A week had passed as the alicorn sisters began taking court again. There were too many petitions and it was with a heavy heart that Celestia had to send some of them away each evening to return the next day. After a short dinner she usually closed herself into her study to try and find solutions for whichever requests she hadn't been able to immediately answer. There were also messages from the griffins and minotaurs she had to answer, as well as strongly-worded missives from some of the more influential Equestrian mayors. Her life had become mostly paperwork as the Princess pulled strings, smoothed feathers and patted backs to get her realm back on the right political track.
To her credit, Luna had taken an active interest. Part of it was likely guilt over her blunders, but Celestia was impressed despite that. The two ate most of their meals together and Luna asked a lot of questions. Whether she was absorbing anything Celestia explained remained to be seen. Over the next few weeks, Celestia decided, she would gradually give her younger sister more and more authority to see how she handled it. In retrospect, that was what she should have done before leaving, but there was no changing the past.
"The human is back!" Luna said to her sister as she barged into her office. It was late and Celestia hadn't expected him at this time. Normally he slept on Earth if he left Equestria in the afternoon. Her ears perked up and Celestia smiled in anticipation. Her letter to Miriam still had no reply. Perhaps that was why Bennett had hurried back! Maybe it was finally some good news! Celestia suspected that the ambassador's bosses had taken time to search her polite, formal request for any hidden meaning. Then they probably did the same with the reply. That meant it would be difficult to communicate, at least through official channels, so Celestia had sent out word to invite Mr. Plain to Canterlot. She could have him smuggle the other letters. The ones she really wanted to write to both Miriam and Rawsthorne. Not to mention those for her pony friends. The auctioneer hadn't yet been able to come and Celestia was getting quite curious about how all of them were doing.
She rose from her desk and followed her sister out to the hallway. "Where is he?"
Luna led the way. "In his room. I went to apologize again. He refused," she admitted. It was really starting to wear on her, so Celestia paused to give her sister a hug.
"Do not worry, Luna. He will come around soon, you will see."
The younger alicorn heaved a sigh, but she returned the nuzzle and straightened back up. "I hope."
They walked in silence until they reached the door to what Celestia was starting to think of as 'the embassy'. The ambassador had accepted her offer to make it his permanent room and office. It was a small price to pay. She knocked and waited for the invitation before opening the door with her magic and walking inside.
The man was unpacking his briefcase on his desk. "That was fast," he commented.
"I am anxious to hear about my subjects on Earth. Is there news?"
He smiled a little. "Got a reply from your lawyer woman. Here."
Celestia picked up the envelope and quickly opened it and unravelled the paper. It wasn't overly long. There was Miriam's name and the address of her office, and in place of the recipient was just 'Celestia'.
She read quickly:
'RE: Pony named Rock Lichen'
'I was amazed to receive your letter as the pony in question, one Rock Lichen, is connected to a case I am currently investigating. He and his wife were stolen, or had escaped from their owners, and apparently became separated on the run.'
'I will not venture to guess how the mare has managed to return to Equestria, but the stallion was captured at the border together with a human accomplice. I assure you the pony is unharmed, but he is being held for questioning.'
'I am not at liberty to discuss the investigation as yet. I shall write to you again after it is concluded, so that we may explore options for his return.'
'Sincerely, Miriam'
It wasn't the best possible news, but Celestia was pleased. The important part was that Rock Lichen was apparently safe and was being kept from his owners. Miriam didn't mention Rawsthorne, but he was probably in a similar situation. She hoped that at least they were together. Miriam also mentioned 'options for his return', which gave Celestia hope that there was no additional suspicion toward her friends for helping her escape. She read it again, just to make sure she hadn't missed an important clue.
Meanwhile, Luna took a step toward the man, who was still watching her with some suspicion. "May I fetch you something, Mr. Ambassador?" she offered. "Refreshments after your journey?"
The man thought it over. "Just coffee."
Luna smiled pleasantly and hurried to get it. She was really going all out to make it up to the ambassador.
"Well?" he asked when he was alone with Celestia again. "What's the word?"
He probably knew what the letter said, but she decided to play the game. "Apparently, the mare escaped illegally. Her husband was captured at the border. I am still not sure why this Mrs. Adams is investigating the case."
"Ah, I believe I can answer that," Bennett said, only a touch smugly. "The owners are from Mrs. Adams' area, and she has some reputation with regards to ponies."
Yes, Celestia thought, reputation she had helped earn! With a slight effort she suppressed her smile and showed Mr. Bennett only blank incomprehension. "What sort of reputation?"
The man liked knowing things others didn't. It was something Celestia had learned a long time ago and used whenever she could. It made him more amenable. "There was this big court case about pony cruelty or something. Mrs. Adams was the prosecutor on that case and managed to get the criminals in jail. It was all over the news, apparently."
