Nope, he responded. In truth, Natra was not too intimidated by large creatures. One learned to be good at being small when they were a Camahueto, and also learned to not let towering figures be a bother. Still, he didn't look happy, inspecting her work. She wasn't sure if he could have been one of the ponies that dog-piled him earlier so she wasn't sure of his attitude. Using magic probably would produce a less than favorable reaction based on last time she used her magic around ponies.

And, furthermore, no Pinkie Pie. Fortunately, his name was simple... at least the first half of it. "Mac." She said, pointing to him, familiarizing herself with him. Then she pointed to herself. "Natra Condu. Look For Pinkie Pie."

Applejack  laid back, keeping her injured hoof propped up. Looking to Shai, she frowned slightly. "Ah do hope everythin's goin' alright with Scootaloo an' Greenwood.  Ah'm actually startin' ta' worry a bit. They've been gone a preety good while..."

Big Macintosh couldn't help but raise a somewhat confused brow over Natra.  She sure wasn't a local... and to be honest, he wasn't sure she was even a Pony as he got a better look at her.  At first he thought she might have been a Unicorn.  Still, she didn't seem dangerous.  Leave it to Pinkie Pie to have odd friends...

"Pinkie lives in town, at Sugarcube Corner."  he pointed off to the distant sight of Ponyville far down the main road.  "Head straight down this path t'Town Square.  Place looks like a giant heap of candy.  Y'can't miss it."

Shai Ni walked over to Applejack and sat next to her while they waited, as she did not want to interrupt Granny Smith's cooking (she had learned long ago that you do NOT mess with someone while they are cooking if you don't know exactly what you are doing).  As the elder pony worked (Shai could have sworn she heard a creak every time Granny even blinked), and the two mares waited in the living room, Shai Ni idly pondered her past week in Ponyville.

Before she could finish her thoughts, however, Applejack voiced her worry.  The tiny unicorn turned to AJ and gave her a reassuring smile.  "It has not been all that long.  I am sure everpony is fine."

"Can Dee?" She asked confused. What was Can Dee? "Suu Ga? Ko Na?"

The large stallion, dwarfing her in his general size, was now confusing her with big words and, even worse; small, extra confusing words. She cocked her head to one side. Maybe it was a mistranslation? She was sure she'd said it right. "Ping Key?" She tried to announce clearly.

Something told her that he didn't even speak normally for Equestrian... Today was a very... confusing and misleading day...

Hoo boy... this was going to be harder than he first thought.

Big Macintosh pondered what to do for a moment as the stranger only seemed more and more confused but his explanation.  Finally he settled for something a little more universal as he pointed a hoof to himself, then Natra, and then off to the direction where town laid.

"Ah'll.  Take you.  To Pinkie.  Eyup?" he spoke in as simple terms as he could possibly think of.  Heading back into town again was a fair hassle for him, but he couldn't just leave the poor thing out on her own when she was obviously so ill-suited to getting around.  He'd have to have some words with Pinkie Pie about keeping a better eye on her visitors though...

Natra understood what Big Mac said at that. She slowly came to the realization that The red stallion would help her find Pinkie. Her frown perked into a grin, showing a mouth full of pointed teeth as she bounced up and down.

Jungle flowers blossomed at her hooves, little vines sprouting up as well but dying when she stepped away from them toward Big Mac. "Tanka Big Mac!" She squeaked.

Applejack shut her eyes and stretched her leg out.

"Ah hope so...  it's gettin' late. C'mon, let's go sit at tha' table, Shai." She slowly got to her three good hooves - and took her time lowering her fourth to the floor. She stood - slowly, and with a visible wince of pain. Her hobbling steps were testament to how uncomfortable it was going to be, but Applejack did power through the last few steps in a brisk trot, and landed her flank on a dining room chair.

Shai Ni watched as Applejack stood up and walked, then followed her to the table in order to sit down as well.  Despite knowing that she is there to help keep an eye on Applejack, she cannot help but feel as if she is taking advantage of the family.  "Grandmother Smith, is there anything I can do to help you with dinner?" she asked, wanting to busy herself with something.

"Eyup." was all the stallion replied before he turned and started off for the road once more, pausing by the fence long enough to make sure Natra was following him along the way.

--> Big Mac leads Natra to Sugar Cube Corner, will return home, and ends Day 8

Anxious as Rainbow, Scootaloo and Greenwood hadn't yet returned, Applejack nonetheless made herself sit and ear. She couldn't go looking for them on her own in her condition, and she felt exhausted.

After a delicious dinner with Granny, Shai, and Applebloom - and Big Macintosh when he turned up from escorting Natra - Applejack  tried to linger, but neither Shai nor Granny was going to have her pacing about and waiting regardless of the situation. Shunted off to her room, the restless mare tried to stay up and wait for news, but she fell asleep soon after settling into bed, exhaustion overwhelming her.

