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


DerpRavener

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It was a bright, sunny day, and far above the trees Princess Celestia was leisurely making her way across the sky, flitting among the clouds. Ordinarily she wouldn't allow herself such a slow pace, but unlike other days today was about the journey rather than accomplishing any specific goal. Indeed, one could almost say 'stopping to smell' the roses was the goal itself. She'd set aside this time to relax, and for her that meant optimal use was stopping to admire the odd cloud formation or cluster of plants below that caught her fancy.

This was the princess' time off. She knew the dangers of overworking oneself in a way few ponies did, and as such she always made sure to set aside a little time to rest and recuperate, even if her available time was limited. It would be more than just Celestia who was harmed if she overworked herself.
She'd recently found herself in a lull between critical royal duties, through a combination of planning of fortunate circumstance, and she'd taken advantage of it. She made a quick exit from the Canterlot, though for her that still meant an hour or two of effort. She still had to make sure her affairs were in order, and that her sudden disappearance wouldn't cause any sort of panic, after all. The guardsponies and citizens needed to be tactfully informed, and plans must be made so that her absence wouldn't cause any significant disruption.
Having sorted all of that business out hours ago left Celestia where she was now, flying away from Canterlot and toward her chosen destination, Ponyville. She had chosen it as a destination as in some ways it was a quiet town, with a limited political importance, and although it had something of a history of extreme events Celestia felt like that might be just the sort of excitement that she'd appreciate during a break.

Celestia snapped out of her thoughts as she spotted the towering crystalline structure that was the castle of Equestria's newest princess, signifying that she had arrived at her general destination. That wasn't where she was headed specifically, however. She would have plenty of time to catch up with her former student, for the time being she preferred to visit a more casual acquaintance.
She changed direction slightly, flying to a spot at the edge of town and over a large apple orchard. She had spoken to the family that tended the orchard before, and though she wasn't that familiar with them she was confident they would not be overly bothered by her sudden appearance. She touched down on the plain, giving a pleasant smile in the general direction of the farmhouse a short distance away.

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Applejack could feel her eyelids trying to pull themselves down as waves of exhaustion crashed against hr and were broken by the stunning scale of her internal fortitude. Come tartarus or high water she was going to get the work done and none of this tiredness was going to impact her. If worst came to worst she would just focus on some of the more mundane tasks while her brain went into shutdown mode. She'd done it before and she'd do it again if she had to. Of course last time it was because of pride and her stubborn desire to not eat her words. This time was more accidental and completely out of her hooves, but the result may be the same if it went on too long. Not that it should but when it came to farming and jobs you didn't assume the best! Hehe, assuming the worst may leave ya feeling a bit peckish at the moment but at least you were prepared for the worst possible circumstances and this definitely counted as one of the worst.

Big Mac- out with some hay fever symptoms. Apple Bloom- maybe possibly also out with the hay fever. Granny Smith- just out of town. Normally a bit of hay fever wouldn't keep either of her siblings off of the farm for long but this had been one humdinger of a flu season and Big Mac was completely out of commission. Apple Bloom...well, Applejack had her suspicions that her sis wasn't being entirely forthcoming about it, but sick was sick was sick until she had any further proof. That left Applejack all alone to the work and she had done, was doing, and would continue it. The harvest didn't wait for nopony, no sickness, nothing at all. She wasn't going to push herself past her breaking point but, well, she didn't know what that was until she was walking about all funny like. Until then she would work and work until she could work no more. Hopefully by then Big Mac would have his flu episode dealt with so she could rest and recover.

Until then she had an endless sea of work and no more time to do it. Everything was compressed. Two sectors were done in one sweep and sixteen hauls in the time it took for Big Mac to do eight. Not only were the loads heavier than she was used to but she had to nearly gallop from point to point after she had already bucked them twice as fast and filled them up herself. One day of this was bad enough but a second day after about an hour of sleep was backbreaking to the extreme. That didn't even take into account shepherding or pulling up the carrots or feeding the pigs and getting the eggs and scaring off the fox that was trying to sneak into the henhouse- it never ended. She ran from one end of the farm to the other and in her haste she thought she some white figure fly above her and land off in the copse to her left. Geez, was she hallucinating? Applejack fought off her eyeslids once more and stopped her gallop to the next sector, shaking her head. What HAD she seen? The apple pony trotted off towards the trees, turned and-

Immediately bowed. Hallucination or not, a princess was a princess.

“P-Princess Celestia, how-it's an honor!” Applejack said, her mind reeling as her hat fell clear off of her head.

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“P-Princess Celestia, how-it's an honor!”

Celestia couldn't help a small chuckle. She was hardly surprised by the farmpony's slightly flustered attitude, in fact she was somewhat expecting it. She knew she had something of an imposing figure, even before one considered her position as a diarch of Equestria, and there were few ponies who could respond to her sudden appearance entirely gracefully. It was a state of affairs she got some quiet amusement from, when in one of her more mischievous moods.

All the same, she only approved of such things as long as they amounted to only harmless pranks. It would be irresponsible to stress out any of her subjects unnecessarily. With a gentle smile she quickly waved a hoof, intending to dismiss Applejack's worry. “Rise, please,” she said, as she lifted the fallen hat in her magic and returning it to the farmpony, “there's no need for the formalities today, this is my time of rest.”

Celestia looked around clearing she'd landed in, taking a moment to breath in the fresh air and admire the greenery. She'd been meaning to get to know her former student's friends a little better. She knew of them, sure. The exploits of Twilight and her friends were publicly available knowledge, even before her own personal sources were considered, but there was a big difference between reading an article or report on a pony, and having a conversation with them. She started with something casual. “How is the orchard doing?”

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It took more than a few seconds for Applejack to climb out of the mental stupor of seeing the ruler of the land and eternal sunshine of the Equestrian soul appear in her orchard without an apparent rhyme or reason. It took her hat being levitated back onto her obedient head for the relative mundane nature of the visit to strike her. Of all the places in Equestria or beyond the Princess could visit she choose to visit a small- well, okay, very large- farm and orchard in a small podunk town? Sure a lot of events had transpired recently to put the focus of Equestria square on the humble town of Ponyville but surely there were more exotic locations somewhere that suited the vacation desires of a Princess more. Applejack rose from her position, dumbfounded and a bit numb to the waves of shock crashing over her and eroding her good sense. Not that it was a difficult job, but a certain giddiness was on its way. Lack of sleep, good nature, and a sincere but pleasant shock to the system can do that to a mare.

