Limits

“Ma? Mom? Can we talk to you for a second?” Sunrise asked, knocking on her mothers’ bedroom door.

“Sure thing, sweetheart! Come on in,” Twilight called from the bedroom.

Spectrum’s eyebrow raised as they tentatively opened the door to find Twilight and Ascentia lying on their bed, snuggling up together and still dressed. Breathing a sigh of relief, he let Sunrise lead.

“Well… there’s something that we have to tell you, and I know how you’re going to react when you hear it, so let’s just get it over with,” Sunrise said with a sigh.

“Oh no, is this good news, or are you pregnant?” Ascentia asked flatly.

Sunrise balked, “No! We’re just dating!”

Twilight brought her hands to her mouth and squealed in delight, her eyes wide and a big grin on her face. Ascentia’s mouth was hanging wide open, to which Twilight tapped the side of her face.

“Don’t hang your jaw open like that,” she said with a snicker.

“Sorry,” Ascentia said, closing her mouth, “I’m just… surprised. I shouldn’t be, we saw this a mile off, but… surprised.”

Sunrise shrugged, “Yep, so we are! Just don’t start throwing silly parties yet, okay? We didn’t even go on our first date. So can we please test the waters before you guys all go crazy about it?”

“Okay, honey,” Twilight giggled, “I understand. Of course. Take all the time you two need.”

Ascentia sat up and held her arms out, “Come on, you two. Give us a hug.”

Exchanging glances, Sunrise and Spectrum crawled over to the bed and gave them both a hug, and were pulled into a big group hug. Twilight could barely contain her squee as she nuzzled her daughter and pseudo-nephew.

“Ooooh, you two were always so cute together,” she giggled, kissing Sunrise’s head.

“I knooow, we totally are,” Sunrise blushed a bit.

Ascentia chuckled and kissed the top of Spectrum’s head, giving his shoulders a playful squeeze, “Now don’t you get any ideas, Mister. Sunny may not have a dad, but I have a shotgun in the back closet.”

“Ma! Come on!” Sunrise whined.

“Oh don’t ‘Ma come on’ me, I’ve been waiting sixteen years to do that!” Ascentia said, sticking her tongue out.

“It’s true, she has,” Twilight chuckled, winking at the two.

Ascentia reached over and kissed Sunrise’s cheek, “You know, Spec, she used to connect the dots on my back when she was really little.”

Sunrise squirmed uncomfortably in Twilight’s arms.

“Sweetie? What’s wrong?” they both asked in unison.

“Nothing, just… never mind,” Sunrise pulled away, shaking her head.

The both of them looked unsatisfied and turned to Spectrum, “What’s wrong?”

“She actually looked you up, Aunt Twilight,” Spectrum said softly, “I actually thought she knew about it all, but turns out she didn’t. She’s just kinda uncomfortable about it.”

“Looked me up, what does… oh…” Twilight said softly, hugging Sunrise tighter, “Sunny, that happened a long long time ago. And… well, I felt just as bad about it as you do now. I’ve apologized to your mother countless times for it, and…”

“I’ve forgiven her over and over and over again,” Ascentia said softly, running her fingers through Sunrise’s hair, “It’s all behind us now, and you don’t need to worry about it.”

Sniffling, Sunrise looked up at them, holding back tears, “You never hit her again since then?”

Twilight shook her head, “No. It’s been sixteen years since my last outburst. I’ve never struck her, or you, ever since. That was why I was trying to get better. Because I didn’t want to end up hurting you.”

“What about hurting Ma?” Sunrise asked quietly.

“Her, too. I didn’t want her to live her life in fear of me. I don’t doubt she loved me, but to live that way, I couldn’t let it happen anymore,” Twilight sighed.

“...Okay,” Sunrise said, hugging her waist tightly, “I’m sorry I let it get to me, Mom.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Sunny. I can understand how you’re feeling,” Twilight assured, kissing her forehead.

“Now, you two quit your worrying and go have fun,” Ascentia smiled, nuzzling the two of them, “And Spec, I was just kidding. I’m not getting the shotgun. You two go have all the fun you want.”

“Okay. Thanks, you guys,” Sunrise hugged her mothers, “You’re both still lame, by the way.”

Twilight laughed, “Wouldn’t have it any other way, honey bunch.”

“Hey, I may be lame, but I could still pin the two of you,” Ascentia said, nuzzling up under Twilight’s chin.

“Of course, Aunt Ascentia,” Spectrum said sarcastically, “You’re positively ferocious. Like a tiger.”

“She doesn’t call me Kitten for nothing,” Ascentia smirked.

“Your Mama brought you up wrong,” Twilight teased Spectrum, poking his nose, “Now run along, you two.”