-- Begin Day 9 --

And come morning, Applejack was still asleep. She'd been up by dawn for a whole week, and now, she was sleeping in. But it was the oddest thing, for her, too. Perhaps the stress of the day and the  sore hoof had drained her more than she'd admit to anypony.

Day 9 Start!

It was very late in the evening when the search party for Scootaloo finally returned to Sweet Apple Acres.  The group missed dinner entirely but thankfully Granny had thought to set food aside for them, and Big Macintosh waited up to sort things out.  He'd returned earlier after dropping off Natra at Sugar Cube Corner, then saw fit to walk Shai Ni home after dinner as well.  All in all it was a very busy night for him... he was considerate in not pressing the search party for details when they finally showed up at the farm with the moon high up in the sky.

The Ponies all had a place to stay for the night at Sweet Apple Acres.  Always the gentlecolt, Big Mac gave Rainbow Dash (and no doubt Scootaloo, who seemed reluctant to leave her side) his bedroom for the night.  Greenwood was given the downstairs sofa (though she had to be convinced to stick around the farm in the first place) and he slept out in the barn.  That suited him just fine, really.  Plus it made his morning just a bit easier since he got to work shortly after rising with the sun, intent on getting some chores in before breakfast.  Big Mac was out in the fields working the plow long before anypony else was awake.

By the time morning fully rose on the Apple Family farm, Granny Smith was in the kitchen getting a delicious smelling breakfast cooking for everyone.  Applejack may have been intent on sleeping in for once, but she'd have a hard time keeping herself down when Winona leaped up onto her bed to lovingly nuzzle and lick at her cheek.  The farm Pony would find that it was a beautiful morning outside.  The sunlight coming from her window was warm and refreshing, and she could see Big Mac down in the fields from there.  Greenwood as well, it turned out.  The Unicorn wasn't helping -- she was just leaning against the fence, watching Big Mac... a bit too closely, actually.  Applejack would recognize that sort of gaze from other mares around town as Greenwood was obviously content to enjoy the view of her big brother at task.

Day 9 Start!

Rainbow Dash awoke slowly in Big Mac's bed, gently letting out a yawn as she looked over to see Scootaloo still sleeping softly beside her. Looking out the window, she saw the sun was already on the rise... it was time to get up. Shifting softly out of bed, the memories of last night came back to her in the flood and she felt the tears well up once more. She leaned in and kissed the filly's cheek before moving out into the main living space of the farmhouse. Good... Applejack wasn't awake yet. It gave her time to sneak out and into the fields before Applejack had a chance to stop her. AJ was hurt... so Rainbow Dash would pick up the slack on the farm while she healed.

Eating a quick bowl of oatmeal from Granny Smith, Dash headed out to the fields and saw Big Mac there... and Greenwood as well. She raised a brow at the unicorn and chuckled before walking up to Big Mac. "Heya, Big Mac. Seeing as Applejack is hurt and all... I'm gonna take her place in the workload. Just tell me what it is I need to do and I'll get it done in ten seconds flat." she grinned.

Jolted awake by one eager pup. Applejack stirred as the sunlight and Winona's eager yipscalled her out of sleep. She sat up and put her arms around Winona, laughing a little despite her sleepy, sore shape. "Hay there,  Winona~!"  The farmpony sighed as she got a glimpse out of her window, smelled the appealing scents of Granny Smith's handiwork, and recalled what she'd been up so late waiting for.

"C'mon, Winona.  Down girl..." She said, as the eager pup hopped off her bed, and let her climb to her hooves, though she wobbled as she put her back leg down, the pain still clear and only a bit less sharp than last night.

She made her way to the window, and leaned out to watch Greenwood out in the fields. She knew that look on a mare's face, and she couldn't help a little whiny of bemusement.

After Rainbow Dash, Greenwood, Applebloom, and Scootaloo returned, everypony was brought up to speed on the Missing Scootaloo Incident, and dinner was eaten, Shai Ni helped with the dishes before heading on home, trusting that everypony there would be able to handle everything together without her help.  She could not help feeling like the odd one out, what with not truly getting to know any of them until just recently despite having been a resident for the past year, but she was still happy to see them banding together like a warm, loving family.

She had much to do before she slept, and even more to do in the morning, but at least everything had been worth it.

-- End Day 8 --

Start Day 9


Scootaloo was quietly sleeping, curled up into a small ball next to Rainbow after the emotionally draining night. She would have liked to continue sleeping after Dash left but years of training herself to wake up when something changed in her environment ensured that once the body she was sleeping next to left she soon woke. Letting out a yawn as she sat up she rubbed a hoof against her blurry eyes, wondering what it was that had woken her from the most restful sleep she'd had in a very long time.