The Princess then asked about the orchard. Why woul she care? It was always a bit hard for Applejack to get past the way she had been treated by high society folks at the Grand Galloping Gala. To her, that cemented a previously irrationally held belief that nopony outside of her business and Ponyville knew what she did or gave a toot. The Gala had done everything possible to lend credence ro that belief. Now here was the Princess of the Sun and Light and she was asking about Sweet Apple Acres? It took Applejack a few seconds to reply. Even with the new energy coursing through her she felt like a shadow of her normal self. So tired. She was in no shape to meet a Princess. She had been working so long and so hard that she had to smell like she felt, which was exhausted and driven down by work. Beads of sweat had turned to rivulets long ago and the short hose-aided bath she had taken earlier wasn't going to take for long. Luckily, if there was one thing Applejack could talk about even if half-asleep and half in a tizzy about a Princess, it was Sweet Apple Acres.

“Oh, uhh, it's doing real well Yer Majesty! Haul's been real good lately. One thousand trees this harvest, five hundred apples per. Not bad at all! The market is stable an' tha price is holdin' firm, transportation costs are down, an' more agreements have been reached. Heck, we're gonna have ta increase the amount of trees we harvest at any one time ta make all of 'em. Shouldn't be too hard. We have more than four thousand trees that produce apples. Thinkin' 'bout getting space for five hundred more so we can go to fifteen hundred every four months rather than a thousand every three. Ah'm-” Applejack yawned, “very excited for 'er. The animals are doing fine an' our other produce is comin' along for Winter,” Applejack stopped her blathering for a moment, slightly embarassed. She had just went off on a tangent, probably a bit more than the Princess wanted to hear. Back on the mare of the hour, “beg my pardon Princess, but why'd ya'll decide ta come down here for yer vacation? Ah mean, Sweet-” another yawn, “-Apple Acres is amazin' an' all but Ah'd think a pony like you'd have some sorta fancy vacation palace on the islands down south.”

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It took Applejack a few moments to compose herself, before she launched into an explanation of the orchard's status. Things were going well by the sound of it, both locally and abroad. The farmpony described how the trees were providing a good harvest this year, and that well as a good market environment for them to sell. Celestia was particularly pleased to hear about the transportation costs. She'd had concerns about her ponies' attitude towards each other of late, and had been trying to make changes to create more and farther reaching connections. It was still a little to early to tell if her projects would bear fruit, so there was a good chance this wasn't her doing. Either way it was a positive sign, as it meant either her efforts were beginning to work, or the natural tendency coincided with her goals.

She couldn't help but smile, pleased at her own designs as well as hearing the honest success of another.

“Beg my pardon Princess, but why'd ya'll decide ta come down here for yer vacation? Ah mean, Sweet-” another yawn, “-Apple Acres is amazin' an' all but Ah'd think a pony like you'd have some sorta fancy vacation palace on the islands down south.”

Celestia chuckled at the suggestion. “Yes, and you're not alone. Most ponies tend to think that, if they ever think about such thinks. And that's not entirely wrong. I do have a couple, more traditional favorites. For example, there's this wonderful little hotel in Hoofenheim...” She trailed off, losing herself briefly in a memory, though this was also something of a way to avoid details with seeming like it. She preferred to keep her private retreats private, and while she had no doubts that Applejack wouldn't willingly betray that, Celestia thought it easier for both herself and the farmpony if it simply never came up.

She looked back at Applejack, with a faint, sly smile. “But really, where's the fun in doing what's expected? I've often found that the best respite comes from breaking from the normal.”

Over the course of the conversation, Celestia couldn't help but take notice of Applejack's state. That tired look in her eyes, her tone of voice, the yawning, all of these made Celestia wonder if this wasn't such a good time for her to drop in for a surprise visit after all. “Speaking of mares at risk of overworking themselves, are you feeling alright?”

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A little hotel in Hoofenheim? Did Celestia mean to say she owned the hotel or something because the only way Applejack could imagine Celestia or her sister staying in anything other than a local palace or noble residence. Of course her longing gaze told Applejack that it was a special visit. Consideirng the fact that the mare currently in the middle of a memory-enforced haze lived many lifetimes, the visit must have been special. Who knew what lay in the bowels of some Hoofenheim hotel that tickled the fancy of an immortal Princess? Huh. Maybe she needed to visit one. Hard to imagine what could be there but even harder to fathom that a Princess was all in a tizzy about spending the day at Sweet Apple Acres. It was then that Celestia noticed how harried Applejack appeared, which drew a wry smile from the farmer.

“Well naw, it ain't nothin' too bad. Big Mac an' Apple Bloom are out with a touch of tha flu, so Ah'm handlin' all of Sweet Apple Acres' needs for a bit. Harvest waits for nopony! Two whole sectors in the time it takes for one, sixteen hauls in the time it takes ta do eight...lots of work just doin' that. Shepherding, pulling up the carrots, feeding the pigs, collecting the eggs, even had ta scare a fox that was trying ta sneak into the henhouse. After Ah haul all tha apples Ah gotta wash and separate 'em. Make the cider and tha pie, take the rest ta town. Place'm in mah booth and sell'm startin' tomorrow. Had ta close down on account of all tha work Ah'm doing back at tha farm. Apples will still be mighty fresh though, don't you worry. Didn't get any shuteye an' probably won't get anymore tonight. Hehehe, in fact Ah probably should get back ta it but Ah reckon visiting royalty takes precedence over it,” Applejack ended, nonchalantly starting to walk back towards the barrel she had unhitched herself from initially. “So, y'all needed a vacation of some sort. Anything in particular get ta you, Yer Majesty?”

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Applejack mentioned that her family, who she was normally sharing the workload with, were incapacitated by the flu for the moment. That left just the farmpony alone to confront all the myriad tasks that needed to be done.

It left Celestia a little torn. She didn't have more than a vague idea of just what the needs of an orchard were, so it was entirely possible that Applejack was absolutely right to work herself like this, essentially trading over-effort for avoiding worse consequences later. And if this was truly Applejack's desire, who was she to judge? The mare could make her own choices. Celestia always hoped to offer guidance, she never desired to dictate the lives of her subjects.

On the other hoof, she also knew the risks of overwork, and remembered from a letter that Applejack ran the risk a little more than most ponies. If these tasks were so critical, surely the problems would only be exacerbated if Applejack made errors due to fatigue. Though she didn't feel the need to force the issue just yet, she let a look of mild concern show on her face.

Fortunately, an opportunity for a temporary compromise soon presented itself.

"Hehehe, in fact Ah probably should get back ta it but Ah reckon visiting royalty takes precedence over it. So, y'all needed a vacation of some sort. Anything in particular get ta you, Yer Majesty?”

Celestia smiled again. “I don't suppose you have any of that famous cider laying around? I've heard such good things about it,” she said with a wink. “Though truthfully, for the moment I'm simply enjoying the fresh air. If you could give me a brief tour, that would be quite pleasant.” Along with a genuine if small desire to see the orchard in full, the alicorn figured that it would at least offer a change of pace, and maybe provide a small respite from the farmpony's more demanding tasks.

