Sunday was the only day Maggie's store was closed. Despite Glitter Dust's complaints, the woman had come to rely on her help, so that was the only day the pegasus was available to work off her debt to Rawsthorne. Celestia came running for the front door when she heard the bell and changed into Supple Branch just before she reached it. She had to rear up to hook a leg on the door handle so she could pull it open.
"Welcome! Come in, come in!"
Her friend didn't seem quite as happy, but Maggie was soon grinning back. "Someone's excited to get started!" she commented.
Celestia moved smoothly aside and dropped into a small bow. "Please. Mr. Rawsthorne is in the living room. I will bring tea there in a few minutes."
She bundled her guests inside and closed the door. Then she nudged the pegasus onward with her muzzle. "Go on, you know the way. A cup of tea and then we can get started, alright?"
Glitter Dust gave her a hesitant smile in return. "Y-yeah, sure."
Celestia escorted the ladies and saw them seated on the couch. Then she ducked into the kitchen and put the pot on the stove. She could have heated it with magic, but the mare didn't want to use spells in her disguise. It could become a habit and then it would be all too easy to forget herself in front of her guests.
She kept resisting, however annoying it was to get all the cups on the tray using nothing more than her hooves and her mouth and a chair she had to push around to reach things.
Despite the extra effort, the alicorn didn't let it dampen her mood. She had missed some mare company, in truth. Celestia hadn't spoken much with her friends over Skype - mainly out of embarrassment. Now that she was - nearly - over it, she missed them.
Glitter Dust would understand in a way Rock Lichen and Heavy Hoof couldn't. Probably Glowbug also couldn't. Did changelings go into heat? All these years and she had never thought to wonder about that. Maybe she would ask her. After all, Celestia had promised to get to know the unicorn a little better.
The water was soon boiling and the crockery was stacked and ready. She carefully lifted the pot with her teeth and placed it on a heat-mat on the tray with the rest. She hopped down from the chair and pushed it away. Then Celestia looked at the laden thing. An earth pony would have no problems lifting it and juggling it to her back. Nor would carrying it around be an issue.
Even a pegasus could do it, although she would use her wings to help balance it, but alicorns - much like unicorns - tended to rely on their magic. She didn't relish the idea of pouring boiling water all over herself, nor did she enjoy the thought of explaining to Rawsthorne why all of his fine china was in little pieces on the floor.
Celestia scrunched up her muzzle as she thought about it. Then she went and peered out into the hallway to make sure she was alone. There wouldn't be that much harm, would there? Her horn wasn't visible, and if she kept the levitating grip on the underside of the tray there would be no telltale glow.
Well, there went her little rule about magic in diguise. She sighed and focused. It would just be a one time thing. The tray floated down to her back. She would only steady it, nothing more. Then Celestia made her way back to the living room. The humans were already deep in discussion. Something about Rawsthorne's car, it sounded like. Glitter Dusk was also listening with interest.
Celestia deeply hoped that the pegasus didn't work on cars. Those things seemed dangerous enough, without the reckless mare poking her hooves into what she didn't understand. The alicorn used a moment when their guests were looking at Rawsthorne's gesturing and quickly shuffled the tray from her back to the coffee table. The crockery tinkled a little, but they didn't see the quick burst of magic.
"Tea? Maggie? Glitter? It's chilly outside."
Her friend puffed out her chest. "Yeah, maybe for you earth ponies! We pegasi are used to cold. High altitude and all that, you know?"
Celestia poked her tongue at the insolent mare. Used to cold? Hah! Undoubtedly she had been spoiled by her soft bed and warm radiator. She hopped up to the armchair with her owner and simply made herself comfortable in his lap.
Rawsthorne didn't seem to mind and just kept explaining something. "Turns out, it was just a leak and the fluid was low. Mechanic said it could have been a lot worse."
Maggie nodded. "Yeah, parts for these new transmissions can get expensive."
The man just waved a hand. "I don't mind expensive. Besides it was still under warranty. It could have slipped out of gear on the highway and left me in a problematic situation. Or it could have seized, which is even worse."
The pegasus chimed in as well. "Yeah! And then it would have exploded! Yikes!"
Both Maggie and Rawsthorne laughed at the pegasus, who smiled back after a while. Then the man pointed to the tray. "Please, feel free. Both of you."
Maggie began pouring herself a cup, but Glitter Dust shrugged it off. "Thanks, but I'd rather just get started on that roof. Maybe finish before it rains again. What do you need me to do, exactly?"
He had explained it all to Celestia before the two came, so Rawsthorne simply picked the mare up and dropped her to the floor. "Supple will show you everything."
Celestia made sure not to grumble at being so rudely dislodged from a comfortable seat as she led her friend out of the room and up the stairs. "It's nothing hard, actually. There's a hatch up here - you'll need to fly up to reach it. Then there's a ladder. And then there's an outside hatch that opens to the roof up top."
