"And the winner is Pinkie Pie, with a unheard of 82 apples, in second place is Macintosh with 65 apples, in third place is Rainbow Dash with 62 apples, Braeburn had 50 apples, Caramel got a modest 41 apples, Candy got 34 apples, and Cobbler got a DNF because she took a few too many apples to the head, but she had a good number with 38 apples." Announced Granny.
"FINLAND!" Yelled Cobbler.
Granny sighed. "Yes Sweetie." She looked at Cobblers parents. "Take her to the house and let her rest." Said Granny. They nodded as her mother placed their daughter on to her husband’s back. Granny sighed, this was nothing new for them, it happened every year, but this year had already seen 4 ponies getting hurt, but nothing too serious. "Ok, next we have the horse shoe toss."
20 minutes later, and it was time for AJ and Spike to return to the reunion. Spike was on AJ's back as they walked over to the girls, who were all relived to see that Spike was ok. Fluttershy was the most worried for him, going off the gust she made when she flew over to Spike. "SPIKE!" Cheered Fluttershy as she nuzzled Spike's head.
Spike and AJ were confused at what was going on. AJ looked at Rainbow for some help. "A little context please?" Asked AJ.
Rainbow shrugged. "She was a little worried that his face was going to be like that forever." Said Rainbow.
"Oh." Said Spike and AJ. Spike looked at his Mommy. "Mommy, I'm fine, see." Said Spike giving Fluttershy a happy smiled, then a frown, then he stuck out his tongue and gave her a lick no the cheek.
Fluttershy smiled at seeing her son was back to normal. "Good, please don't scare me like that again."
Rainbow groaned. "Shy, you got scared of your own shadow."
Fluttershy blushed when she heard that. She then looked down and noticed her shadow, she gasped and quickly left the ground. Spike sighed at his mommy. "Mommy, what are we doing now?" Asked Spike. He was a little upset that he missed so much of the reunion because of the jam, but it was worth it all.
Fluttershy looked at her son. "Oh, Granny Smith is about to announce the next game." Said Fluttershy.
Spike smiled. "Can I join?" asked Spike.
Fluttershy smiled. "Of course, but only if it's safe that is."
Spike nodded as Fluttershy carried Spike over to Granny and her group of old mares that were working on a quilt. "Granny." Cheered Spike when he saw her. Fluttershy placed Spike on the ground and he slowly ran over to her. Fluttershy gasped as that was his first time running. 'Oh, he's growing up so fast.' Thought Fluttershy.
Granny smiled at seeing that Spike was back in the game. She scooped him into her hooves and nuzzled the little apple's head. "Hey there sugar cube, I'm glad to see you back in the world of the responsive."
Spike gave Granny a hug. "The Jam was really yummy, but can I play in the next game?" Asked Spike.
Granny hummed as she looked at the list of activities. 'Ok, the next one is a definite nope, I don't think Spike is old enough for the plow pull. Next, we have the pig cleaning, again no, he would be buried in the mud or he could scare the pigs. Oh, this one is perfect.' Thought Granny. She looked down at Spike. "Spike, would you like to be in the 7-legged race?" Asked Granny.
Spike nodded. "Yes, I only have one question."
"What?"
"What's a 7-legged race?" Asked Spike.
Granny sighed. "Well Spike, it’s a race to see how fast two ponies can work together when one of their hooves are tied together."
Spike looked down at his arms and legs. "But Granny I don't have hooves, and I walk with my legs."
Granny hummed. 'Dang nabbit, he's right, it's not much of a 7-legged race if there are only 5 legs.' Thought Granny. 'Wait, 5-legged race.' Granny smiled at Spike. "Well, don't worry, we'll just have to make it a 7 or 5-legged race." Said Granny.
Spike gasped and hugged Granny's neck. "Yay." Cheered Spike.
Granny smiled at making Spike happy, she looked at Fluttershy. "Fluttershy, would you be his partner?" Asked Granny.
Fluttershy smiled as she nodded. "Of course."
Spike looked at Fluttershy. "But wouldn't mom be a better fit?" Asked Spike, he loved all of his mothers, but Fluttershy was slower than...Wait I already did that joke. Long story short, she was slow.
Fluttershy sighed as Spike's words were hurtful but true, she flattened her ears. "Yes, she would be Spike, I understand that I'm not the most athletic pony."
Spike sighed as he felt the weight of her words. "I'm sorry mommy, that was mean, I would love to race with you." Said Spike as he could feel that he made a massive error in his words.
Fluttershy smiled as she got Spike off Granny. "It's fine Sweetie, I just thought we could try it together." She then kissed Spike's nose. "And thank you." Said Fluttershy as she and Spike went to go get ready for the race.