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“I don't suppose you have any of that famous cider laying around? I've heard such good things about it. Though truthfully, for the moment I'm simply enjoying the fresh air. If you could give me a brief tour, that would be quite pleasant.”

That was a bit of an odd detour for the Princess to take. She didn't really answer the question. That could only mean it was a bout of frustration or she felt run down. Either way, if she wanted to relax then Applejack would see to it that her needs would be served. She was nothing if not the most dependable of Celestia's subjects.

"Oh, uhh, okay then. We're just gonna get ourselves a nice cold drink, Yer Majesty. Been a busy day an' Ah'm sure that it sure as heck wouldn't do me any good ta say no. Come right this way an' Ah'll show you tha best cider in Equestria!" Applejack smiled wearily to herself as she led Celestia some way deeper into the orchard and the duo reached what looked like a trap door in the ground 'round back of a smaller barn. It used to be a storm shelter for back in the olden days the Apple family found themselves up against the Everfree with no local weather control to keep it corralled. But now that the weather wasn't as much of a problem, the storm shelter was much more important. Very high quality Apple family cider was stored here in specialty, earth pony magic coated barrels that kept the cider cold and fresh as long as they were out of sunlight. And not to mention, the area was highly secured.

Two sundials stood next to the shelter a few feet off the ground with a little bit of reflective surfacing. The storm shelter itself had two hoof inlays carved in, with various hidden metal workings underneath.

"Alright Princess, Ah'm gonna need yer help. We gotta turn the sundials so we can get the sun shinin' on tha iron inlay. Then we gotta put our hooves into the inlay and turn at the same time- and each inlay is just a bit different, so Ah take one, you take one," She licked her lips, "then we have ourselves the best cider in Equestria!"

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Celestia had been half joking when she asked for a drink. Not that she didn't want one, she thought a drink would be wonderful, but she wasn't certain they would even be available. She wasn't that knowledgeable on the subject, but her understanding was that there was a seasonal element to it. From the inclusion of the apples, if nothing else.

So she almost had a pleasant surprise when Applejack, after a little confusion, offered to take her to where it was stored. Almost, in that if there was one thing known about Applejack, it was the mare's dedication to her work.

It wasn't until halfway to their destination that Celestia realized the error she'd made. Wondering at Applejack's apparent confusion, she realized that the question she'd heard and answered, and the question the earth pony had actually asked were two very different things. The realization was a little jarring, she hadn't expected to be so inattentive, though all that showed of it was a brief slowing of her pace and a small frown. “Hmm...I must have needed this more than I realized,” she muttered to herself with a light chuckle as her previous demeanor returned. Perhaps she could revisit the question later, but for the moment other things caught her attention.

They'd arrived at their destination, what appeared to be a sturdy set of cellar doors flanked by a pair of sundials. Applejack explained what would be required to operate the doors (it apparently required at least two ponies), which in turn gave a hint as to their function, though whether the bigger concern was climate or thieves Celestia couldn't quite tell. Either way, it was both a testament to the Apple family dedication, and mild amusement for her. She wouldn't have expected such sophisticated barriers for something as mundane as cider, though she supposed several ponies would disagree with her calling it mundane.

Celestia positioned herself next to one of the sundials, waiting briefly for Applejack's signal so they could begin in tandem. As she began to shift her sundial, she saw an opportunity to return to the previous conversation. “To answer your earlier question, there was an issue with an Aquellan diplomat, as well as a few...developing situations which I find myself unable to respond to for the moment...” She trailed off. Much as she liked the idea of venting her woes, she knew better than to put that on Applejack. Not only could it complicate Celestia's own plans, but she couldn't imagine the farmpony's situation being at all improved by getting involved. Even if AJ herself might not agree.

She continued, getting closer to the important point. “But the truth is, I'm here because I know first-hoof the dangers of being overworked. As much as getting more accomplished might seem enticing, the fatigue begets errors which are often more costly in the long run.” She paused briefly, hoping to subtly emphasize the point which she felt might apply to Applejack as well. “In my position, those are mistakes I simply cannot afford.”

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Applejack was a bit slow on the upkeep. She could hardly be blamed for it. Her mind moved at the speed of molasses. Her work had been effectively ramped up due to sheer muscle memory and elite instincts. Experience when paired with innate ability could lead to great thing or, in this case, a great deal of competency when the remaining factors were negatively marked. Still, she caught Celestia's meaning eventually. Yeah, it'd be best if she could go ahead and not deal with a terrible workload at the moment but that wasn't an option. Few ponies understood the work and life of a farmer and business owner but it was safe to say you needed to live two full lives to do well at both and she only had one to give. But that didn't mean the requirements were slackened.

“Oh, I can only imagine what you have to go through. For mah own work, it is constant an' it needs ta be done on schedule without fail.Can't rest today because that just makes tomorrow harder. Can't get ahead if yer behind and if yer behind ya can't stay afloat. Us Apples might be tha biggest an' tha best apple farmers in all tha world but all it takes is a missed shipment or chaotic day ta make ponies think twice. Then somepony else gets the business and a generation down tha road we're tha one's takin' a lickin'! Hehe, no way, no shade, not on mah watch,” Applejack said, the sternness of her task and the dread of failure equally evident in her clearly worried voice.

More intriguing was Celestia's slight movement away from telling Applejack everything, which Applejack was completely fine with. Unlike some of her friends who thought that their relationships gave them the ability and standing to treat royalty like anypony else, Applejack knew they weren't. When Twilight or anypony else in her position, such as Celestia, had matters of sate on their mind, it wasn't their duty to spill everything to their subjects no matter how dependable and honest they may be. Celestia would do well to find somepony to lay a weary head upon and spill the potent blood of the state into an equal reservoir that a friend could help with. But if she wasn't going to choose Applejack to be that pony, Applejack wasn't going to hold it against her.

“Well, Ah wouldn't know about diplomats but Griffons always seemed a bit prickly ta me as a rule of hoof. Y'all don't have ta tell me anything else,” Applejack stated as she the Princess get into position. Good,

"That's right, Princess. Just turn'er nice'n easy,” Applejack soothed her as she turned the dial as well a few times until the sun was hitting just right. She allowed Celestia to copy her movements until she was finished and it was done as well, the angle of the sun hitting just right. Success! Both rays of light liy the shelter inlays, one into each hoof. After a few seconds, it glowed an odd blue-orange. Applejack trotted up next to it and beckoned the Princess to follow, staring at the device in front of her. The inlays seemingly pulsed in blue and orange even when the sun was blocked. It was a two stage lock. The sundials activated a dull magical barrier and lowered it, allowing a pony to touch the inlays. Earth pony magic was still magic. Then the inlays would only respond to the touch of an Earth pony. In this case, Celestia was an alicorn and was technically all of them, so it worked. Applejack placed a hoof in an inlay.

