The afternoon sun glowed over Ponyville, giving the quiet little town a warm glow.
Ponies were wandering about the train station and the the weather made it a perfect day.
Applejack and her friends sat down at the platform with Macintosh.
Sadly that wasn't enough to ease Big Macintosh's troubles.

''Ah can't believe this is watcha'll do during your vacation Mac!''

Big Macintosh sighed heavily at his sister's stubbornness, he couldn't stand twiddling his hooves around and she knew it.
The wheat sprig in his mouth was bouncing up and down in the air, sometimes doing circular motions.
His blonde mane was shining in the light, giving it a golden glow and his ever calm and stoic stare almost made him not notice the two young mares on the other side of the track giving him some rather hungry glances as there was the constant buzzing of his sister's voice in his ears.
He loved his sister and liked all of her friends but sometimes he couldn't make the difference between Applejack's ranting and Pinkie Pie's endless verbal blabbering.

''Ah already told ya, AJ, ah hate having nothing to do with mah hooves, an' besides, Ah don't need your approval.''

Applejack frowned at his response, she understood what he ment as she was as much a workahoolic as he was but not quite to his level.
His obsession for working had his sister worried, and sometimes she mothered him too much to his liking.

''Ah know that Mac ah just think y'all are overdoin' it, ya rebuilt the barn last week, repaired pinkie's table, fixed twilight's window after rainbow's 'accidental' crash, then ya HMPH!''

Applejack suddeny got interrupted by a blue hoof shoving itself in her mouth.
Her eyes narrowed and slowly shifted to her rainbow maned friend, an expression of rage showed in her her eyes, she started to scream at Rainbow Dash with the hoof still in her mouth, making Mac chuckle.

''Chillax AJ! big guy knows what he's doing... plus the sun got in my eyes''

Finally able to shove Rainbow Dash's hoof out of her mouth and giving her a light but annoyed punch on the shoulder, she kept on with her rant.

''Of course he'll be fine gosh darnit he's an Apple: the strongest, hardiest and nicest ponies in all of Equestria! Ah just don't understand why ya choose to work in Canterlot of all the places, an apple in the city is like a lamb in a rattlesnake's nest: its loud an' nasty an' ponies are rude an' bMMPH!''

Now it was Big Mac's hoof that blocked her pie hole, giving her a provocative and yet warm smile, his always calm eyes met his younger sister's.
He kept his hoof in her mouth and preserved his calm demanor until she stopped trying to wrestle him, once she stopped struggling he wrapped his hooves around her and as he quietly chuckled he intentionally thightened the grip around his sister, burying her face in his muscular chest.

''Ya can't win sis an' ya know it, ah tell ya ah'll be fine... an' stop motherin' me ya aint Granny... plus ah'm the elder here so why dontcha start wearin' nicer clothes and getting ya a nice colt ta bring home?''

That made his sister blush...a lot.
Macintosh grabbed Applejack's hat and started teasing her by keeping it out of her reach.
Applejack growled at her brother, he was always calm and serious around his family but whenever he or one of his family had to leave for a time he became immature, constantly teasing his sisters and making his grand-mother laugh when he had the chance.
But mostly affectionate and a bit too much for Applejack's taste.

''All right! all right! Ya win ya big oaf!''

She snapped the hat back from him and bucked him on the shoulder, barely making Mac flinch.
The echo of the train's whistle could be heard in the distance, it would soon be time to go.

After about a minute of awkward silence the train's counducting wagon could be seen.
Applejack sighed and finally broke the silence that hung heavily between the two of them.

''No use tryin' to talk ya out of it right?''

''Eeeeenope...''

AJ leaned onto Mac's soulder and hugged his with all the strength she had.

''Just be safe okay? an' keep us informed if y'all still breathin' out there...an ahm sorry for all that whinin' and rantin', its just that ahm always worryin' bout everything and ya know how ponies are in the...city... ungh! just sayin' it makes me shudder.''

Mac hugged his sister back again, lifting her with relative ease.

''ACK! showoff!''

''Ah'll survive AJ, Apples have been through worse an ya know it, how bad can three weeks in the city be?''

Their conversation was interrupted by the train finally making its stop.
The wagon doors opened, releasing a flow of pegasi, unicors and earth ponies of all colors and all ages, once the drift of ponies who exited the train stopped a ticket master sticked his head ou of the wagon door and shouted.

''Six-Thirty from Ponyville to the capital Canterlot ALL ABOARD!''

Macintosh released his sister from his bear hug, she looked at him with puppy eyes somewhat similar to those Winona does when she breaks something in the house or makes a mess.

''Three weeks?''

''Eeeyup!''

''An y'all be back home right after?''

''Eeeeyup!''

''Pinkie Promise?''

''Eeeenope... an before y'all scream why: ah don't need to make a pinkie promise to hold one''

Applejack rolled her eyes with a ''i should've known'' look on her face, her big dumb brother was a stallion of action with little care for words; he has never, ever swore on something he wasn't going to do, he never kept empty promises.
Her face regained its happy tone and she smiled jokingly at him.