"I think I like this woman. I will write her another letter to ask about it, if you wouldn't mind taking it to her?"
The ambassador nodded. "Of course. Now for the other thing. I put your request in with the higher-ups. They'll think about it."
"Thank you."
He wasn't done yet. "I shouldn't really tell you this, but full pony rights on Earth probably wont happen, not yet at least, but they are willing to hear you out."
The mare smiled and inclined her head. "I understand, Mr. Bennett. I was not expecting anything different, but I do wish to keep moving forward with this. Someday my ponies will be full citizens on your world, but we must keep our hoofsteps small." She was about to excuse herself, but Luna came back with two steaming cups. She levitated one to the table and kept the other for herself.
"Just as you liketh it, Mr. Ambassador," she said, only slightly out of breath. "Might We- uh, might I join you?"
Celestia noticed that there was no third cup for her. She shrugged a little, said goodbye and left. Her sister was taking the apology very seriously. She brought the human his breakfast, lunch and dinner each day, as well as a snack here and there. She made sure to meet him in the hallways whenever he ventured out, and if Mr. Bennett needed some errand ran, Luna was miraculously there to take care of it. The guilt of whatever she had seen in Lake Frond's dream must have been stronger than Celestia guessed. She decided to have a little chat with her sister to make sure she wasn't taking it too badly. On the other hoof, Celestia thought, Luna could simply be using the apology as an excuse to skip out on court as often as possible.
She waited outside for her sister to finish her coffee and chat with the man. Mr. Bennett wasn't actively avoiding Luna or sending her away anymore, at least. He even exchanged a few polite words with her when they met. He was a long way from forgiving her, but Luna's insistence was beginning to pay off. This time, she came out of the room smiling a little.
"Success?"
The younger sister squeaked in surprise at the sudden question. "Spying on Us?!" she demanded.
Celestia laughed. "No, I merely wished to talk. You have been quiet lately, Luna. You spend your meals with Mr. Bennett and we can't really speak during the court."
Her sister began walking down the corridor and Celestia smoothly fell in step with her. "I have thrown the human in prison for no good reason, Sister," Luna explained forcefully, as if annoyed at having to say it again. Her eyes shifted to Celestia for a moment. She gave her a rueful smile, then her voice relaxed back into her normal tone. "I wish to make it right."
"Commendable. Is it working?"
She wouldn't meet her gaze anymore. Instead, Luna inspected the rows of pictures on the wall. Fortunately she had withdrawn her order to the staff to keep replacing them with Celestia's photo. That would seriously undermine their lie to the ambassador. "Perhaps," the mare said quietly. "He no longer yells at me to leave."
Her tail swished around and Luna stomped her hoof on the carpet. She set her jaw and stared into the distance. "He will forgive me, even if I have to tie him up!"
A new thought entered Celestia's mind. "Luna, have you been in my dreams? Since I came home?" There was no answer. "Luna?"
Her sister sighed and finally faced her sister again. "Humans are interesting, is that what you wish to hear!?" she asked.
"Interesting? Why him, though? With that 'jail' thing, he does not like you too much."
Luna lowered her head and muttered something under her breath.
"What was that?"
Again, the mare sighed in exasperation. She raised her face up to the roof and admitted, a tad more loudly: "... only human in Equestria..."
Now it all fell into place. Her eagerness to see the man, her insistence on getting that forgiveness, even the way she smiled ingratiatingly when she saw him.
"Luna, are you trying to get Mr. Bennett to-"
The younger Princess rounded up on her older sister, interrupting her: "You did it first!" Then, realizing what she had just admitted, Luna averted her face and tried to explain it away, as haughtily as she could: "We merely wish to see what all the fuss is about."
However amused Celestia was at this revelation, she had some reservations. "Are you sure that is what you want? Maybe it only appeals to you because of novelty."
Luna began to shake her head, but then she had to consider it. She trusted her sister enough to think about her words. "I do not know," she said quietly. "I wish to find out..."
Celestia stepped closer and wrapped a wing around her sister. They nuzzled for a moment and Luna sighed into her sister's mane. "Just be careful. Do not break your own heart over this and try not to break his - we still have to negotiate for our ponies on Earth." She felt Luna nod against her neck. "Remember, there are many humans. I can find you a more... amenable one, if you do not gain entry to Mr. Bennett's bed."
There was no reply.
Celestia had been about to go finish her paperwork, but changed her mind. Some quality time with her sister sounded much better. It would do them both good. "Come, let's go take a stroll through the gardens. The stars are especially beautiful when the air is cold." Praise for the night sky always made her sister smile.