Trixie led Rough and Silver through the city. It wasn't far from their home to Fancy Pants' current dwelling. "It is good that Trixie knows where he is. He moves quite often." She pushed open the gate and strode up to the door before knocking lightly.
The door opened to reveal the butler they had seen the first day of reaching Canterlot. He raised a brow, "Yes?"
Trixie smiled, "We are here to see Fancy and Fleur, are they in?"
The door closed. Rough tilted his head, "Is he getting them?"
Trixie frowned a little, "I do not know why they like him so much, but he gets the job done." She settled on her haunches and waited. Several minutes later, the delicate muzzle of Fleur poked through the door and brightened on seeing them.
"Miss Lulamoon! And you brought your family! How delightful. Do come in." She stepped back and they all entered the opulently-appointed home. "I hope the spring house has served well. I know it's a little small, but in such a rush..."
Trixie made a dismissive wave of a hoof, "The house is lovely, and its gift continues to warm our hearts. I," Silver rose a brow at her lack of third person, "wish I could say we were here for pleasantries alone, but there is a very serious affair to deal with."
Fleur looked serious, "Whatever is the matter dear? Have the neighbors been playing their phonograph too loudly?"
Trixie shook her head quickly, "Nothing so petty." She pointed a hoof at Silver, "It seems that our foal has become a pariah in the cultured circles. Some loathsome mare is spreading the worst kind of rumors of his character."
Fleur advanced on Silver and circled him, "This handsome colt? He doesn't look capable of an uncouth thought. What do they say he did?" She had the soft scent of a mare, which kept Silver's attention on her, but mostly he kept still.
Trixie huffed indignantly, "They say he coerced the hussie into playing a very improper game involving ropes and a crop, only to grow cold hooves when his father appeared." She gestured then to Rough Draft, who looked properly embarrassed.
Fleur recoiled with shock, "That is very serious."
"It grows worse," sighed out Trixie. "There was a court trial. Celestia found her innocent and Silver's testimony baseless. Between those that saw the trial first hoof and those who hear from the mare's parents, Silver can't get a break."
Fleur raised her hooves, capturing Silver's cheeks and looking into his eyes, "Did you do that to this mare?"
Silver tried to shake his head, but it was held firmly. She was surprisingly strong for such a slender model of a pony. "She brought me against my will. I didn't want to play anything with her."
Fleur looked thoughtful a moment before she nodded, "I will speak to my husband, and we will do what we can."
Rough smiled, "We really appreciate that. Silver wants to get into a magic academy but they won't even let him take the test."
"Non!" exclaimed Fleur. "This is unacceptable." She frowned in further thought, "If they are giving those, then there is no time. What school do you attend?" She asked the last of Silver, looking back into his eyes. Her hooves were still holding him. That smell was still... nice. He gave the address of his school with a faintly quivering voice.
Fleur released Silver as she stepped away, "Oui, I know of that school." She trotted away on those long legs and returned with a collection of papers. Some quick turning revealed what she was looking for. "Tomorrow you will be visited by the Academy of Curled Horns. I will visit them tonight."
Silver got curious, "What academy was today?"
"The Academy of the Elements," answered Fleur.
Trixie huffed, "This is a shame. The Academy of the Elements is a good school."
Rough asked, "So how does the Curled Horns one rate?"
Fleur gave her soft smile, "They specialize in air magic. Some of their unicorns can put pegasi out of work. It is often a matter of contention."
Silver tilted his head, "I'm not sure I want to specialize in air magic."
Trixie waved a hoof, "That matters little. Once you know magic, you can study what you wish. The practice is the important part, and good teachers." Trixie puffed out her chest, "You have Trixie for a tutor, which puts you ahead of most others."
Fleur nodded at Trixie, "Your mother is a very talented magician. You should listen to her." Trixie went dark in the cheeks as the old misunderstanding blossomed. "You be a good colt and follow her lessons."
"Yes ma'am," replied Silver with a swishing tail. "She's taught me a lot already."
Fleur seemed to grow curious, "Show me."
Silver allowed his magic to flow freely, illuminating the room with a silver glow, pure and unwavering. Light had become much easier over time. He drew the magic to the sides and conjured his silver hand. He grabbed an apple from a bowl and brought it over to Fleur, offering it to her. She took a delicate bite of it before nodding softly. He set the apple aside on the counter, unsure where to put it, and summoned the other hand, giving Fleur a soft petting across the mane. Her horn glowed softly before his hands were repelled. "Non. You do not touch a mare without permission." Her tone was soft, instructing, and devoid of anger.
Silver bobbed his head quickly, "Sorry." He thought back to Fleur's examination of him the last time he stood before her. Mares you don't touch without permission, but colts were open season. "Thank you for helping."
Fleur smiled, "It is my pleasure. I need to freshen up before I go." They were dismissed, though she was far too polite to say as much directly. The hint was received, and soon they were returning home.
