Apple Annie Oak Tree

A week later, Annie and Franklin watch from the sidelines while Apple Jam lines up on the rodeo grounds alongside twelve other foals: six fillies and six colts named Mist Swirl, May Heart, Cranberry Sweet, Helena, Violet Raven, Cherry Heart, Cardamom, Chile Pepper, Sloan, Marshall, and Brickman. The young ponies then begin to jump the hurdles when the horn goes off, with Apple Jam soon taking the lead. She continues to hold the lead until they're across the last barrel. She smiles as she jumps over it and onto the winners' podium.

An hour later, after a nice and filling lunch, the young ponies line up for the apple bucking event. Right from the start, Apple Jam sends twelve in a row into the target. The other ponies only manage to get five to hit the target within the time constants. Apple Jam squeals as she takes her second gold medal. She couldn't be happier. Now she has one event left to do, trick lassoing.

Two hours later, Apple Jam lines up alongside the other ponies and begins her trick lassoing. She pulls off a swan shape, a flower shape, a dog bone shape, a heart shape, a duck shape, a dog shape, a cat shape, a unicorn shape, a pegasus shape, a dolphin shape, and a star shape. The judges stare in awe as they give her a score of 10 out of 10. The next ponies then go scoring 9 out of 10, 8 out of 10, 9 out of 10, 9 out of 10, 7 out of 10, 6 out of 10, 7 out of 10, 9 out of 10, 9 out of 10, 8 out of 10, 5 out of 10, and 4 out of 10. A few minutes later on the podium, Apple Jam happily accepts her third gold medal. Once she has all three, she gets her picture taken and goes off to join her parents.

"Great job, sweetheart! We're proud of you!" says Apple Annie with a smile.

"Thanks, mom," replies Apple Jam with a smile. "I'm glad you came. I'm so happy you're proud of me." She gives her mom a great big hug. The three then head off to enjoy the complimentary milkshakes along with everypony else. As they enjoy their shakes, Cinnamon Bun comes over and gives Apple Jam a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Apple Jam," says Annie, "anything you want to tell us?"

"Fine," sighs Apple Jam, "Cinnamon Bun and I are a couple."

"How long have you two been a couple?" asks Annie.

"For the last five years," replies Apple Jam, "but to be fair, mom, you ran off with a man you beat in a shoot off, so you shouldn't be judging my relationships."

"I guess you're right," sighs Annie, "I'm sorry I overreacted, sweetie."

"It's fine, mom," replies Apple Jam giving her mother a hug. "It was a simple mistake, a simple misunderstanding." The four then happily continue to talk for hours on end before being joined by Cinnamon Swirl, who jumps in on the conversation with such fluidity and flow. They all go on to chat for three more hours before all going out to dinner together at the Hay Cradle, a new, little diner in town.

At the restaurant, the waiter comes over and takes their drink orders: two lemonades, a hot tea, and two coffees. As they sip their drinks, they talk about the day's events, the foal that's on the way, and the upcoming Grand Equestria Rodeo, which Annie and Franklin are especially excited about.

"Yeah, we both plan on being in the Grand Equestria Rodeo," says Franklin with a smile. "We're both very excited!"

"What events do you plan on doing in the rodeo?" asks Cinnamon Swirl curiously.

"I'm doing trick lassoing," replies Annie.

"And I'm doing the bull wrestling and hay bale throwing events," replies Franklin.

"Well, I plan on going and watching from the bleachers with my son, while my husband leads the rodeo parade," Cinnamon Swirl responds with a smile.

"Sounds like fun!" replies Apple Annie.

A few minutes later, the waiter returns. "What would y'all like to order?" he asks.

"Two children's hay tenders," says Cinnamon Swirl, "and the apple sweet cake over rice."

"The apple salad with walnuts, pecans, and honey dressing," says Annie.

"And I'll have the hay steak dinner plate with a loaded baked potato," says Franklin.

"Sure thing, I'll be back with that soon," replies the waiter as he goes and relays the orders to the chef.

Around thirty minutes later, the waiter returns with their food and places it in front of each of them and then tells them to enjoy and walks off. Franklin then happily cuts into his steak and begins to enjoy and the others go on to do the same with their meals, taking little time to talk. Everything about today was exciting and now, it's time to enjoy a simple lunch, and they couldn't ask for anything more.