Royal Rest and Relaxation [Private, SteelEagle] [Concluded]

[SteelEagle]

Celestia's version of being naughty and Applejack's versions were very, very different if Celestia cut loose by having some cake. Applejack's version of being naughty involved some outfits she had received from Rarity, her rope, and secrets between friends and lovers alike. Celestia's involved creamy delights. Hehehe, just made her seem all that much more perfect to the average Equestrian if her naughtiness was as pure as evening snow. Still, Applejack couldn't say no to that in any circumstance. A cake in the middle of the day would seem like a bad idea but you didn't often get the chance to have a meal with royalty. “Ah'll have what she's havin',” Applejack responded to the professional waiter, not even looking at her menu. She knew this place well enough to know what they had to offer and it was all a bunch of good bar eats, greasy and delicious or creamy and frivolous. The waiter took their orders and trotted down the stairs, past a growing bottleneck of ponies down below who were trying to get a sneak peak of the Princess.

Applejack turned her attentions more towards the conversation at hoof, finally. Her mind was still sluggish and not really operating at her greatest capacit but she could only imagine how ineffective she had been beforehoof at relaying her experiences here. If she had given the Princess the belief that Applejack was not well versed in this place for good and ill. “Hahaha...naw. Ah come here a lot, biggest tavern in town just down tha road? It ain't tha employees or family that runs this place that get on mah nerves so much. It's some of tha other farmers that try an needle me on account of Sweet Apple Acres being the biggest farm this side of the Delamare. But, uhh, no more me complainin', Ah don't like iit very much. This place serves up some migty fine grub- never had their cake but Ah figure it'll hit tha spot. So, whatcha wanna talk 'bout?”

[DerpRavener]

Applejack explained her earlier displeasure at the place as due to a number of other patrons.  She seemed fond of the place itself, but found that it was frequented by rival farmers, who took whatever opportunity they could find to agitate the orange earth pony.

Celestia supposed that explained the Applejack's attitude, though it still seemed curious that the farmpony would come back to such a place if irritating patrons was it's defining feature.  Presumably either the food was worth it, or the location had some other attribute of worth.  Before Celestia had a chance to comment on it however, their orders arrived.  Cake wasn't something which took long to prepare.

 

After thanking the server, Celestia took a pause from the conversation to eat, observing the other patrons.  The chaos of her entrance had given way to a strange sort of pattern: now that everypony had time to recover from the shock, they unintentionally divided themselves into a few groups.  A number of ponies didn't have time to spend gawking at royalty, and in the face of the Watering Hole security most of the rest realized they'd have to settle for observing form a distance.  The exceptions were few and easily handled, and the tavern returned to something resembling it's typical atmosphere.  Celestia waved briefly to the crowd, pleased that the situation was resolved so quickly if a little disappointed that her fun was over, and then turned to the matter at hoof: cake!

She took a few slow bites, savoring the flavor.  It was, as she'd expected, delicious.  A part of her knew that she'd had better, but even if true that was hardly a mark against it.  She was enjoying it for what it was, regardless.

 

Applejack's question, asking what Celestia would like to talk about brought her attention back to the coversation at hoof.  She chuckled.  “I can't say I have anything in need of urgent need of discussion.  Though, there is one thing I'm curious about.”  Her gaze swept around their surroundings.  “There must be something special about this place if you frequent it despite the jabs.”  Again, not directly a question but it invited explanation.

[SteelEagle]

 

The crowd certainly was dying down now. Security had the few nuts under control and beyond that dealing with Twilight day in, day out made royalty a less than rare sight in Ponyville. Still an object of awe, they were starting to get back to their old habits and ways. It made Applejack wonder if a fight was coming up. Stay at the Watering Hole long enough and you were bound to see one or two. This place served real drinks and didn't skimp out on the portions either. Being a bit out of the way and out of the main drag of Ponyvlle, ponies tended to be slightly less civil to one another. Not really out and out rude most of the time, but this place was home to a great many barfights. Applejack may or may not have been in a few, especially on her more belligerent days. She could think of worse ways to blow off some steam and it always ended with a hug and a shared round for everypony, so no harm, no foul.

