//------------------------------// // Chapter 39 // Story: Off Duty // by awf //------------------------------// The news was very good. Celestia couldn't help but smile as Miriam Adams read from her notes. Her indirect testimony was apparently quite moving and it helped the D.A. make a very convincing case. The alicorn allowed herself some joy. It would be a landmark trial, which would ensure harsher penalties for foal-napping her subjects. Then, once she was back in Canterlot, the Princess would have yet another tool at her disposal to press for pony rights. "And that was about all for the famous poetry - nice memory, by the way. I hadn't expected actual examples, but they went over pretty well," the woman was saying. Denis was also present, but he kept mostly silent, unless Celestia asked a specific question. The human was able to search his memory far quicker than she could search the Internet. Her impromptu boss was turning out to be quite an asset and after weeks of them working together, the man had gradually stopped with the jokes and the improper suggestions. In a few more months, Celestia thought, he might be downright tolerable! Luckily she wouldn't need to stay that long, it seemed. According to Miriam's estimation, the trial would be concluded within the next three weeks, after which it would be time for the alicorn to return home. She was starting to seriously miss her sister and their friends. Besides - she would never have admitted it to anypony - Celestia also worried about the state of Equestria. Sometimes, leading the pony nation required a gentle hoof, which Luna would not know to employ. Yes, she was quite anxious to return and take on her duties once again. The only obstacle now was Rawsthorne. She had not yet broached the subject of their future. The alicorn sighed inwardly and promised herself she would do it that night. "Hmm? Something wrong?" the lawyer lady asked. "No, no. Why do you ask?" Miriam pointed at her face. "Your ears went all floppy." Celestia quickly replayed the last bit of conversation. The DA had been telling her about the final couple of papers she would need to write - a personal appeal to the judge and something akin to her closing statement. "I'm sorry. My mind was drifting a little. I have complete confidence and you will have the documents by tomorrow, of course." The woman nodded, just once. "Good. I'll review them and we'll meet on Friday to discuss. In the meantime, Denis, get your people to dig up cases from back when slavery - human slavery - was legal." "Anything specific?" Denis asked. "Hmm, something circa eighteen sixty, post Emancipation Proclamation, but pre-thirteenth, cases where slaves won. Maybe we can find a parallel to cite, even if it's a bit outdated." The man grinned. "Of course. I'll have the interns go through every case on record!" "Good." Celestia remembered reading about the period. Humans had actually gone to war against each other over the matter of slavery. She was very happy that the side of freedom won, but the mare was still disturbed by the idea of war over... well, ideas. It was a good plan, though. She remembered Miriam mentioning it some weeks earlier. She wondered why the lawyer hadn't asked for the research then. "Why now, Miriam? Are we not winning?" The woman rubbed her hands together and grinned. "This is just to strengthen our position. The defense is looking to undermine our arguments, so we have to stay a step ahead of them. I didn't want to risk giving away our plan." The pony didn't understand - how would research on some past court cases give away secrets to the other side? Denis saw her expression and came to her rescue. He leaned closer and murmured in her ear: "Interns have friends and they sometimes discuss what they shouldn't. We didn't want to take chances." It made sense. Except: "Well, could we not have done it ourselves?" Both the humans laughed a little. Then Miriam asked: "Would you have had the time? Do you know how many old books and newspapers and court records you'd need to go through?" The alicorn shook her head. "I guess I don't. I'm still getting used to how much information there is on Earth." The D.A. seemed to have put it out of her mind already. She was watching the mare with speculation. "Listen, how'd you like to come and work for me, instead? There are quite a few cases which could use your touch. I'm sure I can get you better pay than whatever he is giving you!" She pointed at Denis, who began laughing uncontrollably. His hands went to his face and the woman watched him in surprise. When her gaze transferred to Celestia, the mare explained: "He has been making the same offer for months, Miriam, and I have always said 'no'." "Wait, I thought you worked for him?" the lady asked, now thoroughly confused. "It is a long story." Steepling her fingers before her, the D.A. smiled a little. "Summarize it." Denis slapped the mare on her back as he wound down, then he gathered his papers. "Okay, it looks like we're done for today. You two have fun." They both watched him leave, then Celestia leaned her head to the side in thought. "In short, I have done... a thing, which cost my owner a considerable sum of money. In return, he agreed for me to help Denis at an intern's pay, until I repay the debt. It is through pure chance that I was assigned to this particular case." She thought over the last statement again, then smiled. "Correction. I got assigned this case because Denis wanted to see my reaction to it." Miriam chuckled. "Yeah, I was about to say