Let me help

When asked later Princess Luna would say that the breakfast she had that morning at Sweet Apple Acres in my Equestria dreamscape was one of the best she'd ever had. Link

2 baked pancakes, 6 fried eggs, a heaping pile of cottage fried potatoes, 2 glasses of apple juice and 4 cups of coffee later that the Princess of the Moon pushed her plate away and declared herself truly full.

"I have not partaken of a breakfast quite that exquisite in a very, very long time!" She levitated a napkin to her lips and dabbed them clean and then looked at the Apple family matriarch and spoke. "Thank you Granny Smith for this most excellent of meals!"

Granny took a sip of coffee and then made a dismissive wave of a front hoof. "Pffft! Ain't nothin' yer Highness. I've been whippin' up breakfast like that fer longer than I can remember!"

The Prussian Blue alicorn grinned at the elder earth pony. "Beware. Don't let my sister get word of that, or else she may start crashing your breakfasts with annoying frequency!"

Granny grinned at her Highness. "So lon' as she willin' ta help with the dishes and the chores later she can plant her butt down in a seat at r' table anytime!"

The Shaker style chair that Big Mac was sitting in squeaked on the wooden floor as he pushed way from the table. The red stallion yawned and then spoke. "Well. Speakin' of chores I got sum more ta do befer it gits too hot." He bowed to Luna. "Yer Highness its been a pleasure ta share r' table with ya." Then he excused himself and left. Soon after AJ did the same.

Luna looked over at Applebloom as the filly and Stone Mane started helping Granny clear the table of dirty dishes. "Little Bloom. You are very lucky to have such an excellent big brother and sister. Never forget that."

The filly looked up at the princess and smiled. "Dontcha worry yer Highness! I won't! I'm so happy ta have my big sis and brother. In fact befer ya arrived Big Mac did a whole heap of work on the CMC Clubhouse. He patched up the floor and put fresh shingles on the roof. Then him and sis slapped a fresh coat paint on the whole shebang!"

The princess gave the filly a raised eyebrow. "That was most generous of your brother." She stared thoughtfully at the door the stallion walked through.

Big Mac looked up at the hay loft and then back at the large pile of hay one of their neighbors had delivered to their barn. He'd already retrieved a wicker pack saddle that had a pair of angled wicker baskets designed specifically this purpose. However the saddle and its baskets would not magically carry the hay up into the loft by themselves, and it was going to be warm today with rain in the late afternoon. So he might as well get started.

The stallion had just donned the saddle when Princess Luna came trotting into the barn. Apparently the princess had spent some time after breakfast getting her, coat, mane, and tail into more a presentable manner. She'd also put her royal regalia back on again. The alicorn came to halt in front of the stallion gave him a regal look. After a second she spoke.

"Good stallion Big Macintosh. It has come to my recent attention that you went out of your away to assure that the domicile I spent last night in was sound both in structural strength and from the elements. Therefore I wanted thank you face-to-face for your efforts."

Big Macintosh's face was already crimson so it did an excellent job of masking his blush. "Ah shucks, it was no big deal yer Highness." The stallion muttered as he looked away. "It was just part of my chores."

Luna nodded her head. "That maybe true, but thank you for efforts." She paused and looked at the unusual saddle the stallion had with him. "If may inquire. What purpose does this device serve?"

"Well yer Highness. I got this here big ol' pile of hay, and I need ta git the hay up there in the loft." He pointed up at the loft above them and then the saddle. "So I'm gonna start loading it with hay. Then I'll put it on and then climb up the stairs ta the loft and dump it. Pack it down. Then do it over and over till its done."

Luna tossed her head and her mane dramatically flowed behind her. Striking a regal pose she made her proclamation. "Well good stallion! As my way of thanking you for your services before my arrival, allow me to help you and relieve you of this most tedious of tasks!"

Then without another word the alicorn's horn flared and the entire pile of hay floated up into the air and then into the loft. Luna then nonchalantly dropped the hay. With the task completed she looked at Big Mac.

"There! You need not worry about bothersome labor!"

The Big Mac looked up with apprehension at the hay precariously perched near the edge of the loft. "Um, thank ya yer Highness, but I better git up there and spread it out and pack it all down befer–"

Suddenly the entire pile of hay toppled out of the loft burying the 2 ponies. After a moment their heads popped up. Big Mac blinked and looked over at Luna who's manes was full of hay stalks. He stared for a moment then began laughing. Luna giggled herself and flicked a bit of hay at him with a front hoof. This only made the stallion laugh even louder. In retaliation she grabbed a hoof full of hay and chucked it at him. However after a couple more lobbing she started laughing herself. In self defense Big Mac also began throwing hay at the alicorn. This went on for several minutes as both ponies whooped it up. Still giggling Luna finally spoke.

"Perhaps I was a bit rash in my attempt to aid you. Lets try that again!"

Over the next half hour Luna lifted the hay up into loft in several loads. For his part Big Mac climbed up there and carefully spread and packed it down. Finally he came back down. He stopped in front of the princess.

"Well thanks yer Highness fer the help. Ya definitely sped the process up fer me. Well I still got a bunch of chores ta do, but once again thanks fer the help."

Luna sighed. Yes I will soon need to return to the palace and get some sleep before my evening shift begins." She looked over shoulder at her coat which was still festooned with bits of hay and dust. "However if I show up looking this my sister will fall over laughing."

Big Mac had already started trotting toward the barn entrance he paused and looked back at the princess. "Well yer Highness. If you wants ta clean yerself off." He gestured with this head. "There's a shower over in the corner ya can use." Then he trotted off into the orchard.

To be continued.