Waiting for her friends with Miriam Adams was both exciting and scary, and Celestia felt her heart hammering madly. The D.A. had parked her car in a small, deserted alley between an apartment building and a convenience store. Lake Frond assured Celestia she knew where it was. It was lonely and dark in the middle of the night, with the stillness disturbed only by an occasional car. Each time it happened Celestia held her breath until it passed.
"Don't worry," Miriam told her, but the woman was sitting stiffly and watching the road carefully. It sounded almost as if she was trying to reassure herself as much as Celestia. The mare didn't answer and focused instead on the lighted neon sign in the distance. She couldn't read what it said, but it was the most colorful thing she could see. Then she heard hoofsteps. A pair of ponies!
Celestia smiled with relief. The chances that another two ponies would be walking around right there and at this hour were zero. It had to be Lake Frond and Rock Lichen! "I hear them!"
Miriam didn't question her acute hearing and quickly got out of the car. A few moments later, Celestia saw two hesitant pony figures emerge from around a building. They stopped when they saw the the woman standing beside the vehicle.
Celestia got out quickly and waved a hood. "Over here!"
She kept her voice low, certain that her friends would hear. They hurried forward and joined the Princess by the car. Lake Frond gave Celestia a friendly hug while Rock Lichen stood nearby, carrying their meagre possessions in his saddlebags.
"Let's go, let's go," Lake Frond said urgently when the hug was over. "I think we got out without waking the humans up, but I'd rather not find out!"
Celestia wholeheartedly agreed and so did Miriam Adams. "Good idea," the woman said as she came around the vehicle. She took the bags from Rock Lichen and put them in the trunk. Meanwhile, Celestia opened the back door for the two to enter.
Lake Frond leapt up to the seat, but her husband paused for a second to give Celestia a very brief nuzzle. "Thanks," he whispered, before following his wife into the car. Moments later, Celestia was back in the front seat just as Miriam turned the engine on. The three ponies looked out the windows in silence while the woman steered them smoothly down the main street. Once they had put a few blocks between them and the meeting place, Celestia looked back. The couple was pressed awkwardly together because most of the seat was taken up by her own saddlebags and Miriam's briefcase.
"Oh, just push those down. Make yourselves comfortable."
The couple didn't seem to mind cuddling on a single seat, holding each other and watching the street lamps with a mixture of fear and excitement. "Is it real?" Rock Lichen asked after a while. Both he and Lake Frond seemed to be in a slight daze of disbelief.
Miriam chuckled. "Sure is. You're not out of the woods yet but so far, so good, right?"
The pair just nodded.
"We should meet up with Gregory in half an hour. He will drive us from there," Celestia explained.
"Why so complicated?" Lake Frond asked.
Celestia glanced at Miriam to see if she would explain and the D.A. obliged: "I have to be at work tomorrow. Well, today, by now. I couldn't get two days off to drive you all the way to the border."
"Oh. Okay," Lake Frond replied meekly. She was looking at the floor.
"Don't worry. We are on our way home, and we will get there. I promise you this. Whatever it takes," the Princess promised.
Rock Lichen wasn't so certain. "How can you be sure?" he asked.
"I just am. I will do whatever it takes, Rock Lichen. I swear this."
Both ponies looked up sharply. "B-but if it all goes wrong and you can get home, you should leave us behind, uh, Tree Sap," Lake Frond complained. "We're not worth keeping you here."
So selfless! Celestia beamed with pride. "Do not worry. Everything will go fine."
It worked and they believed her. The couple relaxed a little and they nodded in unison. Celestia turned back to watch the road. It was still very dark and would remain like that for a while longer. That suited her just fine. It was easier to slip away from any eyes that might be watching. She heard Lake Frond and Rock Lichen push the bags away and shuffle into a more comfortable position.
"Please, rest. You probably haven't gotten much sleep tonight."
They thanked her and promised they'd try. Then the car drove on in silence, with only the engine purring gently through the night.