Granny sighed as she looked to her cousins. "How far did we get this year?"
"We never threaded the needles." Said Goldie.
Granny sighed. "I want to see this quilt done before I die." Said Granny.
"You say that every year, and we never get more than 5 stiches in." Said Apple Rose.
Granny groaned. "Now I need to work out how to hold a five-legged race." Said Granny as she walked away.
After the 2 events, it was time for the 7 or 5-legged race. Spike was tied to Fluttershy's left front hoof as they stood at the start of the 50-meter track. AJ was with Rainbow, Rarity was with Pinkie, Bright Mac was with Pear, Mac was with his cousin Candy Apple, and Strudel was with Goldie. Granny stood at the far end ready to ring a dinner bell to signal the race. "Ready....Go." Said Granny.
All the groups started running, or at the very best they could do. Pear and Mac while being a well working couple couldn't complement each other’s stride, so they were struggling to get past a slow pace. Strudel and Goldie were slow just because of their joints, they couldn't handle going any faster. Mac and Candy Apple were in the lead, but it only took one small step for them to stumble over their hooves sending them both to the ground. AJ and Rainbow couldn't help but let their competitive side show, but both were thick headed, and started trying to take the lead. But Pinkie and Rarity was just hilarious to see, Pinkie thought of going into the 5 legged race, letting her back right leg be tied to Rarity's left front leg, and in all honesty it wasn't going so well for them, they just kept tumbling over each other. But Spike and Fluttershy, that pair was a different story, considering Fluttershy's speed, and Spike's size, the former was able to compensate for Spike's stride and matched it with her tied hoof while making sure to not let herself fall.
Slowly Spike and Fluttershy passed Pear and Mac, then they passed Rainbow and AJ who were trying to take the lead, then they slowly approached the front runners, Mac and Candy, who were trying to get to their hooves after they took another tumble. Quickly Spike and Fluttershy had taken the lead and were about to cross the finish line. "And the winners of the first 7 or 5-legged race is Fluttershy and Spike." Cheered Granny.
Fluttershy looked at Spike. "Wait, we won?" Asked the filly, she had never won a race in her life.
Spike looked at his mommy and smiled. "I guess we did." Said Spike, he looked back at his mamas. "Mamas, we won!" Cheered Spike.
AJ and Rainbow dropped their jaws at seeing that they were beaten by their son and Fluttershy. They looked at each other. "This is your fault." Said the two in unison, but then they started to laugh like idiots.
AJ looked at Rainbow. "Come on lets go congratulate Spike and Shy." Rainbow nodded as she untied their legs.
Pinkie and Rarity smiled at seeing that Spike and Shy won, Rarity was about to use her magic to teleport the rope off of them but when she noticed Pinkie already next to Spike and Shy, the former getting peppered in kisses by Pinkie, she looked to her leg. The rope wasn't even sure if Pinkie was still attached as it was hanging in the air like it was connecting two fillies. Take that as you will, Pinkie can defy the basic laws of physics. Rarity sighed. "It's Pinkie Pie, don't question it." Said Rarity as the rope finally fell. She walked over to Spike and Shy. "Congratulations Spikey Wikey. I'm so proud of you."
Spike smiled as he gave Rarity a hug. "Thanks Mother."
Shy smiled at Spike. "Yes, you did a very good job Spike."
Spike shook his head. "No, Mommy, we did a great job." Said Spike.
"I agree, the race is to show the team work between two ponies, or dragon. It takes two to race, so this is a victory for you both." Said Granny as she smiled at the small pair.
Fluttershy smiled. "Well, I just thought of it like any little walk, slow and steady."
"Always wins the race." Said Pear as she and Mac walked over to the crowd. "Something that is a valuable lesson." She looked at Bright Mac. "Something that might take a Stallion a while to figure out."
Mac sighed. "Sorry Buttercup."
Pear smiled as she kissed Mac. "Don't be, if you learned that quickly, you wouldn't be the stallion I married."
Mac smiled as all the little girls and Spike gagged at the sight.
Granny smiled at seeing their love for each other, but it was time for them to start the next activity. "Quit the lovey dovey stuff, we have other stuff to do." Said Granny as she looked at the list. "Next up is apple bobbing, then we have the hay toss, then the milking contest, and the scavenger hunt."
Everyone nodded.
For the next 3 hours Spike and his family watched, played, cheered, and bonded as the whole family joined in to bring the last full day of the Apple Family Reunion to a close, because tomorrow was the day everyone needed to head home, and the day that signified Spike's new life as an Apple in the pages of their history.