that. I was wondering why he took the lead on this. I understand trade law is more his forte." "Indeed. He has been curious about me from the moment Gregory introduced us." "Makes sense. You're a curious horse, Celestia," the lady replied slowly. "Anyway, the offer still stands. I'll buy you from Rawsthorne, and pay what's left of your debt. I'll make sure your salary is fair - a lot fairer than what you're getting now. What do you say?" Were she really a slave, Celestia would have jumped at the chance. Doing what she was good at, earning decent money - maybe even... She had to know! "Once I earned enough to pay back my contract?" The woman just shrugged. "You'd be free. Well, insofar as the law allowed by then. I'd hope you would keep working for me, though." Now there was a possibility. She thought of the Facebook pony group. There had to be some whose cutie mark would be aligned with legal work. "I'm afraid I have to decline - Gregory and I have a special arrangement, which I do not wish to change, but I am very flattered by the offer." Before the woman had a chance to grow disappointed, the pony continued. "However, what if I recommended to you a few ponies whose special talents align with what you are looking for? There are some out there better than me. A few, I think, might be happy to take the opportunity." The woman was thoughtful! She was actually considering it seriously! "Hmm, interesting thought. I read up on it - it's to do with the pictures on your sides, isn't it?" Miriam pointed out. "Yes! It's called a cutie mark, and it represents the specific pony's special talent. Accounting and law-related cutie marks are rare, but they do exist. I will ask around." The lady was a little sceptical. "Wait, you don't know any directly?" "No, not on Earth, but you can trust me on this - if a pony has a law-related cutie mark, they are good at it. Easily as good as I am and probably better. I only acquired the skill through necessity and practice." "So," Miriam asked, "what does yours represent then?" It was a question Celestia would rather not answer, but she didn't want to lie. Perhaps the idea was outlandish enough... "I... can move the sun back home on Equestria." At least the way Miriam's mouth dropped open was amusing. "Please do not tell anyone! It's a very rare thing and I would prefer not to attract attention." "Move the sun?! How? Why?!" "It is a different world, Miriam. The heavenly bodies do not move on their own - they have to be raised and lowered by magic. I move the sun and my sister moves the moon and stars. In a pinch, either can do both." Flabbergasted. It was the only word the alicorn could think of. She waited patiently until the woman worked through it. "Amazing!" Miriam whispered, mostly to herself. "Can you do it here as well?" Celestia shook her head, then froze and shrugged. "Actually, I haven't yet tried. I can sense the sun, but it is much bigger and much further away than back home." "Please, for the love of God, do not try!" the lawyer begged her. "If it turns out you can do it... I don't like to imagine what might happen." Suddenly, Celestia was afraid. She had nearly reached out and poked at the human sun so many times! She hadn't been aware of any danger! "W-why?! What could happen?" The woman stared at her in shock. "You mean you don't know?" she asked and rubbed her eyes. "Look, I'm not a physicist, but there's stuff like gravity and orbits, and the Earth is tilted, which causes seasons. Nudge any of it out of whack and... I don't know - weather would go crazy, I suppose. Maybe Earth's orbit would change. Slightly closer or further from the sun and life becomes impossible!" It made Celestia's skin crawl to think about it. She decided never to so much as touch the sun again, for as long as she was on Earth! "Oh! I had no idea, I swear! Of course I will not attempt it, you have my solemn word on that, Miriam!" The woman relaxed slightly. "Good. That's good. Who knows, maybe you would stop Earth in its orbit entirely - I don't know what magic can or can't do! Then we fall into the sun. Everything gone in a poof!" The mare swallowed uneasily. Sheer luck that she hadn't tried anything. "And you're right! That's something we don't tell anyone, ever. Does Rawsthorne know?" Celestia nodded. "Yes, but I trust him completely. He will not mention it." "Good," the lawyer said. She removed her glasses and sighed. "I won't tell anyone, and I suggest you keep it to yourself as well. Who knows what sort of attention you'd attract if this got out." "Yes! That is what I thought exactly! It is why I didn't wish to appear in court." "Smart girl. Okay, I think we're done here. Can you send someone with a new pitcher of water? I think I need a few minutes before I go out." The mare smiled as politely as she could. When she stood up, her legs were trembling slightly. Such disaster, so near by! "Of course. I'll see to it directly. I'll get the... uh, the closing statement and the other thing to you tomorrow!" The woman murmured something affirmative. She had gotten out of her chair and was staring out the window, where the sun was just setting. Celestia sternly resisted the urge to feel the heavenly orb. The rest of the day passed quickly, mainly because of the concentration involved in writing the required documents, and just like that, the mare found herself back home. Dinner could wait for a few more minutes, so Celestia went and joined her human on the couch for a bit. He obediently accepted her head into his lap and began to fiddle with