//------------------------------// // Chapter 36 // Story: Off Duty // by awf //------------------------------// Waking up in a cuddle was even better now. That was her first thought as Celestia opened her eyes and smiled. Rawsthorne hadn't showered and now she was wrapped up in both his arms and his scent. That, plus the memory, was enough to make her shudder in delight. The human was still asleep and she was perfectly happy to just lie there and enjoy the warmth and the closeness. What made it even better was that he had slept naked! Bare skin on fur was just about the most comfortable thing ever! The alicorn wondered if she could get some sort of skin-like bedding to use as blankets in her room in Canterlot. As a backup plan. Which she wouldn't need, because Rawsthorne would agree to leave with her. Who could resist a nice, pristine white rump like hers? Well, the mare remembered, not pristine at the moment, but she would heal in a few more days and then it would be pristine. She yawned and stretched out her legs. It half-woke Rawsthorne and made him shift. The pony took the opportunity to wriggle around so she was facing him. "Huh? What time izzit?" he asked sleepily. "About six. Go back to sleep." He mumbled something which sounded affirmative, but before he nodded away again, the hand slid down her barrel and patted her rump. Celestia gasped and tensed up as he touched the sensitive, abused skin. "Oh! Sorry!" She let her breath out and relaxed. "It's okay." The human didn't seem entirely over it. "No, sorry for... the belt. I really shouldn't have-" She quickly reached up and plugged his mouth with a gentle hoof. "Hush. It was the right thing." Not to mention that it had brought them together. It had torn down the last wall between them. In a very real way, the belting had nudged her to 'conquer' the human. Celestia wouldn't have it any other way! "I'll heal. Don't worry." Rawsthorne yawned. It was adorable! She couldn't resist licking his face a little. Then she giggled. "Sorry. Go back to sleep now. I'll get up in a while and make breakfast." Rawsthorne wiped his face with a hand, then mumbled something she couldn't make out. The mare took it as agreement. The meal was simple. Pancakes, chocolate syrup, slices of toast, eggs, orange juice. Nothing that required a whole lot of concentration and it left her able to listen to music and sing along. She paused for a bit as she heard the human come down the stairs. He hadn't showered yet, which made Celestia smile. Good. She would enjoy the scent for a while longer. His phone rang and the pony swiveled her ears to hear better. She turned down the music. She couldn't quite make out the other voice, not from another room, but she heard Rawsthorne replying. "Oh, hello. Yeah, I am. Why do you ask?" Then, after some jibber-jabber from the tiny speaker: "Yeah, that works. Sure, we can let them catch up. And we can go over that thing, what was it again?" Very curious. Celestia had a feeling it pertained to her, but couldn't quite put her hoof on it. Maybe Wendy was calling over some work-related thing. Or maybe it was Denis with some meeting for Monday. 'Let them catch up,' was probably a reference to Celestia and Miriam. Maybe there had been a development? The alicorn quickly floated the dishes up into the air and went to the living room to ask. They could eat on the coffee table this time. It was too late to spy on the conversation, though. Rawsthorne was just putting the phone down when she entered and laid out the meal. "Who was it?" The mare hoped it wasn't too nosy or impertinent of her to ask. She quickly corrected: "Just curious," then went to give him a nice wing-hug and sit beside him. "Go on. Eat. There's plenty. We have ice cream for after!" Rawsthorne involuntarily placed a hand on his stomach, which made the alicorn giggle. "Don't worry, we'll burn that off tonight!" She gave him a sultry wink. The human remembered his phone call. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "It was Peter. He's coming for a visit. Apparently your friend needs to see you." The alicorn blinked in surprise. "Heavy Hoof? Why?" Rawsthorne just shrugged. "Didn't say. Just that you needed to talk. That's alright, isn't it?" Celestia couldn't see a problem, so she just nodded, but it was still strange. As they had discussed with Glitter Dust, Rock Lichen and Lake Frond the other day, she had revealed the secret to all of them over Skype on that evening after telling the three in person. All their reactions had been much the same, except for Heavy Hoof, who looked a little uncomfortable. Celestia guessed it just came from knowing he'd had video sex with a Princess. Such things always needed a lot of care. Whenever Celestia had wanted a liaison or just a fun evening in the past, the stallions needed careful hoofwork. Maybe the thought of seeing their Princess in... that way, was just too strange for them? Undoubtedly Heavy Hoof wanted to apologize in person for anything she might consider inappropriate. Maybe he felt bad about pressing his affections on her. She would just have to explain that it hadn't bothered her. A short chat. The mare became aware that Rawsthorne was looking at her. She had gone a little quiet as she was thinking. "Oh, sorry. I was just trying to imagine what he wishes to talk about." The plates of food were still untouched and the pony bumped her human on the shoulder with her muzzle. "Go on. Eat!" He smiled. "Yes, Your Highness!" It was a joke. Of course Rawsthorne, of all people, wouldn't start treating her like royalty. Not now, at any case. She stuck her tongue out at him in lieu of a reply. Celestia was stacking the dishes into the machine when she heard the car. A bit later came the doorbell. She quickly changed into Supple Branch and went to open it. Of course Heavy Hoof knew her now, but his owner still did not. The mare decided to keep it that way. The doorknob was a bit tricky, but she managed and smiled up at the human. "Hello. Please, come in. Gregory is in his study." If the stallion, who was standing behind his owner, was surprised to see the disguise, he didn't show it. He followed the man inside, out of the cold. "Thank you," Peter said. "You two will be alright on your own?" The mare gave him a nod. "Of course. Come, let me show you." She pointed a hoof to the living room for her pony friend. "Just make yourself at home, Heavy Hoof. I'll be right back!" Celestia led her guest up the stairs and into Rawsthorne's office. Then she went back to see what the stallion wanted. She found him still just inside the door, stock still and with his head hanging low. "Heavy Hoof?" The alicorn took a step back when she saw the expression. Hurt and betrayed, and more than a little angry. He faced her head on. "You... and Rawsthorne?" he demanded. Celestia took another small step backward before she caught herself. "Yes. Here, let me change." A flash of light and she was her usual self. The stallion didn't bow. "Thanks a lot, Princess!" he said, sarcasm dripping from the title. "What? I'm afraid I don't understand, Heavy Hoof." The pony swiveled his head around and sniffed sadly. He turned big, sad, soulful eyes on her and lowered his ears as if in supplication. Then the stallion took a shuddering breath. "I came... t-to ask you, Princess." "Ask me what?" He sat and returned his eyes to the carpet. "Never mind. You obviously picked a human rather than your own kind!" She suddenly understood and her blush deepened. "Look, Heavy Hoof, I know I said some things while I was- uh, 'in my time', and I am sorry for misleading you. But-" He looked up sharply. There was a hint of anger there now, mingled with regret. "But what?! 'I like humans now, so buck off?' You know, I really liked you!" Celestia sighed and stepped closer. She sat down as well, right on the floor. She still towered over the stallion, but it was the gesture that counted. "I like you too, Heavy Hoof, but things happened this way. I'm sorry." He refused to meet her gaze. "Yeah, I'm sorry too." He sounded quite upset. Disappointed and frustrated. Celestia really didn't like his obsessive fixation. It only served to make the stallion miserable. She reached out a wing feather and tipped his face up. His eyes were already wet. "Heavy Hoof, please. I did not intend to hurt your feelings." The earth pony shook his head free from the slight touch and sighed. "Well, too late now. I would have loved you, Princess." He truly was heartbroken. The alicorn felt pity until she spotted the stallion sneakily watching her from the corner of his eye, gauging her reactions. Celestia suddenly understood what he was trying to do. It was an act - a guilt-trip into something she would regret later. It was quite un-pony-like behavior. Maybe it had come from his experience with humans. She rolled her eyes. Nopony one out-manipulated a diplomat of