Rough asked as they walked, "Do you think it'll help?"
Trixie shrugged softly, "It certainly couldn't hurt."
The next day was drizzly, as promised. Silver trotted to school with a silvery hand of force shielding him from the light downpour. The hand was far larger than the ones he normally conjured for grasping and moving, blocking all the downward falling rain from reaching him. Along the way be bumped into Lily Jump, who looked damp. He moved beside her and expanded his protection over her. She giggled, "Thanks Silver. Are you going to try again today?"
Silver huffed softly, "I didn't even get a chance to try yesterday, but yes. We think we have it worked out."
Lily bobbed her head, "I'll be a little sad if you go, but you should do what you want to do."
Silver raised an ear, "We could still be friends, right?"
Lily tilted her head, "I suppose, but I mostly see you at school. If you don't go to school, where would we meet?" She shook her head quickly, "Don't worry about that! You have to go after your dreams!" She bumped into him from the side. It was harder to tell in the rain, but Lily had the scent, though it was fainter. Was it youth or the rain? "I'm going to try my best. If I do go to another school, we'll just have to meet on weekends and stuff."
They arrived at school. In the inclement weather, everypony was inside, school started or not. When the bell rang, everyone moved to their seats. Butter Scotch was at her desk with a smile and began the lessons of the day. It wasn't until just before lunch break that a new examiner arrived. He had a long beard and his robes blew in non-existent wind. "Good day, class. Since I am the second representative to arrive, I will dispense with introductions and get on to the test. Would the hopeful unicorns please come with me?" He turned and strode out into the drizzle, though the water seemed to avoid touching him.
Silver slid from his seat and followed after, calling forth his inflated magic hand to keep dry. There were only four unicorns left. He moved over beside Soft, "Are we missing someone?"
Soft nodded her head, "Winter Breeze passed and went to the Academy of the Elements without waiting to see what other tests she may pass."
The instructor cleared his throat, "The test is simple. This drizzle is no coincidence, few things are. You must walk across the yard." He pointed to the dirty yard, muddy from the constant drizzle. "Reach the fence and return with not a fleck of dirt or drop of water and you pass." He looked to one unicorn that was already wet, "You fail." The filly sniffled softly, and returned inside.
Silver considered the challenge. He spread out his hand, forming it into more of a bubble around himself. He hopped up and let the bubble seal underneath him and landed on the surface of the silvery magic. It was more slippery than he bargained for, making him dance in place, and he could feel the strain already building. He pulled out a snack bar and began chewing as he hurriedly scooted across the yard under power of hoof and horn. He bumped into the fence and spun around before hurrying back. The pain in his horn was growing by the moment and he knew it was a race against the clock. He jumped up onto the cement by the school and let out an explosive exhalation. He kept the bubble, but release it around his hooves, allowing him to sink to the ground safely.
"Did I pass?" he asked, looking up at the bearded stallion.
"You have yet to fail," replied the examiner. Only Soft Blush eventually joined him. The other unicorn was sent back inside with a muddy pelt.
The examiner pointed up to the sky, "This weather was created by academy students, not pegasi. If you wish to join us, you will do the same. Dismiss a cloud. It is now permissible to get wet."
Silver released the bubble, shuddering in the pleasure of the moment like finally being allowed to let go of a heavy weight you were holding stiffly with an arm for too long.
Soft Blush turned her gaze to the sky. He could see an intricate pattern of magic across her horn before one of the clouds winked out of existence. "Very good," said the examiner. "You have studied air magic, clearly."
Silver silently cursed. Trixie had not shown him any actual spells yet, just magical 'letters'. Trying random letters hardly seemed the way about it. He tried to use what he knew. He threw out a silver hand, reaching higher into the sky. The further the hand went, the fainter it became. By the time the hand was beside a cloud, he could scarcely see it through the drizzle, and his horn had begun to throb in agony. He tried to push through it. How long could it take to shove a cloud away? He increased the magic flowing through him, growing dangerously hot and leaving him panting, but the force fueled his hand, making it a bit more solid. With a mental flick, the hand became a simple folded fan, unfurled and ready. He began to pump it up and down, nudging the cloud away from the others.
"The cloud must be dismissed," reminded the representative, "Not simply moved."
Silver nodded as he blinked away some sweat. He moved the fan directly into the cloud and thrashed around, trying to rip it apart. The cloud whirled and flowed around the fan, distorting it badly, but there was still a cloud. "Your time is almost up."
Silver clenched his teeth as he reconfigured the fan into a bubble, surrounding the cloud. He remembered something and shrunk the bubble violently. Something popped in his head. Everything started to whirl around him wildly. He hit the ground heavily. Was that blood? Was it his?
"Very good, you--" The instructor looked down at the unconscious form of Silver, bleeding from the nose onto the drizzle-dampened concrete. He frowned. "Fail."