"Arright, put yer hoof on the other and on tha count of three, you turn left, Ah turn right. Ready?"She waited a second, readying herself.

"Ooonnnnnee....ttwwwwooooo....three!"

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Applejack directly confronted what Celestia was worried about, and while the response didn't quite assuage her concerns she was in the end satisfied with the response. It was clear to her that the job of the farmpony and that of Celestia's own station had opposite concerns. In Celestia's case, small mistakes brought on by fatigue could potentially have far reaching consequences. Sure, there was the occasional time when long hours were a necessity, but generally speaking it was better to take extra time and ensure everything was properly considered. Meanwhile, in Applejack's case consistency of delivery was more important than any single batch.

What's more, though it took a little time the farmpony was clearly aware had Celestia expressed some concern, and maintained her position regardless. She made her choice, and Celestia had no reason to argue it.

After a moment's thought Celestia smiled, and nodded. “I undertand. I just hope you will get some rest when that time has passed.” She was still hoping the mare would take care of herself, but she carefully worded her statement so there was no obligation attached.

“Well, Ah wouldn't know about diplomats but Griffons always seemed a bit prickly ta me as a rule of hoof. Y'all don't have ta tell me anything else.”

Celestia laughed. Well, that was one way to put it. “Yes,” she agreed, “they are a very forward people, certainly.” Not wishing to paint them in too negative a light, she continued. “And of course that approach has its positive points. But it does make diplomacy with them...interesting.”

Celestia was a little tempted to try and decipher the cellar's security for herself, but decided against it. Instead she worked patiently, allowing Applejack to guide her through the process. Not only was it simpler, and more in the spirit of her little vacation, but it seemed a bit more respectful as well. It wouldn't do to trivialize the Apple family security measures when Celestia was just here for a casual visit.

The magic itself was a durable but fairly simple affair, in same character as those who used it. From what Celestia could tell at a glance, it seemed designed more to keep out harmful weather or wandering animals than potential thieves. Which made sense, given the orchard's proximity to the Everfree Forest. With the sundials in position, on Applejack's count the two of them placed their hooves on the indents and turned. Celestia could feel the door interacting with her earth pony aspect as a light brush on her senses.

She allowed herself a small lick of her lips as the doors were opened.

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Princess Celestia took instruction well. That was good to see! So many ponies were resistant to just the teeniest bits of advice and fought all the way, thinking themselves better or smarter. But when it came to the workings of Sweet Apple Acres, that orchard around the hill that was obscured by not only treelines but the private work of generations, even a Princess needed to heed the words of the young mare from the trees. It also made Applejack wonder if the Princess of the Sun needed help during the night if she had difficulty sleeping because of her sister's trollish ways. Did she even know what a schoolhouse was? It was super possible that the reason she seemed so perfect compared to normal ponies was because she only ever saw them in the midst of grand adulation, this odd state where reality matters little and the swaying of a psyche was measured in how aware they were of the cult of personality and it's tenacity. But oh well. Random thoughts milled about as Applejack went to work

The door made an odd clicking sound as the duo did their part. The lock was indeed magical. It had been placed there decades ago according to the stories by one of the top locksmiths in the region, who magically coded the lock to require Earth pony magic and at least one with a connection to Sweet Apple Acres. Every Apple family member would work as they were all connected by blood to the family that founded the orchard. After a few seconds of small clicks, a few heavy iron thunks were heard as the mechanical workings went into high gear, and then silence. A pregnant pause and then the doors started to open, a blast of ice cold air blasting the pair in the face before they both experienced a slight rush of oxygen leave them before everything equalized. On either side of the barn that was on top of the cellar, small iron doors swung open as well. Applejack didn't hesitate in leading the Princess into the cellar.

It was lined with dozens of barrels of cider as well as thousands of smaller treats that needed to be kept in the same condition. Condensation formed above them due to the temperature, small drops of water occasionally buffeting them as an atmosphere thick with a dry atmosphere had what little condensation it had pooled into the special soil that lined the cellar, which had a soil roof and a soil floor as well as walls. It was actually technically alive, this strange old soil from the Everfree that had an odd habit of sucking in all nearby water and oxygen sources. It existed in a cycle- water would be pulled around all four sides again and again until it was all gone, ad the oxygen levels would drop to almost dangerous levels. Then the two doors on the side of the barn would be opened and new oxygen allowed inside to keep the soil alive, and everypony won. The soil lived and the Apple family had the perfect cellar. It took a lot of hard work to make such Everfree materials work, but the Apples were up to the task.

"Sorry 'bout that little burst of air out there, Princess. See, air is bad for our storage, same with condensation. Gotta keep everything here dry and free from oxygen! If oxygen got inside of an open barrel of cider, it'd spoil faster than Apple Bloom after she's had too many sweets. Tha soil 'round us makes sure ta keep it all goin' smoothly, and we keep it alive by feedin' it. 'Course, Everfree stuff can be a mite scary at times so we made sure ta keep all four sides of tha cellar bordered up with some iron an' wood. Gotta make sure t-that," her teeth chattering was put to an end through intense effort, "we don't have wild Everfree soil tearin' apart normal Equestrian soil, right?" She offered rhetorically as she reached some wooden drawers, pulling out two wooden goblets and hoofing over one to the Princess. She then lead the way to one of the smallest barrels which was marked with a date a week prior.

"Gotta use one that's already opened so we don't spoil the crop. It should still be really fresh as the conditions are perfect, though," Applejack stated excitedly as she poured two cups of nice, cold cider, “an' maybe this'll help keep me up a little longer! Hehe. Yeah. Ah need rest an' Ah need it bad. Ah know it. Ah'll get ot, don't you or anypony else fret none. Y'all just make sure ta tell me how this cider strikes you!”

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Celestia had some idea what to expect when the cellar door first clicked itself unlocked. Simply understanding the purpose of a storage cellar, especially one as hardened as this one, could tell her that. What she wasn't quite prepared for was the force of the burst of chill air which happened on it's opening. It was strong enough to ruffle her mane, and she recoiled slightly at the sudden cold, caught flat-hoofed as she was.

Celestia blinked. She honestly hadn't been expecting it. Then she laughed. No stranger to pranks, and even having carried out a few herself at times, she found it to be like the punchline to small joke.

Applejack apologized for the cold, her teeth chattering a little in the cold air, and using that as a starting point launched into a short explanation of the cellar. For her part, while she was feeling the chill Celestia wasn't visibly bothered by it. She was hardier than many ponies gave her credit for, as well as an expert in self control.

Apparently, the cider needed to be kept in an environment both dry and largely free of oxygen, and somehow the Apples had found a way to use Everfree soil to maintain one. Celestia listened intently to the explanation, impressed by the resourcefulness of the solution but even more curious about how it was accomplished. “Very impressive,” she said as the explanation came to a close, “I can only imagine something such as this takes dedication to maintain.” As Applejack retrieved a par of mugs and walked to an open barrel, Celestia spent some time looking around the room.