her caliber! "Like you love Glitter Dust? And Belle Hop? Lake Frond? And your human lady-" The alicorn searched her memory for the name. "-Deborah?" The widening of his eyes told her that Glowbug's information had been correct. He mumbled in confusion. "I didn't- I never- how do you know that?!" A small triumph, maybe. Too bad his fur hid his blush. "It is my job to know what is going on in the lives of my ponies. Yes, I admit my reasons for coming to Earth were somewhat selfish, Heavy Hoof, but even now I am working to make their lives - your life - better!" She stood up and turned sideways to show him. "Here - is this punishment enough for my deception, do you think?" The stallion gasped. "He did that to you?! Princess, if he is making you go to his bed, I'll-" The alicorn quickly interrupted him before the stallion could work himself into a frenzy. "Nothing of the sort! The punishment was my idea, and going to Gregory's bed also! Do you think a human could make me do what I did not wish?" She wanted to remind him of the power alicorns wielded. Apparently he had forgotten a little in his time on Earth. "S-sorry, Princess. I didn't think before speaking. Of course no human could make you." "Why did you come here today, Heavy Hoof?" He swallowed and flashed her a brief, nervous grin. "I t-thought you liked me. I remembered that time in the ba-bathroom, and then on video chat. I thought we could..." He let it trail off, hoping she would understand without him having to say it. "Three mares and a human lady are not enough for you, Heavy Hoof?" He leaned away from her question. His ears went flat and a hoof came up before his chest as if to shield him. "It's not l-like that, Princess! I love all of them!" Perhaps, in his own way, Heavy Hoof really did, Celestia decided. Herds were uncommon these days, but a stressful situation like they had on Earth could bring them close enough to reawaken the older ways. He looked defeated. That was not her intention and the mare brought her wing back to gently lift his face back up. "I'm not mad, Heavy Hoof. I understand. This world hasn't been kind to you." He shook his head slightly. "N-not at first. Peter and Deborah are okay, I guess. Except for making me... uh, making me watch." She had expected as much. Even Heavy Hoof didn't know if he liked that or not. "I understand. When I leave, you can come with me and return to Equestria. I will make it happen." The stallion stared at her with wide, round eyes for a moment. Then he slightly shook his head. "Thank you, Princess, b-but... no." His voice was soft and sad. "I don't want to leave M-mistress," he admitted. The pony realized what he had just admitted and quickly added: "A-and Master!" It wasn't a new sentiment. Celestia had hinted at the possibility to the others on her Skype reveal, but none of them took the offer. There was also Silent Brook's reaction the first time she had met him. The mare tried to imagine it herself. What if she were really a slave, captured, restrained and without her alicorn powers, and then she would come into Rawsthorne's possession. Possibly after going through some worse masters? She was sure she would have liked him just as much, and after that, she would probably wriggle her way into his bed despite his misgivings about their positions. It would have taken a bit longer, true, but without an option to go home, what else would she do? Companionship, love and safety. Yes, in time she would have grown to love her owner. She wouldn't want to leave him. Even being treated as pets hadn't prevented Lake Frond and Rock Lichen from liking their humans. Besides, there was always a chance that running away would end up worse. After enough time, this life became normal and Equestria a mere distant memory. "I expected as much, but please think it over. I will be on Earth for some time and I will tell you all when I am leaving if you have a change of heart." The stallion managed a weak smile. "Thank you, P-princess. I'll think about it," he promised. "I will make us a cup of tea." He just nodded and heaved another sigh. "And, if I am completely honest, were it not for Gregory, you would have gotten yourself an alicorn." She giggled a little and winked at him while the stallion coughed and spluttered in shock. "You are quite a persuasive pony, Heavy Hoof. No ordinary mare could resist your charm. Keep that in mind when you are deciding if you would like to return with me."