Sweet Apple Acres is the founding father of all of Ponyville.  This stretch of fertile farmland is owned by the Apple Family and supplies Ponyville with its main source of local foodstuffs.  The farmland property is shared by several other Ponies who work along with the Apples to supply various crops and services to the town.  Famous for its beautiful orchards, Sweet Apple Acres is the apple of Ponyville's eye and the home of the dedicated farmers who ensure everyone has enough to eat.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:35, Sat 14 Apr 2012.

Hard at work as usual, Big Macintosh is currently busying himself with chucking hay bales into the barn loft for storage. He'd wished Applejack good luck with her business in town when she left with one of their carts this morning, but that was some time ago by his reckoning. As he tosses the last of the hay up he turns to stroll out of the barn as he mentally runs down his chores for the morning. Most are already done- he's been up since before the sun was, as is the usual with farm life. Looking around and catching no sight of his middle sister he figures that she must've gotten into some business with her friends again.

Since he's done with chores around the farm for the moment, he decides to head into town- if Applejack is busy with her friends he can do her a favor and haul the wagon back home. He heads for the market, figuring she's likely to have made it that far- at least.

_{To Market District -->}

---> From Business District

With her speed, it took no time at all for Rainbow Dash to arrive on the scene at Sweet Apple Acres. It was a place she knew well. Her home tended to hover over it most days after all. It was a good relationship, she'd arrange for some extra rain and sun for their crops when needed, and in exchange she'd get free apples now and then. She slowed as she cruised over and around the buildings that made up the farm. She was determined to find the apple cart for Applejack, and to not miss a single detail.

As Rainbow Dash soared over the farms, she'd find it as peaceful as ever.  Aside from the Apples there were often other workers there -- the property was shared with a few of the other local farm families in Ponyville, such as Golden Harvest for instance.  Down below she could see ponies hard at work tilling the land, gathering crops, and otherwise doing all the honest labor needed to ensure that everyone in Ponyville had enough to eat for the rest of the season.

There were plenty of apple carts about, but none that Dash was actually searching for.  The orchards were full of buckets and carts used for toting along the delicious fruits for their various purposes.  As she flew past the farm house itself, the Pegasus would hear a familiar call and see Granny Smith down below waving at her for a neighborly hello.

Rainbow Dash sighed as she could not locate the apple cart. She had hoped to locate it not just for the glory, but because she legitimatly wanted to help Applejack. She waved back to Granny Smith and decided to land and chat for a quick second. She did not have patience for the elderly at the best of times - they were so... slow - but she liked all of the Apple family, practically being neighbours and all. "Hey, Granny Smith. Whats up?"

"Heh... well, you were just a bit ago, sugarcube~!" Granny Smith chuckled to herself as Rainbow Dash landed with a gust that ruffled her mane.  She raised a creaky foreleg to pat the girl fondly on the shoulder.  "I wanted t'ask if y'happened t'have seen any of th'youngin's 'round t'day?  Applejack and Big Macintosh ain't been 'round all mornin' and I was gettin' a mite curious.  Last I saw she was at th'Library with Twilight."

Rainbow Dash chuckled at her bad joke, more to spare her feelings than anything. Granny Smith was an interesting sort to put it mildly, and Rainbow Dash never really felt right around her. When she asked her question, Dash let out a sigh of relief that it wasn't another one of those 'when I was your age' stories. "I haven't seen Big Mac or Applebloom all day, but AJ's in town looking for something. I was actually helping her find it. An apple cart has gone missing. So... I should really go check in with her. Can I pass on a message?" She asked the oldtimer, hoping more to get out of this situation than anything.

The aged equine perked up at the mention of an apple cart, though her expression shifted quickly to one of consternation.  "Ooh... don't tell m'that silly pony's been hoofin' it all over Celestia's green grasses t'day for that cart, has she?"  Granny Smith sighed as she pointed over to the barn.  Sure enough, tucked just inside the building doors was the sought-after cart, no worse for the wear.

"Consarn it... I knew I forgot t'do somethin'.  I was gonna tell her earlier but it plum skipped right outta m'head."

Rainbow Dash looked into the barn and at the cart a few moments before she facehoofed. "It's been there all along??" She asked with a smile and a laugh at the silliness of the situation. "Sorry to bolt, Granny Smith, but I have to go tell her as soon as possible. She's pulling her mane out with stress trying to find it." She hopped up into the air and with a gust of wind from her wings, she was gone.

---> To Schoolhouse

Visible from the farm, a dust cloud barrels down the road  and over the hill, toward Sweet Apple Acres. As it gets closer, the flying rainbow above it and Applejack at it's head came into view.

In from Schoolhouse

Slowing to a steady trot as she passed the gates, Applejack slowed to a stop to look about, and threw a hoof up to right her wind-shifted hat. She trotted on toward the house, expecting that Granny would already be back there.

---> From Schoolhouse

Rainbow Dash came to a stop above Applejack as they arrived on the scene. She spiraled down before landing on the gravel path that led through the farm. She then followed her up to look for Granny Smith.

--> Twilight Sparkle enters from Ponyville Schoolhouse

Twilight wasn't quite as quick as her friends, so she chose to 'cheat' instead.  Only moments after the other two ponies arrived at the farm she winked into existence, having teleported the difference to be left shaking sparkles of magic from her mane.

Meanwhile, Granny Smith was easy enough to find.  She'd been on the porch when Rainbow Dash left and she hadn't moved, still seated in her favorite rocking chair to watch the day roll by in peace.  She perked up as all the girls arrived and gave a creaky wave of her foreleg.  "Ooh, there y'youngin's are~!  I was wonderin' when y'all would be comin' 'round."

Trotting along to the porch, Applejack made room for her friends - including the appearing Twilight. That still startled her, but at least she wasn't being teleported too, this time.

"Heh.. Ah guess ah should thank ya' for helpin' me out this mornin'?" Applejack led. She took her hat off with a hoof and tucked it...somewhere, out of sight.

"I'd reckon', but from what this flashy filly said before, it sounds like I caused y'a bit of strife.  What happened?"  Granny Smith thankfully didn't seem unaware of the problems that had arisen.  Older ponies sometimes had a habit of dismissing the concerns of their younger kin.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

"What happened? We only tore the town apart looking for the darn thing!" Dash flailed her hooves in too much excitement as she told the tale, but then calmed. "Still, I'm just glad the cart is back where it's supposed to be and all the apples are accounted for."

Xing Ming was not pleased about having to walk to Sweet Apple Acres by herself from the train station. Her ears were down and her head stooped, sweat on her brow from pulling the little wagon of supplies along with her saddlebags under the bright sun. She had, of course, been offered help to take the items to the farm for her, but she had been far, far too shy to accept it. Luckily, it wasn't all that far from the train station, and soon enough, she came up onto the farm.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, there were several ponies outside, and she shrank down for a moment. She recognized one of the ponies from a picture her mother had shown her - an older pony, whom she would feel more comfortable meeting, that she knew was named Granny Smith, and whom her mother told her to find. She stayed still and quiet at the gate for a few moments, before she rose up, took in a deep breath to steady herself, and finally came forward into the farm proper, where the other ponies were standing about. She ducked her head slightly, knowing that she would be noticed, in no small thanks to the very squeaky wheel on her cart.

At last, she came up to them, her head down all the way. There was a moment of quiet, and finally, she spoke. Kind of. _"Nihao..."

"It's not.. that bad Rainbow Dash. Ah' just didn't know where it had gone, so ah spent all morning lookin' for it. At least Blue Shield got to help with somethin'! Ah could tell he was excited for a case. Ah'd say it was an alright mornin'" She nodded, and looked to the other ponies. Then paused, at the sight of a pink filly coming through the farm gates. She put her hat back on her head and trotted over to meet her. "Hay, there." she chimed, then glanced along to the cart of personal effects. "Err... Ya'll right there, filly?"

_{"I... um..."} Xing cleared her throat nervously, glancing up at Applejack only momentarily, but was still keeping her head down. She raised her voice slightly, to make sure Applejack heard her. "I'm... Xing Ming... I was... told to... come here... To meet a Missus Granny Smith... about housing arrangements...?"

Rainbow Dash joined Applejack in welcoming this newcomer as she took to the air and hovered just above their heads. "Hey, uh, Xing Ming? That's a cool name. By Celestia, there's a lot of new ponies moving into Ponyville of late. Heh." She scratched the back of her head with a hoof as she tried to make smalltalk. "Why are you living here at the farm? I mean, there's no better place I think... well other than the clouds, but... you can't go there."

"No kiddin', but business is great!" She chimed to Rainbow. "If yer' lookin' for Granny, she's right over there. Ah'm Applejack, and this is Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle. Mah sister Apple Bloom is about yer age, ah'd reckon. She'll still be at school right now though." Applejack led her over to Granny Smith, with a mildly bewildered but friendly day. At this point, she'd expect anything to happen on a day like this.

"Well, reason bein'; After y'left this mornin' I went on into town m'self t'go gab with a friend.  I went past th'Libarry and saw th'cart outside, so I thought I'd poke m'head in t'say a quick how y'do as well.  But when I did, I saw y'lookin' over all those books all curious and bright." Granny Smith explained in her usual wheezy manner.  "I thought I'd do y'a favor and take care of th'job m'self, so's y'could stick 'round and maybe read a bit.  Wanted it t'be a surprise for ya'.  I know y'heart belongs t'Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack, but I sorta felt bad.  There's more t'a filly's life than workin' on th'farm, after all, and I was happy t'see y'maybe takin' an interest in some learnin'.  I didn't mean t'cause a ruckus for everypony."

It came just in time that, after finishing her explanation, a cute little filly came meekly up the way.  She was immediately the attention of the other girls, though Granny was a bit slower on the uptake as she peered over with a squint.  She brightened up just fine once she realized who it was though.

"Oh!  Xing Ming!  Y'got hear earlier than I was expectin'... train must be ahead of schedule again.  C'mon y'poor thing -- Applejack, help her with her luggage."

AJ rubbed a hoof on her cheek as she spoke about having been spoted looking over the books. That look on her face hadn't been curiosity so much as overwhelmed... fear almost, but... close enough... "Ah, that did remind me. Ah was gonna ask if ya' had a book I might like, Twi."

"Sure thing, Granny." She went along to do so, and shouldered some of her bags from the cart. "Who is she, Granny? Ya were expectin' her?" She asked, curiously, but seemed cheerful enough about the guest.

Xing turned to look at Granny Smith, and smiled at her as she approached. "Nihao, Granny. It is... good to finally meet you... in person. Thank you, for agreeing to let me stay here..." She turned to Rainbow Dash and gave her another small smile. "I come from... a very big city. My mother is in Equestria on a... um... 'mission of diplomacy'. She thought it... would be healthier for me... to stay somewhere small, and open... where I can see the stars clearly at night... So she contacted Granny Smith... to arrange for me to stay, and go to school... here in Ponyville... My mother said it would be like... a foreign exchange student... except they got me for free..." She gave a very weak and shy smile at that sentiment.

"Thank you," she said shyly as Granny Smith told Applejack to help her with her, to her anyway, heavy luggage and supplies. Among the suit cases was a long black case that held a heavy brace telescope. Her eyes brightened almost instantly as she looked up at Twilight Sparkle, and her cheeks flushed. "Miss Twilight... your magical prowess... is famous even in Shanghay. My father used to study magic, and the connection it had to the stars... I... I am pleased to meet you! I never expected... I thought that... that you would be in Canterlot..."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:41, Wed 25 Apr 2012.

"Precisely!  Lil' Xing Ming here's gonna be stayin' with us for a spell while she gets her schoolin' taken care of.  Her ma's an old friend and I'd never turn down such a request.  'sides, it'll give Applebloom another cutie t'play with too." Granny Smith ambled over and rubbed Xing's head in a friendly manner.  She gestured to each of the ponies around in turn.  "Applejack here's m'grand daughter and th'others are honorary Apples as well.  S'long as you're in Ponyville, you're one of th'family too, Xing Ming."

Twilight had sat back to listen to the explanation of what had happened passively.  Huh... so it had all been because Granny Smith wanted to do something nice, but didn't take the time to tell AJ about it.  As she reflected on what had happened that day, Twilight could already think of what would be going into her next letter to the Princess.  But perhaps she'd wait until later to begin drafting it...

"Oh, of course AJ~!  You know you're always welcome to anything my library.  I can think of all sorts of books you'd be interested in." she seemed quite pleased by the idea of getting yet another friend into the library since Rainbow Dash often came by to read as well.

With the arrival of another little filly around, Twilight once more lingered in the background until she was spoken to by name.  If anything, she seemed surprised that she had a reputation and blushed modestly over Xing's wide-eyed expression.  "Oh... well, thank you Xing.  I'm happy to meet you too!" she greeted.  "I used to be in Canterlot, but now I live in Ponyville as I perform my studies for Princess Celestia.  If you're interested, feel free to come by my Library whenever you like, okay?  I've even got my own observatory platform and telescopes..." she'd recognized the thick box from Xing's luggage for what it was and took a chance at her hobby, especially given the girl's Cutie Mark.

"That would... that would be wonderful," she said, her lavender cheeks flushing with a blush as Twilight invited her to the library whenever she wanted, to see a real observatory and study in her surely expansive library. "Maybe... maybe some night after school...?" she breathed. "I do my studying at night... mostly... Astronomy and... whatnot... I hope it won't be too... late?" she asked timidly.

"Tha... Thank you, Granny. I hope to make... make friends at this new school... and I am... happy to be part of... your family," she said meekly, nodding her head softly.

"C'mere, sugarcube." Applejack chimed, and put a hoof around the young filly. "Ah'll set you up to share Apple Bloom's room. Twi, seems like you an' Xing have some stuff in common. Ah don't know much about stars an' all, but you do." She chimed, then shouldered all the bags, with relative ease. "Ah'll be back in a bit. Rainbow, wanna help me get this stuff upstairs?" she asked

She did notably leave the telescope case in Twilight's hooves - she didn't even trust herself to handle something so sensitive without breaking it.

"That won't be any problem at all.  I pull all-nighters so often that I've got two assistants; one diurnal and one nocturnal."  Twilight reassured the antsy filly.  Her horn glowed softly as she levitated the telescope case from her friend's hold.  With it safely encased in a magical dweomer, she trotted along after the rest to help Xing get settled in.

>> From Market District >>

Roaming at a steady trot back into the farmstead, Big Mac is almost to the barn and still intending to get back to work when he spots the others inside. Wondering what brought the crowd here, he'll trot up and inside the main house to give a look.

Nosing his way inside, he looks after the group and speaks up, briefly peering at the new filly. "What's goin' on? We got a guest?"

Xing was a little surprised when Applejack put her hoof around her shoulders, but looked equally pleased a second later, recognizing it as a sign of acceptance. Ponies in Shanghay, after all, while definitely not unfriendly, usually weren't very physical with each other unless they were family. It was just culture. She couldn't say she minded, though! "Wow... you're... really strong... Applejack," she said as Applejack so easily lifted all of her bags so easily, even without magic.

"I could... teach out... about the stars... if you want..." she said in another shy tone in reply to Applejack explaining she knew nothing of stars. "Mapping the stars... and planets... has help farmers in Shanghay... better time out when the seasons... are scheduled to change... and prepare their crops better..." She got shy again, though not as badly. "I mean... I'm sure that... you're a great farmer as is... but my mother says... 'the only way you start getting worse... is by thinking you can't... get any better.'"

Slightly worried she had accidently insulted Applejack, Xing turned her attention to Twilight and visibly brightened. "Ooh... that would... that would be wonderful," she said happily. "Xing Ming means... Shining Star... I only got my cutie mark... a week or so ago, on the trip... to Equestria. The stars in Equestria... are in different position this time of year... than in Shanghay... which is much more north... I cannot help but to wonder... since magic is so... dependant on the stars..." she looked to Twilight's cutie mark for emphasis, "is magic effected by your... place in the world... where the stars at night... are different? Maybe one day... I will find out myself..."

Xing followed the pthers into the house and took her time looking around. It eas a lot different than any house she had ever seen before, but she liked it a lot! It seemed warm and inviting, with lots of room to play and cozy corners tobread in. Turning when Big Macintosh appeared and questioned her being there, the shyness immediately returned to Xing's demeanor. She slightly stammered, flummuxed, before lowering her head again, the hot blush on her cheeks once more."N-Nihao... I am... Xing Ming..."

As Xing spoke in admiration, AJ stood up straight holding the load easily on all four legs. At first her talk of teaching her about the stars was about to go over Applejack's head - she wasn't sure how she'd ever put the knowledge to use, and honestly, pursuits like that felt a bit intimidating, like Twilight's bookshelf... but in the form of a rather adorable filly.

But when she went on to talk about how it had helped Shanghay farmers, Applejack glanced to Granny, then back to Xing. "Well, ah think it's worth a try. An' yer mom sounds mighty wise~!"

As Big Macintosh came around the corner, Appplejack gestured with a hoof."Haya, Big Macintosh. This here is a guest of ours. Mac's the best brother a pony could ask for." She chimed, and started up to Apple Bloom's room, leading Twilight and Rainbow Dash along to set everything by the bed. She looked to her friend once they got upstairs. "Hah. Guess ah know what kinda book to start with, then, huh?"

The Apple Family (honorary and all) had plenty of time to get Xing settled in to her new room.  There was space enough to have both her and Applebloom share a room comfortably and get all of her stuff unpacked.  While the younger ponies were busy with that, Granny Smith had gone back downstairs on her own.  By the time everypony was finished getting things in their proper place, she called up from the kitchen.

"C'mon down everypony~!  Soups on!  I made 'nuff vittles for y'all~!" she announced in her creaky voice.  Indeed she had; from the kitchen wafted the ever-enticing aroma of home cooked food.  The dining table was laid out with a hefty spread of various apple-based treats and a fair variety of fresh vegetable salad courtesy of the other non-fruit crops they harvested.

Applejack spent time unpacking Xing Ming's things and organizing them alongside Apple Bloom's. But when Granny called to announce lunch, she looked to the filly  with a broad grin. "Mhmm. Yer' in for a real treat now~. C'mon, everypony, let's eat!" she called, then led the way down the stairs, and about to the kitchen. "Hay, Granny. Smells Deee-licious!"

She trotted about the table, making the first plate for Xing Ming. If Twilight and Rainbow were sticking around, they were next, then Big Mac, Granny, and herself last.

Rainbow Dash indeed would never turn down an invitation to eat at the Apple Family table. Granny Smith always hearty and delicious food, and it was definitely better than what she would eat normally. If she didn't pick up take out on the way back to her cloud house, it'd just have been the stale hay she had on her counter, or the week-and-something old vegetables she had stashed. She took her plate and sat next to Applejack, not knowing the others in the family quite as well. "This looks awesome, Granny Smith. You sure know how to feed an army." She smiled, indicating the quantity that was always cooked when Granny Smith got into the cooking zone.

Xing had, of course, helped to put away her things, her school supplies and clothes tucked neatly away, a few pictures of stars placed near the window in a way that they would not take up too much space on the walls, and leave Applebloom's room mostly in the same order it had been before. The only big things that showed her presence in the room were, of course, her bed, and her telescope, set up next to the desk and pointed out the window. The sound of food, after such a long day already, however, was eagerly met, and she hurriedly trotted down the stairs at the call for supper.

The smell was delicious, but unusual. She had not been in Equestria for very long, and she was still getting used to the different foods they had here. Not that they were bad, of course not, but they were definitely different. Xing was used to meals made with dark green vegetables like bok choy, choy sum, gai choy, sui choy and gai lan. There were also daikon, the root of the lotus plant, rice, and tea, both to drink and eat. For desert, dragon fruit, bayberries, pomelo, and mangosteen fruit, dried to concentrate sweetness, baked with rice or even smoked. The array of food before her as she sat at the table, her blue eyes wide, was exotic and fascinating. She had been living on Equestrian fair for a week or so now on the trip here, but this was far beyond the food she'd had on the train!

"Oh... my... Granny Smith, this looks... wonderful," she said, looking over the food placed before them. "What are... what are these?" she asked with genuine curiosity, nodding to the baked goods. Baked goods, after all, were certainly not part of her usual diet -- she had never even seen an apple pie before.

"Apple Pandowdy, cranberry apple crunch, apple butter loaf, apple crisp, baked apples, spicy apple fritters with cider sauce, acorn squash with apple stuffin', creamy waldorf salad..." Granny Smith counted off the dishes for Xing's benefit, though in doing so would only raise the appetites of everypony gathered as they took in the glorious spread.  "And since nopony can live on apples alone (despite m'best efforts), fresh roasted corn, collared greens salad with dried fruit and nuts, cherry t'maters stuffed with creamed alfalfa, double-baked savory mushroom caps, and plenty of fresh juices and water t'wash it all down with."

The sheer variety of food was staggering, especially considering how fast Granny Smith had whipped everything together.  For such a feeble old pony, she wasn't one to be underestimated.  But then again, she'd been cooking for a sizable clan of Apple Ponies all her life.  She reached to lift a serving spatula with her jaws, but was intercepted as it glowed brightly and floated away from her.  Twilight Sparkle smiled kindly as she took over from there.

"Please, allow me Granny.  You've worked so hard already.  Alright everypony, let's dish up~!" the unicorn said cheerfully.  She'd help Applejack serve each plate out while Granny Smith took an appreciative seat at the head of the table.  Once everypony had a full dish of goodies, it was time to dig in~!

"Thank ya' kindly, Twili!" Applejack settled between the Exchange Filly and Rainbow Dash, and patted a hoof on the table. "Everypony dig in~!"

AJ might favor the apple, but for now, she started on a mixed salad, intending dessert from her Granny's delicious apple pie~!

"Oh, this all looks and smells... so delicious..." Xing sighed appreciatively, licking her lips as she watched her plate quickly fill up. She glanced around momentarily for chopsticks, then realized at once that, one, this food was certainly not meant to be eaten with chopsticks, and two, they didn't use chopsticks in Equestria. Hoping no one noticed her pause, a dark purple magic glimmered from her horn to raise up the food from her plate. She was quite well mannered enough to eat her vegetables first, despite how enticing the baked goods were. Even the vegetables, though, were like treats to the little filly. She'd never had roasted corn before, and she was surprised how sweet it was. It was hardly like a vegetable at all!

Rainbow Dash dug into her food quickly, wolfing it down as fast as she could. Even though she rushed, she was able to taste each of the complex flavours. She thought that Granny Smith could probably have opened a restaurant if she wanted to when she was younger, but this was good too. It was like her own private restaurant without the crowds. Being Rainbow Dash however, she let mischief take over as she non-nonchalantly fired a spoonful of apple pie over, hitting Twilight Sparkle on the cheek. When she looked over to see who'd done it, Dash instantly pointed a hoof at Applejack.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:17, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

"Howdy, little lady." Though his voice carried a good volume thanks to his size, his laid back tone managed to render the simple greeting welcoming. After giving a friendly nod of thanks to AJ's compliment, he turns to head along with the others to eat. Going over to plop down at the table, he's happy to wait for the guests to get their food first; Granny always makes plenty for everybody, so being last in line is no problem.

The flipside of waiting of course, is that Big Mac took at least a little from almost everything from the feast and filled more than a couple of plates straight off the bat. In no time he's chowing down, and while he might seem off to their filly from faraway; he's not messy at the least. "Don't be bashful. Get all y'like, there's always plenty more." He advertises to the guest on noticing how delicately she was going at her own meal.

Conversation was naturally on the low side since everypony was plenty hungry and more than eager to eat before their food could get cold.  And what a treat it was~!  Twilight was used to either eating out or fending for herself and Spike at home.  While both she and her dragon friend were capable enough in the kitchen, it led to some distinctly 'bachelor' like habits when it came to meals.  She really appreciated some good home cooking and was obviously enjoying the mushrooms quite a bit if her smile was any evidence.  She'd have to see if she could take some left-overs home with her for Spike.

Of course, her enjoyment was cut into as a bit of apple went 'splut~!' against her cheek.  She was startled for a moment but quickly spotted the culprit trying to pass the buck off on Applejack.  Twilight just turned her nose up in a dignified manner and licked the treat off her cheek.

"Now Rainbow Dash, I expected better of you.  We're trying to have a friendly meal and you should know that the dinner table is no place for such--SURPRISE ATTACK~!" the unicorn's lecture went on just long enough to lull Rainbow into boredom before she lit her horn up and sent a blob of creamed alfalfa straight into her friend's face.

Xing smiled brightly at Big Macintosh as he encouraged her to eat all she wanted in such a friendly tone. The very shy little filly was already beginning to warm up to everyone at Sweet Apple Acres, amd it wasn't hard to see why; everyone had been so welcoming and kind, despite the fact that she was an unexpected guest to most, and a foreign one to boot. She paused at the sound of the ~splut~ rang out and slightly startled her, staring at the bit of apple on Twilight's cheek. She pulled her corn cob back and openly stared at Twilight and Rainbow as Twilight unexpectedly retaliated, and Xing had to bring her hoof up sharply to her mouth as her cheeks hotly flushed, only barely able to stifle her giggling.

Driving past the big farm, Honey decided it would be best if he got something to eat before he drove into town, and this was the (semi)famous sweet apple acres where the best cider and apples was grown, so it might as well be here.
"Uhm, Hello? Can I please buy some food from somepony working here?" Hon said with a uncertain voice. Why are all of these ponies here? They can't all work here, can they? He thought for himself.