Celestia's attention was drawn back to the farmpony, who had filled up the pair of mugs with cider and hoofed one to her, and picked up the conversation once more.

“An' maybe this'll help keep me up a little longer! Hehe. Yeah. Ah need rest an' Ah need it bad. Ah know it. Ah'll get ot, don't you or anypony else fret none. Y'all just make sure ta tell me how this cider strikes you!”

Celestia smiled once more, and nodded. She had read how Applejack could be something of a stubborn pony, but in this case she seemed more determined and maybe even a little bit desperate. While Celestia would best hesitant to call such a state good per se, she was relieved to know that the mare recognized her situation at least would get her much needed rest at the first opportunity. The alicorn said nothing, considering the matter resolved for now and seeing no reason to prod the issue again.

With that settled, Celestia gripped the mug in her magic and took a sip, letting it swish about in her mouth to get a full taste. It had a very strong, vibrant flavour, though it came in stages so as not to overwhelm the drinker. It was cider of a very high quality, and she'd be hard pressed to think of the any that might be better. If it had one disappointing point, it was that it offered no surprises.

“Mmmmmmm,” she began, after swallowing. Very nice. I may have to purchase some for myself at some point.” She held off for the moment only because she didn't want to deal with any finances during her rest. She had a preferred avenue for making such making such purchases anyways.

But while the cider was indeed very good, what really intrigued Celestia at the moment was the cellar itself. She waved a hoof in the direction of the cellar walls. “I'm curious, do you know how this technique was discovered?” She took another sip of her cider as she waited for the reply.

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Applejack was giddier than a schoolfilly at her first dance at the thought of her cider pleasing the Princess to such a degree. No doubt Apple family cider was the best in all the world but it never hurt to have that confirmed by the pony who stood atop it as a pillar and a colossus. It wasn't even their top-shelf stuff either, a fact which entered her mind after a few sips. Still high quality though and something they could easily make in larger batches. Apple family cider could fill the halls of Canterlot Castle, the aroma of the farm wafting across the urgency-stricken halls of power and cooling the rage of strife and warming the hearts of friends and enemies alike. Apple family cider wasn't just a labor of love and a good way to make some bits, it was a message from the Apple family to their customers. Every glass was the result of everything that defined Equestria. Good luck, kindness, honesty, dealing fairly and hard work the likes of which would put many to shame. Celestia could bring that up without saying a word every time she gave some hot-headed delegate a sip.

“Well yer Highness, Ah bet that everypony'd love ta have a sip at yer castle. Ah mean, Ah'm sure that y'all have high quality refreshments and such but nothin' compares ta good ol' fashioned Apple family cider on a cold day or a warm day. Or a tough day, or an easy one. Heck, any old day does well with our cider. Ah guess Ah can send some over to yer castle an' we'll see how it goes from thar. Yer sis will like it too, Ah bet,” Applejack blathered on a bit, her mind teetering on manic enjoyment. Then she pulled back and withdrew into her drink, the dancing pops of the cider telling the tale of expert fermentation and production. It was shocking they didn't have a pony in the family who was an expert on fermentation with a cutie mark and all, but maybe that was just their good fortune.

The subject turned to the soil, or more importantly, how it was discovered and maintained. Well, it sure as heck wasn't good luck. That Everfree soil seemed to have a mind all its own. While it did its job well and the Apples fed it expertly, nopony knew the price that would be paid if they didn't keep the Everfree soil and the Equestrian soil separate enough. The only instances that had happened were small scale and resulted in nothing more than a broken local ecosystem and a patch of dead soil, which was enough to tell Applejack it was a bad idea to go any further. The story of how they found out wasn't entirely too well detailed either so Applejack couldn't give the best possible answer, but the Princess had a question and Applejack had the answers...mostly.

“Ah don't reckon it was Apple family explorers that figured it out, but mah great grandpa knew the stallion who did it. Ah can't recall tha name at the moment, but he realized that the soil in tha Everfree wasnt just yer average run of the mill soil. It's alive! As living and breathing as anythin' else. And hungry. Hungry for water an' hungry for tha very air we breathe. He didn't think nothing of it until he had a few batches of cider go bad an' he realized he had ta have an environment that was free of oxygen and water. He knew that the Everfree could provide for that so he made a little cellar and everything was great...for a few days. He noticed that tha other soil started ta die off real quick and it wasn't long before he realized that it was tha Everfree soil that was doin' it. He just took it all out. It was mah great grandpa that came up with tha idea of having wooden walls all around ta separate the soils! Now all ya gotta do is change out the soil seasonally, section by section, an' it can go on forever!' Applejack ended excitedly, burping enthusiastically after an energetic sip went down swiftly. “Err, excuse me.”

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Celestia chuckled at Applejack's enthusiasm for her praise. It still amazed her what a positive comment could do for a pony, though part of her concluded that, ever watchful for new markets, the farmpony was exaggerating it a little to make the sale.

Still, that didn't mean the statements themselves would be any less true. “Yes,” she agreed in response to the last statement, “I'm sure she will.”

Applejack could only give a simplified explanation of the technique for using the soil and it's discovery. Which was understandable, Applejack was a farmpony more than an adventurer or scientist, so likely wouldn't have much interest in the subject beyond what was practical. Besides, by the sound of things a generation or two had passed since the technique's discovery.

Celestia simply nodded at the conclusion, pretending not to notice the burp, contemplating what she'd just heard. Though entirely understandable, it was a mild disappointment.

The Everfree Forest had always held a certain amount of attention from Celestia. Of all the areas within her domain, the Everfree Forest was the one known for resisting attempts to settle or pacify it. As a result, it was both an intriguing puzzle and a regular logistics problem for her. She hardly obsessed over it, that would be unbecoming of her station, but anything which might contain seeds for a solution tended to attract her attention.

It this case, it would appear it wasn't so much a solution as adaptation. The soil, a product of the wild forest, was allowed to behave as it normally did and the Apple family was simply making use of a beneficial byproduct.

So it wasn't likely to present Celestia with any direct solutions, though it was still both a positive sign and possibly useful. “It is some impressive improvisation,” she said eventually. Still gripping her drink, she took another sip, then turned toward the door. While very practical structure, a cellar wasn't her preferred place to spend her rest. As she started to walk, her thoughts remained on the Everfree and its effect on her ponies, and she asked, “Overall, how much trouble do you think the forest generally gives you?”

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“Hehe. How much trouble does the Everfree give us?” Applejack answered back immediately before taking a long gulp of her cider, hitting it as hard as it could be hit.