They found the attic trapdoor and Glitter jumped and grabbed the short piece of string with her mouth. She barely had to flap her wings. The door opened and a ladder unfolded out, just like Rawsthorne had showed her. Celestia made her way up first. There was a light switch and she found it mostly by memory. She moved away from the entrance and let her friend up behind her.
"Okay, the idea is that you get to the edge and scoop up all the gunk and leaves and everything out of the gutters. I'm supposed to follow you below with a bucket and clean it up. Got it?"
Her nose wrinkled a little in disgust, but the pegasus quickly accepted her fate. "Fine. Shouldn't be a problem. Anything else?"
Celestia looked around. The entire floor was used mostly as a storage room. She remembered the shape of the house. The roof was barely slanted and there wasn't a real peak. That made the attic quite roomy. A very ugly design, but it had made it easier to organize the place. Before she had gotten her hooves on it, the place had been a mishmash of random objects.
She quickly spotted what she was looking for. "There's some spare roof tiles over there. You're supposed to check each one up there if it's cracked or broken and then you somehow pull it up and replace it with a fresh one. I don't know how to do that, Gregory didn't show me."
They found the hatch to the outside and Glitter Dust quickly got it open. There was another, shorter ladder and the ponies emerged on the roof.
"Okay, let's see here," the pegasus murmured and prodded at one of the tiles. She could easily lift it with a hoof, but it was stuck under others on two sides. The mare had to lie down on her belly and use both hooves to lift the neighboring ones and then she was able to remove the tile with her mouth.
She slid it back and let everything settle down. "Ugh, it's gonna be annoying. Let's hope there aren't many broken ones," she said hopefully. "Well, at least it isn't glued down or something. They just fit together."
"Well, if I help you lift those, you won't have to use your mouth. You find them and I'll fetch, and then we'll replace them together."
That earned her a grateful hug. "Thanks, Supple. You're a real friend."
They approached the edge of the roof and Glitter Dust looked down into the gutters. Whatever was in them, it was black. "Yuck," the mare said. "I don't enjoy having that on my hooves. At least there's not a bunch of it."
"It's a large house. It'll take some time."
The pegasus looked around herself. "Yeah, it will. Best to get started, right?"
It really was. The skies were overcast. It had rained in the night and it should have been pouring still. Some stroke of luck left them with a bit of relief, but it could begin again any minute.
Before she began her work, the pony lowered her voice and turned an inquisitive stare on Celestia. "Actually, I'm not starting until you tell me!"
"Tell you what?"
She had a very insolent, inappropriate grin and it instantly made the alicorn color. Yeah, she could guess what Glitter Dust wanted.
"How was it with Heavy Hoof? Glowbug said you two did it over Skype again!"
Her ears went down and Celestia sighed. "Why does everypony gossip so much?!"
"Spill it, or I'm not doing a thing," Glitter threatened. It would probably earn the pegasus a spanking. On that note, it would earn her one as well! Celestia groaned quietly. Either her friend didn't care about another beating, or she wanted to know more than she feared Maggie. Probably the latter.
"It went about as you can imagine. You know how heat is!"
The other mare leaned closer. "You didn't wanna go to your human for help?"
The alicorn didn't know how to answer at first, but eventually she decided on honesty. A heart-to-heart with a mare was what she had wanted, after all. "I tried. Believe me, I tried!"
"And?"
"He said no. He said it wouldn't be right, since I wasn't myself."
The pegasus blinked in surprise. "What, is he gay or something?"
Celestia hadn't considered that. Surely not? He had explained his reasons - but she wouldn't share them with Glitter Dust. "I don't think so. He never said."
"Did you show him your rump and wiggle?" came the next question. It made Celestia blush some more and she couldn't keep looking at the pegasus.
"Not... intentionally, but he must have seen it."
Glitter nodded sagely. "Yep. Gay. Totally gay."
"What makes you say that?!"
"Here, lemme show you." The mare stepped closer and nuzzled the alicorn gently. The light touch ended with a lick on her ears which made Celestia's knees a little weak. Then the pegasus turned and flicked her tail from side to side. It was a very suggestive gesture.
Her heat was well over, but even so Celestia felt a twinge of desire. Her mouth parted a little and she blushed. The pegasus had been watching for that and grinned triumphantly.
"See? We're adorable and humans find ponies irresistibly cute. Men take one look at our... ahem, 'treasure', and they go wild."
She pierced Celestia with a stare. "Did he get hot and bothered when he saw you like that?"
The alicorn barely suppressed an embarrassed squeak. She had never expected her friend to be so forthright! Maybe the pegasus had caught whatever strange illness Heavy Hoof had? Despite the embarrassment, she found herself hiding a guilty little grin of excitement. Talking like that about Rawsthorne was incredibly naughty, but also quite exhilarating!
