>You feel every fiber in your body shout in protest as you force yourself to tank another hit.
>The world around you seems to tumble and quake as you fruitlessly try to recuperate from the damage dealt to you.
>Focus has since long begun to elude you, and your senses have relocated to another, far away realm.
>You've taken a bigger beating than you thought your body could handle, for all accounts you shouldn't still be standing.
>Your mind is yelling at you to just let your heavy eyelids close and leave the mortal coil behind you.
>But you won't give up. You can't.
>You won't let her win this, that damned apple mare.
>She stands across your impromtu battlefield, and despite looking as haggard as you, she's flashing a groggy grin.
>"Yer looking a bit tired there, sugercube," she slurs between heavy breaths. "Had enough yet?"
>You narrow your eyes at the mare's fuzzy form.
"I'm still standing, aren't I?"
>"Hue-hue," she chuckles. "Not fer long ya ain't."
>She hooks a hoof around her weapon, gripping it tightly.
>"Ya ready for another round?"
>You swallow back your trepidations, and ready your own arm.
"Once more into the fray..."
>Still smiling, she raises her weapon into the air.
>It baffles you, how can she still be smiling?
>Is she merely taunting you, or is she really that confident in her victory?
>Bah, it doesn't matter. We'll just see who's smiling when all is said and done.
>Mimicking your opponent, you lift you weapon high to display your zeal.
>Her lips curl back further, her smile broadening.
>"See ya on the *hick* other side, sugercube."
>She swings her weapon. You do the the same.
>This is it, the apex of the battle, you can feel it.
>Your battered body can't handle much more.
>If you can't drop her with this one, then it's all over for you.
>You feel the expectant eyes of your forefathers looking down at you.
>Anon, the only human in Equestria, defending the honour of humanity against this tiny, colourful equine.
>After a split moment of calmness, your weapons clash.
 
>A few droplets of cider fly into the air as your tankard connects with Applejack's.
>Finally breaking your stare with the mare, you retract your tankard and begin chugging down it's contents.
>Your body tries to object, but you refuse to acknowledge it's pleas.
>You're deadset to not let Applejack win this.
>After the way you ran your mouth earlier, she'd never let you hear the end of if if you lost to her.
>Damn mare and her damned apples.
>Your final thoughts those of apples, you feel the room spin out of control as the world around you fades away into nothingness.
 
>Before he'd even finished his drink, the human drops his mug as he topples over, falling down into a pile of hay behind him.
>You set your own drink down and shake your head at him.
"Ah warned ya, sugercube," you say to nobody in particular. "Ya silly human."
>You debate heading back to the house to sleep, but the hay next to the snoring human sure does look inviting.
>Yeah, you could just sleep here in the barn tonight. That'd be nice.
>In your current state you'd probably wake up the whole house trying to maneuver the stairs to your room, anyways.
>You blow out the lantern, cloaking the barn in soothing moonlight.
>On shaky hooves, you saunter over to Anon.
>You're just about able to make out the features of his face.
>You can already imagine how flustered he's goning to be tomorrow when you poke fun at him for losing.
>The big, strong human who can't handle his drink next to a tiny, little pony.
>You chuckle to yourself.
>As your laughter dies off, you suddenly lower you head and softly peck him on the cheek, catching even yourself off-guard.
>Pulling back, you feel your cheeks blush something fierce.
>Why did you just do that? And why did it feel so... Right?
>Quickly shaking the questions from your drunken mind, you drop down in the hay next to Anon.
>This is sleeping time, not thinking time.
>You scoot closer to him, pressing your body up against his.
>Feeling the warmth of his skin against your coat, you can't help but smile as you drift off to sleep.