Sunset looked at her phone. Five till eleven; right on time. She opened the door to the Canterlot Mall and walked from the foyer to the food court. Twilight and Rainbow Dash were seated at one of the tables, enjoying drinks. They waved to Sunset as she approached.
“Morning!” she smiled, “Where's everyone else?”
“Fluttershy is still at the shelter,” said Twilight, “She'll join us later. Applejack and Rarity on their way.”
“Pinkie ran off to check out the new candy store,” Rainbow added, “She should be back soon.”
“'Should be',” Sunset chuckled. She took a seat next to Rainbow Dash. “So, what did we decide on for lunch?”
“Nothing concrete,” said Twilight, “But leaning towards Hamlet Lodge.”
Sunset nodded her approval, “That's a good lunch/brunch place.”
“I'm sure you're quite familiar with those,” Rainbow quipped.
Sunset's eyes narrowed, “What's that supposed to mean?”
Rainbow laughed, “Only old people go to those types of places. Being that you're dating one, no doubt, you've been there plenty of times!” She shuddered as Sunset towered over her.
“Watch what you say about Cookie,” she growled.
Rainbow quickly backed away, “Okay, sorry, forget I said anything. Geez, touchy much?”
“Nope.”
“You should have seen what she did after school yesterday,” Twilight said, “By the way, Sunset, a little heads-up would have been nice! You know how many awkward boners you sprung?”
Rainbow's eyes grew wide, “That hot?”
“Steamy.”
Sunset waggled her eyebrows with a seductive growl.
Rainbow jumped at Twilight, “Why didn't you take pictures?”
“Hello, darlings!” sounded Rarity's ever-chipper voice, “Have you been waiting long?”
“Not too long,” answered Twilight, pushing Rainbow away, “You want to get a drink before we head out?”
Rarity squeezed Applejack's arm, “Applejack, if you could be a dear. I need to make a quick run to the lady's room.”
“Sure,” Applejack smiled, “ya want yer usual?” Her cheeks reddened as Rarity kissed them.
“You know me so well.”
“I could use a drink, too,” said Sunset.
“Fine,” Twilight said, tapping away at her phone, “That gives Pinkie some time to get back here.”
---
Applejack and Sunset stood in line for The Juice Bar. Even with how early it was, a large crowd had already gathered. In a way, Applejack was glad she wasn't working this weekend.
“So,” she wavered.
Sunset raised an eyebrow, “So, what?”
“So, what's Rarity's mom like?”
“You mean 'like' like 'like' or 'like' like 'like like'?”
“The like 'like'.”
“So, what's she, like, like?”
“Yeah... I guess?”
Sunset laughed at Applejack's confusion, “Just spit it out!”
“What's it like datin' Rarity's mom? I mean, is she anythin' like Rarity? Exact same? Complete opposite?”
“Why?” Sunset gave a mischievous smile, “You wanna date her, too?”
“What!” the farmer cried, “No! It's jus', I know Rarity's sister through Apple Bloom an' I've met her dad, but I've never met Rarity's mom. I'm jus' curious, is all.”
Sunset's smile softened, “Well, on the surface, she is a lot like Rarity. But, also different at the same time. She's business minded, but her passions don't lie in fashion. She dresses sharply, but sensibly. Her outfits are always exquisite, but practical.”
“So, an older Rarity?”
“In a sense,” Sunset shrugged, “More like Rarity is a younger Cookie.”
“Oh...”
“She also has this distinctive accent, which I was not expecting.”
Applejack let out a chuckle, “Mr. Hondo also has one. I was a little shocked, too.”
Sunset giggled slightly. Though, a question lingered in her mind. She raised an eyebrow, “Is there someplace you wanted to go with this?”
Applejack fiddled with her hat. “I dunno, maybe? It's jus' weird, ya know? I'm datin' the daughter an' yer seein' the mother. What if somethin' really crazy happens an' you become Rarity's step-mom an' my mother-in-law?”
“Yeah, that does sound really crazy.”
“...An' then, next thin' we know, Rarity's her own grandma.”
“I am just going to avoid questioning what logic brought you to that situation. But, okay, I get it. Some people may be a little uncomfortable about it. I mean how would you react if we saw your Granny Smith walking around with a teenaged boy on her arm. What?”
Applejack's face remained expressionless, “Ya don't even wanna know what Granny's into.”
Sunset's cheeks reddened, “I'll take your word on it.”
“Look, Sunset,” the farm girl continued, “Rarity would kill me if she ever found out, but I think ya oughtta know.”
“Know what?”
“She's not very happy about you datin' her mom.”
“But—”
Applejack held up her hand, “She says what she needs ta keep the peace, but, boy, do I get an earful of it.”
“But why then...?”
“Because she loves her mom and she loves you, in a friend sorta way. She wants ta see ya both happy...”
“...just not necessarily with each other,” Sunset finished slowly.
“Which is why she won't say anythin'.”
“So, if she's confiding in you, why are you telling me?”
“Because I care about both y'all. Rarity may be my girlfriend, but you're one of my best friends. An' I hate ta see ya both like this. I'd hate ta see somethin' come between ya.”
Sunset sighed, “Think she'll ever come around?”
“Maybe,” Applejack shrugged, “Jus' try ta be gentle with her. She's tryin' ta process a lot.”
---
Drinks in hand, the girls reconvened with their friends.
“Oh, thank-you, Lovey,” Rarity said, taking her drink from Applejack. She expressed her gratitude with a firm kiss on the lips, making Applejack turn a bright red.
“Gosh darn-it, RarRar,” she whispered, flustered under her friends' snickers, “Not in public!”