"Maybe... a little? I am not used to human body language, but it felt like it. Especially that one time..."
Glitter Dust's eyes went wide in anticipation. "That one time?" she asked eagerly. "When? What were you doing at the time?"
It wasn't a memory she was proud of. She didn't want to tell her friend, but the pegasus prodded her ribs with a hoof. "Come on, tell! Coooome oooon, Supple. Talk!"
Her ears lowered some more and the red on her face became brighter yet. "I... might have slobbered on him a little. I fell asleep in his lap and then I woke up and it turns out- well, maybe I'd gotten a bit 'too friendly'."
"You sucked him off?!"
"No! NO! Nothing like that! I just nuzzled... um, the place a little and licked it a few times! Through clothes!"
The pegasus was giving her the flattest and and most put-upon stare she had ever seen on a pony. Then she rolled her eyes and prodded her with a hoof. "Okay, what happened next?"
Celestia looked away. "I got drunk and went on Skype with Heavy Hoof..."
It was obvious there was a piece of the story missing. Glitter sighed and asked again: "I meant, what happened right after you... licked him? 'By accident.'" She even signed the air quotes with her wings.
"Oh. He went to change into new pants."
Now her friend was nodding knowingly. "Yep. Gay. No doubt about it."
Celestia felt she needed to clear up Rawsthorne' name. "No, he just didn't want to take advantage of me."
"In that case, he's the biggest, nicest, bestest gentlecolt who has ever lived, ever. Or he's stupid. Or maybe both."
"Well, he's taking me out for dinner so we can talk and see where it goes!"
Glitter fell silent for a moment, then there was a dangerous gleam in her eyes. "You will click me on Skype the instant you get back, okay? Unless he takes you to his bed - then you can tell me in the morning." She even sounded magnanimous, as if granting both Celestia and Rawsthorne her blessing to be together.
"You are a gossip! Besides, what do you know about ponies and humans anyway?!"
Now the pegasus blushed a little. A-ha! There was definitely a story there. It was time for revenge! "Tell. Me. Now. Or I won't tell you a single thing about Gregory anymore!"
The threat worked and Glitter Dust leaned closer. "Don't tell anypony, okay?" Celestia just nodded. A moment later the pegasus lowered her voice nearly to a whisper. She was imparting a big secret. "There's this older couple in the next building. Their son is off in college, but he comes home over holidays. We got talking one day and we kinda- became friends."
So far there was nothing sinister or strange, so the alicorn kept quiet and waited for the rest of the story.
"Anyway, he and some friends have this den in the basement of their building. Nothing fancy, just an old couch and a TV and some game consoles. He took me down there to show me his games and... something called 'weed'."
Judging from her face, Glitter Dust had enjoyed the experience of these 'games and weed' quite a lot. She was smiling and licking her lips.
"What is it?"
The mare shrugged. "Some sort of herb. I dunno. Anyway, you roll up dried leaves in tobacco - like cigarettes. You must have seen humans with those?"
Celestia nodded. It didn't make much sense, but she had seen a few people around Rawsthorne's office take 'smoke breaks'. They lit little white sticks on fire and inhaled the smoke. From the distance it smelled slightly like a pipe, such as some of her subjects enjoyed, but a lot more... chemical. She had nearly choked after she caught a whiff and Glitter Dust noticed her expression.
"Yeah, they are awful," she confirmed. "But with this 'weed' in them, they're kinda nice. It makes you light-headed and everything seems funny and you're in a good mood for a while. Kinda like drinking, except no headache after."
It sounded interesting. Celestia decided to ask Rawsthorne about this herb later. Perhaps he knew where to get it, so she could try it for herself. Not in a cigarette - she would undoubtedly be able to use it with a pipe. Hopefully her owner had one in the house somewhere.
"Okay, go on?"
It was enough to wake Glitter Dust up from her reminiscing and move the story along. "Yeah, right. Anyway, he was back for holidays this one time last year, and we were hanging out in the den - just talking and smoking a little - and then he said I was cute." The pegasus giggled at the memory. "I found it just so funny. But he kept saying it and..."
"And?" Now she blushed very hard and her ears went completely flat. Celestia could guess, but she wanted to hear it.
"Well, we ended up kissing. And then... doing it."
Maybe it was good that Glitter Dust didn't include too many details.
"Romantic." It was a tad too sarcastic and the pegasus gave her a hurt look. "Well, maybe he wasn't a white stallion, but it was nice. He was gentle with me and it was amazing. Humans can go for minutes at a time, did you know that? And it only takes them a short while before they can go again - even when you're not in heat!"
A faint memory woke up and Celestia recalled a particular rumor she had heard even back in Equestria. Minutes! Several times in a night!
Okay, maybe her relationship with Rawsthorne wouldn't be all emotional. Physical sounded nice to top it off!
"Interesting. What happened with you two?"