Applejack had answered this before. Heck, she had answered it a dozen times. Everypony she spoke to who didn't know beforehoof where Sweet Apple Acres would ask about the Everfree. She often wondered what they thought it must have been like. She guessed some thought it was an annoyance and others that it was a simple tale of survival on a day to day basis. They were both very right and very wrong. Living next to the Everfree defied description. It was so unnatural to a pony and Applejack was a pony who was more natural than most. What was it like? What was it like indeed. What was living next to the most volatile place in the world for weather like to a pony whose livelihood depended on the proper seasons? She couldn't describe it with a Canterlot trained tongue, but a Ponyville trained eye could help the Princess see. Applejack pout her mug down on a table and motioned down to the ground. She followed through, getting down and pointing at a table corner.

There was a thin vaneer of moss growing on it. Applejack started to paw at it.

“Well, Ah'm no good with words as you can probably tell. But tha Everfree is like this moss here,” she pawed at it some more, “seems harmless enough. Ah mean, tha color is a bit spooky but you get used to that,” she pawed some more, revealing a small crack in the table leg. She started to peel the outer layer of the table leg off, revealing a sickly black and red moss inside the wood, “but you let it grow too much, too fast, an' it can ruin yer foundation. See, the soil is alive and it as mean as a wolverine in heat. Aggressive too. Y'all know how it fights off bugs and rodent barrows? It grows this moss. It may not look like much but it grows in fast spurts when threatened. I've seen it swallow rats whole!” she continued pawing at it until the table started to get wobbly. The leg broke, but the table adjusted for a moment as Applejack started to apply an iron leg in its place, “and then BOOM, something breaks. I've seen it happen a few times so Ah'm prepared, but the first few times we lost a whole batch of cider. The soil can taste tha arsenic and grows the moss. It eats tha whole batch of cider along with the barrel. And it can feel the soil of Equestria on our hooves. If ya check it, that same moss is growing on tha bottom of yer hooves,” Applejack showed her hooves to the Princess and sure enough there were small moss pockets on it. She quickly cleaned them off. As she did so, she spoke.

“That's tha Everfree. It's never a big event that causes the trouble. Sure, we have some mighty powerful storms from time ta time but it isn't anything ta get yer mane in a knot about. We can handle that. It isn't even the occasional big beast that comes by to try and snag a few ponies. Ah know how ta beat them back an' honestly...its a bit excitin'. Naw, none of that is the problem. It is the consistency of tha Everfree. Day and night it intrudes on mah land. Ah've never lost a full house of hens in one night but Ah have lost a house of hens in a month. Ah've never had a herd of cows vanish in one raid, but Ah've lost a herd a year. Ah don't worry about losing a bumper crop of apples before I wake up tomorrow but Ah know Ah'll lose a crop or two over the years. But you see, it could do all that because I've seen it happen to others. I've seen whole herds, hen houses, and bumper crops get destroyed by creatures from the Everfree. I've seen whole farms turn into deadzones when the Everfree soil in one single night spreads its moss across a field and up trees. Tha Evefree is just like that soil. The land here is incredibly fertile because the pH here is so high on account of Equestrian magic being backed up at the border. All those creatures, this moss, all the nasty stuff inside of that blasted place- its just reacting to our magic. And just like a bug or a rodent or whatever else it perceives as a threat, it wants to overwhelm us and beat us back. So, how much trouble does this forest give us?” Applejack took her mug and finished it off, a pregnant pause filling the room.

“Ah love it.”

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Applejack's first reaction, when asked about the trouble the Everfree Forest gives her, was to point to a bit of strange moss growing over a table. The earth pony described the moss as representative of a Everfree as a whole: initially unnerving, but one could become accustomed to that. The metaphor was a little simplistic, but it served its purpose well enough.

The real danger of the moss, and similarly of the Everfree as a whole, was attrition. The moss was very aggressive, could eat through anything, and if Applejack was correct it even possessed a rudimentary awareness. More so than any single creature attack or random event spawned by the forest, the real danger was the moss, slowly eating away at any structure built by ponies. Even to the prepared, it would cause significant loss over the long term. The unprepared would in all likelihood be driven off or consumed.

Applejack even demonstrated that the moss tried to grow on ponies themselves, as well as other creatures, revealing the bottoms of her hooves to have bits of moss on them before scraping them off. So that's what the was. The moment Celestia had set her hooves inside the cellar, she'd felt something trying to creep up them, though it was no match for her own magic. A small effort of will and a bit of improvisation with one of her usual contingency spells was enough to ward them off, but the intrusion had still managed to catch her attention, although she said nothing. That issue, though evidently of great concern for the denizens of the orchard, was trivial to her for the purposes of this visit.

It was a curious find, to be sure.

Celestia leaned in, and peered at the moss thoughtfully for a moment before stepping back. “I suppose it stands to reason that the true threat of the Everfree would be something subtle,” she said eventually. “Nothing else could last so long, this close to civilization. Still, it presents a curious challenge.” She found herself a little torn. In general she was inclined to respect life in all forms, especially when it demonstrated clear desires. On the other hoof, she couldn't overlook that it opposed her philosophy of mutual coexistence.

Except with the Apples apparently. Celestia felt a mixture of pleasure and pride at what her ponies accomplished, especially without her direct intervention.

She paused, and shook her head slightly, internally admonishing herself. While confronting the Everfree Forest was an important and possibly noble task, it was a poor use of this day in particular. For today, her concerns precluded the issues faced by Ponyville. Celestia would remember this discussion for later, she had a few followup ideas which she wanted to explore, but today was a day of rest. Looking over at Applejack again, she spoke. “That was a thought provoking response. And while I thank you for it, I'm afraid that discussion will have to be set aside for now.”

She finished her cider with a satisfied 'ahhhh', setting the mug aside. Tiring of the cellar, she began walking toward the door. Just as she reached it, with a light smile she asked “I'll admit I have a mostly abstract knowledge of Ponyville. Is there any place in town you might recommend for a wandering princess?”

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The talk had gotten unceremoniously deep. Applejack wasn't a light of mind mare with a whispy sense of communication but she tried to not put her worries and concerns on the shoulders of others, no matter how broad they were. It wasn't often she got to describe the day to day dangers of the Everfree to a Princess who wasn't as intimately aware of it as it existed now. Twilight knew it well enough that she could offer a lot of suggestions on how to deal with the Everfree, most of which were almost impossible for Applejack to implement on a daily basis. It didn't look like Celestia could offer more than a pleasant end to the conversation which was fine enough by Applejack. She felt foalish. Of course the Princess was interested but not all too invested in this. She had a nation to run and the problems that an overtired farm mare dropped on her probably came off as complaining more than anything.