 

The only foulin' going on was Celestia evasiveness. The Princess of the Sun didn't wander off from Canterlot too often, which was what made it so amazing a happening. Something had to happen, right? Maybe it wasn't a big deal. Maybe it was just one word after a long stream of other words and the avalanche finally started, but something had driven her away from her home, her city, to Ponyville out of the blue. Applejack couldn't speak for every Equestrian but she felt she could speak for most when she said her curiosity was piqued intensely. Maybe she'd be more adamant about it if she was more awake, but even her famous stubbornness ran into a brick wall of Celestial glory. Hard to summon the ability to dog her into an answer when Applejack wanted to just bow the whole time. You could take the Princess out of the castle but you couldn't take the humble out of a subject.

 

“Well...its close. Real close. Ah work so long an' hard that if Ah want a nice drink with friends, its easy ta get to. Kick up mah hooves an' relax and its such a short walk that if AH'm, err, less than...mahself...Ah can find home real easy. Otherwise Ah end up havin' ta walk halfway across town. Ah also like ta support some of tha older places in town. Ponyville is growing so fast that Ah worry 'bout some of tha older shops. Once places like this go you lose all their history an' it ain't something that can be replaced. 'Course Ah think this place does well on its own so it doesn't really need any one pony...but heck, a good place is a good place. Ah'll bet you have a place you like ta go when you want to relax and maybe have a nice drink, right?” Applejack asked, ignoring her food briefly as it arrived. Truth be told she was feeling so tired it hurt to think about food and cake in the middle of the day wasn't going to sit well. Nonetheless, she was excited to eat with her Princess.

[DerpRavener]

Applejack seemed somehow unsatisfied with the answer she'd received, though Celestia couldn't put her hoof on precisely why.  It mattered little.  If it was something urgent, the farmpony would certianly bring it up, and barring that Celestia wasn't feeling in a particularly revealing mood.  For the moment she was content to consider just the pleasant, surface level conversation.

Which brought her back to Applejack's answer, which was sensible if perhaps disappointingly non-specific.  The proximity of the tavern to the Apple family orchard and that the farmpony liked to support establishments with a history to them were the motivators, aside from the simple quality of the place.  Though a little disappointed that there wasn't more of a story to the farmpony's patronage, as it had sounded like there was a little history between her and the tavern, Celestia certainly couldn't fault Applejack for her reasons.  They were very sensible, and the alicorn could certainly see the appeal of all those aspects in a single place.

 

"Ah'll bet you have a place you like ta go when you want to relax and maybe have a nice drink, right?”

Celestia only nodded at first.  Those were places she tended to consider more personal, and as such she was a little hesitant to divulge the details.  After a moment she concluded that honesty was the best policy.  “I have a few places, of course.”  She casually waved a hoof.  “Everypony has their own place to go when they need a rest.  My personal chambers are the most common I must admit.  Convenience is a part of it, but it's also a question of control.  It is the one place I can guarantee all but the gravest interruptions.”  With a smile she added, “and the castle staff certainly know their business, so I'm not left wanting for a fine meal.  The castle gardens are another favorite.”  She took a few more bites of cake, taking a moment to swallow and enjoy the flavor before continuing.  “I have a few others, but I prefer to keep those to myself as much as possible.  I'm sure you know how determined ponies can get when they believe they've found a celebrity,” she added, as a way of roundabout explanation.  “It's not that I don't trust you of course, merely that it's a useful habit, and I don't see the need to burden you with the information.”  Perhaps it wasn't the worst as burdens went, but it would either be something the pony could use nefariously or something they would have to keep hidden.  Celestia could count on Applejack not to do the former, and thus she couldn't see anything the farmpony would gain from it.

 

Celestia paused to take a few more bites, and watch the crowd.  It seemed like a cheerful group, though she couldn't shake the sense that there was a certain animosity to the place, even if it made her think more of friends harmlessly poking fun at each other than any serious conflict.  It made a curious change from Canterlot, and though she wasn't sure if she would find it agreeable long term, it was nice to get away from the castle figuratively as well as literally.

Celestia listened with interest as the voices at one of the other tables increased in volume and aggression, being subtle so as not to disturb proceedings.  Confident nothing overtly harmful would come of it, with an amused smirk she asked Applejack, “Is that a common occurrence around here?”

