As Xing Ming introduced herself, Quill glanced up at her with an expression that was a mixture of panic and exhaustion. His clutch on the book grew a little bit tighter and, feeling himself tense up, he began to worry that he'd caught the same thing that was affecting Widget.

"I'm Quill. It's a pleasure to meet you Xing Ming. Would you like some of the cookie too?"

"Oh, it's so good to meet you, Quill," she gushed happily, so obviously pleased to be in the presence of two adorable dragons. Today really was her lucky day. "Oh... Oh, yes, sure," she said to the offer of a cookie. It didn't look like any kind of cookie she'd had before, and after eating all the new food she'd had at Sweet Apple Acres, she was eager to taste more Equestrian food.

"Oh, it's fine, I perfectly understand, you don't have to explai-... Oh wait, what? It's okay?" Widget seemed frankly startled by her answered. "That... that'd be great! Uh, oh, don't worry about that, I'll hop by the shops on my way back over." He seemed to be quite oblivious to Twilight's obliviousness as to the intent of his question to spent the evening alone with her. "I'll be back in a little while with it all, then. What kind of tea do you like?"

He glanced around. "Quill? Time to go... Hey, don't eat that!" he warned Ming, giving Quill a bit of a sharp look. "Ponies can't eat gemstones, remember? They could get really hurt."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:27, Tue 08 May 2012.

Applejack had been about to chime in on the subject of gemstones as well. Thankfully, Widget was clearheaded enough to catch it too, or maybe just running on an adrenaline high. She glanced briefly to Twilight, then chimed to Ming. "It's alright. You'll be able to get some tonight, ah'm sure. Ah'll give you and Apple Bloom some bits for anything ya like. Tonight's a celebration, after all!" Applejack chimed.

She stayed in her seat by Rainbow Dash for the moment, then looked back down at the agricultural book. She at least found some of the listed topics familiar.. maybe that'd be a good way to begin, at least. Start with somethin' she knew about and expand on it.

Moving very, very slowly, Quill nudged the basket containing the last of the cookies over towards Xing Ming, while somehow managing to keep the rest of his body more or less perfectly still. The solitary cookie was covered with a fluffy, cream coating upon which slivers of emerald were scattered, catching the light and looking rather pretty, although perhaps a tiny bit inedible for ponies.

"There's some tea in the flask too," Quill added, looking quite frightened, "and the sugar is in the little packet behind the flask."

As Widget reminded him about the gemstones thing, and that it was time to be leaving, Quill burst into a run, leaving behind the basket and the piles of books he'd been pulling out from the shelves. By the time he arrived at Widget's side, he was having some problems catching his breath.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Tue 08 May 2012.

As Spike looked over the pony Quill was following, he got the impression that Widget seemed to be trying to ask Twilight out on a date. That worked for him - having a special gentle-stallion in her life might mean Twilight would spend fewer late nights studying with long pages of notes to dictate and her pet owl mysteriously absent again. He shook Quill's hand enthusiastically. "I know, right? We should hang out some time over a few donuts, if it's all right with your friend, of course. I've got so many questions! How'd you get here? Did the Princess give you to someone as an egg, too? Well, I guess those are the only questions, but wow!"

"We can meet up tomorrow," Quill quickly called out to Spike, before pointing over at the basket he'd left behind, "and help yourself to the cookie! The tea's probably still warm! I'll try and bring some more next time!"

Twilight peered over the goody basket that Quill was generously offering and shared the look of mild panic that Widget had.  While they were surely tasty treats for a Dragon, they were less than healthy as far as Ponies were concerned.  The tea in particular caught her eye as she magicked it up from the basket and popped the lid to look inside.

"Huh... sapphire dust.  Yeah, that's all yours, Spike.  It'd kill a pony to drink that." Twilight said as she capped the mug again and set it back down in the basket.  Good thing they'd caught that before anything bad could happen.  She looked back to Widget with an understanding smile.  "Anything you want to bring is fine, though my favorite is lemongrass tea.  I can brew it here.  Just... ah... hold the gem shards?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:40, Tue 08 May 2012.

Spike needs little encouragement to start snacking on the mineral-rich tea and cookies. "Mm, thanks, Twilight! That all worked out for the best! Do you think that Quill grew up with other dragons? I've seen that inventor pony around, but I never saw Quill before. And it would explain why he didn't know how ponies are picky about not eating rocks." Spike took a big crunch out of a gem adorning the center of a thumbprint cookie. "I could help teach him about pony culture and stuff!"

Xing licked her lips, prepared to take a bite of tasty cookie, but looked startled when both Widget and Twilight warned her not to eat them, shocked to hear that the glimmering pieces were actual gemstones in the frosting, and not sugar crystal. "Oh... Uh... right. Thanks, Jei Jei," she said to Applejack with a smile. She supposed it made sense that treats for dragons would have gemstone bits in them, but she had been far too excited to think about such a thing at the moment. "This day... sure is exciting," she said with a little shy smile. She'd met so many different ponies, two dragons, and a princess was coming to town, to do the first official moon rising celebration in Equestrian history. This was just a great day!!

Dash had flown up to the shelf Twilight spoke of and had spent the last minutes reading, and not really paying attention to what was going on. Rainbow Dash finally spoke up, making a face. "Seriously! A cliff hanger ending? Are they even allowed to do that? What happened to the ruby staff?! And that emerald thingy?" Rainbow Dash complained, having skipped all the way to the last chapter, being impatient as always. "Still, I suppose I will actually read the whole thing. Oh, and sorry for getting your name wrong, Widget." She added the last part as an aside. She was going to say it before, but she got reading and lost track of the conversation. "Huh. Seems everypony is going to this moon raising in pairs or something." She was surprised that Widget had asked Twilight to go, and stifled a chuckle at their shy banter. "Hey, AJ, what are you reading?" she asked, before flying up to get yet another Daring Do book. She would be doing some serious reading later on.