''Allrighty then! Ah believe ya... but if y'all don't haul your big fat rump back here in three weeks you're gonna need bandages for your ribs again!''

Big Macintosh chuckled and gave her back that hoof on the shoulder she gave him earlier, with little force of course he is a gentlecolt.
Being big and strong like he was Applejack almost lost balance and fell to the ground.

''Just ya try lil' missy...''

Macintosh then waved Applejack and her friends goodbye and climbed aboard the train.
Applejack, regaining the balance she lost and smiled at the leaving train but the mask quickly crackled and broke.
She sighed from the bottom of her lungs and her rump flopped the ground.
Luckily her friends were there to comfort her, Rainbow Dash being the first.

''Geez AJ he'll be fine! Mac's the biggest pony I know, he's almost more awesome than the wonderblots..or me''

''Ah know that! ah just don't know...''

Dash was now confused.

''Huh? OOOOOOooooookay I have no idea what you mean by that but...''

''Ah mean ah know he'll be fine, ah just hate havin' him away from the family: what if a bunch of punks attacks him while he leaves the train, what if..''

Rarity put both her hooves on AJ's cheeks, giving her a pouting face.

''Now, now dear, you're just panicking, Canterlot is not that bad, you, my friend, are exaggerating, crime is almost inexistant in the capital, guards are everywhere, and even if they did were to go against your brother don't you think that he could easily defend himself?''

''Yeah... ah guess y'all are rig...''

Everyone was suddenly interrupted by a pink blur bouncing up and down amongst them.

''Imeanlookathimhe'sbighe'sstronghe'sgotthosebigpowerfulhoovesthatgoesKABLAMandtheWHOLEtreeshakesImeanhecouldbe
asuperheroifhecouldflyYOUR...BROTHER..IS..AWESOMEImeansometimeswhenIamfeelinglonelyIthinkabouthismusclesandhisblond
maneandIdreamofthouchOOPS!''

Pinkie covered her mouth and blushed in embarassment.

''I went a teeny-weeny-bitsy little too far...''

The expression on Applejack's face could be resumed as pure horror.

''WHAT THE HAY DIDJA JUST SAY?!''

Applejack's sudden explosion got the attention of everypony at the station, bringing embarrassment not just to herself but to her friends too.
Rarity intervened again, trying to calm AJ down.

''Now Darling, no need to make a fool out of yourself in public, and besides, you can't really blame Pinkie for that.''

Rarity blushed and twirled her mane with a hoof, giving Applejack a shock.

''You too y'all got a crush on mah brother? Ah can't believe ya Rarity!''

Rainbow Dash stepped forward, also blushing, it was only then that Applejack noticed; all of her friends's faces were flushed red, giving each one of them a strange color.

''Come on AJ! Don't tell me you didn't notice, your brother is the best looking guy in miles around!''

Applejack's jaw dropped at Dash's revelation, she always thought her best friend was...on the other side of the fence...
She quickly turned to Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy with a glimmer of desperate hope in her eyes.

''Shy, Twilight, PLEASE, tell me you don't have a crush on mah brother...''

Fluttershy simply avoided looking Applejack in the eyes, her answer could be barely heard.

''Uhmmmm, well...you...your...your brother is hot...is it okay if I said this?''

The orange mare looked at her last friend, exasperated, and with a slightly threatening tone to her voice.

''Twilight...tell me...you don't...love...mah...brother...''

The purple alicorn's blush was much less apparent than her friends's.

''If you really want to know, Applejack, no, I don't have a crush on your brother.''

The blonde farmpony suddenly loosened, relief!

''But I do have to admit certain thoughts have crossed my mind...''

Applejack pulled her hat down to her eyes and screamed, sighed to her heart's content and stomped her hoof on the ground a few times while mumbling what seemed like a whole bunch of swearing and made up country slang.
After about a minute of high blood pressure, she calmed down.

''Look, Ahm sorry if I seem like ah hate y'all for this now, but y'all could've at least told me about it.''

Rarity spoke up again.

''Its okay sweetheart, we get it, you are just protective towards your brother but I'll tell you again; there is no treat to your brother out there except mares.''

Applejack finally cought on to what her friends meant, after ungracefully facehoofing herself.

''Not a single one of em city mare's gonna let mah brother be huh? well pray Celestia if he ever finds a mare there may it be a nice one''

The clock's ticking echoed inside the dining room.
Celestia always enjoyed quiet moments, she was always surrounded by royal guards, shady nobles, robotic servants and zealots who worshipped her to a creepy level so she savored every little moment of peace she could get.
She appreciated the power she possessed but most of time she couldn't stand it.
Everypony bowed to the floor and treated her like a Godess, she couldn't remember the last time she had a conversation, just a casual talk with somepony else except with her sister.
And those were political talks too, her days resumed to Wake up, raise the sun, breakfest, run a nation, manage nation's economy, lunch, appeal to the populace with a social event, diner, fifteen minutes break, lower the sun, sleep, rince and repeat.
Today was no exception, the sun princess hoped for something, anything that would brighten up her routine.