She didn't have to wonder long for as the memories had returned in a rush to Rainbow so did they return to her. Looking around she tried to spot the prismatic maned pony but couldn't find her. "Rainbow?" She called out, pushing herself onto her hooves. "Rainbow?" She tried again, starting to get a bit worried that she'd imagined everything when her eyes found the window and she could just barely see at the bottom a distinctive mane moving about. Hopping onto the window ledge she could see Big Mac, Rainbow and Greenwood all outside.

She watched for a few seconds more before her stomach let out a rumble, reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything in a couple of days. Hopping back down off the ledge she made her way out of Big Mac's bedroom, down the stairs and into the kitchen. "Good morning Granny Smith."

Big Macintosh seemed idly surprised that Rainbow Dash was actually volunteering herself to work for once.  Normally he was used to seeing the prismatic Pony napping in trees or pilfering apples, but it wasn't an unwelcome change of pace.  Besides... with everything that had been going on between her and his sister, he figured he was going to be seeing a lot more of Rainbow Dash around the farm than ever.

"Well... actually, there is somethin' y'can help with in particular."  Big Mac mulled before he directed Rainbow's attention out to the low slope of the farmland.  "See how it's all half-flooded in th'lower forty?  See if y'can't siphon out that water.  Ah need t'dig irrigation through there and can't do it sloppin' through muck."

The 'lower forty', as mentioned, was indeed partially covered in a low shimmer of water.  Rainfall naturally gathered there due to the gentle angle of the land and it left the area constantly squishy and wet.  There were some old cabbage patches that had been turned out for soil rotation, so nothing was being grown in that area at the moment.  If Big Mac were to slough out all the wet earth himself, it would take a huge amount of time and likely not even be possible all by his lonesome anyway.  But Rainbow Dash's weather controlling abilities were sure to do the trick a lot better.

Greenwood, in the meantime, wasn't making herself useful at all.  She was content to just linger by the fence, idly nursing a cup of tea Granny Smith had been kind enough to make for her, and waiting for the call to breakfast.  That, and enjoying the show.

---

Back inside the farmhouse, Granny Smith was busy in the kitchen whipping up food for a full crowd.  Scootaloo came in to the warm smells of rich home cooking that she'd often noticed wafting through the orchards when she camped out in the tree house.  It was much better knowing that she could actually partake for once without fretting about having a cover story as to why she was stopping by for a meal.

"G'mornin' chickadee.  I was wonderin' when y'would rise and shine."  Granny greeted Scootaloo with a warm smile half-hidden by the stout ladle she had in her jaws.  She was working on a large pot of bubbling oatmeal that seeped with the aroma of tart apples and honey.  She perked her old brows up as she looked past Scootaloo.  "Oh!  Good timin' half-pint.  Bring those eggs on over here t'get boilin'."

Applebloom had entered the kitchen from the rear door with a basket full of eggs carefully balanced atop her head.  She paused a moment at seeing Scootaloo up and her expression shifted, looking conflicted... until she took on a sharp pout and turned up her nose in a huff.  The little filly didn't bother saying hello to her friend as she dutifully carried the eggs on over so that Granny could get them going in a pot of boiling water on the stovetop.

Applejack made her way down from the upper level with careful, wincing steps down each tier, with an eager pup darting about waiting for at the base of the stairs with excited yips.  Once she got to the ground floor, she trotted mroe briskly over to dive onto the couch, and get herself off her hoof.

"Mhmm, Smells dee-licious, Granny~!" she called to the kitchen. "Ya' need a hoof with anythin'?" she really didn't want to have to be off her hoof to heal up - she'd go stir-crazy.

Scoots watched Applebloom walk in and though the corners of her mouth tugged upwards into a hopeful smile her face quickly crumpled when her friend ignored her. Ears falling flat on her head, she slowly made her way to the table, hooves dragging the whole way. Climbing onto the seat she simply sat there and said nothing. She knew that after what she had done, she deserved all the scorn and ignoring that Applebloom could dish out and then some. She would simply wait for her breakfast and then leave as soon as she could, she didn't want to make Applebloom uncomfortable and this was her house after all.

Rainbow Dash looked in the direction Big Mac was pointing to and nodded as she saw the standing water. Not only was the water preventing Big Mac from working, but if it stayed there too long it would become stagnant and very unpleasant. "Move the water out. Got it. I can do that easy!" she chuckled. "Be back in about... thirty seconds."

