Sunny had accompanied Rarity through several shops, some clothing stores that Rarity insisted they drop by to get Sunny something 'decent' to wear for lunch, even though she had brought some cloths with her. She could help but admire Canterlot's newest attire available for stallions. Apparently my her then Spike, she didn't have many stallion friends to dress up, so this was a golden opportunity for her. They also visited several souvenir shops and stands, picking up a few gifts for their friends back home. And what Sunny found odd, Rarity insisted on stopping by a few hardware stores to pick up some pieces. But he didn't mind, Sunny was overcome by the sights of the enriched city. Rarity had told him that Canterlot was the jewel of Equestria, and w believed it. It was more beautiful then he had ever imagined. One thing that Sunny preferred about Ponyville, in comparison to Canterlot, were the ponies attitudes. A lot of the ponies in town seemed to either be too into themselves or act too good to even wave back when Sunny greeted them. But there were a few who seemed to smile and a knowledge Sunny's existence, they were far and few between.
'I guess that's the life of the rich and wealthy' Sunny thought. Ten remembered Rarity said her parents had several businesses that they owned and retired early. He wondered if they were like all of these ponies, walking around in their expensive outfits and thick heavy pockets.
By the end of the shipping portion of their trip, Sunny was surprised that it was just barley noon. He had changed into the suit that Rarity had packed for him. She decided that the one she packed looked to be more like one somepony from Ponyville would wear, which was the impression she wanted to make. Rarity herself self had made several wardrobe changes. She went between a dress she designed, to one se picked up at the first shop they visited, to the most recent one she bought, and back to her first one. Sunny never knew anypony could enjoy changing cloths so often. He was glad most of the time he just ran around naked.
"Black is so you color, dear" se said with a sweet chime as she readjusted his tie. Sunny was stuck wearing a black suit, which he agreed did look good on him with his yellow coat and orange mane. But it didn't allow much movement. He could never run, lift, or do any form of work in it.
"Now, let's not keep Mother and Father waiting. Do you remember what we rehearsed?" Rarity a makes the polished up farm stallion.
Sunny was only able to nod, as an answer. Between the tight suit he was wearing, plus the large amount of bags that he got suckered into carrying, it was a surprise he hadn't passed out yet. The bags, of course, were all Rarity's luggage and souvenirs she aquired.
"Oh wondeful! And again, I really do appreciate your help" Rarity elegantly strode ahead while Sunny barley wobbled several feet behind her.
After about ten minutes of carrying her things, Sunny stopped and set them down in front of a large diner. He looked around and saw many ponies sitting both inside the establishment at booths and small tables, as well as outside at moderately sized tables that sat outside, shaded by large umbrellas. Sunny's attention was caught by a pink unicorn mare who was waving him and Rarity down.
"Over here!" A pink unicorn with a tall purple hair styled mane waved again, sitting beside a white stallion wearing a straw hat. They both wore very bright tropically designed shirts and seemed very easy going. Not at all what Sunny had been expecting, especially looking at Rarity herself.
Sunny cracked a smile at Rarity as she smiled awkwardly back and whispered through her teeth "just relax and let me do most of the talking."
"Deal" was Sunny's only reply as he spoke through his teeth as well, walking casually beside her, picking up her belongings again.
They both walked as casually as they both could over to the table where Rarity's parents sat. Sunny carefully dropped all of Rarity's stuff not far from their table, stretched his back, taking as deep a breath as he could with that suit on, then took a seat with Rarity at their parents table.
"Oh! So this is the colt we've heard so much about, eh?" Rarity's mother began, seeming very interested in Sunny.
"Well he sure is a strong feller, eh?" Her father commented, tipping his hat back. "I like yer Stetson. Very classy. But what's the apple on the front for?"
It was only then that Sunny and Rarity both realized that he was still wearing his apple family Stetson hat. Thinking quickly, Rarity salvaged the situation.
"Oh it was a gift from the Apple family" not technically a lie. "You know, the ponies who run Sweet Apple Acres back in Ponyville? Because Sunny helped them get their financial paperwork in order and sorted out several technical issues, they deemed him an honorary Apple family member." Ok, lying mostly, but Sunny just kept smiling through it all.
"Oh! So you're the mayor's aid and an honorary Apple family member!" Rarity's mother started, then stopped her self with a hoof wave. "Oh, but where are my manners? My name's Cookie Crumbles."
The white unicorn stallion with a mustache then stretched out his hoof to Sunny "And I'm Hondo, Hondo Flanks, but you can call me pop pop if ya want."
Sunny gulped, he raised his hoof, trying not to break through the fabric of the suit, reached over and shook Hondo's hoof. Sunny smiled at the mustache bearing stallion and replied " if it's ok with you, I'd prefer just 'Sir', Sir."
"Oh! What a polite feller you nabbed, eh Rarity?" Cookie complemented.