A guard entered the room, the princesses made a good choice with their guards; they were impressive, for other ponies at least.
They pretty much were decoration for the princesses as their powers dwarfed any threats.

The guard marched to Celestia and handed her a document before bowing and leaving without saying a word.

Luna stared at the document that Celestia laid next to her plate.

''Aren't you going to read it Tia?''

''Why should I? It is just some documents about the volunteering ponies for the construction of the grand gala dome arriving tomorrow, business as usual.''

Celestia could talk all she want, Luna has already opened the files and read them, she was mumbling words that cought her attention.

''......lack of workers in the city......construction delayed....awaiting volunteering workers from outside the city... what a shame!''

Celestia rolled her eyes at what her little sister unveiled, typical lazy, greedy city ponies, and Luna cought on to it.

''Tia?''

''What is it Luna?''

''Why don't you take a vacation?''

While the sun princess was good at mind games and planning, that question went straight through her defenses, shocking her a bit.
She tried to collect her shatterred thoughts for a second to come up with a potent answer but before she could formulate her answer, Luna further explained.

''You are tired sister and I can see it; rolling eyes, quiet sighs you don't even pay attention sometimes and you lose patience at everything now!''

''Luna, this does not concer-''

''Not to mention the 'dreams'.''

Celestia slammed her hoof on the table, making Luna jump and squeal in surprise, the eloquent and gentle tone of the mistress of the sun gave in to months of stress and anger.

''We had this conversation before, Luna, you are not mature enough to make decisions around here and if you ever eavesdrop on my dreams again I'll--''

Celestia froze in realization before she could even finish her sentence, she let her emotions speak before her mind, proving Luna's point.
She let her face ungracefully slammed on the table and sobbed a little; she was exhausted, she had enough of those pesky blue-blooded ponies trying to carve up the nation she fought so hard to build.
She was the most powerful mare in all of Equestria but still just a mare, a tired and lonely mare.''
The peaceful atmosphere of the dining room was now filled the sobbing of the princess and the ticking of the clock.

''Tia...I-I didn't mean to... this is what I meant, you take responsability for everything, you burden yourself by running the whole nation by yourself, you are killing yourself...I am not doing this to take over the throne, I am doing this for you...''

''Thank you, Luna... I just can't take it anymore, I want something fresh and new, I want something exciting, I want-''

''A special somepony?''

Celestia's face turned to pink upon hearing those words.

''I know you hate it when I visit your dreams but nights and the unconscious are my realm and they are not meaningless, they are what you desire.''

Luna changed her tone from comforting to something a little more teasing.

''Who knows you might meet a charming prince from a foreign land who will sweep you-''

''Be quiet you! what are the chances of some stallion actually wooing me? most of them are too scared.''

Luna nodded in aggreement, there were some very nice ponies in Canterlot but they mostly belonged to the common mass and were already engaged, finding a handsome stallion was already a difficult task, finding one for the sun princess that would be handsome and kind would be nearly impossible, nearly but not... the moon princess's eyes wandered around the room until the files on the table resurfaced in her thoughts.

''Well, Tia, it would be great if you could just take some times for yourself, like, going to the Grand Gala instead of just making an apparence...''

Celestia pondered on the tought for a while, she didn't see how would this personally help her at all but it would take a lot off of her soulders if she would rest for a while.
Luna proved to be more mature than before recently and all the immediate issues were already dealt with.
Yes, it would be nice.

''Alright Luna, you win, I shall take some time for myself and we will share the royal duties equally, however, if you don't prove to be responsible, I will cancel my vacation.''

''You're ON sister! uhhh...I mean, fine its a deal.''

The clock rang, reminding Celestia of the gala organisation meeting, she grinned.

''Well, Luna, go and make me proud, the meeting is waiting for you!''

''What?! But it was your job t-''

''We made a deal remember? I shall leave you with social events, the employment of volunteers, the medical department and oh you will also have to inaugurate the castle's grand gala dome.''

''But-''

''I would love to stay and chat but I am going to take a bath, thank you so much for letting me have time for myself sister.''

Celestia kissed Luna on the forehead and left the room humming victoriously.

''YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS TIA!''

Author's Note

The first chapter of my very first fic.
I'll admit, there are only three mac ships for me, Celemac (Celestia/Macintosh), Trimac (Trixie/Macintosh also my personal favorite) and Mac/Dash. I wish to make at least one story for each ship.
Anyway feel free to comment and criticise, what should I improve or try for the next chapter.
Speeking of what will be next, Mac will encounter trixie multiple times during the story, I do this for shits and giggles.