The new topic: Where should she go? Now that was a doozy. Applejack knew the town like the back of her hoof but her mind melted at the question for a few moments. This town could offer everypony a little bit of something but offered nopony everything. If there was a pony deserving of everything it was Celestia but geez, where should she go? Applejack preferred a nice bar for some relaxation when her friends were busy and she needed to get away, but no doubt that wasn't suited for a Princess. Full Ponyville experience using places she had not visited before, perhaps? Then again the town was busy this time of day. As much as Applejack would love to take her by the Boutique since se was sure Rarity would turn into a flaming puddle of excitement before her very eyes, that would be a rude thing to do and interrupt business. Just about any single business would the Princess down and hurt the flow of business. Hmm. So maybe stay outside...oh, she had it!

“Well, Ah reckon that we can't go inside anywhere on account of yer presence stoppin' everypony and Ah figure ya want a bit of anonymity, right? Well, we can swing around ta tha Watering Hole for a drink an' a hill right outside town that has a mighty fine view. Then when yer ready, if you wanna, we can go through town all tha way ta Twi's place. Attract a crowd sure but heck, makes sense headin' thar don't it?” Applejack offered up as she started to lead the pair out of the cellar. No doubt it would be interesting to down some more cider but she wasn't really in the head-space to down what she could down. Of course going to the Watering Hole belied that point, but it would be an interesting social experiment to take the Princess to Ponyville's oldest establishment outside of Sweet Apple Acres.

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Applejack took a moment to consider before giving an answer.

“Well, Ah reckon that we can't go inside anywhere on account of yer presence stoppin' everypony and Ah figure ya want a bit of anonymity, right? Well, we can swing around ta tha Watering Hole for a drink an' a hill right outside town that has a mighty fine view. Then when yer ready, if you wanna, we can go through town all tha way ta Twi's place. Attract a crowd sure but heck, makes sense headin' thar don't it?”

Celestia gave a light laugh at Applejack's description. “There's only so much anonymity a princess can have,” she said with a grin. Even with hundreds of years experience she hadn't found a reliable way to keep herself from drawing attention. At least, not without dire consequences.

“But yes, a very astute observation. I would prefer my visit to cause as little disruption as can be managed.”

Celestia pondered the suggestion of the Watering Hole, but in truth she didn't know that much about it. As she'd mentioned, she had only an abstract knowledge of Ponyville, and the Watering Hole wasn't even within the town itself. She had to admit, if any place could handle her presence at the moment a tavern would probably be a likely candidate. And a pleasant view never went amiss. She nodded. “That sounds like a wonderful idea.”

“And yes,” she continued, as she walked out of the cellar behind Applejack and followed her onward, “As disruptive as it could be, while I'm here I should visit my former student shouldn't I? Even if only briefly. It wouldn't do to cause her undue stress.” She chuckled to herself, and jokingly added, "She might not forgive me otherwise."

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“There's only so much anonymity a princess can have. But yes, a very astute observation. I would prefer my visit to cause as little disruption as can be manage...that sounds like a wonderful idea. And yes, as disruptive as it could be, while I'm here I should visit my former student shouldn't I? Even if only briefly. It wouldn't do to cause her undue stress. She might not forgive me otherwise.”

Shucks, Applejack felt like the smartest pony in the world. Getting a princess to agree to your impromptu itinerary must be a secret talent of hers if it worked on both Celestia and Twilight. She did have a history of making and keeping some pretty lengthy schedules which would explain why she was able to bond so well with Twilight over their shared work ethics. Of course Twilight tended to keep herself to an unrealistic schedule while Applejack's schedule dealt with more repetitive tasks that she had to do regardless of personal enrichment. Twilight- well, Applejack didn't know how she'd react to the concept of repetition. That would be the true test of her scholarly character, the decidedly unscholarly Applejack believed. Hopefully Twi wouldn't want to learn everything about farming so she could critique Applejack's methods. She did that without the knowledge anyway.

“Well, Ah'm more than happy ta show you 'round tha Watering Hole. It's tha oldest place in the area 'cept for Sweet Apple Acres, formed soon after tha Apples started ta make it big. Used ta be tha only place a pony could get something to drink and some shuteye from Canterlot ta the river. Heck, sometimes they like ta say they had more ta do with the town growing 'round us than Sweet Apple Acres did, hehehehe. Hahahaha...ha,” Applejack trailed off as they made their way out of Sweet Apple Acres, each step one to a good rest and drink not far. Applejack was so tired, so very tired, and now her own schedule was so hopelessly ruined that it was almost as if all of her recent efforts were wasted. She quickly banished such dark thoughts- as a subject, and a passionate and loyal one at that, it was an honor and privilege to accompany her princess. Sometimes Applejack just needed to remind herself of that.

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Celestia was making an effort to take her time, attempting to walk as slowly as reasonable to enjoy her surroundings, though she was finding that ingrained habits were hard to shake. Now that she had a destination in mind, she felt an urge to pursue it with the utmost efficiency.

Celestia resisted, though without a strong motivator there was only so much she could manage, which in this case amounted to keeping pace with Applejack. While she might have hoped to move at a more leisurely rate, she was enjoying the walk all the same. It was still a beautiful day out, and she was enjoying the quiet, country air. Though she would be hesitant to call it better exactly, as both had their appeal, it was certainly a pleasant change from atmosphere of Canterlot.

Applejack told her an abbreviated history of the Watering Hole, as they walked. The earth pony described how it was one of Ponyville's oldest establishments, being about as old as the town itself and certainly its most venerable tavern.

It was an interesting tidbit of information, but while she still filed it away in her head it wasn't what caught Celestia's attention. She couldn't help but notice a degradation of Applejack's mood, though it only lasted for a moment. She couldn't tell whether it was disappointment at something or just simple exhaustion, but either way Celestia disliked the idea of being a burden. She stayed quiet for a moment of consideration, before she smiled and spoke as they continued to walk. “I'm certain I could find the Watering Hole myself, if you have other concerns.” After a moment she added, with a joking tone, "I'm quite capable you know."

She may have spoken too late though, as she could see the top of a rustic building when they crested the hill, which she could only assume was the tavern itself. Celestia wondered if she was losing her touch, although that would be part of the reason for this exercise.

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Applejack's ears perked up in a devilish conspiracy as she heard Celestia's soothing voice try to placate her, the Princess informing her dutiful subject that she need not feel burdened by the royal presence beside her. Applejack was trying to go back in time and rethink anything she had said which could be construed as offensive or somehow placing the burden of her likely poor attitude on anypony aside from herself. That worry was undercut by Celestia's playfulnes at the end, which forced a chuckle out of Applejack as she looked back at Celestia with a wary, somewhat confused smile. She then shook her head and put the marbles back together. She was Applejack. Solid mare. Perhaps the most solid mare of all the mares who could argue with her about who was the most solid. She couldn't let herself fall to pieces with a bit of exhaustion and worry over entertaining royalty while still running around town.