Granny Smith just had a hearty laugh over the mischief of the younger ponies, not taking a bit of offense as her cooking was used as artillery.  Food fights were actually pretty common since apple pies came in the perfect launch-able format and were surprisingly aerodynamic.  So long as everypony ate their fill and had a good time, she was satisfied.

However, the call of some stranger from outside got the old pony's attention.  She creaked up from her seat and tottered over to the window to peer out curiously at the fellow on the path.  "Huh... a travlin' young feller.  Poor boy looks a mite road worn." she observed as she lifted the window pane up and leaned out.  "Helloo there youngin'~!  If you're lookin' for somethin' t'eat, c'mon in and sit with us~!  We just served vittles and there's plenty!"

It was a generous offer, especially from a stranger.  But then again, Ponyville was well-known for is friendly citizens... a bit of neighborly love was apparently easy to come across!
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Applejack had been hesitant - and honestly, hadn't believed it when Rainbow Dash started slinging quality Apple cuisine across the table. She looked up with a concerned expression, then down to Xing Ming. They were gonna make a fuss right in front of...

Oh. The filly was giggling like she'd never ever seen a food fight. Applejack grinned, and leaned down to nudge her flank. "Hehe, why don't you give it a try?" she encouraged brightly. She grinned across the table toward her brother, and nodded. He'd be a good target.

As Granny got up, Applejack hopped up to trot over with her. "Oh, there's always food for one more pony here..." she glanced voer her shoulder. "Uhh..  but it might go flyin' through the air anytime now. Better make ya' a plate." she said, and trotted over briskly to do just that, leaving Granny to let him in.

"Oh wow. That is very sweet of you. My name is Honey." He said as he was taking his cart of his back, ending with him extending his hoof to the elder mare.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

"Pleased as peaches t'meet ya, sonny.  I'm Granny Smith, and this here's m'grand daughter Applejack.  C'mon in." the elder pony shook hooves and led the boy inside the cozy Apple farm house.  His initial thoughts of the crowd being large for working on the farm was surely dashed when he'd catch sight of all the pictures on the walls.  From the looks of it, the Apple Clan was over a hundred strong!

"Here, have a seat.  Everypony, this is Honey.  Honey, this here's AJ's big brother, Big Macintosh.  Th'lil one here is Xing Ming.  Over there's Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash." Granny took care of the introductions and waved for Twilight to scoot over and make room for their newest guest.  "Help y'self all y'like.  There's plenty, and young studs need all th'food they can get.  Ain't that right, Big Mac?"

Xing's eyes went wide as apples as Applejack nudged her and suggested that she give her own brother a good splat of apples, her cheeks flushing hot. "R-Really?" she breathed, and turned to Big Macintosh. She grinned cheekily the way all fillies in mischief do, and as discretely as possible, lifted her spoon into the air full of apple fritter, closing one eye to take careful aim.

She was interrupted, however, by the appearance of yet another person to the farm. She quickly zipped the spoon behind her and smiled shyly, trying to pretend she wasn't magicking it behind her. Surrounded by people who had been so friendly, and because Honey Sweets seemed so friendly himself, she was less shy in meeting him as he came to the table. "Nihao," she greeted him in a chimed voice.

"Hi everypony." Said the white, young looking colt, with a very short red mane. "I was thinking if one of you after dinner could show me a place where I might be able to rent a place for the night? I don't expect getting a place around here will take less than a day." He said with a hoof on one of the delicius looking apple fritters.

"Well, it's only just lunch time now, so you still have plenty of time.  Are you moving to live in Ponyville?"  Twilight Sparkle mentioned as she moved aside to let Honey have a seat.  Her horn glowed to hover over a glass and pour him some cool water since he was no doubt parched from the road.  "I can show you the way after we eat, if you like.  It's on my way back home."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

Applejack dropped a plate in front of Honey, and then trotted back around to her seat next to Rainbow Dash and Xing. "Thank ya' Twilight. Ah gotta get to harvestin' a handful 'a trees on the east orchard this afternoon. Xing~ Ya' wanna help me out with that after we eat?" she asked. "You'll be able t' meet Apple Bloom on her way home, she stops by an' helps when Ah'm workin' that end of the farm."

After giving a welcoming nod to the new stallion, he turns a pleased grin at Granny as he answers. "Y-ep." Shuffling his plates around as he continued to eat, Big Mac didn't enter into the fight himself- at least not yet. Shuffling a little to make room, he'll hoove one of his own untouched and laden plates over towards Honey Sweets and give him an assuring look before going back to his meal; watching with a bit of hope that the food fight continues.

Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped when Twilight Sparkle of all ponies launched a counter-attack on her. As she picked creamed alfalfa out of her mane, she began to plan her next assault and target. Granny Smith was out of the question... though she'd probably be game for it. She grinned as she decided the new target, the exchange student filly... might as well welcome her to Ponyville properly! With all this going on, she didn't really pay too much attention to the new arrival to the dinner. "Nice to meet you, uh, miss--"

Rainbow Dash flinched and gave Applejack a dirty look as she was elbowed in the side. She looked over to the new arrival for the first time. "Ah. Sorry. It's the name-- Ow!" She gave Applejack yet another hostile look as she received another jab to the ribs. "Er, well, welcome to Ponyville. You could always just get yourself a cloud like mine." She commented, seeing he was a Pegasus.

---

OOC: I had Applejack's permission to dish out the elbows.

Getting stacked behind more and more food, Honey only briefly answered all of the incoming questions. "Yes and Thank you very much." He said to the charming mare called twilight, with his hoof on the glass. "It's okay, you will get used to it." He said with a wink with his head over the food at Rainbow.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Fri 27 Apr 2012.

"Your name in Shanghaiese is Fengmei Tianshi," said Xing to Honey Sweets between mouthfuls of sweet apple fritters, chomping happily at the exotic and delicious food Granny Smith had prepared for them. "That sounds more boyish to me." She smiled at him in a friendly manner, her cheeks blushing slightly as looked back down at her food. Honey Sweets, after all, was a young and exotic colt, and very cute to boot. "Caihong Duanpao, Rainbow Dash... " she muttered in between bites. "Huanghun Huohua, Twilight Sparkle... Pingguo Jieke, Applejack... Nainai Shimisi, Granny Smith... Da de Maijinta, Big Macintosh... I like all of your names in Shanghaiese, they aren't at all like Shanghay names."

Applejack turned from Rainbow Dash to their guest. "Well, as long as everypony is gonna get along." she grinned a bit, then looked down to Xing Ming. She seemed impressed. "Well, aint' that neat. Ah got a Shanghay name." she shook her head lightly. "Ah still think Xing Ming is pretty cute. Do ya' know what it is in an Equestrian name?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:31, Sat 28 Apr 2012.

"Aw wow, This really taste Good." Honey said between two big bites. "How will I ever be able to pay you for this kind of food and hospitality?" He said with a concerned face after taking a big bite. "I only have few money for anything other than a place to live and a few bits to start out for before I get a job. And even though I can live on a cloud, I wouldn't like to do it, I am a very poor flier. I have never even been in cloudsdale."

"If I remember my studies correctly, it means 'Shining Star'.  Is that right, Xing?" Twilight was studious enough to have touched on other languages, but she was far from fluent in anything but Equestrian.  She rather liked the name Xing had given her though.  Huanghun Huohua... it sounded lyrical and graceful to her.

"Payment?" Granny Smith asked before giving a dismissive 'pbbbt~!' with her lips.  "Don't y'worry yer head none 'bout that.  I wouldn't dream of takin' a colt's last Bits.  If y'really feel th'need t'give back, then why don't y'stick 'round and help with th'chores some?  Or y'can just take it as hospitality and be on yer way, easy as y'please."

"That's... that's right," she said, looking happy that Twilight knew what her name meant, bright and pleased with it. "I have... never worked on a farm before... I don't know how... useful I will be... But I would be happy to try and help you... Applejack," she said, and blushed a little. "Pingguo Jieke... Can I call you Jiejie?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Applejack grinned, and reached over to grab an apple, tossing it in a slow and smooth arc up and over in front of Xing for her to hopefully catch. "If ya' can grab these, sugarcube, you'll do just fine. An'...  If yer' more comfortable with it, ah guess it'd be just fine."

Finishing her plate, Applejack went back for seconds, then came about to finish up next to Xing Ming.

"Caihong Duan-whatnow?" Rainbow Dash asked, cocking her head to the side and scratching the back of it in confusion. It seemed to at least make her forget about the food fight. "I think I'll stick with Rainbow Dash. It's got more... you know... pizzazz. I think I remember seeing some books in your library about her language though, right Twilight?" Dash's eyes went wide a moment as she just remembered something. "That reminds me, can I borrow the next book in the Daring Do series? We could go get it after we eat."

"Sure I will help on the farm. But I think that I first need to find a place where I can sleep tonight." Honey said with a very entusiastisk voice to the lovely Granny Smith. "Then you two might want to show the new pony around in town?" He said when he heard what Rainbow and Twilight was planning. "And maybe some of you know where I can rent a room? Both for the night and more permanent. I don't need that much space after all." He said with a big and friendly smile.

"Heh. Jiejie." Mutters the red stallion to himself as he continues to eat, only really speaking again after their latest newcomer makes his mention. "Well if you're helpin' out then we've probably got space around here for ya, in the barn at least." Big Mac offers as he pauses his eating to grab up a few fresh fritters and a little bit more on the side. He's moderating to leave more for their guests, but only the other Apples would know it.

Twilight gave a soft 'awwww~!' in adoration as Xing asked that of Applejack, her eyes glimmering brightly in that manner all ponies got when they saw something totally heartwarming.  She grinned broadly as she leaned across the table to nudge her friend in the shoulder with a hoof.  "If that's the case, then you can call Xing Ming 'Mei Mei', Applejack~!"

All in all, the librarian was very pleased.  The morning may have gotten off to a rough start, but she had good company, good food, some new friends, and other ponies were interested in reading more~!  She was all grins and giggles.  "Alright then!  Honey; we can show you the way into town and help you get a lay of the land.  Then you can come back with me to the library, okay Rainbow Dash?"

Speaking of Honey Sweets, Granny Smith was in the same vein of thought as her grandson.  When Big Mac offered to let the colt stay at the farm for a bit, she nodded sagely in agreement.  "That's right, sonny.  It's important for a young stud t'stand on his own four hooves, but if y'can't find a place of y'own t'day, y'come right back here and we'll put y'up for th'night.  Understand?"

A gentle flush came over Xing Ming's face when Twilight suggested that Applejack give her a cute nickname, Mei Mei, and she smiled somehow both shyly and happily at once. It was obvious she would like that! Xing hadn't gone back for second helpings on anything except apple pie, which she seemed to be utterly attached to, but the little pony was so small, it was surprising she had eaten what she had.

"Wow, Nainai... you are... very generous," she said with a very impressed look on her face to Granny Smith. It wasn't to say that the ponies of Shanghay weren't generous. On the contrary, they were very friendly indeed, especially ones from small villages like Ponyville. But they were also much more superstitious of strangers, preferring to keep to themselves until they got to know a pony better.

"Okay Twilight. When can we get going?" Honey said with a very enthusiastic voice, Almost dropping the last of his food.

"Sure will. And you can be sure that I will come around sometime to help out here on the farm." He said with a big smile and a nod.

Applejack cracked a smile as Twilight nudged her, and she glanced down at the young, foreign filly. "Well, if ya like it so much, ah guess I can't help but do it!" She chimed. "Hay, Mac, ya' mind if I take Mei Mei into town, show her around, when Twilight and Honey and Rainbow Dash go? Ah figure we could all go together. Ah mean... would ya' cover the harvestin' for me? Ah'll be back to help by dinnertime."

Granny just waved her hoof idly over the mention of her supposed generosity.  "Nonsense.  Folk here in Ponyville take care of each other.  It's just th'right thing t'do, simple as that.  What sorta folk would we be t'leave a young fella out in th'cold?"

"Actually, we probably should be going soon anyway.  We've occupied enough of the Apples' time." Twilight smiled as she pushed her own emptied plate away.  She hadn't taken quite as many portions of the food as everyone else, but had suitably eaten her fill.

"Well, y'all are welcome any time.  Be sure t'take some leftovers with y'when y'go, alright?  I won't have kin goin' hungry." Granny assured the bunch.  Twilight didn't need to be told twice and swiftly went about magicking some delicious baked goods onto a dish to be covered.  That would sure make Spike happy.

"Nope!" Big Mac says simply, hesitating and glancing up at the ceiling as he realizes the double-question and speaks again. "Yyup! I mean, it's fine, AJ. Go have fun, we're light on the load today anyhow." The red stallion's subdued tone is warm despite his momentary unsteadiness in answering, and he clears the last of his plate off promptly.

That done, the big stallion eases up from the table to start collecting the dishes while the rest have time to finish up so that Granny doesn't have to; only taking the ones already empty of fresh food or those obviously done eating.

"The more the better" Honey said with a big smile to the orange mare.
"Well I'm ready now" Honey said with a half full mouth and a big smile to Twilight.
"And again, Thank you for the great dinner miss Smith. It was wonderful!"

Dash nodded, finishing her food and letting a long sigh out as she was so full she didn't know if she could fly! "Sounds good, Twilight. I'm ready when you are. Thanks for everything, Applejack, Granny Smith." she said with a smile as she hopped off her chair. "I'll definitely have to come back to this restaurant." she chuckled.

"Oh... Oh, thank you, Big Macintosh," said Xing, blushing slightly at his generosity. "I would... I would love... love to meet other ponies in town... Everyone here in Ponyville... seems so... kind. So much is happening, so fast... but now that... I've eaten... I'm just... full of energy!" She pushed back her clean plate and hopped off her chair, pausing to watch Rainbow Dash move. Her rainbow mane and tail were quite beautiful, unlike anything she'd seen before. "Will we... be going soon?" she inquired.

Standing up and stretching, Applejack helped Macintosh  get the dishes, then, after getting them back to the kitchen, she fetched her saddlebag and hat, and raised a hoof. "Alright, everypony! Let's get goin~!"

She motioned to Xing Ming. "C'mon, Mei mei, you kin' walk with me up here."

"Ready! Uhm. Can I just let my cart stand around here?" Honey said with an uncertain smile. "And where are we going first?" He said as he was rising from the table and turned on the spot toward the other ponies on their way out with a quick flap with the wings.

"I'll put it out by the barn." Big Mac promptly replies to the other stallion as he keeps clearing the table, hauling the last of the dishes away to leave Granny Smith with only tending the leftovers- always a very minor task around these parts.

"Have fun, little filly." The red stallion chuckles and smiles at the shy newcomer to the farm, always fond of his siblings and now deciding that he might as well have another. With the kitchen tended he'll make his way out to haul the cart around as he'd said- then make to get back to the day's chores. He doesn't mind the extra work, but with one set of hooves means that he'll need to get busy to get it all done by sundown.

"G'wan y'all then~!  Have fun and good luck~!"  Granny waved a fond farewell to both family and new friend alike.  With her dutiful grand kids having taken care of the bulk of the dishes on their own, it just left her to tidy up the remaining food and do a few small chores herself... then maybe a nap would be nice.

Twilight wished Granny goodbye as well and left with the rest of the ponies, floating several plates of leftover lunch to orbit around her glowing horn as they went.  She'd stocked up with a few extra servings just to be careful.  No point in wasting generosity after all~!  The lot of them had a bit of a walk just to get to the end of Sweet Apple Acres though.  The Apples' property was expansive and covered several rolling hills worth of lush, attractive orchards full of trees glimmering with fresh fruit and glossy leaves.  It gave them all time to stroll and chat before they'd have to part ways at the main road leading off to Ponyville.

"Wow, it's not even sundown yet and so much has already happened today... I thought it was getting a little too peaceful around here lately." the unicorn giggled to herself as she looked to Xing and Honey.  "There's been a lot of new arrivals moving into town lately as well."

"Yeah, it's getting pretty active." Rainbow Dash smiled and moved towards the door. "I gotta go stretch my wings. Thanks for the food. I'll meet you in town." With that, she exited the house and took off into the air.

To Town Square --->

"Bye for now, Nainai and Big Macintosh!" said Xing in a chipper tone, trotting quickly to walk beside Applejack, her head high as if she were walking in a place of honor beside her. She took the time, as they exited the property, to look over it more thoroughly than before. As shy and worried as she had been before arriving on the farm, she had kept her head down and just watched the path. Now, however, she was taking in the lovely farm she had missed before.

"I bet... in early spring time... it's so pretty here... with all the apple blossoms... and the flowers..." she sighed softly, smiling at the thought of what it might look like. She watched Rainbow Dash take off toward town, staring at the rainbow streak she left in midair. "Oohh..."

When Twilight mentioned the time, Xing looked up at the sky, seeing the sun still well above the distant horizon. "Oh... I can't wait for night," she said softly, but in a giddy tone. "I can't wait to start... mapping the stars from Ponyville's night sky..." She turned to Applejack. "Jeijei, will you... take me to the top of the bar one night? It's... easier to get a full view... when you're up really high... and I think that's... as high as you can get... on the farm..."

"Sure will, Mei mei. Ya' kin teach me 'an Apple Bloom all about it. Or, if ya want, we can have Twilight come over too, have a sleepover in the barn loft or something. Ah'll take ya' by Twilight's Library after we visit the schoolhouse, if that's alright, Twilight." She chimed to the purple mare, pushing her hat back a bit.  Once everypony had said all their farewells for now, Applejack started off across the fields at a steady pace. "Ah'm sure you'll get on great with everypony at the school." she hoped... but it wasn't her place to go talkin' about the sort of things that had happened before with the Foal Free Press, and such. Best to let Xing be herself and hope for the best.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:23, Wed 02 May 2012.

Twilight just shook her head as Rainbow Dash soared off ahead of them.  That pony never could sit still for more than a few minutes unless she was eating, napping, or engrossed in a Daring Do novel.  When the conversation turned toward plans for the evening, the unicorn just nodded happily with her mane bobbing about.

"Of course~!  That sounds like a lot of fun.  Plus I'll be able to bring Owlowiscious along... it's been a while since he's been able to get out of the house."  she conceded.  Of course, the studious pony was already plotting things in her mind.  She still had open access to the observatories and archives at the royal palace in Canterlot.  It was rare that she found another kindred soul so in love with study, so she thought it'd be a great surprise to set up a visit for Xing Ming to the castle.  Later though... that would be a lot to drop on a little filly just getting settled in.  For now the barn roof sounded perfect.

Eventually they all came to the split and parted ways, wishing each other fond farewells until later that day.  Twilight, ever dear to her friends both old and new, gave both Applejack and Xing Ming a warm hug each, then returned to the task at hoof.  With just Honey Sweets by her side, she continued along the road for Ponyville.

---> Exit to Ponyville Town Square
This message was last edited by the player at 16:19, Wed 02 May 2012.

What a day it had been so far. New friends and a place to sleep if all went wrong. This day was to good to believe. Honey thought to himself as he followed Twilight down the dirt road, waving to Applejack and Xing.

_{--> Exit to Ponyville Town Square}

"I just... can't wait," she said happily. It was sad to watch Twilight go toward town square while they went on the path to the school house, but Xing knew they would see each other soon, and that she would soon get to see the Ponyville Library. She hugged the purple mare back, flushed with happiness at the action, and waved her hoof as she and Honey Sweets made their way down the path.

"I wonder what my teacher is like... I hope that... she's nice... Or he, I suppose..." Xing mostly mused as she and Applejack made their way to the schoolhouse.

>>> TO: The Ponyville Schoolhouse

AJ trotted along briskly with Xing Ming in tow, eager to introduce her to the school, her sister, and the other fillies.

Exit to Schoolhouse

From Ponyville School House

Zipping along the path that lead towards her friends house Scootaloo kept her normal acrobatics to a minimum. She could pull them off easily by herself but with a passenger the danger was just to great. There was also the fact that she wasn't strong enough to lift two ponies into the air. Passing though the gate it was only a short time later before they reached the farmhouse. "Alright! The Scootaloo Express does it again!" She declared, pumping a hoof into the air in victory. "So need any help with whatever it is we're doing?" She asked, climbing off and placing her helmet on the handle bar.

--> Enter from Schoolhouse

Applebloom had held on tight the whole trip, glad to know that Scoots wasn't taking any needless risks when it came to carting other ponies around.  She'd left her own helmet with the wagon at their club house, after all.  Once they arrived back home she hopped off and shook out her mussed-up mane.

"Well, I gotta go let Big Mac and Granny know 'bout th'moon raisin'... so if we split up, that'll get it done faster~!  Mac'll be out in th'orchards this time of day.  Y'go find him and I'll pass word on t'Granny, okay?" she suggested as she pointed off into the expanse of apple trees where her brother was no doubt bucking up a harvest.

"Right, meet you back here when I'm done." The light brilliant gamboge pony declared, hoping back onto her scooter. Flipping her helmet up and onto her head she snapped the chin strap into place and fired up her wings. Zooming off into the hills she began her search for the big red pony. Still, now that she was by herself she was now able to pull off some simple tricks. Mostly just jumps and board kicks but they were still fun none the less. "BIG MACINTOSH! HEY! BIG MACINTOSH! WHERE ARE YOU?" Deciding that searching would take to long on its own she added in yelling to help get the older ponies attention.

As she's zipping over the seemingly endless rows of apple trees Scootaloo gets an excellent hint for finding the red stallion, as she sees a telltale shake come from further along the orchard. Whether her little voice is quite carrying or not he doesn't hollar at her in return; but he does buck another for good measure. Sure enough Big Mac is just lifting another load of apples up onto a cart when she arrives, and he'll turn his attention to the little filly promptly and give her a look of friendly interest. "Scootaloo."

Seeing the tree shaking was a pretty good indicator of where the big pony was. Turning in that direction she powered on, cresting over the hill in time to see him place the apples onto the cart. Coming to a skidding stop, she glanced up and up at him. "Hey Big Macintosh! Applebloom sent me out here to find ya. I'm supposed to tell you that Princess Luna is doing a moon raising tonight!" She gave a little jump of joy, face splitting grin firmly plastered on. "Isn't that awesome?!"

Big Macintosh nods down at Scootaloo at the news, straightening back up to look skyward after hearing it. He makes a thoughtful hmm'ing sound, then smiling at the question from the little pegasus. "Yup!" The red stallion turns about to the cart to grab up an apple and tosses it to the filly. "Thanks for the news. When's she going to start?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Tue 08 May 2012.

Scootaloo caught the apple, happy grin growing a bit. "Thanks Big Mac!" She took a big bite out of the apple, which was sweet and juicy. She finished what was in her mouth, opening her mouth to respond when she realized that she didn't know when the Moon Raising was supposed to happen. "Um, after sun down I guess? I don't really know, Miss Cheerilee didn't say when it was going to be." She shrugged, taking another bite of her apple.

"Makes sense. I'll make sure I'm done before sundown then. I guess everybody's going to be there? We might wanna bring some fritters'n pie'n such, or at least some fresh apples. I think there's enough in today for it." Big Mac turns to get back to work while he talks to the filly, bucking up at another tree and shuffling the barrel around to catch them.

"Maybe I'll go ask Cherilee if I get done early. Thanks for the news."

"Sure I guess. You do what you need to do. I'mma head back and see if Apple Bloom has told Granny Smith yet. Thanks for the apple Big Mac!" She said, firing up her wings and heading back at a slower pace so she could eat her apple without falling off her scooter. Several minutes later found her waiting at the base of the Apple family's stairs, idly watching the sky as she waited for her friend.

Scootaloo didn't have to wait long at all.  She'd only had a chance to cool her wings a minute or two before Applebloom came scampering back outside with a broad grin, a cozy scarf wrapped around her neck, and a full purse jangling in her teeth.

"Awright~!  Granny's gettin' stuff ready in th'kitchen for th'Moon Raisin', but she said I should go have fun instead of helpin' out.  Lookit all these Bits she gave me~!" the filly cheered happily, showing off a pouch of twenty Bits.  Plenty for a kid to have a good time with.  "This is gonna be great~!  We can have lots of fun with this much!"

Scoots hopped back up when she heard her friend come tearing down the stairs. Turning to face her with a huge grin she stared in wonder at the bag of bits. "Wow! This is going to be the best night ever!" She hopped back onto her scooter, stepping forward a bit so Apple Bloom would have enough room. "What are we waiting for? Let's go have some fun!" She declared, wings revving up in preparation for leaving.

With the news in mind, Big Mac will set to work double-time to make sure that he's got today's allotted acreage bucked and all the lesser chores tended as promptly as possible. Once he's done loading up the wagon until the apples gathered can be seen above the trees, he'll haul it all back in to the farm proper and start offloading everything. Hustling into the farmhouse next, he'll look for Granny Smith meaning to help her get ready everything for the evening's event, and as easy to read as ever just by his expression.

--> Enter from Books and Branches Library

Walking along the dirt road right next to Xing, Honey had decided that now was his chance to get some knowledge about the outside world and had asked Xing about up and down in her country. "But what year is it then next year? And the year after that? Your years are hard to understand you know that?" Honey asked as they entered the farm yard.

"Hay mister Macintosh, I never got around thanking you for bringing my cart in, many thanks. Are you comming to the moon-raising this evening?" Honey said with a big happy smile.