"Why, that's a mighty firm hoof shake you have there" Hondo commented, "do ya work out?"
"Oh yes!" Rarity answered for Sunny as she wrapped her hooves around him. "Sunny is very strict of physical fitness."
"Oh, good on ya, Sunny" Cookie smiled at him. "So, not to bring up bad times, but Rarity told us you lost your memory a while back, before you started working for the mayor."
"Th-that's right" Sunny stuttered, not thinking Rarity would tell them that. "I actually only go by Sunny because it just kinda feels right. I'm not even sure it's my real name."
"That's so terrible!" Cookie's bright and cheery face began to fade. Without saying anything, she got up and hugged Sunny as hard as she could, which he would have appreciated more if he wasn't already being squeezed to death by his suit.
"We're both very sorry to hear that" Hondo replied. "But lucky for you Rarity came along, eh? Teaching you how to cook, clean, and read again, eh?"
This caused Sunny to stiffen a bit, he kept a forced smiling as he kept his head forward but his eyes fell heavily upon the white mare next to him. Rarity sheepishly took a sip of her water, and looked away from the glaring yellow stallion. He kept his teeth locked as he replied. "Yes. Yes I am very fortunate."
Rarity had the same awkward smile on as she lightly chuckled. "So mother, father, how were the Misty Mountains?"
The couple spoke about the good times they had skiing and drinking hot chocolate in the ski lounge. Sunny chimmed in after they finished and told a few jokes he read in the book Pinky gave him. They earned a few chuckles from Rarity's mother, but had we father in stitches. After several moments, her father began to gather himself from the last joke that Sunny told, and he whipped the tears from his eyes.
"Whahooo, Rarity, you nabbed yourself a real funny one here! Ohhh! He's a keeper!" He commented, still holding his sides.
"To true dear" Cookie smiled at her husband, then turned to Rarity. "So, your father and I had been talking, and in light of everything, we decided to move to Ponyville and get a home not far from your boutique."
This caused Rarity to spit out her ice water. "W-what?! But why?!?! I-I-I mean, there ain't any reason for you to stop your all across Equestria traveling!"
"Oh, your mother and I talked long and hard about it" Hondo added once he had fully stopped laughing. "And we decided that we want to settle down and watch our little girl's love blossom and grow" he grabbed his wife's hoof and nuzzled her cheek.
"Just like ours did" Cookie commented, nuzzling back.
"B-b-but! But you can't!" Rarity began to stutter. "I mean, we are both so busy with our jobs, we wouldn't have time to-"
"Well that's the beauty of it!" Cookie interrupted. "We'll be around for when you to are able to take time off of work. Besides, I want to help my little girl plan for her wedding."
"Wedding?!?!" Both Rariry and Sunny repeated the last word at the same time, both of their hearts sinking into the pits of their stomachs.
"Well of course dear" Rarity's father spoke up this time. "Your mother will help with the decorations, the planning, the dresses, and Sunny and I will get to know each other better. Maybe we can even hit the gym together, eh? Little father-in-law/ son-in-law work outs?"
Sunny then turned and whispered to Rarity "what are we going to do?!?!"
"I'll figure something out, hold on" she replied to the yellow stallion in her whisper voice. Then they both turned back and nervously faced her parents.
"Mother, Father, I don't know that we'll be getting married any time soon..." Rarity began.
"Oh? But your letters made it sound like you two were so ready to elope?" Cookie then pulls out a letter and begins to read a part in it. "'... When I am with him, my heart takes flight, I know I can rest easy knowing he is there for me, and will be by my side. His eyes are two perfect emeralds that outshine the sun, his voice the soothing jazz that calms the storm of my soul. He is my breath, my heart beat, and my morning rays....'"
Sunny begins to turn slightly red as he turns to Rarity who is now a really bright shade of pink and burying her face in her hooves.
"Sound alike true love to me, eh?" Hondo said as he took another sip of his drink.
"W-well, S-sunny is really busy at work! Doing all he can to help the good ponies of Ponyville. E can't take time off of work for that!" Rarity began, pulling herself out of her hooves.
"R-right! The mayor is tasking me with a lot of taxing work! I have a mountain of paperwork just waiting for me back at the office!" Sunny added, trying to help. "Especially with elections coming up, and there are some new taxes that need to be put to a vote..."
Both of Rarity's parents looked at each other, then her mother replied "didn't Ponyville just have their election at the beginning of the year?"
"Oh, ugh...." Sunny was trying to think fast. "I-I mean-"
"Elections for the PTA meetings!" Rarity added. "Have to have a proper school board."
"But isn't there just one school, with one teacher?" Rarity's father asked this time, now both parents becoming confused.
But before Sunny or Rarity could come up with another believable lie, a few very familiar set of voices chimed in.
"Hey look! It's Rarity and Sunny!" Scootaloo said heading towards the group.
"And my mom and dad!" Sweetie Bell followed behind her.