Eventually they came to a stop in a seemingly abandoned parking lot. There were only a few vehicles parked and Celestia quickly spotted Rawsthorne's car. The welcome sight made her heart begin to beat faster. She looked to the back seat to wake up her friends with good news, but hesitated. It was just too special a sight to disturb in any way. Lake Frond was lying on her back with Rock Lichen sprawled over her. He had his head on her barrel and was grasping her around the flank with his forelegs. As Celestia watched, the stallion flicked an ear and lifted his head. She thought he might get up anyway, but the stallion just yawned without opening his eyes. The alicorn guessed he didn't even fully wake up. Then, rather than just lying down again, he gave Lake Frond's muzzle a couple of licks. The mare brought her hooves up to absentmindedly pat her husband on his head and murmured something. Perhaps it was 'I love you', but slurred and sleepy it could have been anything.
It was probably 'I love you', Celestia decided. Rock Lichen smiled in his sleep, laid his head back on her barrel, and they were still again. Celestia looked at Miriam, who was also watching the two with a big grin on her face. The woman put a finger on her lips - a sign the mare had learned meant 'quiet'. She wholeheartedly agreed, but she couldn't wait any longer. She opened the door as silently as possible and went to look for Rawsthorne.
She found him sitting in his car, fiddling with his phone. He didn't notice her, until Celestia reared up and placed her forehooves on the car door. The man jerked and gave her a strange look. He almost didn't recognize her, but then he mouthed the word 'Celestia?' She nodded with a mischievous grin and stepped back so he could open the door. In an instant she was up in his lap, nuzzling for all she was worth.
"You will never know how much I missed you!"
The arms around her barrel were welcome, as was the quick, faint peck on her cheek. "I can imagine," Rawsthorne replied.
She didn't believe his blatant lie, but Celestia let it slide. Instead, she pressed her head against his chest and sighed contentedly as his scent filled her mind. It would be very hard to give it up for a year, that much was clear. If only the moment could last forever, she wished, but the world wouldn't wait. She saw Miriam Adams standing nearby, pointedly not looking at them. Very discreet, but the woman didn't deserve to be kept waiting. Celestia gave Rawsthorne a quick lick on his face and pushed herself away.
"Come on, let's get going while it is dark."
He was just as disappointed to let go as her, but Celestia firmly suppressed her desire to kiss him and jumped out of the car. There would be time once they stopped to rest. Until then, they should keep moving while she was still holding her disguise. She led the man to Miriam Adams and waited for them to exchange their keys and good wishes. Then Rawsthorne went to grab his travelling bag from one car and took it to the other. Celestia hurried to his side.
"Quiet, please. Lake Frond and Rock Lichen are sleeping. They are just too adorable to wake up."
Rawsthorne nodded and peered in through the window with interest, while Celestia went to say goodbye to Miriam. The lady was looking at her with a mixture of happiness and sadness. Celestia shared the feeling. She would miss her friend.
"I will write. You will get that invitation very soon, I promise."
Miriam crouched and hugged her briefly. "I'll be looking forward to hearing from you. Good luck!"
"You too!"
They remained embraced for a while, then they parted. Celestia smiled, bowed her head, and went to Rawsthorne who was waiting beside the car.
He held a pair of blankets in his hand. "Here, if you'd like to cover them up?" he offered.
"How thoughtful!" Looking around to make sure no other humans were watching, Celestia levitated the cloth and took it with her into the car. It was dark and she was a lot harder to see with her dyed fur, but the telltale glow of her magic could attract unwanted attention. She looked at the back seat, but by now the pony couple had woken up. They looked at her sleepily, still cuddled together.
"Wha's... happenin'?" Rock Lichen asked, though a small yawn interrupted him.
"We'll be on our way in a moment. We just got a new driver."
With perfect timing, Rawsthorne sat on the driver's seat and closed the door. "Hello!"
The stallion watched him a little worriedly, but only for a second. Then he smiled in recognition. "Hello, Mr. Rawsthorne! Thank you for doing this!"
Rawsthorne reached back to ruffle his mane a little and returned the grin. "Let's get you home, alright?"
"Yes please!" said Lake Frond from under Rock Lichen. She was still lounging comfortably on her back and was apparently unwilling to give up the warm place beneath the stallion. Not that he seemed to mind much. Celestia remembered the blankets, which were still held in her magical grip. The car wasn't cold, but she would enjoy the softness and Rawsthorne's smell. She levitated one to spread over her friends and kept the other for herself.
"Here, we have a long way to go. Sleep if you can."