Glitter Dust shrugged. "He still visits for holidays and we hang out, but he has a human marefriend now. Actually, it's called a 'girl-friend', I think." The pegasus leaned a bit closer still and whispered. "He told me mares are better. He just didn't know how to tell his parents, and I technically belong to Maggie and Sam and he couldn't afford buying me from them."
She sighed a little, but then she brightened up. "Hey, Christmas will be around soon. I'll introduce you and we can smoke weed together sometime!"
Celestia shrugged. It sounded like an interesting experience. "Sure. Anyway, we have a job to do here. We can gossip later."
Glitter Dust looked at her blankly and leaned her head to the side. "Why later?"
"I got Rawsthorne to let us use the steam room when we're done!" She couldn't help laughing when she saw the pegasus' expression.
Glitter Dust's eyes went as big as tea saucers. "Steam!? You got us a steam?! I dunno when was the last time I had a steam!" She was suddenly hugging the alicorn and flapping her wings excitedly. It nearly toppled them off the roof, but Celestia just smiled back and returned the hug.
"Sure. Why not? A little reward if we do a good job."
The pegasus let her go and nearly saluted. "Okay! Let's get on this! Good job, good job. Let's do a good job here!"
The enthusiasm was nice to see. Celestia also wanted to impress her owner. She had to prove to him that housework and cleaning weren't slavery to her. Once he understood that, she could slowly start getting him used to the idea that she liked being with him. Then he could get over his hesitation about 'the difference in power'.
After all, she had gotten over hers easily enough!
"Okay, I'll go down and find a bucket. This side first?"
The pegasus chirped something affirmative. She was already at the edge and scooping out large hoof-fulls of gunk.
Rawsthorne didn't need much convincing to allow Celestia a bath before steam. The downside was that Maggie didn't want to wait that long.
Glitter Dust came up with the solution: "Would it be alright if I slept here, Mr. Rawsthorne?" she asked, contriving to look like the best-behaved pony in history.
The man looked at her owner, who quickly agreed: "Yes, that'd be fine. If it isn't too much of a bother?"
Before Celestia could process what was being suggested, Rawsthorne also nodded. "It's settled then. I'll deliver her to work tomorrow morning. It's not too far out of our way."
The humans shook hands and said goodbye while the pegasus joyfully hugged her bewildered friend. "Sleepover!" she squeaked happily and swished her tail around in excitement.
"Uh, yes, sure. Just give us a second..." Celestia disentangled herself and hurried after her owner. She waited as he saw the woman out the door, then whispered fiercely to him: "I can't stay 'Supple' all night! We can't sleep in the same room!"
The human looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "Just make the bed in the other room for Glitter Dust. We have another bedroom."
"No, it won't work! We ponies are very social creatures. I don't have a good reason to want to sleep alone, not after sharing a bath! Even if I did, she might go looking for me if she needs something at night! It's too risky!"
Celestia froze for a moment, then then her mouth split into a grin. "You got me into this, so you are going to help me out!"
If he knew what she was planning, Rawsthorne probably wouldn't have agreed so readily. But he didn't, so he did.
"Follow my lead!" They went back to the living room, where Glitter Dust had thoughtfully remained standing in the middle. The mares had washed their hooves as best they could, but they were still quite filthy from their work. Undoubtedly the pegasus didn't want to dirty the couch.
"We have a problem," Celestia proclaimed it and gave Glitter a desperate grin and a wink where her human couldn't see. She stepped closer and quietly whispered in her ear: "Play along."
Glitter Dust was about to ask something, but Celestia flattened her ears in supplication and winked urgently again.
The pegasus glanced at the human, then asked her question a little uncertainly: "What's the problem?"
Celestia took a breath and acted, drawing on millenia of political intrigue. "There's not enough beds, I'm afraid and I really don't have a single clean sheet for the couch. I've been a bit... lazy. Sorry."
That last she directed at the human, who knew different, but saw her urgent wink and didn't say anything. The alicorn kept her eyes on the human as if considering something. "Unless... Well, it's not the best plan..."
Rawsthorne asked his question right on cue: "What's the plan?"
Celestia flashed a conspiratorial grin at the bewildered Glitter Dust, then made sure the mare saw her uncertain and pleading expression before facing the human again. "One of us could... uh... m-maybe join you? I suppose... Glitter Dust could take my bed and then I can..."
The pegasus suddenly understood and added her own touch: "Yeah, that could work! I wouldn't mind your bed, Supple!"
Only now did Rawsthorne realize what her plan was. If he was annoyed, the human didn't show it on his face. He just sighed and sat on the couch, as if to think. Celestia felt her heart hammering as she waited for the verdict. She sensed the pegasus step closer and slip a wing around her withers.
"Good thought," the pegasus whispered approvingly.
"I suppose that could work. The bed is large enough for the two of us," Rawsthorne agreed at last, but Celestia knew him well enough to understand his unspoken words: he had caught on to her ruse and wasn't too happy about it!