OOC: SOrry, do something for a couple hours and you miss so much! Hope I got it all.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 23:14, Tue 08 May 2012.

"It's... uhh... a thang. A farm thang." she said, and then showed her the Daring Do book. RD had already read that one. "Gonna be readin' this too, ah guess. Like ah said, when ah can find the time."

Rainbow Dash grinned when she saw the Daring Do book that Applejack was going to borrow. "I didn't know you liked Daring Do!" she giggled a little. "I'd be so glad to discuss it with you after you read it. That one is one of my favourite of the series." she stacked up the books she was taking and put them in a bag to take later. "So, what are you doing for the Moon Raising? Operating an apple stand or something I assume?" she asked.

"Did you get the book you wanted?" he asked his assistant as Quill came to his side, although he himself seemed to have completely forgotten his own book request, which never had been selected during their conversation. It didn't seem all that important anymore. He had better things to concern himself with than his wings, and to be honest, that in and of itself was something that had not been done since he had come to Ponyville. "I don't mean to pull you away, but we have to get you all settled before the moon-rising. You should have plenty of time to hang out with Spike soon," he said with a somewhat apologetic tone to Quill.

"It was good to meet you, Honey, Xing Ming. Welcome to Ponyville. Come by the shop if you ever need anything, my door is always open. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Spike, it was good to see you..." He smiled with a more confident air, and bowed his head slightly to Twilight. "Twilight... See you tonight then." He nodded to his assistant, and with his head held high, he moved out of the library, and made his way to his shop on the other side of town, a high and dreamy expression on his face. One wouldn't be surprised if he started flying even with no working wings.

>>> TO: Widget Whatsits Wondrous Works

"Eyup." She grinned. "Can't have everypony else out sellin' but me. Though, it's been a bit of a surprise. Supply might be a bit low. So, ah guess we'll see."

Applejack restacked her books, and slid them into her saddlebag. "Ah should probably get back to the farm to help everypony get ready. What about you, RD?" she paused, and glanced over at Twilight. She wasn't gonna leave without giving her a heads up, at least.

"I'll get the book tomorrow, plus, it.. means I get to visit the library again," Quill smiled sleepily, content that fetching the books he wanted will give him a perfect excuse to take a break from work and get to have some food with Spike. With a wave, he wished goodnight to the occupants of the library and, as Widget left, he quickly waved over to Twilight.

"Make sure that he doesn't hurt his legs later, please! If.. if you can bring it up with him, that'd be, um, kind of helpful!"

He waved again, and bolted out the door, trying to catch up with Widget.

[Exit to... Widget Whatsits Wondrous Works]

Rainbow Dash shrugged with a soft sigh. "I'm not sure. I guess I'll just be watching the raising on my own in that case. You have plans, Twilight has somepony to go with, I guess I'm the only one without plans." she chuckled, though maybe a little sadly. "I'll definitely be there though. I'll be sure to stop by and give your cart some business... well, a lot of business. You know how much I like to snack at festivals." She smiled.

"Now ya' know I wouldn't charge ya' for a snack, RD. Though.. with all that you eat, ah'd have to make somethin'" Applejack laughed and put a hoof on her shoulder. "Tell ya' what. Soon as I finish, ah'll come find ya'."

"Bye~!  See you in a while!"  Twilight called after Widget as he and Quill left.  Such a nice stallion, he was.  Though she worried a bit for his health now... and they'd forgotten their books!  Oh well -- Widget would be coming back soon anyway, so it was no problem.

"If you're all getting ready to go, then have fun.  And enjoy your books too." Twilight wished them all well as they discussed their plans for the evening.  She was intent on sticking indoors for a bit, especially after all the running around she'd done that day.  "Spike, did you want to go to the event?  If you're feeling rested enough, I can give you some Bits so you can go have fun."

"Yeah, I will see you all there. Hey, Twilight, I totally didn't expect Widget to ask you out like that!" she chuckled and took her books, flying up to drop them off at her cloud house.

Exits --->

Rainbow Dash's parting comment took Twilight a bit by surprise, but she just gave a soft 'pbbb~!' from her lip in disregard and laughed.  "Geeze... that Dash.  Widget didn't ask me out."  she giggled at the notion.

Applejack watched Rainbow rush out, then walked over to Twilight. "Ahh.. Sugar cube.  Ah think yer the only pony who didn't see that.  Can't speak for the dragons, though." she said softly.  "Ah remember what it looks like when a colt's tryin' to work up the courage to say somethin' like that." she said comfortingly. "Ah mean, ya' did hear'em say he wanted t'be alone with ya, right?" she asked, pointedly.

"Uhm, What about me? I wouldn't destroy the mood for you two, but I don't have anywhere better to go and it ain't like I know that many ponies around here yet." Honey said with a smile on his lips to twilight who still had no idea she was going on a date. "Where are the moon-rising even going to be?" He said out in the room.

Spike grins and nods, never one to refuse a little walking-around money. "Sure, Twilight! It's a festival, right? It sounds like fun! And don't worry, I'll give you and your new friend Widget a little private time!"

Spike smirks and winks at Rainbow Dash. "Yeah, he totally asked her out. I saw the whole thing! Hey... if this is the sort of thing you can ask people out to, do you think, uh... do you think Rarity would be interested...?"

"Honey," said Xing with a smile. "Why don't you... come with us? With... me and Applebloom and her friends? I-I mean... if you aren't too old... to hang out with us... or something..."