[SteelEagle]

 

Everything Celestia said answered Applejack's question to the core but Applejack couldn't shake the sense that she had been searching for something just a little more with a Princess' answer. Applejack didn't know what, though. Maybe with all that power at her disposal, the fabric of reality itself something to ply with her long magical tendrils of aether, Applejack had expected Celestia to say she had some manner of pocket dimension to escape to when times were tough. Of course maybe her own private bedchambers could count as a small pocket dimension because pf how much control she could exert. That could be said about just about anywhere, however. Celestia could rule over this very tavern to such a degree if she so wished. Of course all of that was more the sort of freedom Applejack had- freedom at the willingness of others in deference to her wishes. True freedom would be to just escape, but that was something neither of them could have, it seemed. Applejack nodded along, looking down at the food by the end.

 

“Ah see. Ah guess that makes a load of sense. Ah have some places mahself. Thar's a copse of trees just outside of Sweet Apple Acres an' not under anypony's control just yet. Ah used ta go thar all tha time when Ah was a little filly. Real quiet. Even tha birds don't seem to go thar much an' tha spiders only come out at night. That's actually where I met Rainbow Dash for tha very first time. She was takin' a nap on a branch, Ah was takin' a nap on the split on a tree. We both started snorin' an' woke each other up! Hehehe, then we fought over whose tree it was. Ah think that was the first time Ah ever corralled myself a pegasus! And...Ah know it was tha first time Ah was ever struck by lightning,” Applejack burst out laughing so hard she almost started to cry, “Ahh, good times. An' Ah have a place here, too. Thar's a room out back, used ta be an old storage room. But this place got bigger so they added a larger one and now its more of a small private lounge. When...” Applejack stopped, then shook her head. No, she didn't want to talk about. Or think about it. And her tired mind almost opened up the floodgates of the past.

 

To save her from these memories was a table full of increasingly aggressive friends who were too far gone to be sensible. A punch was thrown, a brawl ensued, and ponies started placing bets. Applejack laughed, wiping a tear from her eyes. “Ahh, yeah. Ah'd say this happens about once a day Ah; reckon. Hehehe, sometimes a bit of a brawl gets all tha aggression out. Ah bet y'all don't have this u[ in Canterlot, dontcha?”

[DerpRavener]

Celestia smiled as Applejack described those spaces which were personal to her, almost for the purpose of comparison.  The alicorn was as much pleased with the casual, voluntary glimpse into the other pony's life as she was having her statement confirmed.  Each pony (and most other self-aware creatures for that matter) had their own unique, and fascinating story.  Celestia knew better than to pry, but always took an interest in such stories when they were offered.

In Applejack's case, her quiet spaces were an almost undiscovered spot in the orchard which got particularly quiet, as well as a room somewhere in this very establishment.  The farmpony had also mentioned that the former was how she'd met Rainbow Dash, a friend and another element bearer.

Celestia was mildly disappointed that story stopped there, but it mattered little.  The conversation was enjoyable enough regardless.

 

“Ahh, yeah. Ah'd say this happens about once a day Ah; reckon. Hehehe, sometimes a bit of a brawl gets all tha aggression out. Ah bet y'all don't have this up in Canterlot, dontcha?”

As both of their attentions were turned to the forming brawl, Celestia nodded her confirmation.  “No, I must say this sort of thing is very, very uncommon,” She paused for a moment in thought.  “Although,” she added, “there was that one noble last week...”

Celstia shook her head.  “Still, as I said not very common.  Ponies in Canterlot tend to be a lot less physical.  When things do come to blows, it's much more serious than what we're seeing here.”  Celestia turned back to the brawl.  There was an air of good humour to this, not unlike a conflict between siblings.  Though generally speaking she disapproved of fighting, in this case it seemed harmless enough (and maybe even a little amusing even if she didn't want to admit it).  Further, this appeared to be the normal course of things, and she'd hate to cause even more disruption of the routine over something so trivial.  Or at least, even more than she already had.

