"Celestia, can you see me in the living room for a moment, please?" Rawsthorne asked from the kitchen door. It was a little more polite than usually, but not overly so. The pony returned the cover to the pot, tapped on the oven surface with her stylus and cast a quick glance around. The vegetables she had been cutting would wait. The water wouldn't boil over on its minimum setting, and the dough was rising on its own.
She turned off her music and went to the living room, where Rawsthorne was already sitting on the couch. Something in his expression made her steps falter and her ears fold back all by themselves.
"Is- is everything alright?"
He didn't answer, just pointed to the armchair opposite him. "Please sit."
She obeyed, but the mare couldn't prevent a slight tremor in her wings. Celestia tried to remember what she might have done, but nothing came to mind. The house was in order. Meals were on time. Nothing was damaged. His behavior didn't make sense. The alicorn planted her rump in the chair and stared at the human in expectant silence. After a second, her ears turned toward him.
"Can you explain to me," Rawsthorne began, his voice deceptively calm. Deceptively, because there was anger there and the pony nearly reeled back when she glimpsed it through the cracks in his expression.
"Can you explain to me," the human repeated and lifted up a piece of paper, "how you have managed to spend nearly two thousand dollars in Apple Store in the two weeks you've had the iPad?"
Her breath caught and Celestia guiltily remembered all those warnings and questions she had ignored while she was exploring human music. The ears went firmly back against her head and the mare lowered her gaze. There was also the blush of embarrassment, she knew.
"I... might have, uh... inadvertently purchased too many songs." She said it in a small voice as her mind raced. She was trying to come up with a way to mitigate this disaster. Maybe she could somehow explain her lapse in judgement? "I didn't realize I was actually buying the songs - not until now. I'm- I'm not used to this kind of money, you see-"
Rawsthorne's hand went up. "Songs, says here, seven hundred fifty-three dollars and twelve cents. Let's say I understand that part. You really like music. Okay."
There was a 'but'. Celestia knew it was coming. After all, seven hundred was not 'nearly two thousand'. She wondered what other expenses she might have unwittingly incurred.
"But," Rawsthorne said and she headed him off in an attempt at self defense.
"Well, nopony told me Skype was that expensive! I didn't know!"
That gave the human pause. "Skype? What are you talking about? Skype is free! What I mean are these 'in-game purchases' for-" Rawsthorne looked down on his paper. "-this 'Clash of Clans'. Over a thousand dollars, Celestia. What were you thinking?!"
A faint memory stirred and the mare relaxed a little. Obviously this was just a mix up. "Oh that! Glitter Dust plays that. She told me about it once."
Her owner didn't seem to understand. "So what? I don't care if you both play it, but spending that kind of money on a stupid game? I really expected more self-control from you, Celestia!"
She shook her head and quickly explained: "No, no, I don't play that! Only she does."
The human was still confused, it looked like. "Then why did you spend all that money? What did you spend it on?"
"I didn't!" Celestia was starting to feel very much put upon. She hadn't spent a single bit on an iPad game. Music, yes. She was sorry that she went overboard. Sorry that she hadn't asked Rawsthorne about the curious little messages. She would take her punishment for the seven hundred fifty-three dollars, no problem there!
But she very much resented these accusations about something as frivolous as that silly game! She hadn't even liked it that one time Glitter Dust got her to try it! It was time to put her hoof down.
"Listen here, Rawsthorne! I never spent a single bit on some iPad game! I don't much appreciate your tone."
He leaned back, shocked. His hand went to his face. "If you didn't spend it, who did? Glitter Dust? How? Did you let her use your iPad?"
Celestia was shaking her head, but then she remembered their first Skype chat. So that was what Glitter Dust had meant by 'borrow a few bucks'! And it looked like 'a few' had become over a thousand dollars. The Princess tried to recall the exchange rate between bits and dollars. There was a number - one of the castle accountants had once brought it to her. The price - in bits - for one of the human dollars.
Just multiply it by a thousand and -
Celestia felt as if her heart had stopped for a moment. "A t-thousand dol-dollars?!"
Rawsthorne nodded. "Just over." If he found her sudden shock strange, he didn't mention it. "Tell me how Glitter Dust spends that from your iPad, Celestia."