<<< FROM: Books and Branches Library

"But that's silly though," said Xing as she walked beside Honey toward the orchard that was her, and his for now, temporary home. "Ponies... in Shanghay... have been... keeping track of the years... with the animal zodiac... before Equestria was even founded... For a pony from Shanghay... the zodiac is as easy... as knowing 'what year number... ends in zero.' It is always the same... same cycle of twelve animals... Rat, ox, tiger... rabbit, dragon... snake, horse, goat... monkey... roster... dog... and boar. Each animal... of the zodiac... represents good and bad traits... Yin and Yang. Ponies... born in certain years... are said to take traits from those animals... and that is how we determine... compatibility with each other... and balance in ourselves. A lot of Chineighs magic... is based around the zodiac...

"For... for example... I was born in... the year of the rooster... According to the zodiac... I am acute, neat, meticulous... organized, self-assured, decisive... conservative, critical... perfectionist, alert... zealous... practical, scientific... and... um... responsible. But I can also be... over zealous and critical... puritanical, egotistical... abrasive... proud, opinionated... and give in to empty bravado. Part of the zodiac is to accept all of... all of your traits as part of you, and to balance them. Yin and yang."

She looked up as they arrived on the farm and saw Big Macintosh moving toward the farmhouse. "Nihao, Big Macintosh," she greeted cheerily. "Jei Jei said to tell you that... that she's on her way. She said to expect her... and, um... to ask for a few bits... for me and Applebloom and Honey Sweets... if that'd be okay..." she finished in a very nervous tone.

Full Gallop in from Branches and Books

The orange glow of Celestia's setting sun at her flank, Applejack's charging form was silhouetted against a small dust cloud as she came over the hilltop at the edge of the farm. Hoofbeats sounded with every long stride, and Applejack lept clean over one of the low wooden fences near the farmhouse. She skidded to a halt, though, and turned tospot the ponies standing around away from the house. She gave a summoning gesture with a hoof, then trotted on into the house.

"Hay, Apple Bloom! Granny Smith?" she called, and poked her head into the kitchen. "Let's wrap up what ya' got in the oven! We kin' close the kitchen down after so everypony can go." she said brightly. Sure they were short on supplies, but this was a truly once in a lifetime event, and Granny Smith was lucky enough to see it. AJ wasn't gonna let her be stuck in the kitchen when she could be attending. AJ knew they might run out, but she was prepared for that. This was unexpected windfall, not something they were depending on.

She was out of the kitchen as quick as she'd bolted in, out back and wheeling the apple cart she'd taken to the Gala around to the kitchen window for loading, then went on upstairs to get herself presentable. Applejack didn't preen, but it wouldn't do to be dirty with dust and the day's exertions to be selling things.

Ah just hope that Twilight's gonna be alright...

"Oh you don't have to get me any bits. I mostly went here to make sure you got your bits and to pick up What did you call her? Apple bloom? The smallest in the family." Honey said with a unsure voice, hoping not to get the name wrong. "And to get some of my bits back in my cart, I can't run around of a festival with all my money." He said on his way over to the stable where he put most of his bits in to the cart. "So. Where are the young fillie?" Honey asked looking out on the farm.

Applebloom was ready to leave with Scootaloo, but paused when other ponies started showing up too.  She figured it was best to wait a moment and see what everypony was doing first.  "Think maybe we should wait and go with 'em?  We can hitch a ride on th'cart."  she suggested.

In the kitchen of the farmhouse, Granny Smith was busy toiling away as quickly as she could and put Big Mac to work as soon as he arrived to help.  She'd wisely chosen to prepare a lot of cold treats instead of baked goods, knowing there wouldn't be enough time to fill the ovens.  Dried Apple Chips, jars of preserves they still had to spare from the cellar, spiced wedges... and, of course, fresh whole apples as well.  Soon enough Applejack came along calling for them to wrap things up, to which Granny Smith just sighed and shrugged helplessly.

"Alright Big Macintosh, let's get these hauled up into th'cart.  Th'extra Bits'll be worth th'bother." the elder mare said as she slid a tall stack of boxed treats onto her back and creakily headed off to start loading.

"Everypony ready?" Honey asked with a joyful look on his face, as the cart was getting filled with goods and everypony was starting to look ready to go. "This is so exciting. I am so happy that I came to town when I did."

"Yep." Replies the red stallion in answer to Sweet's question shortly before he makes his way around the farmhouse, then heading over to a cupboard to get into a drawer. he takes out a pouch and heads over to Xing Ming, carefully setting it down to nose through before forking over a cluster of ten bits for the young filly. "Yep. Have fun with 'em." He looks to Honey Sweet again to finish speaking. Your cart's still 'round at the barn, with all in it."

"Yep. I'll fetch it round Granny." Dutiful as ever, Big Mac quickly turns back towards the kitchen and tucks the pouch of bits into his yoke as he trots along. With his usual skill at balance, he'll carry as many of the elder mare's fine pastries and delights over to the wagon as he can, arraying them so that they should be ready for the haul over into Ponyville. Once all that she'd readied for tonight is loaded up he'll trot back to speak up. "Ready to roll with the wagon, fellows, fillies and foals."

Once Applejack was satisfied, she swapped out her stetson for one without so much dust, snagged a rope in case of emergency, and tied a red bandana about her neck, displaying an apple forward. "Well, all right then!" She trotted steadily downstairs, just in time to swipe half of Granny's load. "You work fast, Granny!" she chimed brightly.  "Awright, Apples. Big Mac, you take Granny an' have fun. Apple Bloom, You an' Scootaloo show our guests around and keep'em company.  Ah'll be set up at the library end of the square. Anypony has any trouble, jus' let me know!" she hitched up to the cart, now laden with delicious apple goodies.

"Daylight's wastin', everypony! Let's go!"

Xing was quick to hurry and help pack up the wagon when the call from Jei Jei went out. She was part of this family, after all, and she as eager to prove that, by whatever means necessary. She wasn't a very strong little pony, as most unicorns were much more delicate than earth ponies were, but she did her best to help load up the cart with her weak magic (after dropping off her book on her bed, of course). She was quickly up and ready, trotting along next to Applejack and, presumably, the rest of the apple family.

"Right behind you Applejack!" Honey stepped up right next to Applejack ready for the walk into town again, now with a less heavy saddle pack.
I think I am going to take a look around with some older ponies later but for now the young ones are fine company. He thought to himself as they started to walk.

This is going to be a hard evening, I have to see if there aren't any other young ponies, all the ponies I have meet so far are either a couple of years older or younger. Not that it is a problem but I hope there are other with the same mind set somewhere around town as me. It would be a lot more funny if there was. sometimes Rainbow dash sound like she is still a teenager but the sad fact is that she ain't. Relax Honey, This night is going to be awesome even if there aren't anypony at my age.
For once honey was completely silent but even the slowest pony could see it was because he was thining about something that bothered him.

--> Exit to Moon Raising in Town Square When other ponies in the area go
This message was last edited by the player at 00:36, Thu 10 May 2012.

Granny Smith was grateful for the assistance from her ever-considerate grandchildren.  Such a blessing, they were.  It made her smile as they all worked together to get the cart loaded up and hitched to both Big Mac and Applejack alike.  Granny climbed up into the back with the supplies and was quickly joined by Applebloom as well.

"C'mon Scootaloo!  You too, Xing~!" the filly chirped up, ready to help hoist her friends up into the cart if they needed the helping hoof.

--> Applebloom and Granny Smith exit with the rest of the bunch

Scootaloo let her wings settle back down when the others started arriving, watching the Apple family prepare for the evening. She pitched in where she could but could admittedly do very little. Once everypony was ready and the cart was loaded she hopped back onto her scooter. Securing her helmet she fired up her wings and made space for Apple Bloom if she wanted to catch a ride with her.

"No problem Applejack, we'll show them around." She said in reply to the elder pony, shooting her a big grin. "Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"


To Moon Raising Event--->

AJ raised a hoof to her brother, then started ahead with him, double-timing the pace. They were short on time, and heavy on passengers, but they'd make it!

*Drags the whole darn apple family to the Moon-Raising*

Xing had never ridden in a cart like this before. There were tiny single or double pony sized carts that were driven around the streets of Shanghay by other ponies as a job, but something like this was bumpy and slower, and frankly a lot more fun. She eagerly took the opportunity when Applebloom offered her a hoof up into the cart. Clambering into the back next to Applebloom and Granny Smith, Xing couldn't help but to laugh with glee as they bobbled and bounced down the road at a quick pace toward town once more.

>>> TO: The Moon Raising

Ready to move, Big Mac meets AJ's hoof and gets to hauling the cart. Between the two of them, a heavy load doesn't seem so heavy at all.

>> To the Moon Raising

Applejack and Rainbow Dash in from Moon-Raising Event

This wasn't quite how Applejack had envisioned the night turning out. But the best evenings are often a bit unplanned, and she seemed rather content with the course circumstances were taking. She hung loose in Rainbow's hooves, as the sky-blue pegasus soared with her in tow. She had never gone quite so high or so fast, so looking down on the world was a pretty new experience. She did once, perhaps, during the whole mess with Discord, but she hadn't had the chance to simply enjoy it.

Pointing a hoof ahead, she spotted one of the farm's outlying work sheds, and gave a whistle. "Hay, RD, let's sit down up there!" she suggested. They'd been flying a while, and she didn't want t put a strain on her friend. "Whew... That... that's somethin'!" She exclaimed, as she got her hooves back onto something solid, in this case the wooden roof of the shed. "An' just look at all those stars. S' a real special night. Thank ya' kindly for the flight, RD."

Rainbow Dash flew nice and level for Applejack, normally one to dip and dive and do all sorts of aerobatics, she wanted to give her a nice and smooth flight. The flew over the farmhouse, the barns and over the vast majority of the orchard before landing softly on the shed's roof. She sat with Applejack, wishing that they could be sitting on the porch of her cloud house, looking at the stars, and the town below. But the earth pony couldn't sit on the clouds without some spell to allow it. She made a mental note to go harass Twilight about it one day.

"Glad you liked it, AJ." Dash smiled, stretching her back a little. She was surprised just how light Applejack felt in her hooves. She trained so much, she was quite a strong flyer, but she was surprised how nice it felt to have her along. She had been so worried about it throwing off her weight balance or aerodynamics, she was blindsided by how much fun it was. "It really is a beautiful night. I'm often up at night, but I really haven't stopped to look at the stars like this. With all the couples out tonight, I guess it really is romantic." she smiled and paused as her eyes met with Applejack's. There was an awkward silence for a few seconds. "I mean..." Dash finally looked away, back up to the stars. "So what's up with you and... what's his name again...?" she grumbled. "Roquefort?" she scratched her head with a hoof as she tried to remember. "I get the feeling that things weren't so good with you in the past."

Even though she had managed to get herself out of that awkwardness, she kicked herself in her mind. Of all the things to bring up...

Once she was down on her hooves, Applejack turned a head to Rainbow's words. As she spoke of the romantic evening, Applejack awkwardly raised a hoof and rubbed it back along the side of her head,  nudging her stetson down a bit. She broke the gaze quicker than Rainbow did, and gave a bit of a shrug in the shoulders. "Ya know, it ain't about the whole romance thing. Ah guess I kin see it being somethin' for couples to do, though..." she said, and gave a slight little sigh. That Rainbow seemed so fixated on the mood felt a bit strange, but with her pointing it out, it was glaring AJ in the face too.

At first, Applejack couldn't figure out what Rainbow meant. Roquefort? Wait... "Uhhh.. ya' mean Rogue Heart?" she asked, and her expression soured a little more beyond the awkward reaction she'd had earlier. "Ah don't wanna talk about him." She answered, and folded her hooves, glaring off into the dark orchard.

"I was just saying that I could see how they would find it romantic is all. Not that I find it that way. I mean, I'm sitting here with you after all!" she laughed. "Yeah, yeah, Rogue Heart. Him. Come on, spill the beans." Dash pressed. "Every time you're around him you get all weird. If you can't tell me, then who can you tell, right? Get it off your chest."

As Rainbow spoke, Applejack felt her ire rise from the awkward state it had been in to full on  frustration. Whatever the cause, Applejack merely fixed Rainbow with a serious glare, and then hopped off the shed roof, landing and cantering to one side to look back up at her. That rainbow hothead could be clueless, sometimes, and her wounded look told the story well enough. Her mood thoroughly soured now, Applejack spoke, her tone rising just a hint. It wasn't particularly angry or vengeful, merely her 'Ah'v had enough o' this buck' tone.

"Ah don't wanna talk about it, awright, RD?" she snapped, firm and curt. "Ah think ya' better get goin' anyway, if ya' wanna see the Princess." she excused, and turned a glare off across the dark orchard. She wanted to go too, but now, her mood felt bitter enough that she was sure she'd just bring everypony down. Her night had been good fun, but Rainbow just didn't understand when she'd gone too far.

It was a bigger reaction that talking about Rogue Heart usually provoked. But the talk of romantic mood, the flavor of celebration, and dealing with him earlier that night must've stacked up on her, she thought... By the time she'd started into the treeline, she'd already decided that RD had just happened to put the last piece of her sour mood on her. It wasn't all her fault. Her humiliation at the games, too.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 23:46, Fri 18 May 2012.

Rainbow Dash was taken aback at Applejack's glare and sudden departure. She felt her stomach twist a little, she knew it was a touchy subject as she said it... buck it all, why did she say it? "Hey, uh, Applejack, aren't you coming to...?" she asked a little sheepishly, reaching out with her hoof and then sighing as the farmpony kept on walking. "Well... f-fine! Be that way! I'll just go myself then!" she shouted after her and took flight. Her stomach was in a heavy knot as she flew back into town.

Exits to Summer Song Cafe --->

Her heart wounded, Applejack looked back at the rainbow trail left as her friend bolted into the night sky. The sight hurt, she realized. Rainbow was just turning her back on her now.. but something had just infuriated Applejack. She let out a heavy sigh. What had gotten into her?

The farmpony started under the canopies of the tall, strong apple trees. She was rarely out at night, even more rarely without a light... Still, she knew the orchard like she knew her own hat, and it was easy going back toward the farmhouse. Applejack turned off the path, however, and decided to drop into the barn, climbing up to the oft and openng the shutters, laying on a bed of hay to watch the sky and rest for the evening. A little quiet time could do somepony good, sometimes, especially when their nerves were on edge.

End of Day 1: Applejack

DAY 2 - BEGINNING

Thunk.

The solid wood echoed for a moment as Rogue Heart nosed the last cabinet door closed.  Emerald eyes glanced around the apartment as he took everything in: dressers devoid of all pictures he had put away, cloth draped over the furniture to keep the dust off, his saddlebags sitting by the door filled and ready to go.  Everything in the small cottage he had been given was packed away.  All that was left was to lock the door.  Was he really doing this?

Shaking off the second thoughts that floated unbidden into his mind, the midnight stallion slowly approached the door.  If I don't do this now, I never will.  He needed to get out of Ponyville and see the world.  Maybe that way he would be able to find himself.  And possibly his Cutie Mark.  Staying here wouldn't change anything.  He was already mostly shunned by the rest of the ponies.  There were a few people he could call friends, but he really didn't have much of a place in the town.  He felt like the only pony without a purpose or calling.  He led a simple existence, but it could also be said that he simply existed.  There had to be more to life than this.

Bending down near the door, Rogue Heart stuck his head under the saddlebags and shrugged them onto his shoulders.  He had packed and unpacked them several times to make sure they were just the right weight for long-term traveling.  What little money he possessed had been stowed away safely in a smaller pocket on the side of one of the bags.  He had no idea how long he would be gone.  Maybe he could find some work on the road.  As much as he disliked doing regular physical labor there would be a reason for it, and that made all the difference.

As he reached out for the doorknob with his mouth, an object on the bookshelf next to the door caught his eye.  It sat nestled carefully in the corner of one of the shelves resting its back against the spines of some of his favorite works of literature.  The stuffed ursa was one of his most valuable possessions, though he had never told anypony.  Even though nopony really came into the cottage, he had decided it would be prudent not to place it anywhere that would be easily seen lest his embarrassment rise to the surface.  Taking a couple steps, he examined it more closely.

It was the stuffed ursa Applejack had won for him at the fair when they were younger and in love.  It was as close to pristine condition that the blank flank could manage.  A small, wry smile crept across his face as he remembered panicking when some of his stitching had come undone.  He had rushed all the way to Rarity's place and begged her to teach him how to stitch properly.  Without the stuffed ursa, of course.  He still had his pride.  Arts and crafts weren't really his forte, and the plush toy had a scar on his side to show for that where he had attempted to fix it after several trial runs at Rarity's place.  Well, maybe more than several.  A lot more.  Arts and crafts really weren't his thing.  He and Rarity had agreed never to speak of it again.  It made it easier since she had a few of those moments herself.

Reaching up, he took ahold of the stuffed ursa gently, making place for it in one of the saddlebags on his back.  He just couldn't leave it here.  What if someone came by and broke in and saw it?  Or worse, stole it?  He was just making sure that nothing happened to it while he was gone!  Of course.  Closing the flap carefully, he took once last look at the room over his shoulder before he walked out the door.  With a metallic click, he padlocked the door to make sure nopony would wander in while he was gone.  Starting off at a trot, he made his way up the short path to the crossroad that he knew he would have to see before he started his journey.  To the right, Ponyville.  To the left, the outskirts and beyond.  Slowing his pace, he took a few steps into the road and turned to the right.

The sun had managed to rise just a bit over the horizon, bathing the small town in an early morning golden glow.  Everypony was likely still asleep which was why he had chosen this time of day to leave.  He had never really left town before, but he was pretty sure that he was the type that would hate long goodbyes.  Everypony would ask where he was going and what he would be doing.  It was a question he couldn't answer because he didn't know himself.  With a small smile, he remembered the faces of his friends.  Would Twilight miss their conversations on Starswirl the Bearded?  He was probably one of the few ponies in town who even cared about ancient pony history.  Well, Widget would keep her occupied for a while.  With a small smile and a sigh he shook his head.  His best friend would be upset that he hadn't come by and said anything before leaving.  As odd as it sounded, he knew Pinkie Pie would miss him.  The two of them had tons of fun every day.  Shaking off the feeling that threatened to overwhelm him, the midnight stallion couldn't help smiling wistfully.

"Later, everypony," he spoke softly.

Taking a moment to let the feeling wash over him, he turned and trotted down the road.  It wasn't long before he arrived before the one place that he knew would make or break his ability to leave Ponyville.  His hooves had made this journey a number of times in his youth.  Even the bumps in the dirt road felt familiar.  And he slowed to a stop right in front of the place he knew they would lead.  Sweet Apple Acres.  Subconsciously, he could feel the weight of the stuffed ursa in its saddlebag.  She was the only one really tying him here now.  His eyes couldn't help but stare at the barn that he used to know so well.  Was it alright to go now and just leave everything behind?  Leave everything unresolved?

---

Applejack had gone to bed later than normal, but earlier than most ponies. Sometime in the night she had moved back to her own bed, but she had barely remembered doing so once she was up and about. She let Big Macintosh and Granny sleep, and the girls too. With the sun peeking over the Horizon, Applejack had made herself a slice of apple pie for breakfast, then stepped out of the house. There were things she had to do, this morning.  She went about to the side of the barn, and dragged a solid log from an old tree over, and laid it down. She had work to do to make up for her little bit of calamity last night. Grabbing a cutting ax with her teeth, Applejack brought it down forcefully on the log, cutting it to length in several short strokes. She stepped around it, the sound of her blows resounding across the orchard.

That was how Rogue found her, sweating and working hard, not noticing her observer on the road.

---

The sound of the axe on wood brought his attention from the barn itself to Applejack.  There she was.  Before he could stop himself, he felt his mouth and voice move of their own accord.

"Hey.  Would you like some help?"

Rogue Heart's voice carried from where he was standing a short distance away by the fence.  What was he doing?  Hadn't he not wanted to have a long farewell?  This was the place he had wanted to avoid the most, yet somehow his hooves had carried him here unbidden.  It was early morning, his saddlebags were packed for a long journey, and he never offered his help with menial labor.  But, for all his insight, the stallion's keen perception failed him right at that moment.  He did not realize that it was obvious from his appearance he was obviously going somewhere and was not likely to be back anytime soon. 

---

Applejack brought the axe down again, but almost flinched at the voice, missing her chop and tearing a chip out of the side of the new tent frame bar she'd been cutting.  Applejack tossed the Axe down and looked over her shoulder. She'd have to start again. "Ah' got this..." she paused, and fixed him with a stare. Rogue Heart. She turned and trotted toward the fence. "Errr... ain't ever seen ya' up this early before. Ever."  she said, then paused... those saddlebags...

"Yer...  travelin' heavy t'day, RH. What are ya' up to?"

---

"Leaving."

The word was said simply, devoid of Rogue Heart's usual humorous tone.  Because of that, it seemed to have weight--gravity that held serious meaning.  It was obvious that he wasn't just going down to the Everfree Forest to spend the day.  This was something far more permanent.  Turning his head to the side to gaze in the direction of Ponyville, the corner of the stallion's mouth quirked upward into a wry smile.

"I didn't want anypony to know, so I left early.  I'm not very good with goodbyes.  When I was starting off down the road, I saw you here.  I couldn't not say something."  He couldn't help but give a small laugh in self-deprecation as he faced Applejack once again.  "I suppose I should've left before the rooster crowed if I wanted to get up earlier than you."  He couldn't help but give the mare a rueful grin.  "You'll have to forgive me.  I'm not used to this whole waking up early thing."  There was his usual deflecting feeling uncomfortable with humor.  There was a chance he may never seen Applejack again after this.  If anything, he wanted to see her smile once more before he left. 

---

He only got a frown from the farmpony, though. Applejack stared him in the face, bt it was hard to tell if she was angry or just concerned.  Finally, though, she turned her gaze away. "Uhhh... Are ya' now?" she started. "Ah bet yer' buddy Widget would have somethin' ta say about that..." she ventured. As he laughed, mocking his failure to get up before her, Applejack let out a sigh. "An' so yer gonna make me tell everypony that ya' left."

She paused and lowered her head, looking back to the tent pole she'd messed up. WHy did she feel sad, now? Had she driven him to this> Or was he finally getting up off his flank and doing something... "Uhhh... Ah know it ain't mah business where yer' goin' or why." She started, and raised a hoof to her lip, then turned, starting back toward the workspace - behind the stack of wood and in a closed container, she pulled out a small satchel weighted with apples. "But Ponyville's yer home, so... ya know you can always come back, right?" she said, and carried the satchel over to him. "Ya got room for these?"

Applejack sighed... He had been the one who'd driven her off, so long ago. It was only once she'd left that she'd realized where she belonged... maybe.. it'd be the same for him...

---

Seeing Applejack sigh, he felt his emotions get the better of him.  "That wasn't my--!" he began with an outburst that he cut off as he got a handle on himself.  Taking a breath, he started again, his voice calm and tinged with a bit of sadness.  His humor seemed to have died outright just then.  "That wasn't my intention, Applejack.  I wasn't even going to stop by.  You're right, though.  I've put you in an awkward position.  I'm sorry.  I shouldn't have come."  How could he have been such an idiot?  This is what he got for not thinking before he did something.  It was because of fear of situations like this that he usually thought things through completely before taking an action.  Why did something have to happen now?  With her?  A stray thought came to mind that caused his mind to stop dead in its tracks.

Celestia!  Maybe I gave all my luck with mares to Widget when I helped him.

It took Rogue Heart a few seconds to recover from the ensuing mental panic.  Taking a moment to breath, he shook his head.  "Even I don't know where I'm going, Applejack.  But, I'm not sure if I'm coming back or not.  Or even when that'll be.  Ponyville's been my home, but it hasn't felt like it for quite a long time.  Not since I've been a colt."  Those years were probably the best in his life.  Back when having a Cutie Mark or not didn't mean anything.  He was brilliant and respected.  Now, what was he?  Hay, he didn't even know himself anymore.

Gazing at the offered satchel for a moment, he looked from it to the saddlebags on his back.  The only space in them was next to the stuffed ursa, and he would rather be struck dead by Nightmare Moon right on the spot rather than open that flap to let Applejack see it.  Of all ponies, not her.  Not now.  Taking the satchel in his mouth, he swung it over his body alongside the saddlebags.  It was a little awkwardly placed, but he would bear it if only to not expose the secret he was carrying.

Glancing over his shoulder up the path that led away from Ponyville, he couldn't help but ask her.  "What's out there?  I've never been out of Ponyville before.  Must've been exciting for you back then," he said, unconsciously stepping very close to an exposed nerve between the two of them.  "Wonder what's out there for me.  Hay, I might end up a real Daring Do," he mused dryly with a chuckle.  It seemed that even when the mood was somber, he still habitually added in a little humor. 

---

Applejack watched him, saw him recognize what he'd done to her now. She shook her head. "Ah... Don't worry about it, RH." she said. "Jus' take care of yerself." As he went on about home, Applejack glanced back at the farm behind her, then looked back to him, speaking up. "Ya' know... We were always gonna' get out of Ponyville together. That's what ah always told myself, when we were foals." she said, and sat down on the ruined log. There was room beside her, if Rogue thought he could take it.


"What's out there?" She said, and shrugged her hooves. "Ah realized that ah had everything ah needed right here. Ah dunno what yer' lookin' for, RH. But ah hope you can find it. Not everywhere's as kind as Ponyville. If ya go to a city.. ya gotta be able to earn yer own way, but there is a lot more work, too..." She sighed, again. It was hard to... talk to him now, but she didn't want to stop, because then he'd go. Why didn't she want him to go?