"Hey ya'll!" Apple Bloom followed behind with Rainbow Dash at the rear.
Sunny and Rarity felt like their hearts were going to pop right out of their respective chests as the fillies and their chaperon approached their table, feeling it grow more and more impossible to keep up the charade.
"What are you all doing here?!" Rarity cleared her throat and out in her best smile, desperately trying to remain calm. "I mean, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you all here?"
Rainbow Dash flew up and held out some tickets triumphantly. "We just got tickets to see the first ever showing of the Daring Doo movie! It comes out in a month and we already got our tickets before they sold out!"
"Oh?! That sounds great! Why don't you head back to Ponyville as tell Twilight-" Rarity tries to shoo them all away politely.
"Oh! That reminds me!" Apple Bloom spoke up. "Sunny, when we get back to the farm, Big Mac needs yer help fixing ' the old plow. He got some spare parts but can't do it alone."
Both of Rarity's parents looked confused, but her father spoke up. "Why can't Big Mac get somepony else to help him with that?"
"Yeah" Rarity's mother added. "Sunny has a lot of paperwork to do back at the mayor's office."
All the fillies and Rainbow looked confusingly at each other, then they turned back to Rarity and Sweetie Bells's parents.
"Since when does Sunny do 'paperwork'?" Scootaloo blankly asked.
"Does he help the mayor out too?" Sweetie Bell asked Apple Bloom.
"Ah don' know when he'd have the time" the little earth pony fully answered. "He's always so busy at the farm."
"At the farm.... You mean helping to sort out paperwork for the farm?" Hondo asked.
Apple Bloom shook her head. "Mostly helping with the harvest, but he also helps Granny with the backing. Oh! And he occasionally helps us with our crusading!"
Both of Rarity's parents turn to Rarity and Sunny who where now slouching in their seats. Well, Sunny slouched as much as he could in his seat with that tight suit on.
"Care to explain this one?" Cookie asked her eldest daughter, her gaze now showing a flair of suspicion.
Rarity sat strait up, let out a small sigh, and with a defeated look, fully prepared to explain herself and tell the truth, but something interrupted her.
There was a loud tearing sound that came from Sunny's suit as the back and the top of the sleeves all tore at the same time. After a moment of stillness from everyone, Sunny let out a heals breath as a button flew from the top of his button up shit and shot right between Rarity's parents. Nopony saw where it went, but a loud crashing could be heard from off in the distance followed by the sound of screeching tires. Sunny then cleared his throat to redirect everypony's attention at him.
"The truth is...Rarity and I aren't dating" Sunny flatly answered. Both of Rarity's parents looked shocked, frustrated and insulted. "But she had a good reason."
"What reason could sh have and for lying to us, eh?" Her father spoke up first, anger building up as he narrowed his eyes at the stallion. But Sunny stood his ground.
"You guys were-" Sunny began but felt a gentle hoof on his shoulder. Rarity stopped him.
"Thank you dear, but I should explain this..." She then looked her parents strait in the eye as she spoke calmly
And collectively. "For the past couple of months, you two have been sending every single stallion you could after me, trying to get me to find a Special Some Pony. But I don't want to settle down. Well, not yet, at least."
"But you spend so much time working darling" Rarity's mother commented. "How can you ever find a stallion when you stay all day in your shop?"
"But I don't, mother" Rarity countered. "I get out and meet ponies in town. I hang out with my friends. I travel all across Equeatria helping Twilight and my friends to spread the magic of friend ship, and trust me, I meet stallions all the time." Rarity then turned on the charm as she struck an elegant pose, batted her eyelashes, and flipped a Lon purple lock of her mane, "and when I find a decent one, trust me, I'll have no trouble getting him to fall for me. But until then, I want to keep living my life the way I do now, uninterrupted by weird stallions I've never met, who knock on my door and want to marry me on the spot!"
Both of Rarity's parents pause and look at each other, carefully taking in everything their daughter had told them, then they turned to her and smiled.
"Well if you feel that strongly about it honey..." Her father began.
"Then I guess we'll respect your wishes, and stop sending stallions after you." her mother finished up.
With that, a tearful Rarity gave her mother and father a huge hug as she leaned in from across the table. Sweetie Bell joined in as well as the entire family enjoyed a group hug. Scootaloo moved in a few inches closer to Rainbow Dash, who noticed, and pulled the little filly into her hooves and gave her a friendly noogie. Apple Bloom looked to Sunny, who returns a smile and patted her on the head, then gave the little yellow filly a side hug.
It was a warm moment to be sure, one that remained in Sunny's mind as he, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and the Cute Mark Crusaders took the train home after they all enjoyed lunch with Rarity and Sweetie Bell's parents. For some odd reason, as Sunny watched the sun begin to travel across the sky, all he could think about was going back to the Apple farm. Back 'home' to the Apple farm.