She didn't want to answer. But Rawsthorne would undoubtedly find out, and then it would be worse for her. Her head fell and all Celestia could hear was the hammering of her heart.
"I... might have given her the pass word."
It seemed like Rawsthorne couldn't quite wrap his head around it. "You have given her the password," he repeated. "So she tricked you?"
Celestia vehemently shook her head. "No! She told me she needed some money for that game! She promised she would pay me back!"
"No chance in Hell Glitter Dust has that kind of money. Even Maggie probably doesn't have that much just lying around!"
"Well, she promised!" Even to herself Celestia sounded sullen and petulant. Naive, that was the word. She had never, even for a second, imagined that Glitter Dust was trying to trick her. Steal from her, even!
The human just stared at her for a while. Celestia couldn't help fidgeting with her forehooves. "Go back to the kitchen and finish dinner. I'll call Maggie."
But... she needed to know! "What will you tell her?"
Rawsthorne shrugged. It didn't seem like he would enjoy the conversation. He didn't like the idea of putting the pegasus in trouble. Maybe she could use his reluctance? Despite everything, the alicorn didn't want to dunk Glitter Dust, however deserved it might be. The two mares could solve it between themselves!
"Please don't? I- I'll take responsibility. It was my error, Rawsthorne."
Unfortunately, the human was set: "If she had done it to you, she might have also done it to others. Maggie should know about this."
Celestia hung her head in defeat. She heaved a shuddering sigh and stood up to leave. But she paused for a final question. "Wh- what will be my punishm- ment?"
"I don't know yet. We'll discuss it after dinner, okay?"
It seemed like utter defeat. Celestia made her slow way to the kitchen and listlessly began to cut the vegetables again. She considered listening to some music for a moment, but changed her mind. She wasn't in the mood anymore.
Another thought occurred. Maybe she should at least warn Glitter Dust? She opened up Skype and wrote as quickly as she could: "Hey you there?"
Her pegasus friend began typing almost immediately, much to Celestia's relief.
"whats up?"
The alicorn thought about a diplomatic approach, but then she remembered Rawsthorne's expression and her own embarrassment as she had to admit the error in judgement. Anger flared up and Celestia opted for the direct approach.
"You spent a thousand dollars on clash of clans!!"
There was no reply, so the alicorn harrumphed to herself, then went on. "Gregory is calling Maggie right now so you better prepare yourself"
Again nothing, but after a minute Glitter Dust's little circle went from green to gray. Celestia hoped her owner wouldn't tan the pegasus' hide too much. A little wouldn't hurt, though. The mare sighed and went back to her cooking. She barked a laugh as the thought rose: "I hope Gregory doesn't tan my hide too much."
Dinner was markedly subdued, Celestia couldn't help noticing. Neither she nor Rawsthorne spoke, so the only sounds were the clink of cutlery and the sound of plates and glasses as they were moved. When the human spoke up the mare nearly breathed a sigh of relief, even as he undoubtedly prepared to name her punishment.
"What do you propose we do with you, Celestia?"
She hurriedly swallowed her mouthful and nervously licked her lips. She was about to suggest a week without baths and steams, but Rawsthorne didn't seem to be in a mood for joking. "M-maybe the... the belt ag-again?"
At least it was something she had experienced before. She knew what to expect, even if Rawsthorne wouldn't be as gentle this time.
"That's a given, of course. What else?"
The mare gulped in fear. She had hoped it would be the only thing. "No- no baths? Or st-steams?"
"For a month, yes," Rawsthorne finished, making her grimace unhappily. "And you're going to earn that money, just so you get some appreciation for how much you two spent."
The loss stung badly and Glitter Dust would certainly get a piece of her mind, but at least there would be no other physical punishment.
"How?"
Rawsthorne thought for a minute, then his face split into a satisfied grin. Celestia couldn't help feeling a little uneasy at the sight.
"You'll go to work with me, every day. And you'll assist Denis until you've earned two thousand dollars. On an intern's pay."
If her ears went any further down, they would crush the mare's skull. "Does it have to be him?"
The alicorn knew it was hopeless, even before Rawsthorne said: "Yes. Punishment is supposed to be unpleasant. I'll talk with him tomorrow and you'll start the next day."