The sunrise with him, the topic... it was a throwback to good childhood memories - even if they ended badly. Applejack looked back up at him with those bright green eyes, and bit her lip. "Uhh.. RH.... Are ya' sure yer' ready for this? Ah mean... uhh.." she blushed a hint, and glared off to the side. Why was she coming off like she was pining over him now? "I don't want ya' to get hurt... an.. uhh... I mean... Feel free t'write..." she said, finally.

---

It took everything he had not to ask her to come with him.  To run with him wherever they wanted to go.  That it wasn't too late for them to pick things up and run with them however they felt best.  He dug one of his back hooves into the ground to push back his feelings once again.  Why was it always so hard to control himself around her?  It was too late to go back to where they had been now.  Not without something having changed, and right now nothing had.  She had her Cutie Mark and was a respected member of Ponyville society--a hero to everypony.  Saying he wasn't was an understatement.  They were like Celestia and Nightmare Moon by comparison.  He needed to leave.  To change.  To find out who he was and be a better pony.  He didn't feel like he was good enough to apologize and fix things.  Not yet.

Taking a seat on the log next to her, Rogue Heart breathed out a sigh.  "Back then, huh?" he mused, gazing out over the rising sun.  He couldn't help but smile at the thought of the past.  "Yeah, you and me were going to take Equestria by storm."  Things were different then.  At that time he had been the pony respected by his peers and thought to be the up and coming member of Ponyville.  Now, their roles were reversed.  He had to admire the humor of it all.

Glancing down at the ground, the dark stallion sighed and shook his head.  "No, Applejack.  I'm honestly not sure if I'm ready for this.  I'm worried.  I know I'm smart, but I haven't ever been outside of Ponyville that I can remember.  I don't know what's out there waiting for me," he stated, honestly expressing his concerns.  He shifted position to sit up and faced her, his emerald eyes hardening with a bit of determination.  "But, I do know that if I don't go now, I might not ever."  That thought scared him more than anything.  Never being able to find his purpose.  And never being able to come back and tell her how he really felt.  How sorry he was for what happened back then.  How much he wished that he could make her happy.

"I should...go," he said after a few moments of silence.  If he didn't leave now, he felt like his words would come true.  Already he felt like he wanted nothing more than to attach himself to this log and sit with her just to feel her presence beside him.  If he succumbed to that, he really never would leave.  Getting off the ruined wood, he adjusted the satchel with the saddlebags on his back then took a few steps away.  The rhythm of his hooves was steady for a few moments until he slowed to a stop and glanced over his shoulder.  He needed to say something.  He couldn't just leave it like this.  His glanced over his shoulder at her form, and a wistful smile managed its way to his lips.  Some mares looked their best in evening gowns.  She looked the best here, smiling at the farm.  She was beautiful.  The words sprang unbidden to his lips.  Words that he should have said to her back then when they were younger.

"I'll miss you, Jacks."

The pet name for her that held so much meaning for them.  The name he had avoided calling her since she came back from Manehatten.  In that moment, part of him was revealed if only a glimpse.  It was fleeting just like his retreating form as he passed the fence and began his journey down the dirt road.  While his body was headed off for parts unknown, he had left his heart in Sweet Apple Acres.

---

Applejack didn't say anything...  She kicked her hooves a bit, feeling as awkward as she ever had, her heart thumping in her chest. Why was she getting so worked up now? What was wrong with her?  She was past this,over it, and they were long since done.  But she couldn't deny, as much as he irritated her, that she hated to see him leave.

Applejack looked up at him as he started to rise, and walk away, and her heart sunk. That name, those words...

Applejack stood up, and stepped after him. Just one step, her hoof poised for another. But no. She could not stop him now. He needed this, she saw. It was only when she had left Ponyville that she came to understand what she really wanted in life. And maybe he knew what he wanted here? But, maybe he was all wrong... facing the world would be the only way to know how you measured up. "Rogue... you better write. Widget'll be sad if you don't..."

Applejack let him go, with those words... As he disappeared around the corner of the trail and beyond the trees, the Farmpony sat down on the log again, trying to sort it all out. It felt like a blur, now, and she quickly set back to work, a fresh log, cutting a piece of pole for the tent she broke... but the whole thing happened as if she weren't really doing it herself. Before long, though, she was done and chopping apart the ruined pole into firewood chunks, when the schoolfillies were set out by Granny Smith to find Applejack, sweating and hard at work...

She did need to walk them up to the schoolhouse, she remembered. As her day began again, she felt the daze she'd fallen into lift. Everything would be alright...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Thu 24 May 2012.

---> from Rainbow Dash's Cloud Home

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes with a soft sigh, loving the feeling of the cool morning breeze on her face and through her mane. She stretched her legs all the way out, groaning as her body still had yet to awake it seemed. As she opened her eyes, she found that she was nearing Applejack as she was working on the chopping wood. She hovered a little before landing on the ground. She was silent for a moment as she remembered they had not parted on the best of terms last night. "Uh, hey, AJ. Nice, uh, morning, huh?" she really wasn't good at small talk. Looking to the pole she was crafting she motioned to it with her head. "Whatcha doing?"

Applejack was past the tent pole and chopping firewood - well, firewood into itty-bitty wood chips at this point. Rainbow made her blink and look up, and she wiped sweat from her brow with a hoof. "Oh, hay, RD... Umm... Firewood?" she excused, then kicked the firewood into a pile, and turned to face her.

Applejack looked back down at her work, and paused... "Uhhh... RD... Yeah.. umm... I'm sorry. I mean... Last night." She said, and sat back down, by the barn. "How was the Princess?"

--> From Moon Raising in Town Square; Start of day 2

Honey almost fell out of the cloud more than once during the night but never enough to wake him up, not before he tumbled out of the cloud and landed, luckily enough, in the hay below with a little bump and a lot of swearing. "Celestia's flank I need to find a bigger cloud! Who the hay is the weather pegasus around here! They need to learn what to remove and what to let be!" Was yelled from the barn before he stepped out with tired eyes and looked at the two mares a bit from there.

"Uhm. You didn't hear that right?" Honey said a bit ashamed of his yelling from before. "Uhm, sorry. I didn't mean to yell that loud." He said as a little blush came to his cheeks from having lost his cool, but it only lasted a moment before he remembered how his mane always went in everywhere in the morning and ran a hoof through it a few times but with nothing changed in the end.

"What, 'bout Celestia's flank?  They are kinda big, huh?  But so's th'rest of her, so it makes sense I guess."  Honey would no doubt be startled by the sudden presence of Applebloom trotting by with her saddlebags on.  She had a half-eaten apple clenched at the side of her jaw and quickly chomped the rest of it down noisily.  If Honey was going to be staying around the farm for any extended period of time, he'd have to get used to how early the day started... even little kids were up earlier than him!

"Granny Smith said t'wash up for breakfast, Honey.  Pancakes and apple fritters~!" the filly mentioned.  She'd been sent out to get him before going to school, though she still had to wait for Xing Ming as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Fri 25 May 2012.

"Ah, I see." Rainbow Dash nodded, noticing the firewood.

"The Princess was only the most amazing thing ever! I really never took the time to get to know her, but she's so different than Princess Celestia. She's a lot more like just one of the other ponies in Ponyville than a Princess if that makes sense." Dash continued to gush over Luna, almost like a fangirl. But she still didn't top the Wonderbolts for that status. As Applejack apologized, she also sat down softly. "Nah, I'm the one who should apologize. I know it's a touchy subject and all... I just know it bothers you and I wanted to help. You're my best friend after all!" she smiled.

Applejack warmed a bit, and smiled at Rainbow. "T-thanks, RD." She scuffed a hoof on the pile of chips she'd torn one of the logs into...  that was small firewood...

"Uhhh.. He actually... was here a little bit ago.. It was weird.. He was all.. packed up an' he said he was leavin' Ponyville..." She trailed. She looked sort of lost, at the moment, Rainbow could see. Like she didn't know what to do about it.

Honey gave a small jump when he first saw Applebloom right next to him. He did not expect a little filly like her to be up already.

Seeing that the two mares that he first apologised to was in, what seemed like a serious talk, Honey just hoped they had been too busy with their talk to notice his swearing before too. "Just forget that I said that, little friend. Are there some water some where around here where I can wash my face? Then I will be around in a few minutes" Honey said with a big smile, obviously not noticing his hair still was a mess.

"Well shucks, y'can go dunk yer head in th'rain bucket if y'like, but there's always th'bathroom inside too."  Applebloom raised a brow incredulously over Honey's request.  They were rustic, but not that rustic.

"Right. Bathroom." Honey said as he started to walk toward the house while he felt a little stupid. It wasn't some cave he had slept in, it was a farm with stuff like running water and light, Like every normal house.

Seeing Applebloom carrying a saddle bag, Honey but 2 and 2 together. "On your way to school already? I guess I ain't used to getting up that early after all. What do you have on your schedule for today?" He said as he rubbed his sleepy eyes and stoped before going to far, wanting to talk a little with the filly before she went to school.

"Yeah, schoolin' starts early 'round here but it means we get out pretty early too.  Though if miss Cheerilee's as groggy as everypony else must be, we're probably gonna have a light day anyway."  the filly hoped as she trotted alongside Honey back inside.  As soon as Honey entered, he'd catch the full aroma of a delicious breakfast being prepared and the familiar waft of hot coffee brewing as well.  Granny Smith was busy in the kitchen, singing to herself in an off-tune manner while she worked.

Rainbow Dash couldn't help but give a little chuckle as she saw the wood chips there. It was clearly very much on her mind, had Dash arrived an hour later, AJ would have been down to a pile of sawdust. She moved closer and sat beside the farm pony. "Leaving, huh? That must have been..." she trailed off, not wanting to depress her further, by stating the obvious. "Did he say why?" she asked softly.

"Ah told'em ah didn't need to know.  It ain't mah business. Ah gave up the right to ask that question a long time ago." She said, and shrugged. "I... I dunno. Ah think he finally decided he was gonna go find him a place in tha world. Ah dunno where he's goin' or what he's doin'." Applejack said, and turned to look at the Rainbow-maned mare beside her. "Sorry, RD...  Ah' ain't very good company right now. An' ah gotta tell everypony that he left..." She added, biting her lip. Part of her was dreading dealing with the looks from other ponies about the whole thin g- the local ponies all knew about their past at least in passing, and the bitterness between them today. So what would they all think?
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Fri 25 May 2012.

"Sounds like a good day to have school instead of work." Honey said with a smile as they walked into the house. "Wow it smells good! I will be right back." He said as started to walk in a random direction.

After a full minute gone, Honey returned looking just the same with a confused look on his face. "Uhm. Where are the bathroom?" He asked a little ashamed and blushing after just walking like a fool.

Applebloom paused in confusion when Honey went wandering off randomly down the hall.  She waited patiently until he returned while wearing an unamused look on her face.  When he finally came back and asked about the bathroom, the filly reached out a hoof and opened the door she was standing beside, revealing the restroom in question.

"Oh. Right. I guess I ain't very fast this morning." Honey said with a nervous laugh. "Thank you very much." He said as he went through the door Applebloom had opened and locked it behind him to do some morning preparations.

After a few minutes he came into the the kitchen with a wide smile and a normal looking mane. "Oh wow this look good miss smith but are you really sure I shouldn't pay for the hospitality? this is after all my second meal here and I really wanna make sure you don't feel that I just are some parasite." Honey said as he started on the breakfast with a mouthfull of pancake, quickly followed by almost a cupfull of hot coffee with plenty of sugar in, almost 4 teaspoons of sugar that is.
"I have enough bits to at least give some sort of payment. How about 6 bits? That is a little low but then I come back when I have a place for myself and help out a little here on the farm? He said between two a little bit too big bites that almost made him cough but he was able to hold it back.

Rainbow Dash nodded softly, having learned her lesson about digging into unwanted places last night. "Alright... well if you need anything at all, just give a whistle, alright? I'll be in town most of the day myself." Saying that, she reached forward and gave Applejack a punch in the shoulder... a hug just wasn't her style.  Her stomach growled then, reminding her that she didn't eat yet. "Seeya!" she then jumped up and flew off into town.

to Summer Song Cafe --->
This message was last edited by the player at 02:22, Sat 26 May 2012.

With the sound of everypony else up and moving around the house, Xing found it impossible to even feign sleep anymore. Sleepily, with her teal hair down and messy, and the pink bao and ribbons wrapped around her horn for safe keeping, Xing made her way out of the bedroom, yawning widely and staggering into the bathroom. A few moments later, still hangdog and sleepy but considerably more presentable, with her mane and tail up in her bao and ribbons, she made her way into the kitchen where, hopefully, breakfast was ready.

"Zǎo ān," she yawned, an obvious morning greeting. "Er, I mean, good morning..." She rubbed her eye as she moved to the table and sat down at the same spot where she had the evening before. "Oof, I was... up too late... Heh... How is everypony?" she asked those present as she looked over the table, deciding what she wanted for breakfast.

As Rainbow gave her a punch and flew off, Applejack frowned a bit. She actually wanted advice now, as confusing as it was right now. Still, her friend departed, and she got to her feet. It was early enough to take the fillies to town. She shouldered the cut pole across her back and started back to the house. "Hay, Apple Bloom. Mei mei~ You two ready to go?"

"No," said Xing at once, a slight blush in her cheeks. "I only... just got up... S-Sorry..." She grabbed the nearest thing to her - a plate of biscuits and flour gravy - and served herself, eating quickly so that she wouldn't hold them up any longer than need be. She wasn't used to actually waking up at a specific time anymore, after being on the road for so long.

Applejack noticed how she seemed to rush a bit, then gently took a seat at the table. "Well, no rush then, everypony. Don't wanna rush yer' first day."

Thumping along through the house, Big Macintosh makes his way back from the far fields where he'd been out apple-bucking, having risen and departed without drawing attention. When he spotted Applejack up and distracting herself with work, he figured to give her space- she'll come to him if she needs him usually. He moves to the table to settle in, speaking warmly to the others as he does.

 "Mornin'."

Gathering up some basics for his own breakfast, the red stallion will arrange a fairly hefty cross-section for his feed, expecting a full day in the orchards as always.

Applebloom was quick to hop on up to her seat for breakfast, eagerly dishing up a stack of pancakes nearly as tall as she was and burying it under a heap of mixed fruit preserves.  Granny Smith had yet to seat herself -- she was busy helping make sure everypony had plenty to eat and pouring glasses of water and milk for each at the table.

"Fiddlesticks." was the old gray mare's reply to Honey wanting to pay for his keep.  "Like I said before, I won't take a single Penny from ya', youngin'.  If y'really feel like y'need t'pay back a bit of kindness, then y'can help Big Macintosh out with his chores t'day.  But don't forget t'check Town Hall too.  We ain't in no rush t'get y'off th'farm, but y'shouldn't dwaddle within findin' your own place anyways."

"Mornin' Sis~!  Mornin' other sis~!" Applebloom greeted both Applejack and Xing Ming.  Her cheeks were puffed up adorably with a mouthful of pancakes.  She tried to say good morning to Big Mac too but struggled, nearly choking on her food before she managed to maintain thanks to a quick swig of milk.  Once she'd swallowed it all down, she looked to Xing Ming.  "Y'were out pretty late.  Did'ja have fun?"

Despite her rapid eating, Xing would have given near anything to get some jasmine or buckwheat tea in her this morning, but she did not ask for it. The chances of them having any was very slim, and there would be no time to properly brew it anyway. She made a mental note to ask Applejack to get some that day at a shop in Ponyville, if she was going to town for otheer business.

"Good morning," she greeted Big Macintosh and Applebloom in turn as they said their morning greetings after she had swallowed. "I... hung out with... with Pinkie Pie..." she said, cutting another bit of biscuit up. "She... she can really party. She showed me how... how Equestrians dance... and introduced me... to a lot of other ponies... and a few mules... She can eat fourteen candy apples in two minutes, did you know?" she asked, looking awed as she took a bite of her breakfast again. "She walked me back here... oh... about two o'clock or so... I am used... to staying up late... But I thought it... thought it best to get... some sleep before school..." She gave a nervous shift and looked down at her plate.

Applejack laughed. "That's Pinkie. At least ya' can still stand after a night like that." She said, and patted her shoulder with a hoof. "After ya'll are done with breakfast, ah'll walk ya' ta school. Ah gotta introduce Mei-mei to Cheerilee, an' then  ah got some errands ta run."

Placidly enjoying his tremendous breakfast, Big Macintosh will pause long enough for a warm greeting nod to his little sisters each in their turn. Once Xing ming has brought up her late night with Pinkie, he briefly pauses in his eating until he sees that AJ doesn't look troubled by it, glancing to make sure with Granny as well before continuing his meal. If neither mare is bothered, he doesn't precisely need to speak up to let them know that he gave the okay on the matter, but really he just wanted to make sure she didn't get in any trouble about it.

After a little more munching he will speak up though, turning his attention towards Honey after his offer and Granny's mention of him working the fields. "Gonna be in the south end if y'want. Always plenty of haulin' to do if you don't find somethin' else."

"Morning Xing. Morning Mister Mac." Honey said already starting on his second cup of coffee and his next, Compared to Applebloom's tower, small portion of pancakes.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you! You won't regret it I will make sure to help for at least a week of work after all of this kindness." Honey said as Granny smith kept saying that he didn't have to pay. She is after all the oldest pony on the farm, she know what was right and fair and I do love to work. Honey thought as he downed his second cup of coffee and poured his third cup.

"In the south end sure! I will be there as soon as I am done in the town hall." Honey said clearly intended to Big Mac, but with his mouth so full of pancakes and his hoof on his cup to drink the last of it as soon as the pancakes was down, witch didn't take him more that a few seconds, and then both the pancakes and the third cup of coffee was gone, but then he finaly turned to Big Mac with a big satisfied smile and a nod.

"This coffee is the best coffee I have ever had! Do you mind if I take a cup more before I go?" Honey said with an innocent smile on his face to the elder mare, as if he didn't know that he already had taken 3 cups, but it was also clear that he was sincere about how good he thought it was.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 13:50, Sun 27 May 2012.

"Help y'self, youngin'.  Just don't be surprised if y'gotta get familiar with th'loo after all that." the aged mare rolled her eyes a bit and chuckled.  She was a bit concerned about her two guests -- both Honey and Xing Ming were off to a curious start for the day.  She hoped Xing had gotten enough sleep but otherwise had no scolding to offer for the late hour since it had been a special occasion and all.  Honey... well, she was more worried the caffeine was going to wear off too quickly and he'd drop in his horseshoes in the middle of Town Hall.

Xing was quick to finish her breakfast, washing it down with a big glass of cold milk. She wasn't a very big little pony, after all, and thus didn't eat very much under normal circumstances. She was still sleepy, too, which did nothing to stoke her appetite. "Whenever you all are ready..." she murmured, licking the sweet, fresh milk from her lips with obvious relish, "I am all... all ready to leave. Just let me... go upstairs and fetch my... my saddlebag for school."

"Awright. You too, Apple Bloom. Run along and grab yer' things." Applejack said firmly. As the fillies hurried along, she stepped over to Big Macintosh, and raised a hoof. "Uhh... n'less  somepony kidnapped Princess Luna or somethin', ah'll be along to the fields after ah get back from droppin' the fillies off."

She'd been about to bring up Rogue Heart, but she knew her brother had a bone to pick with him over how he'd hurt her, even now. Applejack decided she'd talk about that morning this afternoon, while they were working.

She gave a whistle. "Hay, everypony goin' to town, let's get movin~!"

"Yep. Sounds good, AJ." Even if she prefers to wait, Applejack can at least take heart in her brother seeming his normally placid self otherwise, so at least when she breaks the news he's not likely to be angry about anything else. Clearing up his plates first, the red stallion will haul the dishes to the kitchen before turning for the fields. In his usual taciturn manner he'll head out to get a proper start where he'd said he meant to be, intending to work through to the afternoon.

If Honey does show back up to handle some things, he might be able to take a while off then to visit Sugarcube corner and Pinkie as he'd promised, and with that pleasant thought in mind he trots out to start bucking.

Applebloom quickly polished off the last of her breakfast in a bit of a hurry since the time was running short by then.  She had a bit of a hall pass though -- so long as she was with Applejack and Xing Ming, Cheerilee wouldn't count her late even if they all missed the bell.

"I'm all set, sis~!  I just hope Miss Cheerilee is gonna be okay t'day.  I saw her th'other night -- she looked like she was havin' a lot of fun dancin' and drinkin' with ponies.  I hope she ain't too worn out."  the little filly mused as she scampered for the hall.  She'd wait for Xing Ming to catch up so the three of them could all head out together.

Honey nodded satisfied and filled the cup half and started stirring the sugar in to the coffee for a moment or so before the hot drink went down very quickly when Applejack whistled. "I am ready now" He coughed from having drank the coffee a little too fast out of surprise. "Thanks for the great breakfast miss Smith, I will be sure to help mister Mac extra more just for you." He said as he got up and turned toward the door.

"Is it a big detour for me to follow you guys to the school? because I don't think the town hall is just open yet but I might as well get to town now." He asked Applejack with a smile.

"I wouldn't think so, no.  Th'schoolhouse is out on th'edge of town just north of here.  So y'can walk straight there and then head east t'Town Hall right up Mane Street." Applebloom advised the somewhat hyper older pony.

--> Applebloom exits with the rest
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Wed 30 May 2012.

With a grin to Honey, Applejack nodded. "Sure can." She chimed, and led the way out the door. As  the others followed, she held up long enough for Xing to catch up, before shouldering that tent pole across her back and then leading the way up toward the schoolhouse.

Exit to Ponyville Schoolhouse

After gathering up her books and school supplies, Xing fitted her saddlebag to her back and latched it tight shut. Unsurprisingly, the bag was decorated with pictures of stars done up in real constellations on dark blue fabric in glittering silver thread embroidery. Pencils, paper, and books tucked safely away, she made her way back downstairs quickly after, and followed Applejack and Applebloom out the door. "Bye bye, Granny, Big Mac, Honey Sweets," she said with a smile, waving back at them before stepping off the threshold and onto the deck.

>>> TO: Ponyville Schoolhouse

Honey Quickly got up and followed the other three ponies and waved to the Granny and Big Mac on his way out and not even giving of a hint of having too much coffee in his system.

--> exit to Schoolhouse

--> Day 2, Afternoon

Walking around with purpose in her eyes, Shai Ni walks through the property of Sweet Apple Acres, seeking out a particular stallion to ask a particular question and seek a particular favor for a particular activity.  The Chineighs Unicorn is much refreshed after her rest at the spa, and still looks like she is fresh from a full spa treatment as well, her mane and tail shining beautifully and her coat gleaming with health and fine care.  As per usual, her slippers appear as if she has only worn them in freshly cleaned rooms, and her dress hugs her figure and accentuates her flank as it always does.  In short, there is little Shai Ni can do at this point to appear more physically beautiful.  Despite the overcast weather, she is as glowing and radiant as if she was lit up by the sun - but that is likely due to the preventative spell she has cast upon herself to keep off the rain and wind should they pick up before she is able to get into shelter.

She really needs to keep up with the weather scheduling.  Even after a yaer in Equestria, she is still unused to having weather be scheduled and planned instead of needing to read the sky and air to predict.

"Mister Big Macintosh?  Are you here?" she calls out, seeking the strong Earth Pony.

After departing the house, Big Macintosh set to work amid the trees with great vigor. Bucking as quick as he could manage, hauling fresh wagons of apples back to the barn and drawing them out to collect more. He's been trying to clear things up so that when he's gone this afternoon it won't get them behind, and feels pretty confident about things. It's left the red stallion with a bit of mud and dirt spattering his coat, and a noticeable bit of sweat besides.

He's just gotten done with hauling in another load of apples a few minutes previous and was standing near the barn to get a drink of water when the Unicorn wanders onto the farmstead and lifts her voice. His head draws out of a quick dunk that clears his face for the most part, blinking a few times as he looks over. The stallion turns to stroll over in her direction, speaking up in answer with his customary warmth.

"Eyup." Despite answering with his normal relaxed manner, Mac can't help looking at least a little surprised at the vision that's wandered onto the farm looking for him. Still, he wears a comfortable smile as he answers. "Welcome to the farm. Can I help ya with somethin'?"

Shai Ni's ears perk when she hears Big Mac's reply, and turns to trot towards him and meet him halfway.  He looks, to her, his usual handsome self, as she would be more surprised to find him looking perfectly clean and styled.  His hard-working nature is a definite part of his charm.

When they finally meet up, Shai Ni looks up (and up, and up) in order to meet Big Mac's gaze with her own, and she finds herself blushing briefly before remembering why she came.  In a very matter-of-fact tone, she says, "Hello, Mister Big Macintosh.  I have come to ask you a favor.  I am still unable to fully comprehend the Equestrian tradition of romance, and wish to experience it for myself.  As you are a very hard-working, strong, responsible, kind, and handsome stallion whom I am currently unable to get out of my thoughts, I wish to partake in the romantic tradition called a 'date' with you."

She blinks once, then asks, "Will you go on a date with me?"

Remaining at ease as he stands, the big stallion seems equally untroubled by the dirt and sweat that he wears in patches here and there, as natural to him as being clean ever was. Mac blinks and his expression grows a little more thoughtful as she starts to go through the full explanation of what's in her head, the reasoning for coming by the farm seeming alien enough to put a confused look on his face. Compliments being what they are he puts on a polite smile again but it seems a little unsteady thanks to the curiosity that leads up to the request, and the last causes him to simply blink in answer before he actually speaks.

