While it was true that, on most days, the hard-working Apple family would be out in their orchards, picking the titular fruit of their lands, there were definitely days when they could just relax and let their hair down a bit. Today was just such a day, as all four of them, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Big Macintosh and Granny Smith, were all outside, just beyond the picket fence of their home, watching as the family dog, Winona, was playing about, catching the balls that they all threw to her. And every time she’d bring it back, it would be the same thing, a chorus of “good girl” by whoever threw it, aside from Big Mac, who simply gave his customary “eyup”. Indeed, if one were to look upon this scene at this very moment, they would feel nothing but warmth at being able to witness such a fun and loving family moment. However, the one who was visiting them seemed far from ecstatic about being here right now.

Sunny Flare, a student of Crystal Prep Academy, and who, even now, wore the distinct uniform of that school, stood at the window of the Apple family kitchen, looking out at the four of them with an unsure look upon her face. In her hands was a hot cup of tea, though she only took occasional sips of the thing, instead looking like she had a lot on her mind. She watched every movement of the family outside, until eventually, she observed Applejack breaking away from them, making her way into their home. Turning, Sunny looked upon the door of the kitchen as her host entered, walking over to the nearby fridge, no doubt to get drinks for her family. Sure enough, she pulled out a few soda cans, and only now did she turn to Sunny, putting on a warm smile and tipping her hat.

“How ya doin, Sunny? Enjoyin the farm?”

Sunny looked out of the window a little before answering.

“Not really my usual scene…but yeah, I kinda like it.”

Applejack chuckled a little before pulling a chair at the table in the middle of the room, gesturing to a chair on the opposite side. Sunny saw this and got the message, walking over and taking a seat. Now together, Applejack regarded the girl for a while before speaking up again.

“I gotta say, Sunny…ya don’t look all that happy.”

Sunny let out a sigh as she placed her cup upon the table.

“I’m fine, it’s just…I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

Applejack nodded at that.

“Well…would ya wanna talk about it?”

Sunny looked up at her, somewhat taken aback by that offer, before turning her gaze away from her.

“Thanks for the offer, but…I’m not sure if I should.”

To that, Applejack frowned a little.

“Sunny…we’re supposed ta be friends now, remember? And friends help one another. So if there’s a problem…I’d like ta lend a hand.”

Slowly, Sunny looked to her host, and, as was so often the case with her, saw nothing but honesty in her expression. After a long and uncomfortable silence, she let out a sigh, looking down at the cup in her hands as she finally spoke up.

“You…you like your family, right? You get on well with them?”

Applejack raised an eyebrow, looking as if she’d just been asked the most ridiculous question in the world.

“Well…yeah. I mean…they’re mah family. Ah love em!”

Sunny stared at her, taking in every word of that, though showing no emotion whatsoever as she spoke up herself.

“And…you’ve never had any problems with them?”

For the first time in all of this, Applejack looked a little uncomfortable, leading to her asking a question of her own.

“Just…just what are ya getting at, Sunny?”

Looking away from her, discomfort now ran all across Sunny’s face.

“I’m sorry. It’s just…it must be nice, having that kind of life.”

Looking at her, Applejack’s mind began to conjure up recent memories, specifically, discussions she’d had with her closest friends regarding this very girl. And in an instant, she began to understand what must have been going on in her mind. Although, this realisation led to a great deal of discomfort herself, as she knew what needed to be said, and what needed to be asked. However, though she prided herself on her honesty, there were times when that trait was more than a little irksome to her. This was most definitely one of those times, as she cleared her throat, gaining Sunny’s attention.

“Is…is this about…yer Ma?”

Sunny narrowed her eyes, but her expression soon softened afterwards.

“Yeah…I guess it is.”

Lifting her cup, Sunny took another sip, all while Applejack waited patiently. After a while, Sunny, after getting her thoughts in order, finally started to talk about what was bothering her.

“It’s just…me and her…we don't get along…at all. Whenever we talk, it’s always about the school or my grades.”

A frown formed on her face.

“You know…I can’t even remember the last time she called me by my first name. Nowadays…it’s always “Miss Flare”, or something like that.”

Applejack sat there looking quite uncomfortable about all this.

“Well…what about yer Pa? Doesn’t he treat ya better?”

Sunny looked away, her expression a somewhat pained one.

“He…he died. Shortly before I was born.”

Realising that she’d made a grave error, Applejack’s expression immediately became an apologetic one.

“Oh! Ah’m…ah’m sorry! Ah just thought…”

But Sunny raised a hand, stopping her.

“It’s fine. You weren’t to know.”

