>Princess Celestia rose from her slumber, shimmering mane slightly askew with a smile on her muzzle to match.
>Humming a tune she began trotting up to her closet before gasping softly and falling flat on her face. >Looking around for the cause of her fall, Celestia drew in her surroundings with more attention to detail, specifically the detail that these weren’t her royal chambers.
>Although not new to waking up in strange abodes beside a pony she hardly knew, a product of her *ahem* bolder years in the club diving scene of Equestria.
>Celestia was off put by the fact that there was no pony nor even the most borderline example of an intelligent living being in the bed she just woke up in.
>Such as a zebra, or maybe even Applejack.
>With a frown, Celestia finally found what tripped her up: one of the numerous empty bottles of alcohol littering the wood floor of the bedroom.
>Still laying on the floor with her face firmly planted and her buttocks in the air, she groaned in pain and her lips turned down into a grimace.
>Celestia closed her eyes and said to no one in particular,
“Hangovers totally harsh my mellow.”
>“Eeyup.”
>Princess Celestia got to her hooves hastily and turned around to look at whomever had just answered her.
>There stood Big Mac, he had dark circles around his eyes and looked at the sun goddess on his bedroom floor with a nonchalant stare, all while brushing his teeth.
>Celestia’s lips started to curl up into a smile before she remembered where she had just been sleeping moments ago.
>Dropping back to a more neutral safe expression she began to ask the liquor stained question.
“Well then…”
>Celestia hesitated not because she was nervous for herself, she had dealt with plenty of situations like this beforehand, but because she was nervous for Big Mac, the princess didn’t know exactly how he would react to either possibility currently on her mind.
“Big Mac, did we… Rut? In your bed?”
>Nothing but the sound of brushing as Big Mac attended to his daily oral hygiene, still giving Celestia that same stare as before, tired and hungover, but not really too concerned nonetheless.
>He took his time finishing up with his teeth before spitting out the window, putting on his yoke and getting out a piece of wheat from his bedside table to chew on for the day.
>Big Mac’s morning routine finished, he turned to Celestia and answered,
>“Eeyup.”
>Before walking out of the room and downstairs, as laidback as ever.
>Had it been any other pony, Celestia may have taken offence, but she had spoken with Big Mac before.
>Big Mac tackled everything in the same way, stoic, steady and only as talkative as he felt he needed to be.
>Which was to say nearly no talking at all.
>Celestia put on a bright, but pained smile on her face and followed suit downstairs.
>Humming to herself, she crossed the hallway below, peering at the pictures of Apple family members that adorned the walls.
>A left turn into the kitchen and Celestia cut her tune short.
>Applejack nearly broke her legs with the speed at which she bowed, pushing her little sister Applebloom into the same pose.
>Granny Smith just smiled, a much more welcoming greeting in Celestia’s mind than a bow ever was.
>Applejack gave Big Mac a glare before getting back to her hooves and said.
>”It’s an honour an a half to see ya here Princess. Would that mah brother gave me some warnin’.”
>Celestia responded with the usual “No need to be so formal” etc. etc.
>All the while she was painfully aware that she smelled distinctly of alcohol, that her mane was a mess and that she didn’t have her regalia on.
>A breakfast of shame this would be.
>After the exchange of greetings, everypony sat down while Applejack worked the oven with the help of Applebloom.
>Granny Smith, after checking that the two sisters were thoroughly distracted, gave Celestia a wink and a smile.
>All the while mouthing the words: “It runs in the family”
>Celestia covered her muzzle with her hoof and blushed, ears flopping down.
>She could already hear her telling all her friends about how much of stallion her grandson had become to bag himself a princess.
>Applebloom set out the plates of toast, hay bacon and of course apples while Applejack sat down and asked.
>”So uhhh, why ARE yah here Princess? Ah’d figured if yall had any reason ta stay in Ponyville you’d be at the library. Not that ya can’t stay or nothin’!”
>…
“… Ummm…”
>Big Mac spoke up.
>”Here ta’ help with tha’ barn. We were chattin in Ponyville last night n’ the Princess offered her help.
>Celestia gave him a smile in thanks before speaking.
“Ah, yes. Big Mac was telling me all about it, I just couldn’t leave it be.”
>Applejack looked puzzled for a moment, chewing her toast before swallowing and asking.
>”But why were ya sleepin here last night? Ah mean ya coulda stayed in a hotel r sumthin. Again, not that ah don’t want ya here or nothin’. Just sayin ya might find er more ta yer taste, we ain’t got a palace here.”
>With a composed and well-practiced smile, Celestia answered.
“Well I merely wanted to get right to helping as soon as possible!”
>Applejack merely stared at her suspiciously then shrugged and continued eating.
>Celestia sighed and tucked into her breakfast.
>Already done, Big Mac got up and headed outside, but not before telling Celestia that he’d
>”Be out behind the barn.”
>Applebloom and Granny Smith promptly left as well, Granny to her chair in the sitting room and Applebloom to goodness knows where.
>With no one there but her and Celestia, Applejack’s expression changed swiftly from content to anger.
>”Did ya really think I was gonna buy that shit? Ahm the fucking element ah honesty! Now I want the truth Princess, you fucked mah brother last night didn’t cha?”
>Celestia sighed and hung her head.
“Yes Applejack. I did.”
>Nodding but evidently still livid, Applejack replied.
>”Listen here, I ain’t got no problem with you havin a love life r nuthin’ Princess. Even if it’s with family. But you hurt his feelin’s or get him into some sorta trouble? I don’t care if you’re royalty, I’ll buck ya right to the damn moon.”
>Although less than pleased with Applejack’s threats of violence and foul language, Celestia knew that her intent was solely protective.
“I’m sincerely sorry about this Applejack, I know I’m not really the kind of pony who can just go around having one night stands all the time. I’ve learned this lesson at least a thousand times in the past few centuries, but alcohol and my own foolishness seem to win over sense more often than not. I assure you I will try my very best to keep Big Mac from getting into any trouble on my account and I won’t be hurting his feelings. To be honest I don’t think anyone could.”
>Satisfied, Applejack smiled and got up to head outside.
>”Thanks. Big Mac’ll be expectin ya though. We really do have some issues with the barn.”
>Celestia couldn’t tell whether this whole business about roping her into fixing their barn was a plot by either Big Mac or Applejack.
>“Likely both.” She concluded.
>Swallowing the last of her hay bacon, Celestia walked out of the kitchen and out to the barn.
>It was a bright sunny day outside, sparse clouds crossed the sky and birdsong travelled on the air.
>Big Mac stood by the front barn doors, yawning.