"Y'didn't get put up to this by three little fillies, didja? Only, I had something like this happen once before and the reason for it was a bit of weird." The red stallion's expression then tightens as he seems to realize that he might've been offensive, and he quickly speaks again. "Not t'say anything bad about the notion, just concerned y'understand. It's uh. A surprise." Following up with a quick smile, the stallion tries to look friendly at least.

When Big Mac replies, Shai Ni looks slightly uncertain.  Did I say something to offend him somehow?  No, he is saying that someone had put him up to something like this before.  Three fillies trying to... encourage somepony to ask him on a date?  Is that not normal here?  Still, I came to this conclusion on my own, so... she thinks as he speaks, Oh, he is not opposed to the idea.  Excellent!

Blushing, she continues to appear lost in thought, and loses eye contact with Big Mac.  Why am I so elated to realize this?  Is it truly such a momentous thing to ask?  Miss Twilight Sparkle seems to be rather happy about hers, and her explanation did not make it seem so incredibly difficult to do, so why is my heart beating so fast?  Am I ill?  Is this supposed to happen?  Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy~AAAAAH!  He's still waiting for me to reply!  Buck up, Shai Ni!  You're just a bit out of balance is all!  You can meditate after you get an answer and get yourself back to normal!

Lifting her head up once again to make eye contact, Shai Ni's cheeks turn a brilliant crimson as she says, in a very nervous manner, "I-I-I was not put up to this by a-a-anypony!  I-i-it was my own decision!  Please believe me!"

Standing with his normal relaxed posture, Big Mac only starts to go from simply looking at Shai Ni to staring as she becomes quiet for so long. One eye tightens just a little as the other's brow lifts and gives him the look of someone who's trying to figure out a confusing question. When she answers though he just as smoothly and twice as quickly reverts to his normally relaxed and good humored smile, then giving her a nod after she blurts out her answer.

"Oh. Alright then, I believe you." The red stallion seems quite ready to take her word for it as simply as that, hooves shifting just a little to straighten up his stance since all seems on the up and up. Still wearing his pleasantly confident expression, Mac seems to take a moment more before his mind clicks through the conversation again to find a realization of what he hadn't quite gotten around to answering yet. "Eyup. I'll go."

The world is a place full of sunshine, rainbows, and butterflies, with delicious magical fruit that does not make fillies and mares gain weight no matter how much they eat, and amazing hard ciders that never make one drunk.  Yes, the world is a good place to be.

This is what Shai Ni's expression seems to say as Big Mac replies in the affirmative to her request for a date, as it is possibly the most excited, happy smile he has seen on her face - ever.  In fact, it is the most excited, happy face anyone has ever seen on her face before.  Well, Twilight Sparkle and Pinkie Pie might have seen it once when Shai Ni learned that the library was for everypony and there was no cost associated with borrowing the books, but other than that, nobody in Ponyville has ever seen her with such an expression.  She has always been more, well, ladylike and reserved, with the tiniest of smiles saying wonders.

Not this time.  Not this time at all.

"I... thank you so much.  I... I want to bounce around you in circles while giggling.  Is... is that a normal reaction?"

"I... don't know. Judgin' by some of the ponies I've seen around though, particularly some of the mares, I guess it is." Big Macintosh answers with his calm tone well intact, although the stallion actually grows a little abashed at just how pleased the mare seems over the matter. He'd given his affirmative with customary ease, always happy to help out a friend or shoulder a task, and he spoke with that confidence in accepting the date. In his mind it was a bit like being offered a free day of eating treats by Pinkie, a warm gesture, but he hadn't really realized until seeing that look on Shai Ni's face just how much it obviously meant to her.

With that vague trepidation he speaks more than he normally would, coming out of his habit of muted verbage. For once, he actually seems a little cautious, perhaps even wary. "So, what uh... what were you thinkin' about for it, then? I just wanna be clear, 'cause I know what it is 'round here but you're from for'n parts."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Tue 19 June 2012.

Shai Ni contains a squeal of delight by biting her lower lip when the large stallion answers her in the affirmative once again, and feels her heart begin to melt when he asks her what sort of things she wants to do out of consideration for her feelings.  However, a proper answer is going to have to wait.  There's something important to do, first.

"Teeheeheeheeheeheeheehee!  Yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay!" she exclaims giddily, bouncing around Big Macintosh with an expression of pure, childlike glee.  After circling him about three or four times, she stops directly in front of him, coughs into her hoof, and then looks up at him as if she had not just behaved like a silly filly.

"As we have no such traditions in my homeland, I was hoping that you might have some ideas.  Dates are supposed to be... fun and enjoyable for both participants, yes?  Anything you wish is fine with me," she replies calmly, then smiles her tiny smile and adds, "Surprise me."

As she smiles at him, she thinks, That is how it is done, yes?  The books I found about romance in the library seem to say things like this.  Luckily for her, she never read the following steps, or she would be doing a whole lot more blushing.

As she begins to so rapidly giggle and cheer, Mac will turn his head side to side and then actually spin in a circle once to try and keep up- then end up just waiting in place for her to finish her looping about him. He himself ends up just having a laugh at her antics, and that gets him to ease into a contented, grinning expression as she goes back to regular conversation.

Her answer however, leads him to look a little more concerned despite his answer carrying his normal confidence, or at least so he hopes. "Eyup. I'll think of something then, uh. In time for us to get together." The red stallion hesitates after he says that, then speaks again. "Gimme two, uh.. three days, okay? So I have some time to square things up, and think of an idea." Inwardly, Big Macintosh isn't nearly so casual about it as he's trying to look. This isn't precisely what he was expecting when he got on his hooves this morning. More like ask around. This is gonna be... tricky.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:51, Sat 04 Aug 2012.

The tiny mare's eyes narrow to match her smile, her expression showing, in a minimalistic fashion, as similar emotion to her previous broad smile.  Truly, this is a wonderful day.  "I shall do so, Mister Big Macintosh," Shai Ni replies in a quiet, pleasant tone, "I will be staying with Miss Aloe and Miss Lotus at their Spa until I can locate a new location for my clinic, so you will be able to find me there when you are ready."

A date.  A real date!  Oh, the fun she will have!  So much fun!  If Twilight Sparkle's mood earlier is anything to gauge by, dates are among the most wonderful of wonderful things, and now, Shai Ni is going to have one of her own.

After a bit of awkward silence as she continues to smile up at Big Mac, Shai Ni finally says, "So, ah... shall I, ah... leave you to your work?  I am sure you are busy."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:04, Sat 04 Aug 2012.

"I'll.. come on by then. That oughta be fine." Although Big Mac seems to be pretty relaxed about the whole matter, and his easygoing smile is still very much intact, the stallion doesn't seem to know what more to say about the date. In truth, the farmpony looks happy to just stand around for the time being.

Remaining quiet is no bother for him either, but when she speaks again he nods over to the barn where his latest haul of apples still sits in the wagon that he'd brought in a few minutes before just inside the barn. Even in the low light there, the luscious shine of fres, red apples is obvious. "Eyup. I've been busy all mornin' gettin' a load of work done here in a hurry. Gonna be goin' into town soon, after gettin' cleaned up a bit. So if you need ta find me just feel free."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:53, Sat 04 Aug 2012.

--> Enter from Town square

Honey walked all the way back to the farm without even looking around, his eyes on the ground, sobbing lightly on his way back. What did I do wrong? Was it something I said? But we had such a great time yesterday! All of these thoughts was everywhere in his mind. I just need to work it away. Yes that is it! Some work to keep my head running, maybe Mister Macintosh have done it already! What do I then do?! He suddenly thought and at least it for a short moment gave his head something other to think about but not for long.

"Hay mister Mac, Hello Miss?" Honey greeted the two ponies talking, barely even looking at them his head still low. "What do you want me to do Mister Mac?" He asked with a voice that sounded very insecure.

"Howdy, welcome back Sweets. Things go okay in town for ya?" Giving a prompt answer to the greeting, Big Macintosh will rotate at least partly to answer the arriving pony, but doesn't turn his flank on Shai to avoid being rude. Etiquette was not low on Granny's list of priorities to learn for the stallion. He had noticed the hangdog expression on the other pony as he approached, but that he maintained it even as he spoke seemed to concern the red stallion a bit.

"Scuse us, Shai." He gives the mare a polite nod again, giving a friendly grin to the other pony at the request for work. Provided the little Shanghay pony doesn't have a problem, he'll turn to lead Honey back into the barn. "Right this way, an' ah'll show ya. Y'got much experience on a farm?"

"Oh, do not mind my presence.  Please, do get on with your work, Mister Big Macintosh," Shai Ni replies with the tiny smile still on her face, "If something does come up, I shall let you know at once."  She walks backwards for several steps before finally turning around to walk off, a bounce in her step that was not there before.  She also finds herself slightly upset that Big Mac did not turn around completely to address Honey Sweets, but getting a full profile view of the large stallion is not necessarily a bad thing, either.

While she may not be well versed in romance, she is still fully able to appreciate seeing a handsome stallion.  As she walks away, she looks over her shoulder one last time to smile and get a final peek before she gallops away with a giddy expression.  Oooooh, I cannot wait to let Miss Twilight Sparkle and Miss Applejack know their advice helped so much! she thinks as she gallops, But I do not wish to interrupt Miss Twilight Sparkle's date, either... I can wait for her in the library!  Surely that will be alright!  Yes, and I can read some more books that I have had my eye on lately.  Yes, that will be good indeed!  Today has been a most wonderful thing!

--> To: Ponyville - Books and Branches Library

---> From the Schoolyard

A dark pink filly galloped her way up the road to Sweet Apple Acres, flapping her wings in an attempt to gain yet more speed. She hoped she'd be able to catch up with the impatient Scootaloo and her friends if she cut them off, and indeed it looked like she somehow made it to the ranch before the others.

Rosebud leaned heavily on the farm's gate when she got to it, huffing, puffing, and gasping for air.

From Books and Branches Library

Only a few minutes after Rosebud arrived the buzz of appraoching wings could be heard, Scootaloo's distinctive wing noise announcing their arrival before one could see them. Before long however the little light brilliant gamboge filly and her friends along with Silver Spoon pulled up next to Rosebud. Coming to a stop Scoots smiled at the other pegasus. "Alright, you made it. Wasn't sure if you'd come or not." She turned to look back at hertwo friends. "So where is this place exactly Applebloom? I don't think I've ever seen anywhere we could work metal. How you holding up Sweetie Belle? I wasn't going to fast for you was I?" She asked with concern in her voice for the well being of her friend.

"Naaaah. Not really. I need to get my thoughts off it but thanks for asking Mac. You don't mind that I just call you Mac do you?" Honey said with a very small smile looking up on the big colt.

"Never worked on a farm, but I am a fast learner. I think." He said following big Mac and looking around on the farms landscape, a view so beautifull that he simply had to smile.

"Who was she? She looked cute." Honey said with a wink as the mare left.

<-- Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon enter from Books and Branches Library

"I'm... okay... gnn... just... gimme a sec..."  Sweetie Belle had managed to keep up on the run back from the Library admirably, but it was a very long trip to take at that pace on hoof.  She was left heaving for breath by the time they arrived and plunked herself down on the spot, though inwardly she could hear her big sister's voice balking at the idea of sitting on grass.

"Good thing it wasn't me." Silver Spoon muttered as she hopped down from the wagon and set the helmet back inside.  Applebloom shot her a glare over that and the filly quailed a bit.  "I mean, I wouldn't have been able to keep up..." she added quickly.

"Anyway..." Applebloom led in as she exited the wagon as well.  "There's a steel mill and mine out in th'far reach of Sweet Apple Acres.  It's a sorta-secret-thing, so y'all can't go blabbin' 'bout it, okay?"

"You have a secret mine." Silver Spoon deadpanned incredulously.  Her family owned a number of silver mines all over Equestria, so the idea of a reliable ore vein being so near Ponyville without her knowledge was hard to believe.

"Sorta?  It's on our land, but th'Founders run it.  Nice folk too.  They're th'ones who do most of th'metal work and hardware repairs 'round th'farm.  Been friends of th'Apple Family since forever t'hear Granny talk 'bout it."  the hayseed filly explained.

"Nope." Big Mac shakes his head at that as he leads the other pony to the barn, then nodding at the answer to his question as they stroll around the barn for him to nod at the wagon. "Here's the wagon. All Ah need you to do is pretty simple. Just hook up and haul this on out to a patch of trees." As he explains he does so, starting out into the orchards with Honey.

He slows briefly at the question to look back in the direction Shai had departed in, then speaking as he continues to walk. "Shai Ni. She's ah... well, Ah'm not quite sure what to say. She came by to ask me out on a date. Ah don't really know her too well yet, just that she's from Shanghay Ah think." After a momentary pause, he gives a smile at the other stallion as he nods. "She is cute, though."

He finishes leading Honey out into the orchard, and will give him a basic run down on apple bucking, setting up the buckets to gather most of the dropped fruit and then loading them up properly so they can be hauled quickly and without spilling much, then where to shift the barrels in the barn.

In reply to Applebloom (msg # 173):

"Really?" Rosebud gasped, taking a bit longer to recover from her sprint than the other fillies. "That's...really...cool. Is there...like, a secret...scythe-all-the-fields-at-once machine?"

Scootaloo walked over and sat next to Sweetie Belle, giving her an encouraging smile. "You did great Sweetie Belle, though next time if I'm going too fast just tell me to slow down okay?" At the mention of a secret mine it gave her another idea for Cutie Mark's. "OH! We can also try for excavating or cave exploring Cutie Marks!" She said, truly this was going to be the day they got their Cutie Marks! With so many options how could they fail? "Soon as you two are feeling ready to go lead the way Apple Bloom!"

"Nah, I don't think so, Rosebud."  Applebloom shook her head, though from the way her expression wandered, one could practically see the thought cloud forming over her head to envision such a machine.  Now wouldn't that be something?

Sweetie Belle seemed to appreciate Scootaloo's words but otherwise was happy just recovering her breath for a while.  The mention of excavation did catch her interest though.  "Rarity's got a gem-finding spell and is always digging them up outside of town.  Maybe we'll find jewels too~!" she piped eagerly.  Even if there were no Cutie Marks to be had, she could bring home beautiful gemstones to her big sister~!  Rarity would love those!

"Gems in an ore mine?  Dream on."  Silver Spoon seemed intent on being a wet blanket as she rolled her eyes.

"It could happen!" Sweetie Belle huffed.

"Yeah, well, you Bla-- fillies know how dangerous mines can be, right?" Silver Spoon caught herself before she could finish that knee-jerk insult.  "It's not somewhere you can just play around in."

"Aw, what d'ya know?" Applebloom dismissed the concern more out of annoyance than anything else, which got the bespectacled filly to groan in frustration and face-hoof.

"I'm a silver smith!  I know more about this kind of thing than any of you!" she objected, indignantly pointing back at her Cutie Mark.  "Look, let's just be careful, okay?  Knowing you three, you're liable to cause a cave-in or something."

"You've got us there," Rosebud admitted. She didn't relish the idea of being buried alive. "Unless it's a strip mine."

"Nah, it's underground." Applebloom admitted.  She didn't like the idea of fessing up to Silver Spoon being right, but she did have a point.  The whole reason the Founder family kept the mine secret was because it was so dangerous in the first place.  But that wasn't going to stop them from trying~!

"We'll be careful.  But we gotta actually start trying first."  Sweetie Belle added in.  Applebloom nodded and waved the group along as she headed off through the orchards, taking them through an untraveled route further away near the rolling hills near the end of their property line.

--> Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon exit to Founder's Mill

Scoots waved a hoof dismissively at Silver Spoon. "Bah! You're a silver smith, not a miner. You don't know anything more about mining than we do. But we're going to learn!" She declared, standing up and following along behind Apple Bloom as she lead the way to the mine and hopefully Cutie Marks.

To Founder's Mill--->

With nothing more to add, Rosebud followed the other fillies.

To Founder's Mill! Yay! -->

Honey followed the big stallion around the farm, just doing as told and for once, keeping quiet.

Honey pulled the big wagon slowly but steadyly after himself next to Big Mac listening as he did. "A date? From Shanghay? Lucky you huh? Sooo... What are you gonna wear?" Honey asked, looking up and down on Big Mac. Just letting his mind loose from the dark thoughts.

As they got into the orchard, did Honey as told and worked as hard and fast as he felt comfortable with... even a little harder to shake his thoughts away, which ended with him being a little silent during the work, just talking when talked too.

"Eyup." Big Mac replies readily enough at the first questions to confirm what he'd mentioned before, then seems rather caught off guard at the other question. "Ah was... gonna wear m'yoke like always. Do you think Ah oughta wear somethin' else?" The red stallion's normal confidence seems slightly off kilter with the question, though he definitely has the look of a pony worried more about the future than the present.

"Ah'm not really sure what to do with 'er, honestly. Ah haven't really gone on dates that much recently, and uh..." He wears a slightly bemused if agitated look as his attention switches to recent memory and the antics that his younger sister and her friends got up to. "The last one Ah went on Ah kinda got.. set up for. Ah need ideas for what to do, if you can think of anything. Gonna head into town to ask a few ponies about it, when yer set up here."

Honey started bucking as he spoke, most of the apples went everywhere but the buckets. "You should wear something that make you feel comfortable, but if you have something that look a bit special, in a good way! Then I would say that you should wear that instead." Honey answered the big colt, that was what they always did in the few playes Honey had seen in the big teather back in Manehatten.

"How about a late evening dinner on some resturant and then a midnight walk in the moonlight? That was what my parents told me they had been doing when they were away for the evening and it sounds pretty romantic in my head." Honey said unsure if he was just making it harder for the colt, Honey self did after all not have any experience with that kind of stuff but it did sound romantic.

"I think I am getting the hang of this apple bucking thing." Honey said joyfully after finaly not having bucked a tree and not having to go pick up half of the apples some place else. "If you needed to go to town you can just leave, I can work this out while you are gone." Honey said looking over the fields, giving out a small sigh.

"Wear somethin' special..." Murmurs Big Mac as he follows along, bucking a few trees to help out with the task while they're talking. Even distracted, the farmpony gets most of the apples in the bucket, but he doesn't seem bothered that Honey's not having the same luck as he starts getting the hang of it.

"Dinner and then a walk. That sounds easy." As he responds again, the red stallion will lift his voice with a bit more confidence. Now smiling at Honey, he bobs his head at him eagerly by the last- only half noting the apples, but that doesn't diminish his approval. "Eyup." He trots over and nods at the other pony's work. "Not so hard, right? And if you don't mind it, Ah wanna talk to some more ponies about this. Sure you'll be okay?" Provided that the other stallion does seem fine with it, he'll turn to start back to the farm; meaning to dunk his head in the trough and clean up a little before he heads into town.

"You just go Mac, I got this." Honey said with a smile as he kept on bucking the trees the best he could, not the least annoyed that Mac did it with such ease while Honey had some trouble with the bigger trees, Mac was after all helping.

Just a grove more to go. Honey thought with a sigh and turned back to work, still working on the position of the buckets but with improvement in sight.

"Awright then. Ah'll be back after a piece." With a friendly nod to the other stallion, he makes off for the farm. After cleaning up and making sure that Granny Smith doesn't need him for anything, he heads into town.

>> Ponyville Town Square >>

>>From Founders Mill.

Arty watched Mrs Smith trot away towards her work, and he turned his attention back to his own.  He passed through the orchard and stopped to watch a strange new pony at work.

"Hello. Doesn't Mr MacIntosh usually do this job?"

From Founders Mill

Scootaloo walked along, keeping an eye out for her scooter. Eventually she spotted it leaning against a fence post near the entrance to the farm. "Alright, there's my scooter! Now what are we going to do? We going to try for a weapon Cutie Mark today?" She asked, glancing up at the cloudy sky and falling rain.

---> From Founders' Mill

"I don't think so," Rosebud answered Scootaloo. "We're tired, and wet, and Apple Bloom said something about somethin' ta eat. I'd much rather do that plan."

Honey looked up on the skies as it grew a bit darker but the weather wasn't bad enough for him to stop working, it was actually just making him cool down after all the hard work.

Honey didn't notice the other pony approach until he was up at him with the question. "Oh, hi there. Mac is in town today, he had a date to prepare for." Honey said with a smile. "So I do it for him, and since I am staying at the farm for the time I thought it would be a good way to pay off a little of what I eat." Honey said looking up at the big pony in front of him. "Are you here to buy something? because I can't do any of that. I don't realy work here you know." He said with a wry smile, unsure if he had gotten a job he didn't know about.

"No. It is fine. I was just surprised.  You carry on. You're doing a great job.  I'm Arty, pleased to meet you."

He smiled at the new pony, and offered a hoof to shake.

<-- Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Silver Spoon enter from Founder's Mill

"Yeah, if we're gonna get any weapon Cutie Marks, how's about we try for a kitchen knife first?  I know Granny's got a tray of apple cobbler that'd be a great test target." Applebloom chuckled as she ambled on out into the light rain.

"Well, anything's better than getting soaked on the way back to my home..." Silver Spoon muttered.  She was loathe to immediately admit some keen interest in Granny's cooking -- everypony in town knew she was one of the best bakers around.

Thankfully the farm wasn't far at all, so only Sweetie Belle needed use of the wagon behind the scooter since she was too weary from the bellows to go along without wobbling about on every step.  The lot of them were plenty wet by the time they got there and had muddy hooves to boot, which Silver Spoon looked particularly disgusted by... she'd ruined her hooficure!  As they approached Granny Smith poked her head out the window with a look of surprise on her wrinkled face.

"Tarnation!  What're y'fillies doin' out in th'wet like that?  C'mon in before y'all catch cold!  Scootaloo, put that contraption in th'barn!" she urged the girls along and would have dry towels waiting for them by the time they got inside.  "School let out hours ago... where have y'all been?  And who's this youngin'?" she looked curiously to Rosebud.

"The name is... uh... Nom," Rosebud seized the opportunity to be somepony else. "Voracious Nom." Though she had something of a one-track mind at the moment. "I just came up from underground, and replaced these ponies with robots. They need pastries to run. And I need to test them."

Applebloom and Silver Spoon both looked confused over the introduction Rosebud gave herself and, for once, shared a glance and shrug of equal befuddlement.  Granny Smith recognized mischief for what it was and just laughed softly.

"That so?  Well, th'rain ain't no place t'be testin' contraptions and doo-hickeys.  Y'girls c'mon in and I'll get some tea goin' for ya'." Granny smiled as she turned to head back into the kitchen.  "I've got a fresh pie in th'oven right now."

"Sweetie Bot would prefer cocoa, if that's an option~!" the little unicorn piped up, playing along with 'Nom's story.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Fri 03 Aug 2012.

Scoots was happy to let her friend ride in the wagon while she pulled it along at a much more sedate pace than the one she had set on the way out here. She had to admit to being tired and also wanting to get something to eat so didn't put up an argument about getting food instead of a Cutie Mark. At Granny Smith's call she looked and nodded at her. "Ok Granny Smith!" She called out, letting Sweetie hop out before heading to the barn and setting her wagon and scooter inside before hurrying back to the others and thus missing Rosebud's newest introduction. She collected the towel meant for her and began drying herself off, taking care not to muss up her feathers to much. "Thanks Granny Smith! I was really starting to get hungry."

Once all the fillies were suitably cleaned up and presentable for a kitchen table, Applebloom led them along in -- it wasn't hard to follow the delicious aroma of fresh apple pie wafting down the hall though.  Even Silver Spoon was too enchanted by the scent to make any snide remarks on how 'rustic' the place was.  The long kitchen table was set with plates and mugs while the nearby stove top sported two pots -- one simmering with a tea kettle and the other with sweet hot chocolate.

"G'wan and get y'selves settled, girls.  I wasn't expectin' such a crowd, but it's always so nice when Applebloom brings home friends." Granny chuckled as she pulled down the door to the oven.  With the careful application of a pot holder, she withdrew a sweet apple pie that she'd finished a while ago but had kept warmed inside the oven.

"Thank you very much for accommodating us, Mrs. Smith.  It's very generous of you."  Silver Spoon made sure to get her brown nosing in quickly, though it was at least partially sincere.  Ever since Granny Smith had made that presentation at their school about how her family helped found Ponyville, many of the young ponies in the community saw her in a different and more respectful light.

"Shucks, ain't nothin'." she smiled as she reached over and ruffled the gray filly's mane, not noticing how horrified it left her as she desperately tried to fix her then ruined coif.  Granny went about slicing out portions of the pie and dishing up for the girls, as well as serving drinks.  It always seemed like she was cooking for the family, but little made the old gray mare happier.

Scoots followed along with the rest of the fillies behind Applebloom, eager to get at the delicious smelling pie. Once they had reached the kitchen she clambered up onto a seat and eagerly awaited her portion of the apple pie. As the slice was placed in front of her she licked her lips and her mouth watered, her stomach gave a rumble as it to voiced its agreement with the plan of filling it. "This looks so good!" She declared before eagerly taking a big bite out of the pie, eyes closing in bliss as the wonderful tastes exploded in her mouth. She could honestly say that this was the best food she'd eaten in a very long time!

"Yeah, thank you, Granny Smith!" Rosebud chimed in, remembering her manners just then. She dug in to the pie with all of the gusto she could muster (having tired out from hammering), and voiced her opinion of the home-cooked Apple snack with an "Mmmmmm."

