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."