“No, No. Thank you. This is wonderful.”

Diana sat on the phone this day. Giovanni had officially been missing for a month at this point but they hoped to find him soon. The idea that he was out there and lurking made people uneasy. What if he stumbled into the wrong place or spoke to the wrong people?

But mostly, they weren’t worried. His contacts list was corrected and HE, that man who worked behind the scenes, worked to make sure that Giovanni had no where to go but where HE wanted him to go.

And today, Fiora had started to frantically Buzz the woman’s office while she was attempting to finish her very important phone call. It was frustrating. Diana sighed and ignored the Buzz again.

“Yes, I’ll be sure and remember that Appointment. But I must go for now..I will call you back.” Nodding, hanging up. Diana finally pressed the answer button. “WHAT. I was on the Phone.”

“Mistress..Diana..You need to come out here. You really do.” Fiora sounded uneasy.

“What’s wrong, Fiora?”

“Just come out here, Mistress.”

Diana shook her head and stood. What a buzz kill. But her smile inside stayed because she was very happy with Drake and how their relationship was going so well. She could use that as motivation NOT to yell at Fiora for Constantly buzzing her damned office.

“Alright, Fiora.” Stepping out of her Office. “I was on a very important...call.”

The Mistress’s words suddenly pausing when she looked up at the front door of her House. A transient? There was a man there, definitely but why was he here? He was filthy, disgusting, and looked as if he hadn’t changed clothes in weeks.

He had a Scruffy face and, if Diana had to guess, he probably hadn’t shaved for a month. Even a Transient could surely get a hold of an old Razor blade.

“Sir..um..This isn’t a shelter.” Diana started to talk.

“Mistress..he uh..won’t leave. He KNOWS you.” Fiora stayed behind the protection of her Front desk. “I told him it wasn’t a shelter but he just keeps..saying he needs your help.”

“I..” The man looking up at Diana. “I need your..help. Yes.” He laughed half crazed. “Diana...They..I..” He stepped closer to her. “They took my Caballo...”

Caballo? Diana suddenly realized who this man was. She gasped and grasped the side of the front desk. Her eyes were wide and she was trying to catch her breath.

“My Caballo, Diana! They took her! I..Need..your help..” He laughed again. “You’re the only..one..left who’s you.” Giovanni’s eyes were completely wide as if he had experienced some kind of unspeakable horror. “The Doctor..he wasn’t a He anymore. He was she! Gentry was a woman! And...and the senator..he..he was..He wasn’t the senator. My pony..wasn’t ..who he was supposed to be. But you’re Diana. Yes. You’re Diana..and..you can..help me.”

“Oh my gods..” She wasn’t seeing this, was she? He was insane. “Giovanni..you’re ..alright.”

“Giovanni?” Fiora gasped. “You mean..ohhhh.” Shaking her head. “We can’t help him, Mistress.. You know who..HE said we would be in trouble.”

“You let me deal with HIM.” Diana bravely stepped forward. “Giovanni..Do you know who you are?”

“Y..yes. I’m Giovanni Arrington! I will rule Pony world once I get my Caballo back.”

“Okay..” The Mistress took a deep breath and released calmly, slowly. “This way, Giovanni. I have a nice bath for you and some clean clothes. I’ll help you.”

“Mistress..” Fiora frowned.

“It’s alright, Fiora.” Diana nodded and started leading Giovanni towards the bath in the back. “This way..Come on.”

“They TOOK my Caballo..Took her..from me.” Inching forward, following. “Diana..”

“I’ll help you get Caballo Back. This way though. You can’t get her back smelling..like that.” Her nose was assaulted by the smells coming off of him. “Fiora..darling..I have a huge favor to ask of you as well.” Calling to the girl.

“Oh no..Nu uh..There is NO way that you want me to Bathe him in the Fetish bath.” Fiora already knew what was going to be asked. “Mistress!”

“Fiora, Please!” Diana backed away still. She opened a door behind her and smiled nervously at Giovanni. “This way, Giovanni. You have to come in here..yes..in Here. Come on..”

“MY Caballo...Took..her.” He frowned. “You have to help! Diana..is Diana still.”

“Yes. I’m Mistress Diana.” Looking at Fiora pleadingly. “And you need a bath before I can help you get Caballo.” her stomach lurched as he got closer. “Fiora..Please..”

“You so owe me..” Fiora reluctantly followed them. “You owe me huge..”

“Yes I do.” Moving aside for Giovanni to enter the large Spa bath. “Yes..go to the nice, bubbling water, Giovanni. Yes Look at how clean it is..”

“Diana..” He turned to look at her retreating form. “They took her! I want my Caballo back!”

“Okay...Okay.” Holding her hands up. “I’ll go work on..getting Caballo for you right now while..this pretty lady here..helps bathe you.”

“I hate you.” Fiora mumbled.

“Yes..and I’ll owe you huge.” Diana whispered. “Just please..bathe him and KEEP him in that room.”