Glancing back to the farmhouse to see if by chance Applejack and/or Scootaloo were watching her, she took off like a bullet. Reaching the lower forty, she kept up her speed and perhaps even accelerated as she banked into a tight circle. Faster and tighter she flew in the circle, finally getting enough air swirling to create a prismatic tornado. It wasn't enough to cause damage, and Rainbow made sure to keep a firm hold on it. The standing water got sucked into the vortex and, despite getting soaked, Rainbow kept it there until all the water was off the ground. Now it was time for the flashy finale! Rainbow Dash maneuvered the tornado up off the ground and into the clouds so that it wouldn't damage the trees as she moved it over the orchard itself. As she got it centered and in place, Dash dove down through the water logged tornado and then exploded back up through it again with speed. This caused the tornado to suddenly destabilize and vanish while the water mushroomed out and fell onto the apple trees below in a gentle mist.

Dash flew down and landed near Big Mac with wet mane and tail. She looked up at the tall stallion with a grin. "How was that?"

As Rainbow Dash returned to the ground, she'd find a pair of frowns greeting her.  Big Mac and Greenwood alike were left wet from the display she'd put on, their manes matted down over their faces while the Unicorn covered her tea with her hoof.  That had been a lot of water to disperse all at once, and when it hit the trees, much of it had rapidly come together over the branches and splashed down onto the Ponies below.

"That'll do." Big Mac huffed softly as he shook his whole body like a dog to get rid of the excess water.  "Thanks, Rainbow."

"You don't do anything in a small way, do you?"  Greenwood couldn't help but smirk even though she was rather miffed about the state of her coat.  Gah... that standing water smelled of dirt.  Now she'd need another shower.

--

Granny Smith noticed the silent tiff with the fillies but said nothing on it for the moment.  Best to let the young'ins figure things out for themselves first before trying to butt in with outside wisdom, after all.  They'd never become independent if they didn't have a chance to sort through their own problems.

"Y'just sit tight in there!" Granny called out to Applejack when she asked about helping.  That girl never knew when to just relax.  She knew her granddaughter well enough to predict that she'd be getting antsy anyway and gathered a small basket of apples, along with a pair of coring slats, and nudged the Applebloom's way.  "Half-Pint; go help yer sister core and split these for th'fritters."

"Yes Granny..."  Applebloom muttered softly as she took the basket onto her head and strode off for the living room.  It left Granny and Scootaloo alone in the kitchen for the moment.  The elder Pony looked back to little Scootaloo and offered a gentle smile her way.  "Feel like helpin' an old mare out, chickadee?  I could use a hoof preparin' th'dough..."

--

Out in the living room, Applebloom set the basket of apples to be prepared onto the coffee table and climbed up to the sofa beside her sister sullenly.  She muttered a soft greeting of good morning before she got to work at shucking the apples into pieces.

Appleejack smiled at her sister as the filly joined her, and she leaned over to wrap hooves about her in a morning hug. "Why ya' look so down, sugar cube?" she asked with her encouraging, here-for-everypony, big sister voice.

Applejack let go of her, but she was still right there... though she did pick up an apple to work when Applebloom wordlessly got to work. Applejack wasn't sure, but perhaps it was related to Scootaloo - after everything that had gone on - most of which Applejack still had no idea bout the details of. She wanted to see both of them - Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash.

Scoots kept her eyes on the floor, watching Appleblooms hooves leave the kitchen though they lifted when she heard Granny asking for help. Hopping down she silently made her way over to the elder mares side and waited for direction.

Rainbow Dash chuckled at Greenwood's comments and grinned wide. "Nope! I don't know any other way of doing things other than full speed and with style!" Unlike Greenwood, she didn't mind that she was dripping wet and smelling slightly of dirt. She wasn't the tidiest of Pegasi anyway to begin with. She glanced over at the farm, hoping that she'd see Applejack and/or Scootaloo cheering... but nothing. They might not even be past breakfast yet, she supposed.

She turned her attention back to Big Mac. "No problem, Big Mac! Glad to be of help! You need anything more done? Some hay moved? Some trees bucked?" she warmed up her back legs to show her eagerness.

Start of Day 9

Like most nights, Xing had stayed up long after the family of the house had gone to sleep, her eyes glued to her telescope and her quill moving frantically over her paper as she jotted down notes of the positions and appearances of heavenly bodies, shooting stars, the position and exact phase and angle of the shadow of the moon, and other such things that interested the little mistress of astronomy. As such, despite the excitement of the day before, she had not gone to bed but for several hours later than Applebloom, flopping into bed close to two in the morning.

As such, she did not rise until very late indeed. It was only after everypony else was moving around the house, heading in and out of the door, that she came downstairs, looking a little dogeared and tired. "Good mo-ooooorning," she said with a wide yawn as she stepped into the living room, her mane and tail done up in their bao impeccably despite her obvious tiredness. "Sorry I slept so late... again," she said, approaching Scootaloo and Granny Smith. "Anything I can do to help...? Oh... Hello, Scootaloo," she said with a smile, obviously not nearly as upset as Applebloom was.