” she said flatly. “I’m sorry I yelled at you guys and made a fool of us in front of all the others.  I shouldn’t have done that.”
“You had every right to be angry, sweetie.” Cadance said, rubbing her on the back a little.  “We knew Principal Polished Hooves was going to offer you that scholarship, that’s why we really wanted you to go to this ball tonight.”
“You already knew about it?” Flurry asked with her ears perked up.
“Yeah, but he didn’t say anything about how they were starting summer school this year.” Shining added. “We don’t think it’s a good idea either so we won’t make you go.  We’re sorry we put you through that.  It probably would have been better to just let you skip the ball.”
“Thanks.” Flurry said, slumping back onto her bed with her ears moving back down.
“Dear, is there something that’s been troubling you lately?” Cadance asked her.
“I’ve been fine, it’s just I’m bored with the way things are in my life.  I get that I’m a princess, but if you look at all the adventures that Aunt Twilight had even after she got her wings, I wonder why I can’t do the same.  I just want to have some fun for once and make some friends, but it’s hard to find friends around here when a lot of the ponies my age are all stuck-up like Crystal, Lavish, and Prism.  I try being nice to them but they’re just so snooty.  Why does being a princess have to be so hard?”
They were all silent for a few moments.  Shining observed the picture Flurry had in front of her.  He and Cadance both exchanged glances until Cadance smiled and turned back her daughter.  She took out Flurry’s bow and tied it up behind her head.  After she was done, Flurry sat upright and looked confusedly at her mother.  She then turned to her father as he set her copy of the Journal of Friendship down in front of her.
“You’re right, Flurry.” Shining said.  “Maybe it’s time we let you get some fresh air.”
“What do you mean?” Flurry asked, holding the journal in her hooves.
“Open it up, dear.” Cadance said, pointing to the journal.
Flurry looked down and noticed the journal had a small piece of paper sticking out of its right side.  She opened it up to find a train ticket.
“Is this a ticket…to…to Ponyville?!” she exclaimed.
“Your father and I have arranged for you to spend some time there. We sent a letter to Twilight earlier and she replied saying you can stay at her old castle in Ponyville with Uncle Spike and the others.” Cadance said as she got down from the bed and walked over to stand next to Shining.
“Uncle Spike is gonna be there?!  Shouldn’t he be helping Twilight back in Canterlot?”
“Twilight asked him to stay with you in Ponyville to be your body guard while you’re there.  He’s anxious to be with you and get a bit of a break himself.” Shining responded.
Flurry stood upright on her bed and held the ticket high in the air with her magic.  She jumped on the bed several times, wearing a smile from ear to ear.
“THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!” she squealed, flying forward to hug both of them.  “This is just what I needed!”
“We knew you were going to really want this, dear.  We’re sorry we didn’t think about it any sooner.” Cadance said.
“And don’t worry about everyone downstairs.” Shining added. “We asked the entire audience to be respectful and not talk about what happened.  Principal Polished Hooves won’t say a word either. He’ll probably get some sneers from the other staff members if he does.  When you come back, I’m sure things will have changed and the royal life will be a little easier.”
“How long can I stay there?” Flurry asked, landing on the floor.
“We’re not too sure just yet; maybe a week or two.  Your father and I will talk it out while you’re gone.”  Cadance replied.
“I promise you guys I’ll spend my time wisely and learn some things.” Flurry said, proudly. “And I’ll make a new friend or two like Twilight did when she first went to Ponyville.  I’m so excited to get started!”
“And we’ll be excited to hear your stories when you come back, dear.”
Flurry put the ticket back in her journal and closed it up. She closed her eyes and sighed contently.  A relieving coolness moved down her body and her face was no longer hot and red from all her crying.  She was ready to have a good night’s sleep and prepare to finally set out to do something different tomorrow.


That next morning, Flurry walked through the streets of the Crystal Empire, accompanied by two guards, carrying her bags for her.  They would be her escorts into Ponyville until she was left in the care of Spike.  She thought of him as she walked past his large crystal statue that was erected in his honor after he saved the Empire from King Sombra.  Although the statue was very large, she giggled at the thought that he used to be as small as he was depicted in it.  Spike had grown much bigger now and was like an older brother to her.  She sadly didn’t get to see him all the time, but she was excited to finally spend more time with him and hopefully get to talk to Twilight and the others when they weren’t too busy with their jobs.  Starlight and Sunburst were all on break too since they worked at the School of Friendship and only had a few staff-related duties during summer vacation. They lived in Twilight’s old castle and would be assisting Flurry with her stay as well.
A little further on, Flurry and the guards came to the train station where the train was already awaiting them.  She saw Starswirl standing at the station and rushed forward to meet him.
“Starswirl!” Flurry shouted as she embraced her magic teacher.
“Princess, it’s good to see you this fine morning.” he said.
“I’m guessing Mom and Dad already told you I’m going to Ponyville to spend some time there?” she asked.
“Oh yes, in fact I’m the one who suggested they send you.”
“Wait, it was your idea?”
“Well, it was your aunt’s idea, but I passed it along to your parents.  Twilight has been keeping an eye on you lately through my letters and she thinks…well, she’s aware you’ve needed some time away from the Empire lately.  I convinced your parents, though I’m sure they would have let you go anyway.”
“Thank you, Starswirl!” Flurry said, hugging him a second time.  “After last night, I really want to make this all better and I think Ponyville is the best place to start.”
“I have a good feeling you will find adventure in Ponyville, Flurry. We will all be keeping in contact with Spike and the others to see how you are doing.”
“Do you think I’ll do something huge like Twilight when she first went there?”
“Oh, you will, my little pony.  You most certainly will.”
The train blew its horn in the background.  Flurry’s guards both picked up her belongings and headed for the door.  One of them walked over to the conductor and gave him her ticket.
“We best get a move on, your highness.” said the other.
“Take good care of her on there.” Starswirl called to the guards as they nodded in response.  “Run along now, little one.  Adventure awaits you.”
Starswirl nudged Flurry and she ran off into the door in front of the guards.  They followed after her and allowed her to pick a seat nearby.  Several ponies watched her walk by, knowing she was the princess.  They looked curious to know why she was boarding this train with two guards and why she looked so excited.  Flurry found an empty seat and sat down while the guards sat in the seat across from her. She looked out the window to see Starswirl waving to her and she waved back with a big smile on her face.
“Bye Starswirl!” she said silently.
The train blew its horn once more and the engine started up. Flurry felt herself lurch forward a bit and then the train slowly moved and built up speed.  She watched as Starswirl disappeared down past the end of the caboose and she could no longer see him.  Tall grass and random signs close to the tracks sped by as the castle and entire city before it moved slowly.  It began to get smaller as the train moved further away from the Empire. Finally, it went through the pink shield and snow started hitting her window.  The Empire was barely visible through the shield and eventually the snowy winds obscured it completely.  She was already far from home and for the first time ever was going to be spending a week or two away from her parents and the Empire.
Flurry couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous, but she was still very happy this was happening.  After a rough night, she was finally ready to put all her troubles behind her and do something fun.  This would be a chance to get out of her comfort zone and challenge herself with a new environment and new friendships.