 

Celestia turned her attentions back to her cake again, and though she did not rush it was finished fairly quickly.  Though tasty, her piece hadn't been especially large.  She wiped her mouth with her napkin, turned back to her companion.  The conversation had reached a natural break point.  “I believe I've taken up enough of your time for one day,” she offered, knowing Applejack herself had a lot of work to do.  The sooner the farmpony got back to it the sooner she could finish, and the sooner she could get some rest.

[SteelEagle]

 

Yeah, just as Applejack figured. High faleutin nobles wouldn't want to mussy up their manes with the indignities of proper hoof to hoof combat. Applejack had gotten into more than a few scrapes here and was never found wanting for cause or enjoyment. Sure, getting your snout busted a little was uncomfortable but that was par for the course. When you lived in a small town or were amongst a small group of people who were friends or otherwise you dealt with all the time, getting into a fight was a good way of sussing out who had a backbone and who was better served being kept at a good hooves distance when something went down. She made plenty of good friends after a barfight! Too bad Canterlot allowed itself to be as soft as a pillow.

“Hehehe. Well, make sure when you get back home ta make clear ta those high-fancy nobles of yours that if they stop on by Ponyville en-route to greener pastures ta ready themselves for some good ol' fashioned country fightin'. Combine their snooty attitudes and the good hard cider of this place and we're liable ta pop 'em,” Applejack observed with a mixture of certainty and weariness. If she had to pull out another high society clonker from the ravenous hooves of inebriated ponies because high society apparently came without class...oh well. It was hard to judge a pony without walking a mile in their hooves but it apparently didn't take as much effort to castigate those below your station with terrible invectives purely because you were prepared to canter off at a moment's notice. Maybe it'd be best for all if she didn't pull them next time?

In any case, it appeared Celestia was finished. The portions were smaller than what Applejack imagined they were like in Canterlot, explaining how a proper pony like herself could scarf it all down the fury of a thousand blazing suns. That was fast! Applejack had only taken a few bites of her own. As hungry as a pony could be whenever there was cake involved Applejack was unable to summon the energy to attack it properly. Applejack waved at a server who promptly came over. “Ah think we're done, sugarcube. Could you pack it all up?” Applejack asked before yawning, the server agreeing to do so and getting to it. “Ah reckon yer right. Sorry Ah wasn't able ta show ya some more. Maybe come by for a visit on a day when Ah'm not half brain dead and got a schedule with too much ta do and little time ta do it,” she chuckled, getting back up and stretching her legs.   

[DerpRavener]

“Hehehe. Well, make sure when you get back home ta make clear ta those high-fancy nobles of yours that if they stop on by Ponyville en-route to greener pastures ta ready themselves for some good ol' fashioned country fightin'. Combine their snooty attitudes and the good hard cider of this place and we're liable ta pop 'em,”

Celestia chuckled at Applejack's description.  It wouldn't be inaccurate advice, but...“Oh, I'm certain they already know, for whatever good such a warning might do them.  Even if it came from myself.  Nobility breeds its own sort of stubbornness.”  She knew that a good portion of the upper class already thought such things about places such as Ponyville, and that their decision of whether to visit or not would be made regardless of any input short of a royal decree or royal guard detachment.

 

Applejack was in agreement about the second point however, that they had spent enough time here.  Celestia supposed the farmpony couldn't fail to be, given what was known of her current workload.  And while she was in no rush, truth be told Celestia herself had a few other things she wished to do on her day of rest, and a day could only have so many hours.  Well, and still be reasonable as a day at any rate, she still remembered how THAT experiment turned out.  Celestia nodded her assent.

She took the time to address the issue of payment.  In her mental state she had left her coin purse behind.  Fortunately she had a ready solution: as perhaps the single most recognized figure in Equestria, she could ask to have the bill sent to her so she could provide payment in a few days time, and they would know she would be good for it.  With that dealt with, there was little left for her at the Watering Hole.

 

Celestia turned back to Applejack.  “I appreciate you indulging me today,” she said with a smile, “it was enjoyable.”  As she stood up, she waved a hoof and said, “until next time,” before making for the door.  Though in no particular hurry, neither did she want to linger.  She'd been enough of a distraction as is.  After a moment of preparation, she launched herself into the air once more.

 

[Fin]