After all that hard work in the forge, pie and drinks were just what the fillies needed to get their batteries back up to full charge.  Even Sweetie Belle looked fully recovered (as well as immensely satisfied) by the time she had a few slices of warm apple pie in her belly.  Silver Spoon ate very slowly compared to the others as she seemed intent on using only the finest of table manners, but even she managed to pack away two pieces of pie as well.  It was just too good to resist~!

"I suppose all this running around has its uses... I don't feel so guilty about indulging in sweets now." she admitted.  She never would eat so much pie otherwise for fear of ruining her slender figure.

"Try workin' th'farm sometime.  We need t'eat plenty t'be able t'keep up with it all." Applebloom piped in.  "Though... smithin' was a lot harder than I expected.  Guess y'ain't such a priss after all if y'do that sorta work."

Silver Spoon just turned her nose up at the half-compliment and Applebloom didn't press on the matter.  Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle drained the last of her cocoa, not noticing the chocolate mustache she now sported as she thunked her mug down on the table.  "Okay, so what're we gonna do for our Cutie Marks next?  Princess Luna's been staying with Rarity, so all her guards' stuff is at the Boutique.  And Luna was gonna be all out and about around town today, so the coast is probably clear at the Boutique right now.  But... um... whatever we do, can we make sure it's not gonna be messy?  Rarity said she was gonna help me learn magic, and I don't want to get her mad and spoil the chance..."
This message was last updated by the player at 17:32, Wed 08 Aug 2012.

"Well, I suppose we can try for them outside. After all, we can't really try out the wea-stuff inside as we'd be constantly smacking into walls and your sister's stuff. So outside would be best!" She decided, nodding her head sagely and happy that she had stopped before she said weapons. Even if Granny Smith couldn't hear very well it was still best not to take chances. "Am I right or am I right?"

"Except that it's raining outside. I don't think there's such thing as a cold-catching Cutie Mark," Rosebud pointed out. "And nopony would ever want one if there was."

The fillies canted their heads aside for a moment of thought in trying to figure out what a Cold Catching Cutie Mark would even involve and, while they all had different ideas on the matter, none of them were appealing.  Silver Spoon looked the most grossed out of the bunch and stuck her tongue out in disdain.

"Ugh... how much time a day do you even spend trying to get your Cutie Marks anyway?  I mean, it's already sun down..." she muttered.

"Well, it ain't like we're on a schedule or anythin'.  But we try t'get in as much as we can when we can." Applebloom replied as she tucked back into her apple pie.

"Though we haven't really been doing it as much as we used to, to tell the truth." Sweetie Belle observed.  When they'd first formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders, they'd been after their marks all day every day.  But as time went by, the efforts dwindled as they spent more and more time just being friends together and doing other more casual pursuits.  Even if they hadn't gotten their Cutie Marks yet, it was hardly a wasted effort since it brought them all together.

"What about you?  What's your story?  And make sure it's a real story this time, 'Nom'." the gray filly cast an incredulous look at Rosebud.  Sweetie Belle just grinned and stiffened up, going back into her 'Sweetie Bot' routine with sharp, robotic movements and earning herself a giggle from Applebloom.  She actually liked Rosebud's creativity.

Honey paused his work to take Arty's hoof but only gave it a quick shake. "Nice to meet you Arty. Honey Sweets at your service." Honey said before he looked back on his work. "Yea, I need a little more practise but thanks anyways." He said with a small smile to Arty. "Do you know the Apple family or something since you are here not to buy apples?" Honey asked while going back to bucking the best he could while talking.

As they talked the weather started getting better and the shadowes was growing longer but Honey kept working the best he could. Better not get thrown out after the first day because you are lazy. He thought to himself. Even thou, his bladder was starting to get eager, but after an entire day it was understandable! Just a few more trees.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Sun 12 Aug 2012.

In reply to Silver Spoon (msg # 203):

"My story isn't very interesting," Rosebud said. Something about her expression seemed to say she was dodging the question, though. "Moved into town with Daddy yesterday. From Appleloosa." Her lack of that particular accent suggested they'd moved before then as well.

"Well kinda." Arty smiled a little. "For helping out with the jobs that need helping with, they let us stay here.  I would help with apple bucking but I umm don't have the precision.  The last time I tried they thanked me very much but thanked me more not to try again.  Bruising an entire tree of apples did not go down well. Oh umm I'm sorry.  From the looks of things you're doing a lot better than I ever did."  Arty trotted about and observed Honey's work.  No apple had missed, or at least missed by much, and there was no evidence of excessive force, and he cringed when he remembered his last attempt at apple bucking.  Best stick to metal.  He knew metal.

"You really are good at this."  He grinned again.

In spite of the oncoming storm he dragged out the the parts that needed bracing so he could work alongside another hard worker.  He kicked off the old braces and turned the tubs upside down so that the wood wouldn't flex too much as he fitted the new braces.

Scoots took another piece of pie, making this one her third as she listened to the short story of Rosebud. "What's it like in Appleloosa? Pretty hot I bet." She said, taking another bite of the scrumptious pie. "Didja see any of them buffalo?"

"Oh, yeah," Rosebud nodded. "Hot and flat. And they got a huge apple orchard. I didn't get to meet any buffalo, but Daddy says they're nice. Mostly."

Silver Spoon just rolled her eyes over such a dull tale and the notion of a dusty frontier town, but Applebloom perked right up by contrast.  "Hey, I've got kin over in Appleloosa~!  Did y'ever meet a Pony named Braeburn?  Or Apple Dumplin'?  Sweet Georgia?"

Rosebud looked away and mumbled her answer. "I guess, maybe? I didn't get to meet a whole lot of ponies. And I'm not very good with names."

"I don't know... you seem to think them up pretty quickly." Sweetie Belle joked affably as she rested her chin in her upturned hooves.

"I take it y'didn't stay long there then?  Where'd y'come from before?  D'ya move around a lot?" Applebloom prodded, though she was distracted as Silver Spoon reached over and gave her a stiff dope slap upside the back of her head that upset her bow.  "Ow!  What th'hay was that for?!"

"Don't you have any manners?  It's rude to pry into somepony's personal affairs." she huffed in reply.  "If she doesn't want to talk about it, you shouldn't go digging."

Scootaloo scowled as she watched Silver slap her friend upside the head. "Hey! We're not prying! We're just asking questions about her! There's a difference." She said, finishing up her pie and pushing the plate away, licking up the crumbs around her mouth as she continued to glare at Silver.

"It's okay, I don't mind," Rosebud told Silver Spoon. "Before Appleloosa, we lived in Hollow Shades, Dodge City, and, uh, Vanhoover." She cleared her throat. "I was born in Baltimare."

"Huh... that's a lot of traveling.  Is one of your parents in the military or something?" Silver Spoon asked.  "I've got an uncle -- Silver Spear -- who's with the guard and he gets moved all around the country."

"Now who's pryin'?" Applebloom snipped.  Silver Spoon returned a sharp look her way and the two traded making faces at each other for a moment before Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes.

"Oh, just kiss already." she deadpanned.  The two fillies blanched and promptly cut their bickering.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Tue 14 Aug 2012.

Scootaloo burst into laughter at the expression on the other two fillies faces, reaching out a hoof for hoof bump with Sweetie. "Awesome one Sweetie!"

Rosebud was about to reveal more of her past when a timely quip by Sweetie Belle shattered the moment. She giggled with Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle just snickered and leaned over to clack her hoof against Scootaloo's in a fond celebration of that wicked burn.  Applebloom looked suitably betrayed and Silver Spoon just turned her nose up in her usual huff.

"Ugh... you are such children." the scoffed despite that she was about the same age.

"So, robot-master Nom?  You were saying?" Sweetie Belle continued on with a grin, ignoring the indignation from the other two.

"Hm? Oh!" Rosebud remembered what they'd been talking about. "Daddy's a surveyor. His Special Talent is bein' able to tell what's under the ground. So that's why we move so much."

"That's... actually, really useful." Silver Spoon seemed mildly surprised at the mention of Rosebud's father.  Normally she would have scoffed at the working class, but surveyors were important to her family's own industry.

"Ooh~!  Like Rarity!" Sweetie Belle chimed excitedly.  "My big sister can do that too -- she can use magic to find buried gems~!"

Scootaloo, having finished her pie leaned forward and rested her chin on the table. Her ears twisted back and forth as she listened to the other ponies but she didn't contribute. She was starting to feel tired, hauling around the wagon and then using a heavy hammer all afternoon had taken it's toll. She'd need all the rest she could get before she headed back into town to drop Sweetie and Silver off back at their homes before heading back to the CMC Clubhouse to get some rest.

Rosebud nodded happily, pleased that most of the other ponies present found her story interesting and weren't bickering anymore.

The pink pegasus finished her snack as well. "What time is it?" she wondered aloud.

While the girls had all been snacking and chatting away, time continued to roll along without them noticing.  It wasn't until Rosebud spoke up that Applebloom glanced out the window and realized it had become dark.

"Aw hay, it's already night!" she yelped.

"Uh-oh... I hope Rarity's not gonna be mad at me for staying out late." Sweetie Belle fretted.

"The rain hasn't let up at all either." Silver Spoon couldn't help but pout over that.  A little trek in the wet wasn't going to do any real harm, but she didn't like the idea of getting rained on.  Her hooficure was already ruined and now her mane was going to be too!

Scootaloo lifted her head up when she heard the others discussing what time it was, looking out a window to see that it was indeed dark outside. "Well, guess we'd better get going. Not like it's going to get any brighter and it's just going to keep getting darker the longer we wait." She also dreaded going out into the rain, though for entirely different reasons than Silver. She pushed herself away from the table, stretching out her wings to get them ready for hauling the wagon around once more. "I'll meet you guys outside." She said, making her way to the door and then making a dash for the barn. Slipping her helmet back on she clicked it into place and then made her way back to the farm house. Standing on the porch she waited for the other fillies to join her.

Walking at the side of one sky-blue mare with a bandaged wing, he grey skies and late hour conspired to quickly shroud the road in a darkness that would be difficult for those unaccustomed to the road - which was slightly slick with a forming layer of mud by now. The chill and rain was something Applejack was privately relieved to have - the plants needed it, and the chill kept her mind off of Rainbow, and her newly-understood feelings. Feelings she dared not share with the mare. No, like anypony else, she'd have to win her chance. Rainbow would respect that, even if she might not understand why Applejack was competing.

Such as her condition was, Applejack was pretty quiet most of the way to the farm. As the rain picked up a bit, she glanced aside to make sure Rainbow was doing fine. Not far to go now... "Ah'll grab ya' a towel when we get inside, if Granny Smith don't beat me to in fer' both of us." she said. "An' you kin' use one of tha' spare rooms."

They did have plenty, given the frequency of extended family paying a visit. She hoped  the girls had all gotten in all right - and then, finally, her thought went back to Xing Ming... where was she right now?

"Ah'm 'bout ready for a big dinner an' bed, mahself." Applejack said eagerly.

Rosebud looked outside and nickered. She hoped her father wasn't getting too worried about her, but at the same time, she really didn't want to get lost in the darkness and rain.

If only somepony had invented telephones.

With great trepidation, the pink filly stepped out into the dark and stormy night.

---> To Ponyville Town Square, I guess.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:57, Wed 22 Aug 2012.

---> from Ponyville Hospital

Rainbow Dash walked with the orange farm pony, being sure to keep close to her as they went. She was happy to be with her then, she still didn't care for the hospital too much, and her being there made it easier. She was also grateful for her to guide her at this moment. She was fairly familiar with the road, having been around there hundreds of times, but she had never really walked it before.

She was also happy for the weather. She looked up at the skies, the rain washing over her face as she studied the cloud formations and the wind direction. Doing this helped keep her mind off of the feelings swelling inside of her at being so close to Applejack. She had always cared for Applejack, always was her best friend, but of late... it had changed. It had evolved to become more. She couldn't find herself to admit her feelings, perhaps that was why she put up the poster. She sighed, mentally kicking herself for it, but it was clear by the actions in the Cafe that morning, that Applejack did not feel the same. She was more interested in protecting Rainbow Dash, than making sure she found happiness.

"Alright, thanks, AJ. One great thing about a farmhouse is that you always have like ten spare rooms." she smiled with a chuckle. "A big meal and then sleep sounds amazing right now. It's been a long day."

None of the girls seemed particularly eager to leave the comfort of Sweet Apple Acres, but they couldn't just stick around and have their families worrying about them all night.  Well... they could, but then they'd all have to deal with several ballistic Ponies furious with them the next day.  Thankfully The Apples were used to having lots of company around due to their extended family -- fillies and colts included -- so they had a few spare rain slickers in the closet.

"Alright, y'all be safe gettin' 'round, okay?  Take th'long way and go through Ponyville proper -- th'side roads are gonna be all muddy and sticky by now."  Applebloom warned as she dolled out coats to the group.  Normally that would have been Granny Smith doing the responsible thing, but the old mare was soundly asleep in her chair by then.

"Thanks Applebloom~!  We'll see you tomorrow, okay?" Sweetie Belle chirped.

"Eyup!"

Silver Spoon didn't look pleased with the bright yellow slicker she'd been given, scowling over it.  Still... it would spare her from the rain.  "Ugh, how gauche... but thanks all the same."  More were passed along to Rosebud and Scootaloo.  Once everypony was suited up, they were ready to head out for home.  Sweetie Belle once more generously offered to run alongside the wagon rather than ride -- she'd stick with the group for as long as Ponyville Town Square before breaking off on her own since Rarity's Boutique was in the opposite direction of Silver Spoon's home.

--> Silver Spoon and Sweetie Belle exit with the group

Scoots collected her rain slicker and gratefully pulled it on, glad to be out of the rain and that she wouldn't have to worry about drying off later. "Alright, I'll see you tomorrow Applebloom!" She said, hoping onto her scooter and firing up her wings before heading off along the trail back to Ponyville.


To Ponyville Town Square--->

Waving a farewell to the departing Fillies, Applejack watched them all heading off in silence for a moment.. she wanted to go with 'em, to be sure they got home, but ... They'd be fine.  Besides.... Rainbow.

Applejack nudged open the door and  let Rainbow enter first. "We're home, everypony~!"

As it was, Applebloom was the only family member around just then.  Granny was still snoozing away in her chair and Big Mac hadn't come home yet either, so the greeting AJ and Rainbow got at the door was a little less bombastic than it could have been.

"Heya sis~!  What took y'so long t'-- oh." the little filly began to ask but stopped short when she saw Rainbow Dash's bandaged wing.  "What happened?"

Rainbow Dash also waved at the departing fillies and smiled softly at Applejack's concerned expression. She would m ake a great mom someday, she thought. As she walked through the door, she smiled at AJ's little sister. "Hey, Applebloom! Ah this is nothing had a little crash when flying is all. I barely even feel it." she smiled. It hurt like heck, but she didn't want to bring the filly's mood on her account. "I can't fly home, so I'm staying the night here."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:31, Wed 22 Aug 2012.

Applejack stood in the doorway, nudging it shut. "Hay, sugar cube, can ya'  grab us a couple a' towels?" She chimed, and  then nudged  Rainbow. "Ah guess ah'll state on dinner. Whacha' want, RD?"

"Granny made some apple pie earlier -- there's a couple pieces still left in th'oven." Applebloom mentioned when the topic of food came up.  Nopony could survive on pie alone, but it was nice to know about for dessert.  In the meantime, the little filly scampered off to go make herself helpful by retrieving some towels as requested.

Hmmm... she was such a good cook too... She gave her head a shake and chuckled. "Well, you know me... the less healthy the food, the better!" she chuckled again. "Just whatever you have lying around is fine. You don't have to make a fuss on my account. I'm just looking forward to that warm apple pie for dessert! Your family always has the best apple pastries!" she grinned.

When Applebloom delivered the towels, Applejack opened the first one and dropped it over Rainbow's head, poking her shoulder, before taking her hat off and wrapping the other around herself. "Aww now, yer' gettin' a meal too, Rainbow. An' no dessert if ya' don't clean yer' plate." Applejack nagged with a smirk, trotting along to the kitchen to start preparing food.

Applejack started with some potatoes, setting them to boil. She went on to several delicious high-grade apples, fresh from the orchard. Buffing them up to perfection, she then cored out the center, and set them aside, chopping up a few carrots, then went back to the potatoes, checking and then draining them. She gave the apple cores a solid squeeze over the potatoes, and stirred in the apple-flavored juiciness, then mixed the carrots and potatoes into each hollowed apple, stuffing them.

She quickly tossed together a side salad, dashed with daffodils, celery, and lettuce, some tomato slices, a few mushrooms, then paused, glancing at the ingredient shelf... Chrysanthemum petals were her first instinct, but she paused as she spotted the Rose. It didn't get used often... The mare blushed slightly, and fetched both bottles. She prepped three bowls - one for herself, Rainbow, and Applebloom. her own and Appleblooms got the Chrysanthemum, but Rainbow's bowl...  she hesitated, glanced back at the door to the other room... then sprinkled rose petals into her salad.

"Uhh.. hay, Everypony, dinner's ready~" 

There were plenty of mashed potatoes and salad left for others, later, but for now, she had food ready for everypony there.

Rainbow Dash grinned as the call to dinner was heard. "I'm so hungry! And it smells awesome!" She inhaled the lovely aroma, taking her place at the table as Applejack brought in the food. "Wow, I'd have never thought of putting potatoes inside apples like that. That's pretty creative! And the salad you made..." she trailed off, noticing the rose petals sprinkled on top. She also noticed that neither Applejack's nor Applebloom's had any, which meant she did it specially for her. A blush hit her cheeks as she looked up at the farm pony in surprise as it hit her.

Or... perhaps it was because the two sisters just didn't care for rose petals? Or they only had so much, and wanted to make her feel special as the guest? Yes, that had to be it. She cleared her throat a little, looking back down to her salad, but still with the blush warming her cheeks. "It all looks amazing. Like those pictures you see in the fancy magazines."

Applejack wished she'd still had her hat on, so she could try and hide her face with it.  Her cheeks went warm as Rainbow mentioned the Salad, then looked at her, and she became very interested in taking a bite of her stuffed apple.

After the compliment, she looked up. "Aww, Shucks, RD.. It ain't that special..."

Applebloom was delighted to have a hot dinner and eagerly leaped to her seat at the table.  The interaction going on between Applejack and Rainbow Dash had her confused though.  The filly glanced back and forth between them, blinking her wide eyes curiously.

"Y'all didn't catch a cold out in th'rain, did'ja?  Yer faces are red." she piped up innocently.

Rainbow Dash had been sipping some water at the time and coughed as she inhaled some of it at Applebloom's question. "A cold...?" she hacked a few times. "Er... no... it's just... uh... I think coming in from the chilly rainy air into a warm house... it's not like a... blush or anything like that." she glanced up at AJ for just a moment before staring right on her food. Just shut up and eat, Rainbow.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:45, Fri 24 Aug 2012.

Rainbow and Applejack had looked at each other at the same time - and neither could hold their gaze on the other. The farmpony looked away and ate a bite of her salad wordlessly as Rainbow excused her blush.  Applejack looked up to Applelboom, hoping to defuse things. - "How was school t'day... An' Where is Xing Ming?"

Arty finished work grinned at the busy apple bucker and trotted back over to him.  "I've finished here, and you might as well come on in too.  If you've not experienced apple hospitality you've missed something."

He trotted up to the farm house door and knocked politely.

The mixed looks between the two mares went completely over Applebloom's head.  She didn't quite understand romance in the first place, let alone unvoiced tension, so it was no surprise she was content to buy RD's excuse and tuck into her food without complaint.

"Xing Ming?  Oh gosh, I forgot all about her!" the filly squeaked at mention of their overseas 'sister'.  "Last I saw her, she was headin' off with some other girls after school.  Poppy and Bumblebee, I think."

>>> FROM: Avagadra's Treehouse

The shield had sputtered several times on the long trip from the treehouse to Sweet Apple acres, leaving Xing frankly soaked through. She had run as long as she could, but by the time she got to the door of the Apple house, she was panting, tired, and cold from the water. The shield was still in place, but still with its many holes that dripped water and leaked like a sieve. She sighed as she at last came to the door, gave a little sneeze, and pushed it open.

She couldn't bring herself to look at the others inside as she quickly stepped inside, the magic umbrella dissolving, and promptly sending a cascade of water that had been resting on top over her already sopping wet form. Surprised at the wave of water that splashed over the foyer, she shook herself, looking half drowned. "S-Sorry..." she mumbled as she picked up her hooves and brought them down again, slightly splashing in the puddle she had made with obvious embarrassment. "Lost track... of the time... and forgot my umbrella..."

The sound at the door took Applejack's attention, and she was already on her way, with towels, when Xing's little splash occurred. She shifted from tense to an affectionate, smiling look, and leaned down to wrap the little filly in a warm towel, and giving her a light kiss on the horn. "Come on in an' dry off, meimei"

Applejack goes on to open the door for the others to step inside, though the porch has them out of the rain.  "Applebloom~ A few more towels, if ya' would. Arty an' Honey are here. An' we might need one...err...two fer' Big Macintosh, too."

Well, when he got home. "Come on in, everypony, We got apple pies, and an' Stuffed Apples. Salad too~!"

Arty nodded gratefully and stepped inside.. "Thank you Miss Jack.  Wow it's really busy today.  Hello Miss Bloom, Miss Dash." He looked along the group of younger ponies. "I'm sorry Miss Bloom, I don't know all your friends, would you mind introducing me?"  He quickly caught the eye of Granny. "All done Mrs Smith."

Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief as Xing Ming arrived back home. She was getting prepared to head out and fly in the rain to search for her if it came to that. "Heya, Xing Ming!" She smiled warmly to her. "We've got a whole bunch of awesome food that AJ made! I mean, potato stuffed apples... those are the best!" she grinned and then snickered. "Heh... Miss Jack..." She stuck her tongue out in a tease to the farmpony.

Honey looked up on the older pony almost a little startled, time really fly when you had something to do. "Oh right! Food.. A break sound good, What time is it?" Honey asked as he pushed the last buckets of apples into the barn, but didn't expect an answer as they both went inside in silence. "Thanks miss Jack... Or miss Apple.. Which one would you prefer? Or are there anything else you would like to get called." Honey asked as he nodded to the rest of the ponies in the farm house.

Saying hello to Granny Smith was pretty useless just about then as the only reply that would come back was a loud snore and some sleepy, mid-dream mutterings.  Not surprising since she was getting up there in years... besides, Granny was always the first one awake in the morning anyway.

Applebloom had scurried off to go get the towels, raiding the hall closet once more and bringing back a heap of the folded terrycloth piled on her back.  She was quick to divvy out towels to each of the arrived Ponies, though she paid special attention to Xing Ming as she helped to dry off the miserable looking filly.  "Gosh Xing, I'm sorry!  I shoulda stuck with ya' instead of runnin' off on m'own." she squeaked as she ruffled Xing Ming's hair about under the towel to try and dry it.  She felt just awful about leaving her new sister in such a predicament!

While Applebloom saw to the soaked guests, Appljack was back on her feet making sure she had a hot meal for every one of them.  She stuck her tongue out at Rainbow, then glanced on past to Honey. "Ya'll jus' cal me Applejack, awright?" she chimjed. Places were set at the big table for everypony, the warm, inviting aroma of Apple Hospitality delightful in the air.

Nopony else got rose petals.

Slightly surprised when Applejack approached and wrapped her in the fluffy towel, Xing couldn't help but to smile very slightly as the warmth of it flooded her, helped in no small part by the little kiss JeiJei gave her horn, and ebbed away the misery of wet cold, as did the smell of delicious food wafting from the kitchen. It felt like she hadn't eaten for a long time, and her stomach gurgled with hunger even as Applebloom came to help her dry off. She smiled at her 'sister' as she apologized for leaving her behind.

"Oh... no, Applebloom... It is alright," she said in her soft voice, shy but pleased at the attention. "I don't... usually run around a lot... I probably would have bored you." She smiled at her adopted sister, even with her hair all tousled, the pink Bao having come undone and now lay merely tied like ribbons in her teal hair just as dredged as the rest of her. "Maybe tomorrow... we can, um, hang out though, if you want..."

[Enter from Rogue Heart's House]

The griffon descended toward the apple orchard, flapping her wings to gain altitude as one of the trees nearly took her out.  The food was so close, but what kind should she even have?  There were green apples, red apples, gold apples, and red and yellow apples!

Day 8: Applejack

The challenges ahead for Applejack were sure to be physical. It was how Rainbow did almost everything. So, despite being strong and fit already, Applejack was getting up even earlier every morning, and had dedicated herself to a secret training regimen in the orchards away from everypony else.

As such, the mare was in the orchard herself. As Silva arrived, she didn't see anypony, but after a few minutes, she heard a forceful strike of fierce hooves on bark, and noticed a tree not too far away rattling, shedding all of its apples, and a few leaves.

The orange mare was weary with her training, but wasn't letting up. Her coat shown with a faint glisten of exertion.  The same thing repeated itself with several other trees, all in a relatively close area - something powerful and strong was shaking all the apples out of the trees over there - and it seeme dto be getting a little bit closer to Silva.

Startled, Silva almost dropped through the trees and to the ground before catching herself.  She was more than a little surprised by the sight of the pony.  Uninitiated into the ways of the farm pony, she almost cried out in surprise when she saw the first tree get bucked.  After a while, though, she just seemed more curious about the whole affair.  Why so many apples?  Why so early?  Why was this little pony doing it by her lonesome?