It was a pleasure watching the two snuggle down. Lake Frond grumbled a tiny bit because she had to turn around, but they were soon intertwined again, only this time with a blanket wrapped around them. It looked quite snug. Celestia wished she could do the same with Rawsthorne. If only he didn't have to drive...
Well, she couldn't hug him, but she shuffled closer in her seat and reached a hoof over the gap to lay it on his thigh. A bit later his hand came down to squeeze it. Highway meant that one of Rawsthorne's arms was free, which was a nice bonus to the speed and the smooth ride.
"How are you feeling? Okay with that spell?" Rawsthorne asked.
Celestia tried to gauge how tired she was. It had been an exciting night so far, but not too strenuous. "I think I can keep it up for about seven more hours. Maybe eight."
Rawsthorne glanced at the clock, which was cleverly built into the dashboard. He calculated quickly. "Okay, so around nine, maybe nine thirty and then we start looking for a motel."
Celestia just nodded, even if Rawsthorne wasn't watching her directly.
"Good. That means we mostly drive at night, which is just as well. We might need to sleep again, depending on when we reach the border."
That sounded even better! "Oh! Yes, let's sleep two times, please?"
The man just chuckled a little, but Celestia was sure he also liked the idea. Their... 'fun' might be limited with Lake Frond and Rock Lichen in the same room, but just sleeping in the same bed as Rawsthorne for two more nights sounded heavenly!
"We'll see," he confirmed her thoughts. "The website said the border is open from seven to four."
The alicorn tried to imagine the times in her mind. If they drove until nine, then slept for six hours... "So we definitely will not make it tomorrow- uh, today."
"No."
They would start from their first hotel sometime in the afternoon. Celestia didn't think she would be able to keep the disguise spell going long beyond the next midnight. "So yeah, we should look for someplace to spend the night and visit the border in the morning."
"Good, so that's settled then," Rawsthorne acknowledged. He glanced at her and smiled. "How have you been the past few weeks?"
It was very sweet of Rawsthorne to ask and Celestia's mouth quirked up. "You first. What have you been doing?"
He shrugged, just like Celestia thought he would. "You know," Rawsthorne said, "same as usual. Work, some TV, then sleep. I got a maid to help me around the house, but it's just not the same."
Celestia perked up her ears at that, then folded them back as her overactive imagination presented her with an unwelcome conclusion. "She is not sleeping in your bed, is she?! Who is this 'maid'?!"
Rawsthorne laughed a little. "Of course not!" he assured her. "That's absurd!" He had to pause a bit so he could finish chuckling. "I engaged a firm that does cleaning for offices, so it's not even the same person each day. Though most days it's Camila."
"Camila. First name basis, Greg?"
He was on the defensive now! Of course Celestia didn't suspect him of cheating on her, but she liked to see him a little flustered. He was cute when he was embarrassed.
"No, it's just common courtesy. I don't go around sleeping with the help, okay Celly?"
She prodded him in the belly with her hoof. "Explain me, then!"
Before she could jab him again Rawsthorne grabbed her leg and placed it back on his thigh where it had rested before. "You're special."
Despite how true that was, Celestia still liked hearing it. She had fought her entirely life not to let her status go to her head, but every once in a while she indulged a little. Call it 'Alicorn perks'. "And don't you forget it!"
She kept her face utterly serious when Rawsthorne glanced over. He didn't know if she meant it, or if she was joking, but he decided on the latter and gave her a hesitant smile. "Cocky, aren't we?"
Celestia had been expecting that particular phrase and had the perfect answer ready. "No, that's you, but only when I wiggle my rump."
"Hey!"
She giggled and after a moment Rawsthorne joined her. Celestia leaned further to her left and laid her head on his shoulder. It was an uncomfortable position, suspended between the seats, but she could hold it for a minute. In return, Rawsthorne leaned his head against hers. They remained like that for a bit, but then the mare pulled away. She turned around to check on her friends, noting happily that Rock Lichen and Lake Frond were apparently asleep. They didn't seem to mind her antics in the slightest. She watched the two ponies for a short while and saw the stallion shift his head ever so slightly to lay more comfortably against the mare. Lake Frond, on the other hoof, shifted her face away so she could breathe a little more easily, making poor Rock Lichen seek her out again for a nuzzle. Celestia drew her gaze away forcefully. She could spend hours just watching their small movements as they lay together. Even in their sleep they constantly comforted each other and exchanged such small tokens of love.
