Twelve years ago, Rainbow Dash caused a tragedy in order to save her son's life.

The trauma of that day forever changed her from the happy, sporty, encouraging mother into a paranoid, overly cautious, overbearing hover mom. When Haze was a foal, he couldn't have known how strange this treatment was. As he's on the verge of becoming a young stallion, however, he can tolerate Dash's interference in his life less and less as the days pass.

All the while, Soarin is watching from the sidelines, wondering what to do about it. Before too long, something is going to give, and with two of the most stubborn, hard headed ponies in the world in this picture, somepony is going to get hurt.

To fix his own family and find a way out of this difficult situation, Soarin must first confront his own past: memories from long ago, haunted by the mother who abandoned him.

Set in my 'Bright Future' universe which diverges from canon after season 4.

Edited by the lovely Comma typer.