“Well, this was unexpected.” Sunshine thought, looking at her plate full of apple-based foods. As soon as they arrived, they were ambushed welcomed by Applejack and her family, inviting them over for and early dinner.
Sunshine hadn’t eaten anything other than Pinkie’s secret desert, and Sunset even less, so they accepted their invitation, which also included…
Sunshine looked at Steer, eating with a smile on his face while having a very polite, short-worded conversation with Big Mac. Sunset, for her part, was chatting with Applejack, who had Apple Bloom sitting on her legs listening in. Which left Sunshine looking at the elder of the family at the other side of the table.

“I find it quite the contrast,” Granny Smith said pointing at Sunshine’s clothes.

The woman gave a simple glance at her clothing and shrugged. “As long as you don’t put me to work.”

The elder smirked. “You get a pass just this time. Food is usually reserved for those who help the family do work.”

“I can respect that. Although, I never gifted clothes to my employees.” Sunshine thought back to her discussion with Rarity. “Maybe it’s not such a bad business attitude after all.”

“I’m sure they would appreciate something like that.” Granny smith chuckled. “But what do I know about running a business like yours?”

“Well, you certainly know how to run a family.” Sunshine looked around her with a smile, seeing the happy faces of everyone at the table.

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow at her words, and slowly stood up. “Would you help me with the dishes?”

“Sure,” Sunshine answered, shoveling the last bit of food into her mouth, and gathering the plates.

The rest of the Apple family were about to help, but a quick glance of their elder stopped them, and they went back to their respective conversations.

Sunshine, unaware of all this, carried as much as she could and followed Granny Smith to the kitchen, putting everything in the sink before looking for sponge and detergent.

“Oh, you clean by hand?” the elder asked jokingly.

Sunshine snorted. “Compared to all the other stuff I have to do; cleaning dishes is relaxing for me.”

Granny Smith laughed. “You’re nothing like Filthy Rich. As amiable as he is, he would never join a family dinner.”

“If your granddaughter and his daughter started dating, he surely would make an exception,” Sunshine answered as she scrubbed the plates.

“Maybe, but having her wife around would be a problem.”

Sunshine sighed with a discontent only Spoiled Rich could generate. “That woman can’t be pleased. She rejected six dresses exclusively made for her with every ridiculous specification she requested. I wanted to leave my office and stuff each of them down her throat before kicking her out.”

Granny Smith rested her back against the counter next to the sink. “It’s a wonder how her daughter survives such a woman.”

Sunshine shook her head. “Spoiled isn’t mother material.”

“And what about you?” The question froze Sunshine in place. “I heard about the deal you proposed, but how do you plan on being a mother for that girl?”

Sunshine slowly resumed her work. “Well… first, make sure she has everything she needs.” Granny nodded. “Support her the same way my parents did. I won’t expect her to inherit my company.” She frowned for a moment, thinking about the future of her company. “That’s not a now problem. Back to Sunset, I will try my best to make her happy.” She turned her head to the elder at her side. “I know it won’t be easy, but I want to do it.”

Granny looked at her in the eyes. “I raised my kids, and my kids’ kids. It never got any easier. Many mistakes, big and small. No one is prepared for something like that. But I trust that you will do a decent enough job.”

Sunshine smiled, going back to her work. “Well, maybe it would be a little easier if I could have some advice from someone with experience in the matter?”

Granny Smith started laughing. “If you do some farm work, I can give you a few pointers.”

Sunshine nodded. “It’s a deal then.”

“Also…” Granny added looking away for a moment. “My hip’s getting saggy. This old, knowledgeable body would work better with a replacement.”

Sunshine started laughing and Granny joined too. “My friend would love to meet you.”

They continued their chat for a while, even after the dishes were clean, until Sunset walked into the kitchen.
“Sorry for interrupting.”

“It’s getting late?” Sunshine asked looking at her watch. “Rainbow’s the only one left, right?”

“Yeah, she said she would be waiting for us at the school’s racetrack.”

“Is that allowed?” Sunshine asked as she left the kitchen, waving goodbye to Granny Smith.

“Being the star athlete and one of the girls that deal with the magical shenanigans at school gives you some benefits,” Sunset answered with a small laugh.

They both gave their goodbyes to the Apple family and went with Steer back to the SUV, but Sunset stopped when her phone received a message.

Sunshine looked at her while the girl read the text. “Is something wrong?”

“It’s…” Sunset considered lying, but decided against it. “Fluttershy. She calmed down and told me she’s sorry for her outburst with you.”

Sunshine raised an eyebrow. “Does that happen often?”

“Fluttershy getting mad?” Sunset shook her head. “Very rarely, but she can be scary when she does.”

“And when does she get mad?” Sunshine wondered.

“Well, when you mistreat animals, as you saw. Sometimes to get our attention when me and the girls are arguing about something. Basically–”

“When something’s important to her,” Sunshine concluded, smiling a little. “Can I answer that message?”

Sunset was surprised at the request, but after looking at the text Fluttershy had sent one more time, she gave the woman her phone.

Sunshine took a moment to read Fluttershy’s text.

“I’m sorry Sunset. I knew how much this meant to you and I ruined it. I should’ve stayed quiet. I can keep my distance if you want, but I promise I won’t start any more fights with your mother. I hope you can forgive me.”

With a smile, Sunshine replied.

“I forgive you. You said what you said because it’s the only way you know to get yourself be heard, and I can understand that. You are kindness, and that kindness needs to be sharp sometimes to protect what it cares for. I hope you will defend my daughter with that same glare you showed me.
Sunshine.”

The woman gave the phone back to Sunset and got in the vehicle. “You’ve very good friends.” Sunset smiled, and suddenly got another text. “She answered already?”

“It’s from Pinkie,” Sunset turned to look at her with a confused but slightly amused look. “She says ‘I’m proud of you’.”

Sunshine blinked twice. “Your ‘good friends’ are also really weird.”