Limits

Quick on her feet, Sunrise burst into the Golden Oaks library, marching straight where she knew her mother would be. The kitchen. Already the delicious aroma of whatever she was making for dinner struck her nose, which Sunrise found hard to ignore.

"Mama! Mama, I need to talk to you right now! And I don't mean now, I mean right now! I-oh my god, what is that?! It smells awesome and I want it!" Sunrise yelled, making a beeline for the stove.

Ascentia chuckled and lifted a spoon out of the pot, holding it out to her, "I decided since we don't have a family sauce recipie, I'd make one. Try it!"

"Ma! I need to-yes I will, thank you!" Sunrise did so, sampling the sauce. She smacked her lips, then grinned, "Wow, that's delish! I love it!"

Ascentia grinned and went back to stirring it, jotting a few things down, "Good. Homemade spagetti and meatballs for supper!"

"Aw, yeah! Sounds awesome already!" Sunrise cheered, patting her stomach, "Seriously Mama, you could make an epic awesome cookbook with your culinary magic, I swear."

Ascentia shrugged, "Hmm, sounds like a plan. But then the Kitten would be out of the bag, and a magician never reveals her secrets."

"Oh, fine," Sunrise pouted, "Anyway, I had to come home 'cause we need to talk. You said some things today, all these... implications. Now before you come at me with 'Oh grow up', don't. I'm serious. If you can just please listen to me, that's what I'm asking right now."

Ascentia threw a handful of spice into the sauce, stirring it with a big grin, "Alright, what's on your mind, Sunny?"

"Mama, you said... Well, you said this...implication about incest," Sunrise said, sitting down at the table now, "And sure it was kinda weird on its own, but whatever. But Speccy was telling me something about it. He said that parents or family at all don't usually make that joke unless they actually are thinking about it."

"I wouldn't say that's true," Ascentia shrugged, "Otherwise with how often Scootaloo calls Spectrum a motherfucker it'd... okay not the best example now that I think about it. Anyway, if you're asking if I've ever thought about you joining me and your Mom in bed, no. I was just making a dark joke, I thought it was funny."

Sunrise gaped, "...W-Why? Why? I'm your daughter! I know some people are all into the incest thing, okay, fine, but why make that kind of joke?"

Ascentia shrugged, "I dunno. I have a sick sense of humor?"

"Well, whatever," Sunrise looked away, "Just, uh... keep it to yourself, 'kay? I love you and Mom, I really do. I know I... can kinda be a little bit of a rough teenager and all, but still. I'm not into that kinda thing."

"Relax, Sunrise," Ascentia chuckled, "I get it, it's creepy to you. But honestly it's not that big a deal. Look at the Cakes. Look at your boyfriend for fuck's sake."

"You know?!"

"Of course I know!"

"How?!"

"He told me."

"He tells you these things?!"

"You kids tell me everything!" Ascentia laughed, "I'm like everyone's cool big sister. I can vividly recall Sweetie Belle opening up to me to come to terms with being a randy little girl. I could put that dipshit Firebrand out of business."

Sunrise snorted, wringing her fingers, "...When'd he tell you?"

"I dunno... what was it, last year? Around the time he first started realizing it," Ascentia shrugged, "Last time I ever listen to a fifteen year old describe his lurid fantasies, I'll tell you that."

"...He told you... but not... not... me..." Sunrise got up from her chair, looking crestfallen, "Not until today..."

Ascentia laughed loudly at this, "Oh yeah Sunrise. Great idea. Tell the girl he's got a searing crush on that sort of thing. While we're at it, let's give him a Sylvia Plath book and a bottle of Ambian."

"Okay, okay, I get it!" Sunrise snapped, "Whatever. I'm going to my room. See ya," she left the kitchen without another word.

"Hey hey! What's wrong?" Ascentia asked, "C'mon Sunrise, sit down."

"I'm fine!" Sunrise called back.

Entering the room from the backdoor, Twilight looked at her in confusion, "Kitten? What happened?"

"Little Miss Moody wanted to talk about those cracks I was making earlier, then we got to talking about Spectrum, and she just stormed off in one of her moods," Ascentia huffed, turning back to the pot.

"Oh," Twilight took off her gardening gloves and went to wash her hands, "What did you say that upset her?"

"I pointed out the ridiculousness of the idea of Spectrum telling the girl he's had a huge crush on since they were three some of his most disturbing secrets," Ascentia shrugged.

"What disturbing secrets?"

"None of your business," Ascentia said.

Twilight sighed, shrugging, "Well... I guess she's just a little bit miffed about the fact that you have his deepest darkest secret, and she doesn't. Or, didn't? Either way, Spectrum does mean a lot to her, and to have one of her own mothers keeping one of his secrets? Much less a pretty... deep one? Yeah, that kind of makes most teenagers feel a bit low."

"Yeah, and imagine how the poor kid would feel if I started spreading his secrets around?" Ascentia asked, "He came to me like all the others do. Because everyone else is going to talk to them like they're fucking two years old. And when all they want to do is just sort their shit out with someone else to help sift through it, I'm the only one who'll do that. So am I supposed to now turn around and tell Sunrise what Spectrum told me just because she's really attached to the boy?"

"No," Twilight said patiently, "Look, I think Sunrise is aware of this. She's a smart girl. But you just have to look at it from her point of view. I know her moody response is a bit irrational, but I can't say I blame her. She isn't quite looking at the big picture. You just give her a few minutes. She'll be fine. Sometimes, well, I guess feeling like someone can't trust you enough to tell you something can hurt a little."