The alicorn put it out of her mind and took a few steps toward the hallway. "Good! Come on, Glitter Dust! Let's go take that bath."
The pegasus nudged her in the ribs as soon as they were out of Rawsthorne's sight. "Brilliant!" she commented with a very impertinent smirk. "You think quick, filly!" Even if it was just a ruse, Celestia felt her face flush a little. It would be a most pleasant night. No heat, or worry, or alcohol to distract her from fully enjoying the cuddles!
"I'd be grateful if you didn't make inappropriate comments before Gregory, and I guess it's too much to ask to keep this to yourself?"
Glitter Dust nudged her again. "Yes to both. You can't expect me to keep something this juicy from the others?" The pegasus slowed and looked at Celestia with renewed interest. "What, is he your first?!"
The alicorn nearly choked on her tongue. It had been an entirely unexpected question. "No! I'm not a virgin! Not that it's any business of yours!"
Glitter Dust waved a hoof dismissively. "Not that! I mean: is he your first human?"
Celestia just blushed and looked away. She didn't need to answer. The pegasus took one look at her face and excitedly rubbed her hooves together. "Filly, you are in for a treat! I won't spoil it anymore!"
It was just as well. A few more questions like that and Celestia suspected her face would be pink permanently. She gratefully pushed open the door. "In here."
Maybe a hot bath would shut the pegasus up for a while?
No suck luck. It wasn't long before Glitter Dust poked her head into the sauna and whistled. Celestia remembered too late. "No, wait! Don't go in-"
But the pegasus had already emerged and in her hooves-
"Eep!" Celestia looked away, lest her face burst into flame. It had been a very misguided idea during her heat, which she had subsequently forgotten. Until now.
She had intended to use one of her toys in the steam room. It had proven itself as a bad idea - the steam room was far too hot and humid to go through with it. The mare wished she had remembered to take the toy back with her, though. It was one of the human-shaped... things. A large one.
Glitter Dust was looking at it with something between awe and horror. "You used this?" the pegasus squeaked. "Damn, Supple - this is seriously impressive!"
Celestia just folded down to the tiles and put her hooves over her face. She just made a weak grunt in lieu of a reply.
"Can I borrow it?"
Her ears swiveled forward and the alicorn lifted her head, mouth agape in shock. "What?! Now?!"
The pegasus laughed at her expression. "No. I mean, can I borrow it for a few days?"
Celestia looked from the thing to Glitter's lithe pegasus body. It didn't seem plausible. Supple Branch wasn't much larger, but she was an earth pony. She couldn't assist her friend with suicide.
"You'll hurt yourself."
Her friend pouted a little. "You didn't!"
That was true, but the toys were sized for an alicorn - Rawsthorne made sure when he brought them. Unfortunately she couldn't tell Glitter Dust that. Besides, Celestia remembered guiltily that she had used them while Supple-shaped on video with Heavy Hoof. It had hurt, but the heat had overruled it.
"Fine, fine. Go right ahead. You can keep it if you want." Celestia didn't intend to stay on Earth long enough for her next heat to be a problem anyway. She shook her head a little and went to open the hot water for their bath. The ponies on Earth were a lot more open about their sexuality. Come to think of it, so was she!
She spoke about it with Rawsthorne and aside from blushing and general embarrassment, she hadn't been nearly as mortified as she would have been in Equestria.
That had just been necessity, right? The heat made her more outspoken than she would have been without it, no? Maybe it was something about being a slave - it freed you from a lot of responsibility, but it also took away some inhibitions.
Which Glitter Dust went and proved: "Unless you want me to try it now?"
There was the mortification. "Glitter! Please- I just want a nice, pleasant bath. Please?"
The pegasus sighed and put the thing aside, much to Celestia's gratitude. Then she hopped into the tub with a small splash and quickly settled down.
"Oooh, that's nice. Come in. No naughty stuff, I promise."
She was a bit reluctant, despite her words, but the alicorn had never turned down a hot bath in her life and she wasn't about to start. "Okay. But I'm throwing you out the second you say anything. Or touch anything!"
That insolent, mischievous grin was there again. "Wash my mane?" Glitter Dust asked innocently.
The alicorn rolled her eyes, but she reached for shampoo anyway. She would expect the favour returned, with absolutely no inappropriate touching. Maybe it was a good idea for her to go first and set an example.
"Oh, and my tail, please?"
Celestia nearly groaned.
Rawsthorne was already gone by the time the mares came out of the bathroom with towels on their heads. It had been relaxing. Perhaps even too much - Celestia had found her disguise nearly slipping a few times as she almost dozed off in Glitter Dust's lap. Now it was nearly over. The magic was getting quite hard to keep up and she would welcome sleep.
She sniffed the air and quickly discovered that her owner had made himself a sandwich. With some of that salami. It made her nose wrinkle, even with all the time she had to get used to it.
