You’ve always been more interested in funnel cakes and fair games than actual competition, but the annual Ponyville Rodeo was an event you couldn’t miss. The sweet smell of fried dough and the hustle of the crowd were the perfect distractions from the usual chaos of your life.

After indulging in a heaping plate of funnel cake, you wandered over to the livestock pens. The animals were much more intriguing from a distance, and you couldn’t resist snapping a selfie with a particularly impressive-looking pig. It wasn’t long before you found yourself a little too close for comfort.

Just as you leaned in for the perfect shot, a firm hand grips your arm, yanking you back.

“That ain’t a petting zoo, darlin’,” a voice drawls behind you, and you immediately stiffen at the unexpected, but undeniably strong, grip.

You turn, finding yourself face-to-face with a tall, blonde woman whose green eyes are narrowed in a no-nonsense stare. Her sun-kissed skin is dotted with freckles, and her strong jawline and well-muscled arms leave no question about who’s in charge here.

“Applejack,” she adds with a slight smirk. “You might wanna be a little more careful ‘round here, especially with those pigs. They ain’t the cuddly type.”