“Hehe, nah. Ah reckon y'all need protection on account of bein' such a dainty Princess from up thar in Canterlot,” Applejack shot back playfully before taking her hat off and taking a deep breath before readjusting it on her mane. “Ah just don't like it when some ponies try ta diminish what tha Apples have done fer Ponyville. And it ain't even tha family that runs tha Watering Hole, just some of the other farmers in the are who think they can get all sorts of excited anytime we make a little mistake while they undercut our dang legacy,” Applejack's voice rose pitch by pitch until she felt it boiling. She stepped it back a few octaves. “Uggh, sorry. Ah'm not usually like this. Exhaustion does some funny things ta a pony. Ah'm sure you understand,” Applejack stated plaintively as she led the way directly to the establishment.

She entered and the heavy wooden doors creaked as she did so, even as she was struck by the smell of salt and cider. Yep, it was sorta dead in here. Ponies played pool and darts and some drinks flew around...sometimes even literally thanks to pegasi waitresses. But not nearly as much as it could be. A large first floor was full of the standard, a large bar, many tables, a few pool tables and darts. Two large staircases went up to the second floor balcony which was multiple tables deep and packed as well. On either end of the balcony were doors that led to the rooms on the second floor, and inside those same doors at the end of the rooms' hallway were more staircases heading up to the third floor, which was all rooms. Applejack trotted up to the bar, laying her weary form on a stool, waving to the bartender. She then waved to Celestia, who was just out of sight enough that nopony else had yet found out that the local farmer was towing in the very highest of royalty in with her this night.

It was going to be a good night.

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“Hehe, nah. Ah reckon y'all need protection on account of bein' such a dainty Princess from up thar in Canterlot,”

Celestia was pleased to find Applejack catching onto the joke, and played along. “Oh thank goodness you're here for me. I just had a hooficure and I don't know WHAT I would do if it were ruined!” She finished by dramatically raising her hoof up to her forehead, before having a laugh.

It wasn't long before things became a little more somber. The conversation went on a bit of a tangent as the farmpony explained some of her reservations. Celestia listened patiently. There wasn't much she could do with the situation besides listen, as knowing little of the situation it was the only action which would reliably be beneficial.

“Uggh, sorry. Ah'm not usually like this. Exhaustion does some funny things ta a pony. Ah'm sure you understand,”

Celestia smiled again. “Indeed, perhaps more than most.” A few different memories flitted through her head, several of which she cast aside as being too dark before settling on one which seemed appropriate. She looked around, making a show of checking for observers even though she was fairly sure there were none, before leaning toward Applejack conspiratorially. “One time I mediated a territory dispute which kept me awake for three days, and at the end of it I'd decreed it mandatory to wear a bathrobe around one's ears at all times.” She shook her head at the memory of it. “Needless to say it was rescinded quickly. But I've had regular experience with exhaustion. So yes, I understand.”

By that point the pair had ended up at the establishment itself, and Applejack took the lead walking through the front entrance. By the sounds filtering through the door it sounded reasonably busy, though Celestia guessed it wasn't anywhere close to capacity. She watched Applejack trot up to the bar and take a seat on a convenient stool before waving to Celestia to follow suit. Smiled as she imagined the faces of the other patrons, before stepping inside. She did enjoy a good prank, when it didn't cause any harm.

As Celestia walked through the door, everything seemed to come to a stop. The reactions varied, some tried to make a hasty bow or greeting while others simply stared slack jawed, but for a moment there was near silence as all but a few ponies on the upper levels stopped what they were doing in awe. She even thought she heard drop a glass in surprise. She casually waved to several groups.

Celestia had an amused smile on her face as she approached the bar, but nonetheless asked Applejack, “Should we perhaps head to the balcony, so we can at least be out of the way?”

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The one thing Applejack would say about The Watering Hole without concern or reservation was that if you wanted to deal in some of the drinkiest drinks in all of the world, you could only ever find them at little dives like this. They didn't have to worry about having taste testing wallflowers come by for a wine tasting, no sirree bob. You came here while you walked a lonely road or finished a day of heavy labor with the goal of good times and short memories, something The Watering Hole delivered in equal amounts. Their cider wasn't the equal of Sweet Apple Cider in flavor and long-lasting aftertaste but their stock could compare with the hard stuff Sweet Apple Acres sold on a year-around basis which was unfit for such wide consumption during the season.

Hopefully Celestia would find the same sort of atmosphere Applejack enjoyed about the Hole. Maybe as a Princess she wouldn't be as enamored with the exciting moment to moment whodunit of getting hit on by a random stranger who didn't know what he or she was doing. Well, for a Princess it'd have to be different. Ponies were more likely to throw themselves at her hooves than submit to amorous tendencies, even though if anypony was willing to go that far it'd stand to reason it'd be after a drink or six here rather than anywhere else on the planet. So the only question was whether to do it on the ground floor or on the balcony. Applejack wasn't under any delusions they were gonna be getting a peaceful time of it anywhere. She was a Princess and the tallest, most glorious one of that.

Still, Applejack wasn't about to burst her bubble entirely. “Sure, we can go ta tha balcony. Ah don't think we'll be getting' a more peaceful time of it up thar but heck, Ah don't see how it'd hurt,” Applejack offered pleasantly enough, standing up and nodding up above. The bartender nodded and a bar waiter led them up top, supplicants breaking upon a bouncer's wall as they got up top. Less active but still a few ponies gawked, including those who hadn't see her beforehoof. A nice booth was their's for the taking and taken it was in short order, the farmer taking the seat with the more dominant view from below so as to block what she could of the Princess. “So, what can we get for you, Your Majesty?” The nonplussed waiter asked, levitating two menus over full of delicious, decidedly not nutritious bar food.

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“Sure, we can go ta tha balcony. Ah don't think we'll be getting' a more peaceful time of it up thar but heck, Ah don't see how it'd hurt,”

Celestia chuckled, watching the light chaos of her entrance as the pair was lead upstairs. “Oh, I am aware I can't escape it, I'm merely hoping to curb it some. Still, you'd be surprised what requiring even a little extra effort can do.” She recalled a number times she'd worked subtle inconveniences into rules and programs, and it consistently impressed her how effective such approaches could be. If nothing else, it got her away from the door, which would allow an easier exit for anypony who didn't have the energy to confront her presence at the moment.

Once they'd been seated in an out of the way booth, the waiter asked for their orders, evidently unphased by the prospect of serving royalty. Celestia admired his professionalism. Today of all days the last thing she needed was supplication.

She pondered for a moment. She made a small show of browsing over the menu, but in truth she wasn't that hungry at the moment. Still, she'd hate to come all this way and pass up the opportunity. “You know,” she said eventually, “I'm feeling a little naughty at the moment, how about a slice of cake?”

After giving Applejack a moment to place her own order, if she liked, Celestia turned back to the farm pony and revisited an earlier comment she'd let slip. “So, I take it you don't come here especially often.” Though not a question in and of itself, it invited a casual explanation.

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