The pegasus noticed it too. "Sandwich?" she asked. The alicorn nodded. "Yeah, I guess we've been in there rather long. He must have gotten tired of waiting."
Admission wasn't easy and Celestia scrunched up her muzzle in a slight frown. She had promised the human that her housework wouldn't slip just the other day!
"What about us?"
Celestia didn't feel up to cooking, especially with hooves instead of magic. But she was also quite hungry. "Hm, something light, maybe? I've got some apples and oranges left."
The pegasus leaned her head to the side and smacked her lips. "Orange, please. Maggie doesn't buy them this time of years 'cause they're kinda expensive." The alicorn had to push over a chair to reach the shelf in the pantry, then she returned with two fruits.
The pair jumped up on the sofa and went to work. Peeling was a bit tricky with hooves and teeth, but Celestia made sure to catch any dripping orange juice on the towel. She was happy to see Glitter Dust doing the same.
"So, bed with Master?" the pegasus said conversationally. The alicorn had hoped to avoid that talk, but apparently she wouldn't have that kind of luck.
"Just sleeping, Glitter. Please don't make a huge deal out of it."
The pegasus nudged her, as if she didn't hear. "Yeah, sure. You went through all the trouble of making him think we don't like cuddling each other, just so you could cuddle with him?" Glitter Dust barked a short laugh. "Pull the other tail, Supple. It's got bells on."
"What?"
Her friend sighed. "Just an expression."
It was time to change the topic. Something Celestia really wanted to know. It was the perfect time. She bumped her flank against Glitter's and spoke up. "So, how's life with Maggie and - what was the name? - Sam?"
The pegasus nodded at her guess. "Yeah, Sam. They're - nice. I can't really complain, I know I've got it better than some. Like Heavy Hoof - at least mine don't want me there when they- you know."
It was good news for the Princess. It looked like the stallion's situation was something unusual, rather than the norm.
"How about Lake Frond and Rock Lichen? They don't talk about their humans in the pony meeting."
The pegasus shrugged with her wings. She had to swallow the orange rind before she could talk. "Dunno, nothing special? They don't get beaten or abused, if that's what you mean. I saw Lake Frond with a red flank a few times, but it didn't look so bad. Not as bad as ours." The mare laughed a little at the memory. "Oh, by the way - this thing today makes us even, right?"
She had the decency to look guilty. It really hadn't been a huge effort. The drains had taken them less than three hours, but only because Celestia had insisted that the pegasus follow up with a brush. Then they needed another hour for the five or six tiles which Glitter had proclaimed 'suspicious'. She'd had company all that time and then the bath and the steam as a reward.
It certainly wasn't a thousand dollars worth of work, but Celestia was feeling charitable. "It's fine, we're even. I'll earn the rest of it at Gregory's law firm."
Glitter Dust smiled and put a wing around her friend. "Thanks. I know I got off really lightly here, Supple. I truly appreciate it."
The gratitude and the hug nearly made it worth the punishment. Nearly. "Well, I might need a favour sometime and you're going to do it, no questions asked, deal?"
The pegasus agreed too rapidly. It was obvious she didn't even think it through: "Yeah, sure. Anything. I promise, Supple!"
They sat in silence for a moment while they finished their fruit. Then Glitter Dust went on: "What will you be doing for, uh, Gregory anyway?"
"Some legal stuff. I'll have to read a few law books and write a summary. Then there's this criminal case - robbery, I think. I don't know about that one yet, I'll see."
Her friend reached over a hoof and pushed Celestia's towel out of the way. "Guess that's what this means, then?" she asked and tapped her cutie mark. It was a book and a quill. At first Celestia had intended to make it a cutie mark in bookkeeping, but it worked just as well for law. She had tied it to the Canterlot Castle to more easily explain her familiarity with it, should she ever slip.
"Yeah, I... arranged business agreements for the Canterlot Castle. Mostly with foreigners. You?"
The pegasus didn't have to show it, but she pulled the towel away and wriggled her rump a little. It was a metal funnel with a rainbow waterfall pouring out of it. "I maintained the rainbow machines at Cloudsdale. Guess that's why I like it so much in Maggie's store."
Celestia found herself smiling gently. It was good that at least some of the captive ponies were doing what they loved. She sighed as the first pangs of her headache began. She had been holding the disguise spell for too long already, too soon after her night of drinking. It was time to go.
"Well, I'm tired. Let me show you to your bed. Oh, and I think I have a spare toothbrush - Gregory bought me a pack of three."
Glitter Dust didn't argue. It was late and she was also exhausted. There would also be more work the next day. "Yeah, good idea."
The alicorn led her friend upstairs and into the bathroom. She gave her a fresh toothbrush and some of her paste. Luckily she could blame her awkwardness with her hooves on fatigue. Then she escorted Glitter Dust to her room and made sure she was comfortable.