However, as Applejack was mentally kicking herself about what she’d brought up, Sunny regarded her carefully, looking somewhat hesitant herself.

“Dare I ask about your own?”

At that, Applejack’s expression became a more sober one, and she too tried to avoid Sunny’s gaze.

“Same. Ma too. When ah was little, just after Bloom was born.”

Sunny’s face softened considerably after that.

“I’m sorry.”

Applejack turned to her, giving an appreciative nod and smiling a little.

“Thanks. But…it was a long time ago. Guess it’s just the kinda stuff ya get used to.”

Sunny nodded at that before speaking up again.

“Yeah…I actually kind of envy you, Apples. You actually got to know your Dad. Me? All I ever knew was high-and-mighty Cinch.”

The resentment in her voice was clear, and she narrowed her eyes somewhat as her own memories began to come to the forefront of her mind. Applejack remained silent, knowing in her heart that an angry tirade was on the way. And sure enough, she watched as Sunny began to speak, her tone now more steely than before.

“For as long as I can remember…she always valued talent. Those who were better than others at something…those were the ones she paid attention to. She admired the best. And she was my Mother, so the best is what I tried to make myself into.”

Slowly, Sunny turned her gaze away as she continued.

“I studied harder, exercised harder…I did everything I needed to…all to become the best there was at everything at Crystal Prep.”

Although she knew she was travelling into dangerous territory, Applejack felt the need to speak up.

“Did…did it work?”

Turning to her, Sunny gave a nod, albeit while keeping that unhappy look of hers.

“Yeah…it worked. I got the top grades, did the best at sports, and put everyone at that school in my shadow. I was exactly what my Mother wanted me to be, what she needed me to be.”

For a moment, her expression softened again, almost to the point of looking nostalgic.

“For a while…it was good. I was doing so well…Mother was speaking to me…like she was proud of me. I felt…I felt happy. I was living up to her expectations. No. Exceeding them. And that…that felt like everything was as it should be.”

And, just as quickly as that comforting look came, it went, replaced instead by clear resentment. Sunny clenched her fists on the table, to the point where her knuckles were turning white, as she spoke, her voice barely containing her anger.

“And then…Twilight came to the school.”

Just like that, Applejack knew where this was going, though kept her mouth shut as Sunny spoke.

“Suddenly…I wasn’t the best anymore, at least not at everything. Twilight outdid me at Math, at Science…and a whole bunch of other stuff. She…she’d usurped me. And when that happened…dear Mother wasn’t all that interested in me anymore.”

Applejack opened her mouth to speak, only to stop when Sunny looked up at her, already prepared to counter.

“I know what you’re going to say, and no, I don’t hate Twilight for this. She was working as hard as she could to be as good as she could, like any of us would at that school. She never did this to hurt me or make things difficult for me or anyone else. I understand that.”

Looking away, Sunny expression became one of anger once more.

“No…it was Mother that earned my ire. When I was the best…she treated me like her flesh and blood. And when I wasn't…it was like she never even saw me. Instead, she focused on her own work, on the school. Those times she did decide to speak to me…”

For a moment, sadness flickered in Sunny’s eyes.

“…it was only to let me know how disappointed she was in me.”

Applejack sat there, in silence, as everything Sunny had said had finally run its course. One look at the girl and she knew that she had nothing more to say, nothing more to get off her chest. The lack of words was becoming more and more uncomfortable as time went on, and Applejack wondered if saying anything was a good idea at this point. Time and again, she went over in her mind something she could say to cheer her up, but it was clear that she’d bottled this up for so long that it had festered within her, maybe to the point where it was going to be impossible to change her mind on it. However, in the end, there was one thing she felt the need to ask, though she was hesitant to do so.

“Sunny. Do…do ya actually love yer Ma?”

Slowly, Sunny turned to look at her, with an expression that made it look as if she’d just been insulted.

“She’s my Mother. She raised me. She gave me everything. She made me who I am today.”

However, rather than be cowed by the aggression with which those words had been spoken, Applejack kept her eyes on her, bearing a soft expression, which was mirrored in her voice.

“Sunny…ah didn’t hear ya say yes.”

At that, Sunny opened her mouth, ready to respond again, only to find that she couldn’t. The fact of the matter was that Applejack had spoken truly. She hadn't said “yes” to the question. Instead, she looked down at the table, her expression one of confusion and uncertainty. And soon, when she spoke again, it was clear that her anger had been replaced by sadness.

“I…I want to love her.”

Turning away, Sunny did her best to avoid having Applejack look at her face, but it was not enough, as the farm girl saw that, there, falling down her cheek, was a single tear.

“And more than that… more than anything else…I just want…I…I just need…to know that she loves me.”