Celestia tried to muster up some grace, at least while accepting her punishment. "Yes, Sir."
"Oh, and I spoke with Maggie," the human went on and Celestia drew herself to attention. "Apparently she tried the same thing with the other ponies at one point or another. Though never that much money."
At least she wasn't the only one to fall for the pegasus' tricks. Celestia felt a little better about her mistake.
"Maggie will punish her - again - but Glitter Dust just doesn't want to learn, it seems. Maggie sounded at her wits' end. She offered to give me the mare, just to be done with it."
The idea of having a roommate was at the same time scary and very interesting. Of course she would have to tell Glitter Dust the truth and hope the pegasus wouldn't blab. No way she could maintain Supple Branch over the long term. But she didn't want that sort of suspense in her life. Knowing Glitter Dust, she would be on Skype even before Celestia finished talking. Despite all that, Celestia would have loved the company. She still liked the happy, curious pegasus, even after her trick. Maybe not exactly 'happy pegasus' for a while, but Celestia did like her.
"What did you say?"
Rawsthorne answered quickly and waved his hand dismissively. "I said no, of course. I don't want another problematic pony."
"Problematic?! I'm not problematic!"
The human sighed with more drama than was strictly called for, in the mare's opinion. "Really, Celestia?"
She absolutely didn't want him thinking that! The alicorn jumped from her chair and went around the table.
"Gregory! I'm sorry, okay? It was an honest mistake, it won't happen again. I'll work for Denis until I pay you back. And I'll take the other punishment!" She presented her rump to the man. "Just spank me now and get that part over with! And no baths for a month. Please, I'll behave! Don't send me back!"
Rawsthorne seemed surprised at the outburst. So was she. Celestia hadn't even realized just how much she enjoyed it there, or how scared she was of failing.
"Okay, relax, I'm not sending you back. I'm not mad about the money, really!"
The pony was shocked to find tears in her eyes. She hadn't meant to get so emotional, but now that the punishment was set and the incident was more or less behind her, relief flowed through her body like a cool, calming wave.
She just wanted it completely over now. "I'll get the belt."
The human reached up and patted her head. "We don't have to do it now, Celestia."
"Now. I want it over with. Please, it's important to me."
Rawsthorne sighed and stood up. "Very well, bring the belt to the living room, if you're sure."
There she was again, a lot sooner than she would have expected. Her owner stood over her, the strip of leather hanging loosely from his hand. She wanted it over, but now that it was happening, Celestia found herself filled with trepidation.
"H-how many this time?"
Rawsthorne gave it some thought, while he circled around to her face. "About twenty should do it, I think."
She inadvertently gulped, but then she nodded. "Tha- that's fa-fair!" However hard she tried, Celestia couldn't make her flank stop trembling. She knew it would be better once it started. The suspense was killing her, but she didn't dare say anything.
Rawsthorne seemed in a slightly better mood so perhaps, if she didn't anger him further, he would go a bit easier on her. She closed her eyes, but it didn't help. She was keenly aware of her owner's position. Of his footsteps as he went around again. The swish of fabric as he lifted his arm.
The mare winced even before the first hit landed, but at least she didn't cry out.
SLAP SLAP SLAP
Blow after blow, wherever they happened to land, much faster than the last time. She had wanted to count them, to know when it would end. But after the third or fourth slap she lost track and just focused on enduring.
The squeals came unbidden, as did the tears. The mare knew, in her heart of hearts, that the beating was in no way severe. That it shouldn't really hurt all that much, but maybe the guilt made it painful? Each strike with the leather seemed to leave a line of fire across her abused rear. She knew there would be bruises. The human really wasn't holding back, not like the last time!
It was too late to change her mind. Celestia gritted her teeth and endured in her tiny little world of darkness and shame and pain.
The last hit rang out, echoing. In the ensuing silence, the pony realized she was crying. Bawling really. The realization was almost more painful than the punishment. So little did it take to reduce the Princess of the Sun, the Ruler of Equestria, to weeping like a little filly.
Her hind legs were shaking badly and the mare definitely felt some heat along her rump. She didn't dare look, even when she felt Rawsthorne's hand on her muzzle.