"Good night, Glitter. I'll come wake you tomorrow when breakfast is ready."
The pegasus nodded, gave her friend another hug and said: "Yeah, thanks. Supple? It's been a good day. If you have more stuff you'd need help with, just let me know. I'll have Maggie drive me over."
She would, Celestia felt. If she could make up an excuse not to sleep in the same bed with Glitter Dust, she definitely would. The mare flicked the light out and gently shut the door. Then she went to Rawsthorne.
His room was dark and the human was merely a shape in the bed. The alicorn paused just long enough to release her diguise spell with a relieved groan, before climbing in. "Finally. You will never know how good this feels."
He was still awake. Celestia saw him shift when she came in.
"You really want to get in my bed, don't you?"
"Well," Celestia replied smoothly and rapidly, thinking fast, "like I said, if I was in the guest room, or Glitter Dust was in it, she might come looking for me in the night if she needed anything, or if she woke up before me in the morning."
The mare shuffled closer to the human, but he just slid away. She began to worry he was upset with her trick and quickly finished her explanation. "If I'm here, she won't come unless it's really urgent, and even then she'll knock and wait outside."
The human still wasn't sure. "You said ponies are social. It's not weird that you'd choose to sleep in my bed, rather than with her?"
Celestia quickly shook her head. "No, not really. Ponies like to cuddle, but only with family and close friends. Right now, you're more like family than her, so it's pretty normal for me to prefer this."
The mare hoped like blazes that Glitter Dust would be discreet and the reason she had given her wouldn't come back to Rawsthorne. That would be quite awkward to explain.
He was silent and the pony feared he would gold a grudge the whole night, but eventually, she felt him relax. "Okay, just as long as you understand this is not a regular thing."
"Yes, of course, Gregory."
Silently, she added: 'It will become a regular thing, do not worry!' Except she wasn't quite ready to push it. After they both became drowsy, the mare would bump her back against the human and hope that he would reflexively put his arms around her. For now, it was enough that she was touching his flank.
"Good night, Rawsthorne. And thank you."
She held her breath as she waited for the reply. There was a rustle as the human moved his hand to her neck and slid it under the towel to her still-damp mane, then felt upward until it found her ears. The mare sighed in pleasure at the scratch.
"That shampoo smells nice," the human commented.
It was a little too chemical for her still, but she knew Rawsthorne's nose wasn't nearly as sensitive as hers. It was a good purchase, it seemed, and the mare smiled to herself.
"Thank you. It's passion fruit." Celestia thought for a moment, then decided to risk it. She turned around so she was facing the human. He removed his hand, but it came back when she was still once again. "Does this count as a date?"
That lightened the mood and the human laughed a little. "No, I don't know what this counts as. It's late. Go to sleep, Celestia."
Instead of answering, she pushed her muzzle forward and licked Rawsthorne right across his face. Maybe she could even call it a 'kiss', of a sort, but she still quickly offered him the towel from her mane.
The fact that it smelled even more strongly of her shampoo was no accident. She giggled softly. Her goal was to excite as many of his senses as she could.
"Good night, Gregory."
Waking up up was entirely pleasant, despite the impossible hour. Even before Celestia opened her eyes, she became aware of Rawsthorne's forelegs around her barrel. Uh, arms. Her owner was a human. It would not do to mistake him for the dashing alicorn stallion from her dreams.
Why had she imagined him as alicorn? It had never happened before. The mare shifted her rump ever so slightly. Not enough to wake Rawsthorne, but it did bring more of her fur in contact with that pleasantly warm skin. She darted a glance at the alarm clock on the bedside table. Four fifty-six. She let out her breath in a luxurious sigh. Over half an hour to enjoy the snug and comfortable cuddles, before she had to get up up and prepare a simple breakfast.
Her thoughts went back to the dream. Celestia couldn't remember the last time she had imagined her lover as an alicorn. They were rare enough that she had never heard, nor read, about an alicorn stallion. Yet Rawsthorne was the one she had dreamt about, she was sure of it. Maybe she saw him as kind, smart and patient enough that she simply couldn't envision him as an earth stallion, or a pegasus or unicorn?
She also hadn't dreamt of him as a human. Very curious. Celestia tried to wriggle a bit closer again. The house was chilly at this time of night and despite her fur the mare imagined she felt cold, even through the blanket. The movement made the human mumble something. Her ears instantly shifted toward him and she tried to make out the words.
It was in vain. Whatever the human intended to say in his dream was incomprehensible to her. Luckily he didn't wake up, but the hand on her chest fluff twitched, as if in a scratch. The human heaved a sigh then his hug tightened, much to the alicorn's delight. A mare could easily get used to this!
Forget sex! She would have to inquire about getting a nice, big human slave for herself, just to keep her bed warm and cuddle her when she slept. She hadn't heard of humans selling themselves into slavery, but their world operated mostly on money. Perhaps she could somehow arrange it?
