So, this is technically my second MLP:FiM fic, but this is my first fanfic in a LONG time I have an OC. I hope you like them! Read and review, please! I greatly appreciate feedback, especially with a fic like this one.

"So do ya all wanna come?" Applejack smiled at her friends.

"It, well, it sounds-" Rarity began with a small look of disgust gracing her face.

"It sounds wonderful, Applejack! We'd love to go!" Pinkie Pie jumped in, excited to go to any party.

"Yeehaw! This'll be a great way to end my winning streak I'll have at the rodeo!" Applejack said, grinning from ear to ear.

"We wouldn't want to miss out on celebrating our friend's success!" Twilight Sparkle said.

"And I can get a look at up and coming western fashion." Rarity replied.

"Being around so many interesting ponies will be really interesting…and a little stressful." Fluttershy said, adding the last part softly.

"Maybe I can challenge some of the other cowponies to a…a, well, whatever it is they do I can do better!" Rainbow Dash said, swirling around in the air.

"It's settled then; when I return from Canterlot after this year's rodeo ya'll meet me at the Rusty Horseshoe. And ya got the directions to the place, Twilight," here Twilight nodded to Applejack in agreement, "so you'll make sure ya'll get there."

"Yep, sure will! We couldn't miss the amazing after rodeo party!" Pinkie Pie cheered.

After saying her goodbyes to her family and friends, Applejack was on her way to Canterlot. She settled down into her seat on the train and took this time to gaze around the train car at her fellow passengers as they gathered around the snack table. All of them were tough looking earth ponies. By the looks of some of the ponies she could tell what events they competed in. The hale bale toss ponies were all really buff, the barrel racers were all lanky-legged ponies with ridiculously quick reflexes, and then there was the steer wrestlers.

That was the event that always gave Applejack the chills. It was so intense and those ponies that could do it well were always the most amazing to watch out of any competition. She'd always wanted to do it, but the heavy training load and the talk she'd get from Granny Smith was enough to keep her away from it. The few bulls Sweet Apple Acres had were definitely not the ones to practice with either.

But those steer wrestler ponies sure were cute.

She heard a couple boys laughing hard and coming in from another car. She turned to see what was so funny. There were three of them but it was the one in the center, obviously a wrestler, his friend's forelegs wrapped around him as they laughed, that caught Applejack by surprise.

He was a dapple gray with a bright white blaze down his nose and had piercing ice blue eyes. His mane and tail were also a dusty black. His cutie mark showed a pair of bull horns with a lasso around them.

Wow, he must be real good to have his cutie mark show wranglin'. Applejack thought to herself.

"That's great, Blaine! I can't believe you did that to-" one of the pony's said, busting into laughter before finishing his thought.

"Aw, c'mon guys. It wasn't that funny." Blaine said, dropping his head in embarrassment, his forelock falling over one of his eyes.

"Whatever you say, buddy." His other friend said before they both left him to go to the snack table. Blaine gazed around the car, causing Applejack to turn away quickly before he noticed her staring at him.

Just as soon as she thought she hadn't been seen she heard hoof beats coming closer to her. She braced to be faced by Blaine.

"Hey there, Applejack! Ready for this year's rodeo?" a familiar voice chimed. Applejack turned with a smile to see a friend of hers.

"Hey Jackie! How's the farm?" Applejack replied to the dusty brown, strawberry haired filly that took a seat next to her. They had met a few years back on the same train. Jackie was a barrel racer and definitely had the body for it. Her family had moved their berry farm and so Jackie started participating in Canterlot's rodeo instead of the one usually held in Baltimare which at the time was closer to her.

"Good, the berries are all coming in nicely. How's Sweet Apple Acres?"

"Well that freeze we got late put a little dent in our production, but we're bouncing back pretty well. How's training been?"

"Oh, great. I got a new record back at home! It beats my last time here by a whole 5 seconds!"

"Gee whiz, Jackie! You go!" Applejack cheered for her friend, high-fiving her.

"Now what's this I hear about a 5 shave off of a time?" a voice said behind the two fillies. They turned to see one of the two boys who came in with Blaine. Applejack hadn't noticed it, but his cutie mark made it clear that he was in fact a barrel racer, having to keg barrels on his flank.

"W-well I…" Jackie began, looking away from the blonde, buckskin racer looking at her.

"C'mon there, Jackie, be proud of your record." Applejack said, shoving her friend a little in the shoulder.

"I've got it down to 13 seconds." Jackie muttered.

"Well there, princess, be prepared to get taken down by my easy 11." He snootily responded, even having the nerve to cock his head up.

"Oh come off it, Travis. Everypony here knows you're still at 15." Blaine said, coming over. He pushed his friend behind him some and turned to the two fillies, "Forgive my friend for his intrusion, he can be a little ungentlecolty, if ya'll catch my drift."

"Blaine, I wasn't-" his friend started, but Blaine shoved him behind him.

"Ladies, see ya at the show." Blaine said to them, tipping his head to them before ushering his complaining friend away.

"That was sure sweet, wasn't it AJ?" Jackie said, turning to Applejack. "AJ?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. That was sweet alright." AJ finally snapped to attention, having been staring after Blaine. She hoped that wasn't a blush she was feeling on her cheeks.

"What was that for, Blaine?" Travis turned around when they were out of earshot of the two fillies.

"Man, ya don't know when to lay off, do ya?" Blaine said.

"What do you mean?"

"Ya don't use boastin' about your record to try to get friendly with the ladies." Blaine said, walking past him to grab a glass of water from the snack table.

Travis snorted, "You think I was tryin'-pfft, with those fillies?"

"It's not the gentlecolt thing to do." Blaine whispered harshly before taking a drink.

"Whatever man," Travis said before wandering off, probably to find Ryder, their hale baler friend.

As Blaine finished off his glass of water he looked back at the two fillies Travis had been harassing. He had seen the one called Jackie at the competitions that Travis was in, but the other...He recognized her by her cutie mark and her hat that she must be Applejack of the Apple family. She was really skilled in varied competitions. But Blaine had never heard about how cute she was.