“We’re going to need to serialize that tub after.” The assistant’s groans soft as she stepped forward. “Hey there..Lets get those icky clothes off and get the big boy in the tub.” Turning, making a face at Diana. ‘You OWE me’ She mouthed again.

“Yes..I do.” The Mistress turning and trying to burn that image of Giovanni out of her mind. It was too damn disturbing. “I’ll be back! Going to find Caballo now.” Calling so Giovanni could hear.

“There you go.” Fiora smiled. “Take off your clothes...get in the bath. Good boy..”

“N..No! I want Caballo!” Giovanni’s voice frantic. “I want my..caballo.”

“No, no..Stay...stay.” Speaking firmly. “You get undressed and climb into the tub..and I’ll go help look for caballo right now. But I won’t go if you don’t get in the tub.”

“Caballo..” Pulling his dirtied clothes off. “Get my..caballo. I want my caballo.”

“Look here..” She picked up an adult sized rubber ducky. “Mr. Ducky is Caballo’s friend. You like Caballo’s friends too. He sais you need to be a good big boy and climb in the tub so Miss Fiora can go find Caballo for you.”

“Caballo’s friend?” Looking up at the Duck. “I want...Caballo..Mr. Ducky..Where is she?”

“Here you go..look, he’s in the water.” Fiora tossed the duck in. “Get undressed so you can get in and ask him.”

Giovanni was Very gone. He quickly shed the rest of his clothes and climbed into the bath to get the duck. Fiora backed away and closed the door to the bath. She groaned and tried washing that Image away.

“Oh dear gods..” The woman stalking forward. She had an idea. “Caballo..yeah..Caballo..What was she? What did he think she was?” Hurrying to office door. “Mistress..”

“Yes?” Diana answered.

“What KIND of horse did he consider Caballo to be?”

“Andalusian.” Diana opened the door. “I don’t know exactly what to do yet..but I’m working on it.”

“Just..figure it out.” Fiora said as she walked off towards the store. “And Hurry!”

The door closing to the office again. Fiora didn’t really care as long as she figured SOMETHING out.

“Caballo...Ah..look..Lots of Caballos.”

It was using Store goods and they would have to burn it if he left it here once they got him gone somehow, but that was okay. She picked up the model horse and opened the package. Fiora pulled out the Model White Andalusian and started back for the baths.

“Hey..” About this time, Drake was walking in. “Fiora?”

“Hey..Bye.” Hurrying back to the baths.

“Uh..” Drake raised a brow. “Right...Maybe Diana..would know..”

He made his way towards the Back and through the room to the office door and opened it. Diana was about to dial a number it seemed.

“Love?”

“Hey...Drake..I am SO Glad to see you.”

“What’s going on? Is Fiora THAT mad at me for something I don’t know about?”

“Not exactly but..I do owe her a huge favor and that will probably entail letting her ride you in a couple classes.” Diana put the phone down and sighed. “Sorry love.”

“Uh..no..I’m not anyone’s pony but yours.”

“Well..I’m afraid that You might have to be hers for a few days, at least for classes. The favor is THAT huge. Believe me..”

“Okay..what’s going on?”

“Go look in the back bath while I make this call. Go ahead..just be warned that it’s highly disturbing and you could go blind.”

“Do I want to look?” He asked.

“Your choice.” Diana shrugged.

“Okay..”

He turned and left the office to go see what kind of favor was huge enough for Diana to SHARE him. When he opened the bath though, he was almost choking because he gasped and his air went down the wrong pipe. Fiora growled at him and pushed the door closed.

“If you ever repeat this incident to anyone,” Speaking through the door to him, “I will personally Neuter you.”

“Ouch..” Cringing. “Ouch...”

Drake made his way back to the office and entered slowly. Diana was just now on the phone. She shhd him as he entered.

“Yes..Hi.” Speaking a little frustrated. “Listen..Giovanni is here! And he’s practically gone MAD. I don’t care how YOU get here to get him..just GET here.”

Hanging the phone up. Drake was doubly disturbed now.

“Giovanni?” Drake turned. “THAT was Giovanni?”

“Yes.” Diana rubbed the back of her neck. “Oh good lords..Why me?”

“Who’s coming to get him?”

“HIM. He is coming. We just...have to..keep him HERE and happy in his insane little mind until HE comes. Look..love. You have to help.”

“You’re calling HIM here?” He’d heard that this man was just scary. “Diana...”

“Get over it. He’s coming. Now..I need you to go out front and get Bri. Tell her that I said to call all of today’s appointments and cancel. Then Put the closed sign up on the door.”

“Right because you wouldn’t want to burn that disturbing image of..that thing into their minds. But..HIM? You’d be burning that horrid image into his mind and them his ..apparent usefulness might go down. He may work behind the scenes and no one’s ever seen him but he gets things done.”

“Actually..he will find it amusing.” She sat down in her large chair and started to massage her temples. “Please just go and tell Bri to do what I’ve asked.”

“On my way love..and then I’ll come back and give you a massage. You look like you could use it.”

“You have no idea.” Diana laid her forehead down to touch the desk. “I’ll kill him..” Whispering to her self.