It wouldn't be the same. Just any random human wouldn't do. She wanted Rawsthorne.
The pony wondered if he would be interested in leaving his work and his home and his friends to come be her Royal Pillow? It nearly made her giggle and the mare couldn't help twitching as she held back a laugh. Unfortunately, the movement woke the human up. His hug relaxed and his arm slid down her barrel and over her wings. The gentle, fumbling touch made her shiver in pleasure.
"Mmm, g'back to sleep," Rawsthorne mumbled. "Wh' time izzit?"
Sleepy human was funny human. This time, Celestia couldn't keep back a quiet laugh. She shuffled around until she faced her owner. By now, Rawsthorne was fully awake and he looked at the clock. "Still early," he whispered. "Aren't you sleeping?"
Before she answered, the mare gave him a friendly good-morning lick. "I wanted to enjoy this moment for a bit. You go back to sleep - I'll get up in half an hour and make breakfast."
The towel was gone, but Rawsthorne fished for a moment under the covers and found it, so he could wipe his face. "I wish you wouldn't do that," he said. He didn't seem to mind, so she licked him one more time. Which drew out a sigh as he had to dry his face again.
"Sorry. It's a pony thing." The mare was half expecting the human to lick her back, but of course that didn't happen. Apparently it wasn't a human thing. She didn't mind. His hands were between them and began to idly twiddle the fur on her chest. It was just as nice as a good face-lick.
Rawsthorne closed his eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep again. Celestia knew exactly when he was gone as his fingers stopped moving. She relaxed and listened to the house.
There was the roar of the central heating. Celestia wondered if it would frighten Glitter Dust. The metal pipes pinged a few times as the heat began to flow. Outside there was the first car of the day, and the first raven crowing at it. This far into winter, the window was completely dark at five in the morning, but maybe, the mare imagined, she could see a hint of light.
She felt for the sun. Her sense of the heavenly orb was getting more refined and she could feel it there, under the horizon. The alicorn wondered if she could move it. Perhaps she would try when she got up. She didn't want to wake Rawsthorne again with the glow of her horn.
The human. She still wasn't entirely sure what to make of him. On the one hoof, he had purchased a slave to keep his house in order, but on the other, he did treat her more like hired help than a servant.
Was that better or worse? More importantly - what would be his reaction when she told him the truth?
Would he-
Celestia felt her ears fold back down at the thought. Would he get another pony to keep his house in order when she was gone? Why did she feel slightly jealous? Whomever Rawsthorne got - the alicorn was sure it would be a mare - would have a pretty good life here.
With a bit of patience and brains, she could slowly work her way into his bed, too. If she wanted, of course. If not, Celestia didn't think even for a second that the human would ever force her. Maybe it would be a good idea to write a few words for her successor - tell her how to deal with the human and how to behave. Make her life a tiny bit easier. She would have to trust Rawsthorne not to read it, of course.
Then there was another thought. Celestia didn't like that one, but it followed naturally from what she was working through. She would miss the human. It would leave quite a hole in her life. Master or not, in the few months she had spent at his house the alicorn had gotten used to Rawsthorne. Maybe he could be convinced to come work for her at the Canterlot Castle. She could always use a good lawyer, especially one who could advise her on human matters.
More than once Celestia opened her mouth to ask Rawsthorne if he would consider a job in Equestria, but every time she remembered that she would have to tell him the truth. It was cowardly, but she couldn't do it.
Eventually, the clock ran out and the mare heard her alarm from the other room. There was a thump, which made the alicorn sit up in surprise. Surely Glitter Dust hadn't fallen out of the bed in shock? Still, it was time to get up. The mare gave her human a quick nuzzle, then breathed a sigh of regret and slid out of the warm bed and into the cold, unforgiving gloom.
She risked waiting with her changing spell until she was in the hallway with Rawsthorne's door shut. She didn't want to wake him up with the light. Luckily the pegasus was still in the closed room. The alicorn assumed the shape of Supple Branch and pushed open the familiar door.
She had to jump over Glitter, who seemed to have gotten tangled up in her sheets, before she could turn off the alarm clock.
"Morning, Glitter Dust. Sleep well?"
The mare managed to get her hooves free, after which it was a matter of seconds before she disentangled herself. "Dammit, Supple, it's still night! Don't tell me you get up at this hour?!"
"Every day. You can sleep another thirty minutes while I make breakfast."
The pegasus was only too glad to comply. She jumped back up, wrapped the blanket around herself and flopped down.
"Okay, I'll come wake you up." In all honesty, Celestia was happier to cook alone. This way, she could use her spells to help out. Breakfast with nothing else but hooves would be extremely awkward and difficult. Of course earth ponies managed it just fine, but they had a lot more practice than the alicorn.
She made her way down the stairs and began thinking about what to make.