the ears. It was so easy to simply lose herself in the comfort, but Celestia was determined. No more delays, no more putting it off. She didn't want to end up mumbling another awkward explanation to the human. "Greg? There is something we must talk about." He didn't move his eyes from the screen. "Mm?" The pony sighed and her horn flashed for an instant. It was enough to push the correct button in the TV remote. The picture winked out and Rawsthorne opened his mouth to complain, but then he looked down at her worried expression. "Anything wrong?" She decided to simply come out with it. Straight and to the point, but the alicorn still took a deep breath and closed her eyes, as if afraid of the reaction. "After the case I will return to my world." There it was. Mere words, but implying so much heartbreak that they nearly hurt just to be spoken. Even the fingers in her mane stopped as Rawsthorne considered. It was a slight consolation - the human was also uncomfortable with the idea. "I guess I can't stop you, right?" he asked after a brief pause for thought. "I'm sorry. My people need me and I miss them. I hope you understand." She felt him nod rather than saw it. He resumed scratching her ear, but the mare knew there was more. It was the question she knew Rawsthorne would ask. It was one she wanted an answer to, as well. "So, what about us then? Say bye and go our separate ways?" That suggestion was only the worst case solution, Celestia hoped. She had a better idea, but it would take delicate hoofwork. "I do hope not, Greg. I have been thinking about it." The fingers froze again and the mare felt the body under her stiffen. "Go on," the human said in a tightly controlled voice. "Travel is difficult for me. Most people on Earth do not know who I am, but the ones at the border crossing do. Bringing ponies from Equestria is tightly controlled now and proper paperwork is tedious to obtain each time." "But?" Rawsthorne asked, predicting that there was more to it. It made Celestia smile. The human had come to know her too well, too quickly, but she wasn't complaining. "But... Human travel is less regulated. I can issue a formal invitation - consulting in matters of law, perhaps, which would allow you to visit as often as you liked." The lap under her head shifted as the man shrugged a little. "I suppose that'd be something-" "I have another idea..." She interrupted him, impatient to get it out. "Yes?" "You could... move. On a more permanent basis." The slight intake of breath told her that the suggestion was quite unexpected. She quickly clarified it: "There is real work for you in the Canterlot Castle. In fact, even if you say no, I will still try to find some attorney to take up the position as human legal adviser." He was going to say no! Celestia knew it! She rushed on, trying to bring it back into the realm of possibility: "You'd have wages and an apartment. Or a house! There is some crown property in the city! Of course you could travel between Earth and Equestria as you wished!" A hand clamped around her muzzle, shutting her up immediately. The mare forced herself to look up. Rawsthorne was grinning. "So, turn the tables then? I'd get to be your servant for a while? Some kind of revenge?" It made her blush deep crimson, exactly because she had thought the same thing a few times in the night and liked it! Why had she liked it so much!? The mare pulled her face away to stammer: "N-no, I didn't m-mean-" The hand found her again and stopped the explanation. "Relax, it's a joke." She did breathe out a sigh of relief, but then froze again as she waited for the verdict. Would the human stay by her side? Please, at least occasional visits, please, the alicorn thought fervently. Her eyes closed once more. "I'll think about it. It's a big decision. Good thing you didn't spring this on me at the last minute." He'd... Celestia's eyes widened in surprise. Rawsthorne hadn't said no! He was thinking about it! As the hand withdrew from her muzzle, her face split into a wide, goofy, disbelieving grin. The mare had been ready to argue and argue and plead and beg and snivel until she convinced Rawsthorne to come, but now he was thinking about it! A bit of care and she could sway him to the right decision! The pony couldn't contain herself. She lunged forward to kiss the human. "THANK YOU!" Perhaps she said it a little too enthusiastically, but there was no holding back on the joyful hope she now entertained. Then Celestia clambered up to her hooves. "I'm going to make you such a dinner! And cake! Of course cake!" She thought for a moment, while the human began to laugh at her antics. She fluffed her wings out a little as she paced to the door, then came back. "And tonight- yes! You're getting a full-body hoof massage! And then..." The mare tried to top that, but couldn't quite imagine what else there was. Except... "... I'll do anything you want. Anything!" The way the human grinned at her made the alicorn look down and blush a little, but she quickly perked back up. Whatever Rawsthorne chose, she was bound to like it. She had liked his other ideas so far. Even the... weirder ones. Like the one with handcuffs and rope and the blindfold. or that one with the riding crop. The pony had been very sceptical about that, but it had turned out great fun and it barely stung at all! Celestia noticed Rawsthorne's expression and guessed he was thinking the same thing. It made her ears instantly flatten and her gaze lower modestly to the floor. "I'll- uh.. I'll get that d-dinner started!"