Sunrise grabbed Spectrum’s hand, leading him out of the room, “O-kay, so that wasn’t nearly as awkward as I thought. Thanks for that, Speccy. I owe you one.”

“Why, what did I do?” Spectrum asked.

“If you hadn’t been there, I never would’ve never been able to say it,” Sunrise hugged him, nuzzling his cheek.

“Aw, you’re welcome,” Spectrum smiled, kissing her forehead, “So my parents next?”

“I can’t wait to see what funny line Aunt Cielle’s gonna say,” Sunrise grinned.

“Mom? You feeling okay?” Spectrum asked as him and Sunrise stepped into the living room, where Fluttershy and Cielle were sitting on either side of Rainbow Dash.

“Yeah… I’m okay,” Rainbow sighed, “Just a little… hazy from the sedatives.”

“Yeowch,” Sunrise hissed, “Well, maybe some good news will brighten things!”

“Oh? What is it?” Fluttershy asked curiously.

Spectrum bit his lip in nervousness, not wanting the three of them to jump on him in overt glee, “Well… me and Sunny are… well, we’re dating.”

Much to their surprise, the three women simply smiled brightly.

“Aww, that’s freaking cool. Knew it was coming,” Cielle laughed, “Good for you little loverbirdies. Real-life Pebbles and Bam-Bam you are!”

Fluttershy giggled, “That’s wonderful. Good for you both.”

“Pebbles and Bam Bam?” Sunrise asked, an eyebrow raised, “That’s not funny, Aunt Cielle.”

Spectrum blushed and scooted back a bit, hiding from the attention behind Sunrise, “Th-Thanks, Mom… Auntie Cielle…”

Sunrise frowned a bit, “Something I never understood. Cielle is your sister, but you two act like she’s your girlfriend. Which is it?”

Rainbow snickered weakly, “Both, sillies. What’d you think?”

“...You can do that with a sibling?” Sunrise asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Oh, yes,” Fluttershy chimed in, “It’s incestuous, or twincest as some call it. We’ve been together for, wow, sixteen years now.”

“Yeah Sunny, the Cake twins do the same thing,” Spectrum said.

Sunrise blinked, thinking this over, “Okay, so… let me get this straight. You two are married… And she’s your girlfriend, too? And everyone’s okay with that? Well, why didn’t you marry them, too?”

“Polygamy isn’t legal,” Rainbow shrugged, “You can only have one spouse.”

“Don’t some places practice that?” Sunrise mentioned.

“Well, yes, they do,” Fluttershy said, “But around here it’s not legal.”

“It’s okay though, I’m family!” Cielle said with a grin, “It’s kinda like it, except it’s not, so no worries, kids. It’s no big deal. We’re just glad to be here together, that’s all.”

Sunrise nodded, “Okay, I think I get it… hey, where’s Scootaloo? I wanna tell her the news too!”

“She went to Sweetie and Apple Bloom’s house,” Fluttershy said, “She’ll be back sometime tomorrow.”

“Okay,” Sunrise smiled, “So you guys are okay with… us?”

“Are you high? Of course we are! We’ve been cooing about it since you were babies!” Cielle laughed, “You two are absolutely adorable!”

Rainbow giggled, reaching over to pat her son’s head, “Totally. You go for it, kiddo. Have fun with this.”

“Thanks, Ma,” Spectrum blushed a bit, “Guys, don’t make a fuss, okay? We just, you know, we just kinda started. We wanna get into dating a bit before Aunt Pinkie inevitably throws us a party.”

“That’s all right, taking it slow is a good idea,” Fluttershy smiled, “Don’t worry, we’ll make sure to keep it low key.”

“You’re one to talk, we never took it slow,” Rainbow smirked, giving Fluttershy a playful shove.

“No, but Sunny’s parents did,” Fluttershy said, booping her nose.

“Really?”

“Oh yeah, they were dating for, what was it, seven months before they finally slept together,” Rainbow shrugged, “Poor Ascentia.”

“What do you mean?” Sunrise asked.

“Back when they were dating in high school, Ascentia wanted to get into Twilight’s pants so badly,” Rainbow laughed, “And Twilight made her wait. It was actually pretty funny to watch.”

“Can’t say I’m surprised,” Spectrum admitted.

“Anyway, call it learning from the past,” Fluttershy giggled, “You two have fun, okay?”

“Oh, believe me, we will,” Sunrise smirked, playfully grabbing Spectrum in a noogie, “We’re gonna have a blasty blast!”

“Ah! Sunny!” he whined.

“C’mon stud-muffin,” she giggled, “Let’s go get something at Sugarcube Corner. I’m starving.”