It was just enough to distract her from the falling apples...

With the gryphon not attracting any attention to herself, Applejack wasn't taking notice on her own. The mare had spent half the morning running baskets under a whole grove of trees, and was now unleashing a whole wile series of bucks against  different trees, one at a time, all with shocking force for someone who had never seen her work. The apples on her flank was a clear sign of her talent - and she seemed rather gifted in the first place.

When she finally finished, very few apples had landed outside their baskets and barrels. The mare stopped to catch her breath, taking the hat from her head and looking upward toward the morning sky with a heavy breath.It was only then that she spotted the dark shape blocking her view of the eastern sun, squinting through a mix of tiredness and the bright light silhouette of the creature. Raising a hoof, she  peered into the glow. "Err... Howdy~" she breathed, still a bit winded.

Silva was ready to be recognized, at least a little bit, so her response was swift.

"Why are you knocking all of those apples down?" she said, curiously gazing over at the pony and stepping away as she realized that the sun was warming her back.  It was rude to make someone stare at the sun, no matter how beautiful the sunsets could be.  Besides, any pony who was blinded by the sun couldn't see her svelte form.  Even having had a chance to eat over the past few days, her form was still thin as could be.  Fashion demanded a thin figure, after all, especially when one was bigger and taller than most ponies.

She snatched up an apple that had slipped out of its basket with a quick flash of talons. "You look like you work here, but it seems like a lot so fast."

The thought crossed her mind to eat the apple and fly away before this hayseed could bother her, but she set it down inside one of the baskets instead.  Better to build bridges than to burn the lumber before it's over the river.

Applejack hadn't quite expected to see a gryphon at this hour, and the reaction was apparent - she gawked a little, as she saw not only a gryphon, but one she recognized. Was it Gilda? Back in Ponyville?

"A'course it's a lot. Ain't seen you 'round these parts in a long time. You're Rainbow Dash's old friend, right?" Applejack snapped that into place smoothly - she had been an old, troublemaking buddy of Rainbow's... and...  especially cruel to poor Pinkie...

"Uhh.. ah hope ya' ain't lookin' ta start more trouble here in Ponyville." She saw her eying the apple she'd scooped up, and raised a hoof. "Ya' hungry?" she asked, in an offering tone. She might've changed, who could say. Yet... Part of Applejack recalled how Pinkie had felt, being left out of spending time with Applejack, and she frowned... what if Gilda found out about this contest? A gryphon would be a pretty tough opponent...

"Rainbow Dash?  I hear that name a lot around here, and for good reason, but I don't know her personally," Silva said, contemplating the apples for a moment.  She had to resist, especially since this pony thought her to be some sort of troublemaker.

"I promise I'll cause no trouble in Ponyville.  It wouldn't make the right impression upon future employers, and I fear I've already made enough trouble in Canterlot..." The griffon froze when she uttered those words.  Even  when she wasn't insulting ponies, it always seemed like she said the wrong thing!

Applejack blinked a bit. "You..  uhh.. don't know Rainbow? Didya' hit yer' head or somethin? Ah thought ya'll were fast old friends..." She asked, and approached. "Ah mean... You are Gilda, right?" The mare took her in, curiously.  She looked very much like her, but... she didn't seem as brash or rude as Gilda...

"Yer' lookin' fer work? Well, if ya' got a mind to help cart baskets, ah can promise a fair share a' bits and an Apple Family Breakfast~"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:59, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

"Gilda?  That's my sister..." Silva felt a stab at her heart.  Had her good sister gone bad without her around?  What had happened to Mora?  Was she pickpocketing ponies in Fillydelphia?  It made her wonder, but she realized that she was still being talked to.  She did her best to recover and not look like somepony had bucked her.

"I'm Silva, but, was my sister really here?" She glanced at the baskets. "I heard about a griffon causing trouble, but I can't imagine..."

"Oh... shucks, ah'm sorry... Ya'll look alike.." she gained an awkward bush, and raised a hoof. "Ah mean... You an yer' sister. Are ya'll twins or somethin'?"  Way to go, Applejack... "Yeah... but that was some two years back. Ain't no trace of her about now, but Rainbow might keep in touch with 'er. Ah dunno, but they did have a fallin' out when Gilda left."

Applejack moved along to nudge a basket steadily forward with her powerful legs, back toward an open barn shed nearby.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

Silva shook her head, trying to find the words to say 'well, that's okay'. She couldn't.

Sighing, she moved toward one of the baskets and pushed it forward, albeit it with less speed than the earth pony.  Working made it easier to not say anything, but she couldn't help saying something. "I can help you with the baskets."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:39, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

The work went faster with two, both pushing the many, now weighty baskets into th shed, where Applejack soon started stacking them into storage.  Once they'd worked to a conclusion, the mare nudged the doors shut, and raised a hoof to her Griffon helper. "Well. Ya' sure are strong for such a slight Griffon." She admired, and tossed her an apple. "Go ahead and have a bite, an' come along to the house. Granny Smith must have breakfast ready by now, an' yer' welcome ta' all you can eat. An' ah'll show ya' round town today when ah gomake some deliveries. An' you'll get them bits ah promised, too."

Silva was shaky on her legs after that much work, feeling just how empty her stomach was.  Still, she reached out one claw and shook the pony's hoof, and caught the apple all too eagerly.  Her talons dug into it a bit, but she didn't bother to slice it before digging in.  The apple didn't stand a chance against her beak.  Dainty eating didn't have a place in the world when hunger is this close!

"If you're going to pay in food and even just a few bits for work, I can't afford to be too weak for it," she replied with a measure of pride. "This...work isn't my profession, but I work hard."

Applejack grinned a bit. "Well, awright. C'mon~" She motioned the Griffon with her. "Anyway, Silva. Jus' what is yer' profession?" As they talked, sheled the way through the grove back toward the Apple farmstead, pausing a few times to inspect some trees -apple-less, along the way.

Silva followed, looking around.  This place looked even more tremendous from the ground.  If she got on these ponies' good sides, she'd never have to worry about food ever again.  The question brought her away from her marveling and to a strange silent contemplation of everything that got her here.  The bad thoughts threatened to turn her toward anger.

When she finally answered, her pride had fallen away.  Still, the thought of her 'glory days' brought her a smile instead of a frown. "I used to be a model."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Fri 31 Aug 2012.

"A... Model? Oh, ya' mean fer' clothes an' stuff?" She chimed. "You should talk to mah' friend Rarity. She's mah oldest friend... well, of a sort. She runs a huge boutique in town. Even had orders from Princess Luna." she chimed with a smile.

"Ah' ain't ever heard of a Grifon model before, but it'd be somethin' ta' see, especially in somethin' Rarity tossed together."

Silva's heart stopped in her chest.  For a few moments, she just stared.  Then, she gasped. "The Rarity?  You know the Rarity?  She lives and works here?  I can't imagine her ever wanting to have me wear some of her designs...but I can't imagine her actually living in this town!"

Even as she dismissed the possibility of ever wearing a 'Rarity' ensemble, she couldn't imagine Rarity living in sleepy old Ponyville...

"An' jus' what's wrong with Ponyville, sugarcube?" she chimed ina sweet drawl. "C'mon, ah'll introduce ya' this mornin' on mah rounds in town. Got some deliveries ta' make. But first, breakfast." She nudged the door to the farmhouse open. "Hay, Granny, we got another Guest fer' breakfast~!"

"Ah, nothing is bad about Ponyville, it just does not seem like the kind of place that a pony like Rarity would come from!" Silva clarified quickly as she set herself to follow Applejack inside.  Her stupid words kept trying to get her into trouble, but it seemed like this apple farmer was forgiving enough...

BEGIN DAY 8!

Rainbow Dash awoke in the guest room of the Apple Family Farm House. Stretching with a yawn, she looked back with a smile as her wing had full movement with no pain. Tossing her bed-head mane into a her usual messy do, she headed downstairs for breakfast. She heard Applejack's voice as she descended and felt a blush hit her cheeks. She shook her head to get rid of that feeling as she came out into the kitchen. "Hey, good morning, Applejack, I--"

She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw the griffon there with her. "Gilda??" she started suddenly with shock and then got a better look at her. "No... Gilda's sister... Silva was it?" She asked herself more then anypony else. "Yeah, Silva. H-Hey, what brings you here?" She asked, having met her when she was hanging around Gilda. Memories flooded into her mind of Gilda, the times they spent together, the closeness they once shared. She felt a hot blush coming to her cheeks as she talked to the elder sister of her former best friend.

Silva stared at Rainbow Dash for a moment.  It was hard to line up this fully grown pony with the brash and adorable filly who aspired to greatness.  Good and bad thoughts warred in her head a moment as she saw a fledgeling right next to her that had the same aspirations.  She had to fight off a frown at the memories that she didn't really have of this mare's past.

"You recognize me, Rainbow Dash?" she asked, a small smile gracing her features. "I remember when Gilda and you were just fledgelings.  Gilda and you were just so friendly and loveable when you were little...it's hard to imagine that you two grew up so strong, and my sister could really have so much bad said about her."

She sighed at the memories.  Unlike Gilda, who had stayed with the pegasus through Junior Speedsters', this griffon had ran away before she had been through two years of the Flight Camp.  She had planned to achieve dreams of glamor in Canterlot, and she had discussed it with the others before leaving and never coming back to Cloudsdale.  She had missed out on just about everything (Sonic Rainboom included).  It was truly a miracle that she even remembered Rainbow Dash from all those years ago, and vice-verse...

Applejack waved a hoof to rainbow, and was about to introduce them before the sky-blue mare put it together. And got that warm glow in her face, staring at the Griffon. Applejack felt another twinge reminding her of how nervous she'd been when she'd thought it was Gilda herself. She trotted past Rainbow and gave her a nudge, heading along toward the kitchen to see what deliciousness was afoot for breakfast.

Day 8 Start

The only time there wasn't a wondrous aroma of baking goods coming from the Apples' kitchen was when Granny Smith was down with a cold and thus stuck in bed... and even then only because her grandkids were well-meaning enough to make sure she stayed there.  But that morning the old mare was feeling fine and kept busy as a bee, creaking about the kitchen humming to herself as she prepared breakfast for the family.  The table was already lined with several delicious looking dishes like scalloped baked apples, fresh grains and oats for cereal, a big, crisp salad full of lush vegetables, a stout crock bubbling warm with apple-cinnamon oatmeal, and the like.

"G'mornin' youngin's~!  G'wan' and have a--" Granny Smith greeted cheerily when she heard Ponies coming into the kitchen, though she stopped short and gawked for a moment at the sight of Silva.  Her eyes narrowed dangerously for such an otherwise sweet old lady and she immediately advanced on the Gryphon.  "You!  Why... yer' as thin as a rail!  Sit down right this instant, young lady!  Honestly, back in my day it weren't right for a girl t'go 'round lookin' that scrawny.  Sit!"

Old people sure did have odd priorities... Granny Smith was genuinely more concerned that Silva was so thin as opposed to the fact that there was an unfamiliar Gryphon standing in her kitchen.

Silva took a nervous step back as Granny Smith advanced, fearful that this pony was going to be more aggressive about her dislike of non-ponies than the few haters she had met who had the courage to say something right to her face.  When she started talking about something else entirely, it really came out of left field.  For what it was worth, the griffon thought that her figure was attractive, but it had been a while since she had been able to put down a normal amount of food on a regular basis...

"Really it's-" She realized that she could probably get a post to tap dance before she could convince this pony.  Something about earth ponies just made them impossible to sway from something they really believed needed to be done.

She took a spot at the table, glancing back at Applejack and Rainbow Dash with a bit of a blush.  Her pride, thankfully, was assuaged by the fact that she had worked for this meal.  Even if she would probably overeat like she had at Merriweather's cafe, she'd enjoy the meal.  The smells made her almost want to serve herself...but she was far too polite to just go snatching, grabbing, and abandoning all of the rules of dining....
This message was last edited by the player at 13:04, Sat 01 Sept 2012.

"Of course I recognize you! I mean, you've grown a lot, but you look exactly like Gilda! The eyes are different though, that's how I remembered to tell you apart when we were younger." She smiled with a nostalgic sigh, finding herself staring at Silva a little bit.

Rainbow Dash sat down at the breakfast table with a soft chuckle. "Yeah, don't bother trying to say no to Granny Smith. I've seen the Princesses cave into her offers to stay for her cooking before." She chuckled again, then remembering what she was going to say earlier. "Oh, hey, Applejack, I have full movement in my wing today. I think I'll be able to fly back home today."

Silva chuckled lightly, but then remembered just what was said.  It probably didn't say the best about her that she was laughing about somepony's injury or recovery. "I'm glad...both for the wing and for the fact that you remember how tell us apart..."

Part of her was hoping it was all a lie, still, but part of her was quickly just hoping the rest of this town would forget about the other griffon.  Better that they not dislike her for what her sister might have done (though surely those events were taken out of context or something).  Still, she couldn't help a small frown.  Rainbow Dash was a reminder that Gilda had been here and that something had gone wrong.  Worse, she was a reminder that her sister probably was as culpable as she had heard...

Applejack grinned a bit as the Griffon was subjected to Granny's desire to stuff the slight thing full of apples. Grinning, she moved along to Rainbow's side, and smiled - though, her expression actually fell slightly when Rainbow said she'd be going home. Applejack had enjoyed having her about - She'd not made a move like the one the first night again, but spending time with her was different, now... awkward for both of them, and neither of them said anything about it.

"Are ya sure yer' in shape ta' fly?" Applejack asked, and poked the meeting of her back and wing gently with one forehoof. "No pain at all? Ah don't want ya to crash." she said gently, watching her face for a sign of pain from the firm poke.

"Don't y'go frettin' over her wing none, Applejack.  With as good a'care as y'been givin' her all week, it ain't no mystery she's all healed up." Granny Smith chuckled as she went around serving up breakfast.  Silva had no need to grab at food herself since the elder Pony was more than eager to heap her plate up with a much larger portion than she gave the others.  Apparently she was intent on putting some meat on the Gryphon's bones right that very second.

There were times when one might have reason to regret even their most prized and special talents, Xing was finding out. A shining example of this was her insatiable appetite for knowledge about the night sky and all within it, mingled with the reality of being a little filly who still had to go to school the next morning. She knew she was late for class, but she was entirely unrushed for two reason. One, she was too sleepy to be rushed about anything short of a horrendous natural disaster, and even that might be iffy. And two, even if she was rushed, Granny Smith would tie her down to make sure the tiny filly ate a hearty breakfast anyway, school bell be darned. So what was the point?

"Hi, Jei Jei... Rainbow... Granny...." she managed to squeak out between yawns as she sat in her chair, ears down and chin on the table, her bao only half up. Her bag rested at the doorway out, packed with foresight the night before. "I am late... I hope Miss Cheerilee is not angry..." She yawned again, hoof over her mouth, before at last noticing Silva and straightening up slightly. "Oh... um... ni hao... sorry... Who are you?"

Silva smiled at the little one.   It didn't do much to make the griffon seem any less intimidating to one smaller than her, though.  She resisted the urge to extend a claw, for fear of actually scaring this timid little filly out of the room.  Ponies didn't seem to like that as much as griffons did, for some reason...

Still, with all of this food gathering before her, she couldn't help but be more friendly than usual. "My name is Silva.  It's very nice to meet you, Miss..."

The easier she made it for the little one to reply, the easier it'd be on her.  Getting a bad reputation with the foals was a surefire way to make enemies of the adults faster than if she slapped them right in the snouts and stole their pets away to eat them for dinner...

The farmpony fused with her hat for a moment, as Granny called her out halfway.  trotting along to Xing Ming, she gave the little filly a warm and reassuring nudge. Upon seeing that she didn't seem all too startled by Silva (probably because of another late night...) Applejack brought out some apple juice for everypony, before taking her own seat at the table

Granny Smith went about filling everypony's plates with a full, hearty serving, though Silva's portions were still bigger than the rest.  Not only was she a guest, but she was starved!  The poor thing would end up looking like a stuffed pigeon if she let Granny have her way though.

"G'mornin' Xing.  And don'cha worry 'bout bein' late -- it ain't that far along in th'mornin' yet.  Half-pint just left early.  She and Sweetie Belle are still searchin' all over for Scootaloo."  Granny Smith explained with a pitying shake of her head.  "I hope that lil' one's alright... been days since she showed up.  First Pansy goes and elopes with that writer fella, and now this... kids these days."

Rainbow Dash winced and let out a cry as her wing was poked. "Ow ow ow!" Unable to contain herself, she let out a loud laugh. "Just kidding~! It's perfectly fine! One hundred and twenty percent fine!" she nodded, giving it a few flaps to show her so. "See?"

She gave a warm smile to Xing Ming as she entered, but then focused herself back on Applejack. She had been focused on her quite a bit of late, she even let her feelings out a little in a letter she wrote... but, she couldn't really think that way, could she? Nah... and not when Applejack made her feelings so clear a week ago about how she figured she didn't need a special somepony and that her whole contest was stupid.

The contest! She had made it into town to post that, because of her injury, it would be delayed. Finishing her breakfast quickly, she stood up from the table. "Awesome as always, Granny Smith! I'm going to head into town I think. It's looking like nice weather today, so maybe I'll hold my contest this afternoon if it keeps up." She glanced over to Applejack, looking for any sign of annoyance on her expression. She had a feeling that she might still want to put a stop on the whole event. She loved staying at the farm, but things had gotten a little awkward for Dash. The rose petals she was given got her mind racing more than ever, and then she wrote that letter to Princess Celestia. In a tired state of mind, she had given the letter to Applejack to bring into town... and she was panicked that the farmpony had read it ever since.

She took a deep breath and sighed. Nothing could be done about it now anyway.

Applejack glanced at Rainbow across the table, then down at her food. "You ain't been keepin' up on the weather schedule? Ah guess, no need, since ya' couldn't fly." She chimed, and then frowned a little at the mention of the contest. AShe was nervous about this. She was strong and fast and fearless - crazy and dirty, like Rarity had said. Even so, the idea of having to compete for Rainbow was a tense one - she couldn't afford to mess up.

The look on her face was easy to mistake for disapproval, even to a close friend. Tension, worry...

The farmpony exhaled it, and sipped her applejuice. "Uhh...  bit sudden to jsut decide the day offhand, but...." It'd help cut the number of compoetitors down, surely. "... yer contest, not mine." She finished. "Good luck with it, RD..."

Silva ate some of her offered portions slowly enough.  Though she was really just too starved to eat a lot without starting to get sick, so she was glad for her daintiness.  The food was delicious, as it probably always was in the Apple house, and she certainly didn't go hungry.  In fact, if it weren't for the fact that she was holding back, she probably would have cleaned her plate at least twice!

She was glad for an excuse to stop eating and to let the contents of her stomach settle a bit. "What is this contest, anyway?  I confess I am new to town and I have not heard a lot about it, but social events are always something enjoyable."

"And I am not half bad in a contest of skill and grace, either." The griffon grinned.

Pleased that Applejack greeted her so warmly, she nuzzled her Jei Jei back before she settled in more fully at the table, ready to take on Granny Smith's food. It had been something to get used to, eating as much as she was given here, but it certainly gave her a lot more energy, that was for sure. The usually crushingly shy pony was both too comfortable around her family and too sleepy to do more than shy her head and smile when Silva introduced herself to her. "N-Ni hao, Sssilva," she said, struggling with how the word rolled off her tongue. "My name is... Xing Ming... I am visiting from... Shanghay..."

She ate slowly but heartily, enjoying the home cooking and nursing her apple juice as they talked around her about a contest she had not kept much up on. Despite Rainbow Dash staying with the Apples for a while, she had been too wrapped up in lessons with Twilight and her late nights, not to mention schoolwork, to take much of it in. As such, she paid attention to what was being said about it now, so she would be better informed when others at school were talking about it.

Silva knew just how to handle a shy one like Xing Ming, or at least she assured herself that she did.  In either case, she calmly spoke back, "It's very nice to meet another traveler, Xing Ming: I have come from Canterlot to live in Ponyville."

It was short, sweet, to the point, and none too pressing.  Better to leave two doors open than to slam one shut.  Shy little ponies were already intimidated enough by unfamiliar guests.  There was no reason to fall into the stereotype of an 'aggressive' griffon and ruin what had been a mostly peaceful week of inhabiting this town.  With this much (earned!) food in front of her, she knew that she could not make enemies of this family, ever.  If she could put out the work, they'd put out the food!

Silva's question about the contest put Applejack in an awkward spot. On one hand, she wanted to avoid more competition, on the other, she wanted to be a good, friendly pony. She chose the Rough, Dirty, and Crazy option, after recalling Rarity's admonition that she'd just have to do what she had to do to win. "It's... nothin' much. Rainbow here is just throwin' a contest to win a date with her."

Applejack really tried to sound like she didn't care. But when Applejack really tries to sound like anything, it was painfully obvious.

Silva looked at Applejack curiously.  She didn't know the pony that well, but she knew something wasn't quite right here.  Still, if there was any larger revelation behind those grey eyes, it didn't make its way to her face.

"A contest to win a date with Rainbow Dash?  You...never seemed like the kind of filly who needed a contest to have a date," the griffon stated, looking over at the pegasus.  This time, she didn't realize she had stuffed her talons firmly in her mouth.

"Contests for dates... ain't that bad an idea, if y'ask me.  Why, when I was yer age, Rainbow, it was common as pie for stallions t'do all sorta things t'try and impress a filly they had their eye on." the older mare chuckled fondly in memory.  "Why my hubby, rest his soul, was so keen on impressin' me for a first date that he'd do anything he could t'show up th'other stallions.  Got awful silly sometimes, but it was real flatterin' at th'time.  Makes a gal feel special knowin' somepony cares enough t'go t'that much trouble for 'em, y'know?"

While the chatting and eating went along, Granny Smith was keen enough to keep an eye on the coo-coo clock on the wall.  It wasn't long before she looked over to Xing Ming.  "Alright kiddo, it's about time y'get along before y'really are late t'school.  I got a bag lunch all packed for ya'."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:29, Wed 05 Sept 2012.

Rainbow Dash felt herself blush a little as Silva said she was good at such competitions, but frowned as Applejack tried to rain on the parade once again. As she moved towards the exit, she was stunned by Granny Smith's support of the whole idea. "Thanks, Granny Smith! That's exactly what I hope will happen... it will be a ton of fun of course, but for somepony to put it all on the line and try and win..." She trailed off with a smile, just thinking about it causing butterflies in her stomach.

At Granny Smith's warning that the Chineighs filly needed to run along to school, she turned to her with a smile. "I'm headed into town now anyway, Xing Ming. What do you say? Wanna fly into town on the Rainbow Dash Express?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 04:51, Thu 06 Sept 2012.

"There are... two legends about... winning a filly's heart by contest that... that I have heard," said Xing thoughtfully. "The first... was a poetry contest... Whomever could write a poem so beautiful and sincere... that it made the filly cry with joy... would win her hoof in marriage... The second... was a contest of wits... The emperor of Shanghay wanted to... find somepony more clever than anypony else in his whole kingdom... to marry his daughter, the princes... And so, he placed a large and beautiful diamond in the center of a massive carpet, and... and said that the first pony to reach the diamond without using magic, flight, or setting hood or anything else on the carpet... would win not only the diamond... but the princess..." She smiled, slightly shy as she finished her apple juice. "Never one like this though... How exciting...!"

She looked up and nodded as Granny Smith said it was time for her to hurry off to school, standing up beside the table. She was still very tired, but school was school. However, when Rainbow Dash offered her a trip into town on the 'Rainbow Dash Express', she brightened immediately with a gasp and reddened cheeks. How cool would she look being swept right to school on the back of Ponyville's coolest Pegasus?? "Oooh... That... That would... be so cool!" she squeaked with glee.

Applejack was quiet throughout most of the rest of breakfast, listening to Xing Ming's story intently - though she was a bit disappointed with the lack of conclusion to the story about the diamond. She knew how she'd handle it, with her incredible rope talents.

Applejack busied herself with putting away and cleaning dishes as Rainbow and Xing Ming departed, though, and the tension she felt was pretty plain. She had to finish this up and hurry to Ponyville. There was no time to waste, and now, her stomach was knotting up out of anxious concern for the contest ahead. She wasn't afraid of a little competition - but the stakes were higher than she cared to admit.

Rough, Dirty, and Crazy. She'd have to be. "Uhh.. Granny. Ah got some stuff ta' do in town ta'day. And Silva needs ta' see Rarity, so ah'm gonna take her in. Not sure jus' when ah'll be home."

Silva pondered how she would do it.  She wondered if she could use a loophole to ask someone else to use their flight, magic, or hooves to do so.  After all, all she had to do was to not use flight or set her talons or paws on the carpet.  The griffon had plenty to think about, though, as she bid Rainbow Dash goodbye and went to help Applejack with the dishes.  After all, she had had her fill a while ago and couldn't keep up with the Apple family servings.  Besides, the extra work would make her feel better about getting a bit more food than she expected.

As she worked (or just stood in the kitchen, if she was told to not help), she let her mind wander a bit.  Maybe in the fallout of that contest she could look for some of the more attractive specimens who failed to win a date with Rainbow Dash.  The drifter seemed just a little amused at that thought, though she tried to hide the small smile.  Something told her that her fellow dishwasher wouldn't enjoy her amusement.  Once she was sure that Rainbow Dash was gone, she'd have to ask about what was souring Applejack's mood.  If it was something that Silva could help to resolve, it would be a great way to pay her back for this hospitality...