“Oh just admit it,” the other smirked, “You like it.”
“Alright, you two” Pinkie Pie cried out, “Break it up! We've got candy to buy!”
“I thought you already went to the candy store,” said Sunset.
“That was just a reconnaissance mission," Pinkie waved, "Now is the real deal!”
To say it was a “candy store” was an understatement. The small space had been filled to the brim with bins of any candy one could hope to imagine. Their selection ranged from import to domestic, from national to local.
The staff seemed very knowledgeable of their product and appeared to already be close friends with Pinkie Pie. Though, that wasn't surprising to anybody.
Sunset puttered around the store, taking in all the various sweets.
“Hey, Sunset!”
Sunset turned to see Rainbow waving to her from the door, “AJ and I are headed to the game shop. Wanna come along?”
“You two run ahead” she replied, still glancing through the bins, “I'll meet you there in a bit.”
“Looking for anything in particular?” asked Twilight.
“Not really. I already found what I wanted,” she held up a small bag of assorted gummies, “Just thought I'd meander a little more.” Walking a little further down the aisle, she glanced upon caramel hard candies. The label read “Sea Salt Caramel – Local”.
Sunset contemplated a moment before grabbing a bag. Measuring out a scoop, she filled the bag and labeled it.
“I didn't know you liked salted caramel” Rarity commented.
“She doesn't,” said Pinkie Pie, “Well, not by itself. Which means... Gasp! They're for someone!”
Sunset winced, “They're for your mom.”
Pinkie gasped again, “How do you know my mom?”
“She means my mom,” Rarity said.
“Oooh, that makes more sense...”
“And she doesn't like salted caramel.”
Sunset felt her face blush, “Yeah, she does.”
“Since when?”
“I dunno, but she has it in a candy dish and almost all the time in her coffee. Then, last night, we had salted caramel ice cream for dessert—”
“Okay, I get it,” Rarity snapped, “You spend a lot of time with my mom.” She huffed as she stomped away.
Sunset sighed, making her way to the pay counter, “I'll meet you girls at the video game store.”
---
“About time you showed up!” Rainbow smiled, waving Sunset over to a display screen, “You gotta see this! They new trailer for Heir of Tirek is out!”
“Awesome!” Sunset smiled, “I've heard about it. Have they announced a release date yet?”
“Nope,” sighed Applejack, “Still just says next year.”
“Drat! I still hold to my theory that Tirek isn't dead and that this whole 'heir' thing is just a rouse.”
“Are you kidding?” Rainbow frowned, “We totally killed him in the last game!”
“It doesn't make sense from a story standpoint! Why would you kill off your main villain in the second game? Should at least, save it for the third. You just watch, at the end of this game, Tirek will return.”
“I don't care about the plot line,” Rainbow said, “All that matters is that we whoop butt!”
“And that's why we'll never agree on video games.”
“Okay, you two,” Applejack said, “Jus' simmer down a bit. How about we look at some games that don't have a story line?”
Sunset and Rainbow stared each other down before breaking into a fit of giggles.
“Yeah, we better,” Sunset said, wrapping her arm around Rainbow's shoulders, “We'll pick this up when the game gets out.”
Rainbow smiled, “Oh, you're on!”
The girls split up as they scoured the shelves for the newest games.
“Hey, Applejack?” Sunset whispered, moving closer to her friend.
Applejack cocked an eyebrow, “What's up?”
“How much do you know of Rarity's relationship with her mom?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like, is it close? Strained?”
“She doesn't really talk about it.”
Sunset's face fell.
“What's this all about?”
“It's just,” Sunset rubbed the back of her head, “Rarity and I kinda got into it back at the candy store. She didn't seem to know what sort of candy Cookie likes.”
“So, you're suspectin'...?”
“Well, it kinda makes sense. Cookie doesn't seem to know much about what goes on in Rarity's life.”
“Ya think Rarity's a bit jealous?”
“Maybe, but I can't—”
“There you are!” Twilight's voice called from the end of the stacks, “Fluttershy just texted that she's in the parking lot. We're all heading back to the food court.”
“Why didn't you text us?” asked Sunset.
“I did. You didn't respond.”
The girls checked their phones.
“Uh, when did ya send it?” asked Applejack.
“Just a moment ago.”
Suddenly, both phones dinged, indicating the arrival of a message.
Twilight blushed, “I guess I forgot to account for the lag time.”
Sunset just rolled her eyes as she pocketed her phone.
---
For a Saturday, The Hamlet Lodge wasn't very packed. For once, it was surprisingly quick and easy to get a table for a party of seven. The restaurant had a quaint little hometown atmosphere that shone through in its decor and food.
As they awaited their orders, Fluttershy explained she was running late because she had to prepare lunches for all the shelter animals.
“Sounds like you were running a full cafeteria,” Twilight remarked.
“More like a fancy restaurant,” said Fluttershy, “Each of them wanting their food in particular ways. Oh, sometimes, it's so hard to keep all their orders straight.”
“Maybe I can give you a few pointers,” offered Pinkie Pie, “After all, keeping orders straight is what I'm known for at the diner.”
“...among other things,” Rainbow whispered to anyone who would listen.
“Oh, it's okay,” Fluttershy said, “It's a lot of fun. I've been enjoying it.”
“Cooking is a lot of fun,” agreed Sunset.
“I've never really known my mom to cook,” Rarity said, “In fact, as far as I know, neither of my parents are much of cooks.”
“Neither am I. Cookie and I have been learning together.”
“Are you any good?” asked Rainbow Dash.
Sunset shrugged, “We haven't poisoned ourselves yet.”