"It's not a trust issue, Twilight. It's just embarassing," Ascentia replied, "Spectrum never told her, not because he didn't trust her, but because he was embarassed about it. And I know you're standing at the top of the stairs eavesdropping, so I hope you're paying attention!"

"Sunny? Sunny, come on downstairs," Twilight called up to her, "We can talk about this."

There was silence for a few moments. Then followed by loud footsteps descending the stairs, before Sunrise came into the kitchen.

"Well, fine! Go ahead! I get it! Oh boohoo, poor wittle Sunrise, getting all irrational and-"

"Honey, calm down," Twilight said firmly, "Look. I know how you're feeling right now, but your mother is right."

Sunrise groaned, sitting down at the table, "Fine, whatever. I get it."

Ascentia rolled her eyes and turned back to the stove, mumbling something under her breath.

Exhaling, Twilight looked between the two, "All right, let's settle this, okay? Sunny, you need to look at the big picture about this. Spectrum needed a little bit of direct guidance about... whatever issue he was telling your mother about. You know how she is, she has her way of dealing with this kind of thing. And it helps, it really does. Don't take it personally. No one is trying to take anyone away from you. I know you want to be Spectrum's most trusted confidant, but sometimes, he needs help you can't give him. It's not your fault, okay?"

"...Fine," Sunrise sighed, looking away a bit, "Fine. I know I'm not some super wise grown up who can help him out, whatever."

"That's not what I mean," Twilight coaxed, "It doesn't mean you're incapable or imcompetent. It just means that you have to help him in other ways. In ways you're best at. You're his best friend. I've seen the two of you growing up together. No one can take that away from you. Don't worry about it. If anything, be thankful that Spectrum feels he can even talk to her, or even me."

"...I guess," Sunrise mumbled, "It's nice he can get along with you guys."

Turning around and setting two plates down in front of them, Ascentia turned back to the stove, "Dinner's ready when you two are."

"Thank you, sweetheart," Twilight stood up to get some glasses and utensils, "Sunny? Sunny, you can talk to us. What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" Sunrise half-yelled, "Just forget it, okay?! I don't care anymore! It's done! What's done is done, it doesn't matter anymore! Fini!"

Ascentia turned back around, "Oh for fuck's sake Flutter... shit... Sunrise! Just cut the crap and tell us what's wrong!"

"Were you seriously about to call her Fluttershy?" Twilight laughed.

"She's doing the thing that... never mind, bite me," Ascentia said, sticking her tongue out at her.

"You really kind of forgot she hasn't done that in over a decade?" Twilight snorted, "Living in the past much? Whatever, we're having a talk about that later, missy. In the meantime, Sunny, what's wrong?"

"You know what's wrong! I told you already!" Sunrise looked away again, letting out a huff, "What do you want from me?! You know what's wrong, you know why I'm getting all angry here! Just get off my back!"

"We're not on your back, Sunny," Ascentia said flatly, "You're doing the same shit we did in high school. Making a mountain out of a molehill because it's cool to be broody and distant."

"Fuck off!"

"Don't you talk to your mother that way!" Twilight scolded.

"She's not really my mother!"

All three of them fell silent. Twilight looked shocked, Sunrise was angry, but Ascentia simply stood there. The two of them looked up at her, as she made a few attempts to respond. After failing to come up with a retort, her lip quivered and she turned away from them, rushing out the door.

"...Sunrise Celestia Sparkle, what in the world did you say that for?" Twilight turned to her, hands on her hips.

"Me?! It's true, you know! I'M the one making a big deal out of this?! You guys know why I wasn't exactly Little Miss Sunshine!" Sunrise stood from her seat, "She really isn't my Mom, anyway! Just... forget it, okay?!"

"Sunrise, that's not the point," Twilight ground out, "You practically told her that just because she isn't your biological mother, she isn't your real mother. Do you have any idea how much that hurt?"

Sunrise opened her mouth again, but then drew back, falling silent.

There was a knock on the open door, and the two women turned to see a nervous looking Spectrum standing there.

"I... you left your Ipod at my place," he said tentatively, "...Why is Aunt Ascentia crying?"

"It's nothing you need to concern yourself about, Spectrum," Twilight said softly, taking the iPod from him, "We just need to sort some things out."

"...Okay," Spectrum said, backing away a bit, "...Are you still coming back over for dinner, Sunny?"

Before Sunrise could respond, Twilight cut across her, "No she's not. She's grounded."

"What?!" Sunrise balked.

Twilight motioned for Spectrum to go. Once he shut the door, she started up again, "Did you think you were going to get off scott free for what you just said to your mother? No way. Now upstairs, to your room and stay there the rest of the night."

"Ma, come on! That's not fair! I didn't-I... I didn't mean what I said! I was just mad, that's all!" Sunrise protested, "I just gotta go and tell her I'm sorry!"

"You can wait until she get's back," Twilight said sternly, "Now march!"

Letting out a frustrated yell, Sunrise stormed up the stairs, followed by slamming her bedroom door loudly. Twilight sat down at the table, rubbing her temples and wondering who she should be more mad at.

"This was a lot simpler back when I could just... No! Bad thoughts! Think happy thoughts!" Twilight groaned, her nails digging into her forehead.