She wondered if she and Rawsthorne were doing the same when they slept together. Probably. Celestia remembered waking up in the night sometimes and feeling around for the human with her wings, only to have him pat her reassuringly or pull her closer to him. Smiling, she focused on the road again. She was glad of the darkness, but it would have been nice to see the landscape. The last time she had had a chance to look at this part of Earth was when Mr. Plain had been driving her to Rawsthorne.
That brought up a lot of memories. "I remember going the other way on this road. In the autumn." At least, the mare guessed it was the same road. It probably was, since it was the fastest way from Rawsthorne' city to the border.
"Oh?" Rawsthorne asked politely. "Wanna tell me about it?"
"I was quite nervous. I didn't know what you would be like. Mr. Plain said you were kinda stiff and very professional. I remember being worried that you might press your attentions on me..." She blushed when she said it, even now.
"And? Were you disappointed?" Rawsthorne asked with a strangely quiet voice. Celestia looked over and saw that he was keeping his eyes firmly on the road.
"Yes! By how long it took!" She giggled and the man joined in, after a fashion. He soon fell quiet again.
"I still think it's not appropriate between a master and a slave."
It made Celestia sigh. She had explained that several times already! "I was never really your slave, Greg. You just thought I was."
"Exactly!" he confirmed. "I thought that's what it was, so of course I thought it wasn't appropriate."
"Well, you were over-thinking it. I'm glad you came around!"
Now there was a pause, during which Rawsthorne sought out her hoof with his hand and squeezed it. "So am I, Celly. I don't know what I was thinking. Slavery is bad, no matter how you twist it. I hope we can end it."
Her ears folded again and the mare lowered her head. "Me too, but let's not talk about that now, please?" They had precious few hours left together and it would not do to spend them worrying about depressing things.
"Okay, you can tell me what you've been doing since we last saw each other," Rawsthorne suggested.
That brought her smile back. "Okay! I helped out Silent Brook and Saul, and then Heavy Hoof and Belle Hop, and I hope Glowbug, too."
He had to stare at her for a moment, of course. "All that? Did you misunderstand the concept of 'laying low'?"
"No! I did all that while I was in hiding!"
"Who's Saul?"
"Oh! Right! I must have mentioned it on the phone, haven't I? Or maybe Miriam told you about him? He's Silent Brook's... well, 'owner'" Celestia lifted up her hooves to sign the quotes. "I wouldn't call it that. He has Silent Brook's papers, but they don't act like master and slave."
"What do they act like, then?"
Celestia thought it over. She didn't want to come outright and just tell him about how damaged the two were. She would have to lead up to it. "Well, turns out they've been in a war together. Saul was in a place called 'Afghanistan' at the same time as some rich man from there bought Silent Brook for his kids."
"Quite a coincidence," Rawsthorne commented, and Celestia bobbed her head to it.
"Yes! Silent Brook escaped and they chased him right to where Saul was stationed. They became friends and Saul... kind of 'adopted' him." Celestia was tempted to leave it there. Rawsthorne's smile was nice to see, but she had promised herself never to lie to the man again, not even by omission. "Well, turns out Saul has a bad case of something called 'PTSD', and so does Silent Brook. They mostly yell at each other and then Saul drinks and smokes. His wife left him and took his daughter too."
Rawsthorne was really getting into her story, at least judging by how his face fell at this latest news. Celestia hurried to give him some hope back. "It's better now. I got them to start talking, and April - that's the daughter - visits Silent Brook sometimes. I got into his dreams and I think I helped him. Now all he has to do is get Saul to agree to therapy."
Rawsthorne didn't seem too certain: "You sure he will? I read about types like that. Sometimes they refuse to admit anything's wrong."
"Yes, he will. That night when I had to run because some agents were at the house asking about me, Saul was stalling them and trying to get them to leave. He was protecting me."
A hand found her hoof again and Rawsthorne gave her another squeeze. She was glad he did. Even the memory of that night was making her worry again. Those government guys or whoever, were too close on her tail.