"Alright! Let's get headed out then! Silva, Applejack, Granny Smith, always a pleasure." She smiled politely and left outside with Xing Ming. She lay down low on the ground, letting the tiny filly climb on to her back. "Hold on tight, cause here... we... go...!" She cheered out as she leaped into the air and flapped her wings to get airborne. She let out a relieved smile as the injured wing held up well and seemed to be fully healed.

To Ponyville Schoolhouse! -->

"Hey, Applejack." Silva reached over to help dry one of the dishes, trying to keep her voice down.  She didn't want to embarrass the pony, but the burning question needed answered. She wondered if the earth pony was worried about something legitimate, and hoped it was just a little peeve.  There were a few bad ponies out there after all.

"Are you okay?" she asked, worry crossing her features.

In reply to Silva (msg # 296):

Applejack glanced aside to the Griffon in surprise. "Huh? Oh... uhhh.. Yeah, a'course ah'm fine." she smiled a little, and added a firm nod, but even a stranger could tell she was just giving the answer rather than going into detail.

She glanced back to the plates, and buffed one dry with a towel, sitting it aside with a hoof. "Uhh... Why ya' askin', sugarcube?" she asked in her sweet drawl, without a real defensive effort, but more wondering how Silva'd seen through it.

Then again, she was pretty awful at dissembling.

Silva's eyes narrowed quickly enough.  She wasn't half bad at lying and picking lies out.  Even the worst liar in Canterlot could have lied circles around Applejack.

"You did not look fine when Rainbow Dash started talking about that contest, and I just cannot imagine somepony like you worrying about something tiny..." She let that hang in the air a while.  There was no need to accuse somepony she just met, especially when she didn't know the whole score.  It could just be a bad day.  It could be nothing...but Silva had a hunch...

The farmpony felt her cheeks warm in that moment, and glanced aside, down at the drying dishes. Nothing left to hide behind...  "Ah.. ah jus' thought ah'd have a bit longer ta finish gettin' ready ta' compete...  but.. uhh.. she ain't been told ah'm competin' yet, either..." she admitted, sheepishly. "She'd jus' think ah was tryin' ta' ruin it and.. uhh..."

Too much to say. To defend her position, to say she wasn't trying to ruin Rainbow's contest...  she wanted to win for the prize,  but...  it was too much to dump out all at once, and to a stranger. Rarity had gotten her to admit it to herself, and to Rarity... but it was still tough to confess it to other ponies.

Sharing a secret this deep - having fallen for one of her best friends like this...  it was a personal thing and not one easily shared. "A-Anyway.. ah'm goin' ta take ya' to Rarity's... she's supposed ta' be givin' me...  moral support on this. Yeah." she gave a nod. "So...  ya still wanna go see 'er?"

Silva smiled.  It was a friendly smile, but she quickly realized that that sort of emotion might be taken the wrong way right now.  She also had a big feeling about what hadn't been said.  She stood a little closer to the earth pony.

"You would not try to ruin it for her, now would you?  A pony like you would never..." she whispered knowingly.  It sounded just a little condescending, but she knew she couldn't take it back now.

She took a few steps back and let herself speak again, "Let us go to Rarity's.  I do not want to keep you any longer."

Grabbing her backpack and hopping up on Rainbow's back with the giddy excitement of a child, Xing clung tight to the Pegasus, and laughed brightly as she carried her up and out of sight over Ponyville.

>>> TO: The Ponyville Schoolhouse
This message was last edited by the player at 02:43, Fri 07 Sept 2012.

In reply to Silva (msg # 300):

Applejack's response was  somewhere between suspicion, distrust, and defensiveness.  Even so, she was a good pony, and it really showed. She studied the unfamiliar griffon-face for a moment, then lowered her attention to the dishes. "Ahh.. Yup..  Unless ya' need somethin, ah'm set ta' go." she chimed, and looked back up to Silva.  She wasn't sure what to make of her and what she'd said, her tone of voice. She tried to be as open as possible though - surely the griffon didn't mean to offend or poke at her situation...

"Of course." Silva didn't know the way, but she seemed just as ready to go as Applejack was.

[Exit to Carousel Boutique]
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Fri 07 Sept 2012.

"Well, awright then." As she put the dishes away, Applejack thought more on the subject. She needed to... just stop fussing with it, no matter how difficult sharing would be - but it would be easier with friends.

"Let's get goin'"

Soon enough, Applejack set out from the house with Silva in tow, leading the fashionable griffon on into Ponyville - and toward Rarity's Boutique

Exit to - Rarity's Boutique

<-- from Harmony Clinic

"-- and then Ah found 'em hangin' upside down in th'hay loft, covered in tree sap." Big Mac concluded an idle bit of story telling as he and Shai Ni arrived at his home.  The Cutie Mark Crusaders were always a source of hijinks, that was for sure.  He'd been careful to warn his companion about not letting them get the idea of being 'Cutie Mark Crusader Acupuncturists' into their heads, lest there end up being Pony pincushions about as a result.

The stallion paused at the gate to the farm property and cast a look over the yard, checking to see if Granny Smith was about.  No sign of her, but he knew she wouldn't have gone into town without telling anypony either.  She was likely indoors and hopefully napping.  "Now, fair warnin' -- Granny doesn't take kindly to Ponies tellin' her what t'do.  We gotta be sensitive on this sorta thing."

--> From: Harmony Clinic

Giggling at the story, Shai Ni follows along beside Big Macintosh as she listens.  She feels a bit envious at the antics the fillies get into, as she never truly had the chance to do similar things herself when she was a foal, but does not hold it against anypony.  After all, acting jealous of somepony because they were born under different circumstances when they are trying their hardest is silly.  "That must have been quite the scene," she replies at the end of his latest story, clearly enjoying every single one.  "I am sure they will discover themselves soon enough."

As Big Mac gives her the warning on how to deal with Granny Smith, Shai smiles and replies, "That is sound advice for interacting with all elders.  I could never tell her what to do.  One simply has to phrase it as a request, yes?"

"Eh... not quite..." Big Mac muttered as he scratched his chin with the flat of his hoof.  They'd just have to cross that bridge when they came to it.  He nodded to the farm house and started along, though he was always the gentlepony and held the door for Shai Ni to enter.

Inside, the cozy domain of the Apple Family was warm and aromatic with the scent of spices.  Granny Smith was in the kitchen, creaking about as she doted over the oven.  The delicious aromas of cinnamon apple muffins wafted heavily out into the air.  When Big Mac and Shai Ni came along down the hall, Granny looked up and smiled when she spotted them.

"Well, howdy youngin's~!  Y'all finally get on that date y'had planned?" the elder mare greeted the both of them with a roguish wink.  Despite her good cheer, Shai Ni would readily be able to notice the stiffness with which she moved about and how difficult it was for her to lean down to get at low drawers around the kitchen.  "Now Macintosh, I know yer a homebody, but y'gotta take a pretty mare like her somewhere other than th'farm.  Go find somewhere nice, y'hear?"
This message was last edited by the player at 05:10, Sun 30 Sept 2012.

Shai Ni simply tilts her head to the side at Mac's reply, but says nothing as she follows him into the house.  Immediately, a smile fills her face as she smells the air, thoroughly enjoying the scent of home cooking.  The last thought in her mind relates to being in the house of a stallion she is pondering entering a romantic relationship with.  Foremost is following that incredibly delicious smell.  Big Mac doesn't even really have to guide her, as she follows the delectable aroma coming from the kitchen with a rather silly grin on her face.  However, the moment Granny speaks, her silly grin turns into an awkward blush, and she glances to the side and finds a particularly interesting spot on the wall to stare at as she hoofs at the floor.

"Actually, I would... love to see the farm.  I still have not seen how Equestrian ponies live, and seeing a... mul-ti-ge-ne-ra-tio-nal home, I think is the term in your language?... gives me a nostalgic feeling.  Ah!  That is not why we are here today!" Shai begins to reply before catching herself and focusing on the task at hand.  "Mister Big Macintosh asked me to come and see if I could help you with your hip, Grandmother."

She does not even begin to imagine what calling Granny Smith 'Grandmother' could imply, instead falling back on her respect for her elders.

Big Macintosh wasn't quite aware of it, but he had a smile on his face too as he went along with Shai Ni into the kitchen.  That silly grin of hers put one on him unwittingly.  Of course, it was wiped when his companion made mention of Granny's hip right off the bat, leaving him shuffling his hooves as the elder mare leveled a hard look his way.

"Hogsqualler.  There ain't nothin' wrong with m'hip no matter how Macintosh and Applejack go on about it." Granny Smith dismissed the very notion with a disdainful snort.  She nor Big Mac raised any mention of Shai Ni calling her 'Grandmother' since everyone just called her 'Granny' in the first place.  "'Sides, even if there was somethin' wrong with it -- and there ain't -- that's what doctors are for."

"She is a doctor."  Big Mac interjected.

"A real doctor, Macintosh.  Th'only sorta needle pokin' a doctor needs t'do involves vaccinations." she muttered as she went about getting an oven mitt on her snout to pull the oven open with.

"Granny!" the stallion was aghast at that sort of rudeness from his grandmother and offered Shai Ni an apologetic look on her behalf.

Already used to the distrust of her practices in Equestria, Shai Ni simply shakes her head and gives Big Macintosh a tiny smile to let him know she is not offended.  "I am different than an Equestrian doctor, Grandmother, and I treat different things.  They treat illnesses, where I seek to restore harmony.  If there is anything you would like me to explain about my methods, I will be more than happy to do so," she says with a smile.  "You do not have to take any treatments I offer, and I would never force anything upon you.  I simply ask that you let me examine you, and offer some treatment options."

Bowing her head respectfully and with humility, Shai Ni says, "Please give me a chance, Grandmother."

To her credit, Granny Smith didn't have any bad feelings toward Shai Ni herself at all.  But given her age and upbringing, it wasn't uncommon for her to have misconceptions and misgivings about what her generation widely dismissed as 'silly Eastern mysticism'.  Snake oil salesmen were common in her heyday after all and that was one of their favorite pitches, relying on Equestrian ignorance of distant lands to turn a quick Bit.  Thus after so much poor exposure it became easy to wave off even the genuine article.

"That's awful kind of ya', but I ain't no pincushion." Granny said around a mouthful.  She had the muffin tin and mitt clenched in her teeth and carefully set them up on the stove top to begin cooling, proudly doing her best to hide her stiffness in stooping and rising like that.

Big Mac shared another look with Shai Ni before his brows perked, apparently with an idea.  He drew in a loud sigh and shrugged.  "Well, Ah s'pose if Granny's not interested, that's all there is to it."

"Sure is.  Now y'two should run along and have fun, but if y'wanna stick around a few minutes, these muffins'll be ready t'eat.  Have a few before y'go" Granny Smith started to change the topic.

"Sorry t'make y'come all th'way out here for nothin', Miss Shai.  Ah didn't reckon Granny would be scared of a few needles." he mentioned to the Unicorn with an apologetic nod.  That instantly got his grandmother's attention as she rounded on the two with a sharp look in her eye.

"What did you say?" she gave Big Mac a dirty look that he somehow managed to endure.

"Well, there's nothin' t'be ashamed of, Granny.  Plenty of Ponies are afraid of gettin' stuck.  Think of how much Applebloom fusses come flu season." he continued and gave Shai Ni a subtle 'play along' look.

Shai is a bit saddened that she can't help the stubborn Granny Smith, but is glad that there are no personal feelings involved.  She is about to turn and leave when Big Mac seems to get an idea, and it turns out to be a bit of a doozy.  "But she does not seem to be-" she begins to reply before figuring out what the stallion is trying to do.  After a second or two of hesitation, Shai Ni gets a rather silly grin on her face as she tries to play along without being suspicious.  "O-of course!  There is no shame in being afraid of needles.  I was afraid of them, too, when I was a little filly."

It seems that Shai Ni is about as subtle as Applejack when it comes to such things, what with her eyes looking around so she doesn't have to look Granny Smith in the eyes.

"And just when did I ever say I was scared?  I sure as buck ain't scared of no needles!" Granny Smith objected sharply.  Big Macintosh raised a brow at that and Granny paused, rolling her eyes.  She tucked her nose down into her apple-patterned kerchief and withdrew a Bit, which she went and deposited into a jar half-filled with coins on the counter that was labeled '#@!%$ Jar', for whatever reason.

"Now Granny, there ain't no need t'be prideful..." Big Mac started, though he was cut off as his grandmother raised her hoof.

"Hush now!" she huffed, then turned to Shai Ni.  "C'mon then, filly.  I'll show y'both I ain't frightened by a little poke in th'flank."

With that Granny stomped on out of the kitchen for the living room, grumbling the whole time about 'the nerve of kids these days' and 'having raised a Pony better than to be so mouthy'.  Big Mac, meanwhile, lagged behind enough to give Shai Ni a conspiratorial smile as he leaned in to whisper to her.

"That outta do it.  Y'better work fast though before her common sense catches up with her ego." he certainly didn't seem like the sort to pull a trick like that, but apparently still waters ran deep in his case.

Shocked at the way things have played out, Shai Ni decides to remember this tactic the next time she needs to get through a wall of stubbornness.  It is, quite simply, a revolutionary idea that can, in her mind, solve so many problems.  She knows that Big Macintosh is handsome, kind, and hard-working.  Everypony knows that.  What she did not know until now is that he is also cunning, and perhaps a tiny bit mischievous.

There are a few seconds before Shai Ni responds to the turn of events that she simply spends blushing and thinking about this new side of the farmstallion.  Then she seems to snap out of it and return to the reality currently occupied by the rest of the Apple family in the house and replies with a quick, "Right!" then hurries to follow Granny Smith so she can give her instructions and ensure that the treatment will be proper.

"Grandmother, I will need you to lie down flat on your stomach on a level surface where you are the most comfortable.  Once you have done that, I will examine your chi and see if my acupuncture will be able to make a difference, or if I should try a different treatment - or any treatment at all.  Once I have done so, I will ask you to completely relax and remain still as I apply any treatments I find will help.  If Mister Big Macintosh is correct in that my acupuncture can help you, in an hour or so you will feel much more balanced."

Big Macintosh didn't consider himself a devious sort of Pony.  He simply wasn't the kind of person to use others or take advantage of them, but when it came to family, he wasn't afraid to play a little dirty if it meant keeping them in good health.  He'd long since figured out just how stubborn the ladies of his family could be and had to work around it for their own good.  He would just be sure to make it up to Granny Smith later for being the victim of his well-intentioned deception.

In the meantime, the tall stallion lingered in the kitchen to let Shai Ni work unhindered by his presence.  There were muffins that needed setting, and he might as well tidy up the dishes while he was there to make sure Granny had fewer chores to worry about.  Out in the living room, Granny Smith had made her way over to the sofa and flopped herself upon it, sprawled out flat and still grumbling with indignation over the whole affair.

"Cheese?  What's cheese gotta do with anything?" the elder mare asked, looking more incredulous than ever.  Apparently her hearing wasn't so good either.  Regardless, she cooperated... at least for the time being.  "And m'balance is perfect, thank y'very much!  I'm an Earth Pony -- we've got a better sense of balance than anyone."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:05, Mon 08 Oct 2012.

With a giggle, Shai Ni moves to stand in front of Granny Smith as she replies, "Your chi, Grandmother.  Your energy.  Now please, hold still."  Closing her eyes, Shai focuses her own chi as well as her magic through her horn, then opens them again and sees something completely different from what she was looking at moments before.  Where once there were ponies and furniture, now there is only chi.  Having treated older ponies many times before, Shai Ni is used to the radical difference of their chi from that of a younger pony, and she begins to carefully circle Granny Smith as her eyes dance with tiny glowing golden lights inside her irises.  Spotting the major blocks and altered pathways, she nods, then blinks once and her eyes return to normal.

"As I thought, the flow of chi is unbalanced - although it is very, very strong, especially near your heart.  It feels very warm and caring," Shai says, getting slightly distracted by seeing the very energy that manifests due to Granny Smith's love for, well, just about everything, really.  Quickly and mentally berating herself for losing her composure, the Chineighs unicorn suddenly becomes all business as she floats her box of needles onto the ground next to her, then opens it up with a bit more magic.  "Grandmother.  I am going to start my treatment, now.  You will need to remain still for a long time for the treatment to take effect, and I need you to trust me," she says as she floats a few needles into the air, the needles glowing with her magic.

SNNNNNRRRRRRRK~~~

It seemed that getting Granny Smith to remain still and relaxed for a while wasn't going to be difficult at all... without Shai Ni evening noticing, the elder mare had just nodded off on the sofa and went about snoring loudly.  Well... sometimes old Ponies' habit of falling asleep so easily was helpful...

Shai blinks a few times before letting out a sigh and getting to work, placing the needles here and here and here just so.  With Granny Smith, it takes every single one of her needles that she brought with her to get completely set up, and finally, once they are all in place, Shai Ni gets ready for the hard part.  She takes a deep breath, centers herself, then touches her horn to Granny's forehead and begins to guide the earth pony's chi along the proper paths.  With Transcendence Form, who takes such good care of his body and his spirit with his martial arts training, such a task is akin to nudging something a few millimeters while simply eyeballing it.  Difficult, but easy enough for those well practiced.

For Granny Smith, who has lived a farmpony's life for several decades and has gotten through all of her problems (including her health issues) through sheer stubborn willpower and effort, it would be easier to compare the task to trying to correct a river that has been dammed and carved alternate paths in all directions.  Just removing the dam isn't enough - you have to plug up the other paths, clean up the carved river beds, fill them back up with the proper soil and rock, and also ensure that the flow is not too strong or too weak, for she is not just dealing with one river from a single source, but dozens.

Sweat forms on Shai's brow as she concentrates, gently nudging the flow here, pulling the flow there, until finally, several minutes later, she pulls her horn back and gasps for breath, having done what she can.  Now she just needs some time to pass so it can fully take effect, and then she can remove the needles and hopefully Granny's hip will begin to feel better within the day.  Of course, it will take longer for the full effects to be apparent, but Shai is confident they will take effect, and they will be noticeable.

Plopping down onto her plot without a shred of (nor care for) dignity, Shai Ni attempts to catch her breath.  What she is not aware of is just how she looks at the moment.  A bit of sweat dripping here and there, a tight dress (which she always wears, but still), and a silly grin on her face as she gasps.  Somepony could get the wrong idea if they walked in right now.

"Y'alright, Miss Shai?" Big Macintosh's voice drawled out for the first time since she'd begun her work.  At some point he'd sidled up along to the sofa where she sat gasping... it was surprising that such a large stallion could move so quietly when he wanted to.  He made no effort to lower his voice though -- it seemed that Granny Smith could sleep through quite a lot and didn't so much as murmur at the normal speaking volume.  "Ah've got some tea on in th'kitchen if y'need a breather."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:16, Mon 08 Oct 2012.

Shai leaps up with a squee of surprise as she spins around to face Big Macintosh.  Holy Celestia when the buck did he come in here?! she thinks with wide eyes as she lands, clearly not expecting him to be there.  After the initial shock, she blushes and starts to calm herself down a bit, going from surprise to meek embarrassment.  The offer of tea sounds absolutely wonderful, however.  Amazing.  Delicious.  Divine.

"I am alright.  Yes.  Tea.  Yes.  Tea sounds lovely," she replies with an awkward, embarrassed smile.  Good thing she hasn't thought about the fact that she is essentially alone with a stallion in his hou-

And there goes her horn, glowing with embarrassment.  Who knew horns could turn red?

For a few moments Big Macintosh just looked at Shai Ni as she stood there all flustered and blushing, quietly pondering her.  Hm... all that work must have taken more out of her than he first thought.

"Eeyup." he noted simply before he turned to lead the way back to the kitchen.  He'd already set a spot for the both of them at the kitchen table, though naturally he wasn't going to sit down until he'd served her.  A stout mug was set down and filled with a sweet apple tea, as well as one of those fresh spiced muffins Granny had made already sliced and smeared with warm butter.

Trying to pretend that she is not flustered or embarrassed at all, Shai follows Big Mac into the kitchen and takes a seat at the table, eagerly waiting for the tea so she can calm her nerves.  She's done several house calls before, and been in many similar situations, so why was she getting so flustered about this one?  Was it simply because he is in Equestria, or is there another reason?  Confound those reference books Pinkie Pie recommended!  They filled her head with so many strange ideas that still remain.  Glancing up at Big Mac only serves to make a few of them surface again.  Still, the smell of the tea helps her find her center, and she floats the mug to her lips to take a sip, then loses all of her other thoughts as she looks at the tea.

"I had no idea tea could taste like this.  It is so sweet and... and delicious.  N-not that my tea is not delicious, but this is just so different.  Like... like bamboo and apples.  Both are delicious, but Equestrian food is so much more rich in flavor," she says with a smile.  "Thank you, Mister Big Macintosh."

Once Shai N was tended to, Big Macintosh poured himself a mug of tea and sat down as well.  The old chair he sat upon creaked under his weight but didn't bend -- reliable as always.  It was a familiar sensation and one his was comfortable with.  The contrast between he and the Unicorn couldn't be greater just then... one so calm and at ease in his native environment, and the other inwardly spazzing out in that very same place.

"Ah hope it's not too much for ya', Miss Shai.  Ah know Equestrian food can be a lot heavier than Chineighs food." he noted congenially.  Very true as well -- Equestrians loved their rich foods and the farmers were particularly guilty of that.  Eating at places like Sugar Cube Corner or the Summer Song Cafe were enough to overwhelm more delicate palates at first.  "After y'asked me out earlier, Ah did some readin' at th'library tryin' t'figure out what kinda food y'might like.  Ah don't reckon there's much like Chineighs food around Ponyville though, Ah'm afraid."

The stark difference between the two doesn't get past Shai's notice, either, and she feels a bit guilty for having so many panicky thoughts.  Big Macintosh is known to be a true gentlecolt, and he has never once given her reason to think otherwise.  She shouldn't think he might behave out of character just because of some silly books.  What kind of name is Dirk Johnson anyways?  Thinking back, those books were all rather ridiculous.  Of course, the calming effects of tea, no matter how sweet, always help.  Also, super-delicious, freshly baked rich foods.

Which Shai has to nibble on slowly, but still enjoys.

"It is alright.  I have been spending much of the past year adapting to the local cuisine as best as I can.  I mostly find that I need to take smaller bites," she replies as she magics the muffin up to her mouth and takes a tiny bite before smiling happily at the flavor and setting it back down on the plate, then taking another sip of the tea.  Thankfully, she had set down the mug and finished swallowing before her companion brought up the date, or she might have choked.  Mostly because she has had far too many ideas stuck in her head because of those books.  More things to stop thinking about and dismiss as silly.  Dates don't involve being rescued from a pirate ship.  Nor do they involve running away on a pirate ship.  So many pirate ships.  Definitely silly.  Still, she does listen to his entire statement, and smiles as he brings up his concern.  "Anything you think we can enjoy together is fine, Mister Big Macintosh.  The point of a date is for both ponies to enjoy themselves, is it not?  I am sure Grandmother can gives you some ideas.  If not her, then perhaps your sister, Miss Applejack?  Or would asking them be awkward?  I do not wish to make you awkward."

Big Mac shook his head slowly in return -- he didn't know whether or not it would make things awkward to ask his family for any advice, but didn't want to bother them in the first place either.  He sure wasn't any kind of pro when it came to understanding women but thought it was better he try to figure such things out on his own.

"Granny was right -- Ah am a homebody.  Ah spend most of my time here on th'farm, or takin' walks.  Gives me time t'think." he admitted with a soft shrug.  "When Ah was readin' a Chineighs cookbook at th'Library, Ah didn't even know what most of th'ingredients were.  Miss Sparkle wasn't much help either.  So Ah was thinkin' maybe we could spend an evenin' in and teach each other some recipes.  Unless ya'd rather go out for somethin' more interestin'?"

The opportunity for learning some Equestrian recipes from the Apple family, of all ponies, is not a small one, and the significance is readily apparent to Shai.  On the other hoof, she does want to have a reason to wear that dress she got from Rarity, and cooking is not an appropriate reason to wear such a garment.  Besides, she promised to tell Rarity all about the date and how Big Macintosh reacts to the dress, and she can't get that information if they just... cook.

But cooking is really fun, too!  And... and... Apple Family recipes.  Their food is legendary.  At least, to Shai Ni's tastebuds, it is.  But... but... the dress... and Miss Rarity... but cooking... but dress... cooking... dress... cooking... dress... Rarity... delicious dress Rarity food Family Apple date-

Snapping out of her thoughts and not having any idea how long it has been since either of them last spoke, Shai Ni takes another sip of tea with an awkward blush before she says, "I... do not know.  Perhaps... perhaps we could do some other things, and set aside another time to trade cooking techniques?"

Big Macintosh settled into silence to sip at his tea, patiently awaiting Shai Ni's return to the world from her mental downtime.  Sometimes he wondered if she realized just how often she lapsed into those moments of thoughtful quiet.  Once she came back, he just gave her a gentle smile in return.

"Eeyup." he agreed amiably.  "Was just an idea, is all.  There's other things t'do 'round town.  We could go see a show, have dinner somewhere, and th'like.  Ah know it's normally a stallion's job t'figure this stuff out, but Ah'd like t'make sure y'have a good time as well."