"There, it's done," he said. There was no real anger behind the words. Celestia shuddered as she thought what the punishment would be like with the human truly angry. Despite the way it had felt, she knew her owner hadn't used all his strength. She managed a small nod and a smile, and the human wiped away a few tears from her face.
"Maggie said she would bring Glitter Dust over tomorrow after work, so we can see her punishment first hand."
An image popped up and the mare almost laughed a little. "We'll compare butts to see whose is redder."
Even Rawsthorne smiled at that. "Well, you're going to change into Supple Branch, no? Will bruises still be there?"
The alicorn considered it, then nodded. "Yes. I'll make sure they're there. It's only fair Glitter Dust sees that I was also punished."
They watched each other for a moment. The mare couldn't help but shuffle uncomfortably from the distracting heat in her rear. She chose instead to focus on the human hand, which was still stroking her muzzle. "I'm sorry, Gregory. It was a stupid thing I did, with music and giving the pass word to Glitter Dust. I should have asked you about it."
The man shrugged. "Well, you learned your lesson."
Celestia nodded emphatically. She glanced back and gasped a little. Even from her vantage point, the smooth, white flank was looking quite pink through her white coat. No wonder it felt so hot.
"I did, yes."
It was futile now, but she was trying to muster up some of her bearing and grace. In truth, without the comforting hand, she would have kept crying for a bit longer. On the other hoof, the mare thought, she really was letting go of the Princess. She would never have cried under punishment.
Rawsthorne followed her gaze. Maybe there was the start of a wince in his face, but it was gone before Celestia could be sure. She chose to believe it had been there. Sympathy, even when giving her a deserved punishment. It just made her like him more.
"Okay, can you clear up the dining room and put the dishes in the washer?"
She considered it, then nodded. It wouldn't require her rump.
"Good, go do that, then go to bed. It's been a hard enough day," the human commanded. But she wasn't quite ready to be alone just yet.
"Could I stay up a little longer with you?"
That gave Rawsthorne some pause, but he quickly shrugged. "It'll be boring. I have to read up on some esoteric law up in the study."
"W-what if you read it here, on the couch. I- I don't want to sleep yet. I'd like to sit with you. I'll be quiet, I promise."
If her human saw his way clear to keeping an arm around her, or maybe even scratching her ears while he read, it would go a long way toward putting the nastiness behind them. Celestia wanted to feel that they were okay. A few hours of quiet company would do nicely.
"Okay, I think that could work. But if you distract me, I'll send you to bed. I have to get through this thing by tomorrow."
She nodded, quite happy once again. Aside from her red rear and the faint traces of tears, it was impossible to tell she had just been punished with a belt. Clearing the table and the dishes were the work of minutes. She cast an eye on her iPad, but saw that Glitter Dust was still offline. Good. Celestia hoped the pegasus would get at least as much as she did.
The mare almost fell into the soft cushions. She didn't want to put pressure on her abused behind and the position she had chosen would leave her head in Rawsthorne's lap. This suited her just fine. Her ears swiveled as she heard a faint ding from the kitchen. It was Skype on her iPad. Maybe it was Glitter Dust, apologizing, or wanting to tell her about her own punishment. It could also be one of the others, just saying hi.
Whatever it was, it would wait until the next day. The human returned with a large book and took his place. In moments Celestia was nuzzling his thigh while Rawsthorne put the book down on the armrest.
As she had predicted, his other hand went to her mane and sough out her ears. "Thank you, Rawsthorne."
"What? What for?" he asked, a little surprised. He obviously hadn't expected anything like that out of her, not after their little showdown.
"For not going overboard. I know it's a lot of money. You'd be within your rights to beat me a lot more. Or yell. Or just send me back to the auction."
His hand patted her on the neck, before returning to her ears. "I still might, if you don't earn the money back, you know?"
They both knew he didn't mean it, but the mare played along. "I'll earn it. I'm good, remember?"
She said nothing more as Rawsthorne became engrossed in the text. The pony looked up at his little frown of concentration. Despite all that had happened, she was happy. She felt safe. Each day she trusted the human more.
When the time came to leave, she would absolutely miss Rawsthorne. The thought made her a little sad and she sighed. In response, the human slid his hand comfortingly down the length of her neck. It was quite pleasant, actually. She didn't even know when she fell asleep.