"I told Saul he should get help if he wants to see his daughter again, and I think it worked. I mean - Silent Brook will have to remind him a few more times, but it should work. I'll write to him and if Saul doesn't listen, I'll invite them both to Canterlot and have a word with that human."
"Ooh, from that tone, I wouldn't wanna be in his shoes!" Rawsthorne laughed.
"Indeed! I will have him explain to Luna about how he has nightmares."
This part Rawsthorne didn't quite understand. Celestia saw him frown as he glanced over. "Why Luna?" he asked.
She prodded his thigh with a hoof, jokingly. "I told you already - Luna watches over all dreams in Equestria to make sure ponies don't have nightmares. I bet she has seen worse than Saul dreams about."
It was a sad thought, but likely true, much to her sorrow. Most ponies were nice folk and had pleasant dreams and simple nightmares, but every now and then there was somepony whose darkness went... deeper. She remembered how Sombra's dreams had affected Luna toward the end. She blamed herself for a long time after, thinking they should have been able to save him. Celestia had had to put her hoof down and forbid her younger sister to visit that pony's dreams again. Even so, a small part of him might have stuck with Luna, thus prompting Nightmare Moon to come out. She couldn't prove it, though, and it was immaterial now, after the Elements had banished that creature from her sister. Celestia drew a sigh and closed her eyes, thinking of Luna again.
Rawsthorne must have thought she was getting caught in bad thoughts again - which wasn't entirely wrong - so he lightened up the mood: "Okay, good job, then. What about the others - you said Heavy Hoof and..."
"Belle Hop."
"Yeah, Belle Hop," Rawsthorne repeated. "How did you help them?"
This was indeed a better story and Celestia felt the smile creeping back. She perked up her ears and glanced back at the sleeping couple. "Yes, it turns out Belle Hop had been pining over Heavy Hoof all this time, but he had absolutely no idea. She was madly in love with him and he just... took advantage whenever he couldn't get with another mare."
"Ouch, that's sad," Rawsthorne said. He was about to ask, but Celestia answered preemptively.
"Not to worry. I am convinced he really didn't know. When I told him, he was very sorry and has promised to try with Belle Hop. He won't go chasing after other mares."
"And if he does?"
Celestia grinned nastily. "I have promised him a dreadful fate should he sin."
The man didn't look too pleased about that. "Celestia, that's coercion. You can't make someone love someone!"
"Oh, no no no! It's not that, Greg! I just made him promise he will be honest with Belle Hop. If he can't stick with her, he will break it off respectfully, rather than cheat on her. Yes it could end in heartbreak, but if he lies it would be so much worse."
Rawsthorne visibly relaxed and smiled at her. "Ah, that's good. What did you threaten him with?"
Again her nasty grin was back. She waited for a moment or two until she was sure she had Rawsthorne's full attention. "I said if he lied to Belle Hop, I would have demons from Tartarus drag him down there and imprison him there."
"You can do that?!"
"Mhm. So think carefully before crossing me, Greg!"
He placed a hand on his heart. "I swear I won't ever disobey, your Highness!"
They burst out laughing, but Celestia suddenly stopped as she heard a strange sound behind her. She turned her head to find Lake Frond staring at her, wide-eyed. "Oh. I didn't mean to wake you up."
"It's f-fine," the mare mumbled. Then her face split into an approving grin. "It would serve Heavy Hoof right if he cheats on Belle Hop."
Celestia just nodded while Lake Frond gave her husband a lick and closed her eyes again. The Princess hadn't realized just how loud she had been. She lowered her voice.
"Now Glowbug was really simple. I just told her she should tell the others." Aware that the two behind her might be listening, Celestia didn't say any more. She was relieved to see that Rawsthorne also understood.
"That would be for the best, yes," he commented.
"Yes. I promised I would write to her with advice to make it easier." That wrapped up all her stories, except for the part when she ran from Saul's place and spent nearly a week in Miriam's brother's house, but that could wait. Celestia was curious.
"Now you. Tell me about people at work. Does Wendy miss me?"
Rawsthorne chuckled at the memory. "Oh, like you wouldn't believe!"
"Okay, tell me, tell me!" Celestia reached over again to place her hoof on his thigh again. She had been worried about maintaining the spell for so long, but now she didn't think she would mind at all. Not if Rawsthorne chatted with her the whole way!