Sitting in class one afternoon, Twilight could barely hear the teacher as the lesson was going on. All she could think of was anything else. This was definitely something, especially since her notebook, open in front of her, was blank. Completely blank.

She wrung her hands nervously, fidgeting in her seat, looking all around herself.

‘We’ve been together a few months now… Almost half a year… We’ve been sleeping together almost as long as we’ve been together… And everything’s… changed. Just changed! What’s going to happen now? Most high school sweethearts don’t even stay together! We’re graduating in four months! What about college? What if she wants more out of me? What if she wants to get married, like right now? What do I do? Why did we even do it… I feel so confused! So… oh my gosh… And the kids are staring at me! They won’t stop talking about us! Why aren’t we yesterday’s news?!’

That likely had something to do with the fact that Ascentia had a habit of keeping herself in the minds of everyone around her. She was intimidating, she was aggressive, and had a habit of reacting to others with outright hostility. And since Twilight was almost always hanging off of her, the fact that she was dating the school’s resident “thug” was something that people always talked about.

Twilight glanced around the classroom once more, catching a few stares, most of which looked away when they saw her looking. She exhaled, tapping her pen against her notebook.

‘It just gets more and more attention… What next? Am I going to have to be pulled out of school again? Leave behind all my friends?’

“Is something wrong, Darling?” Rarity asked from behind her.

“Nope! No, not at all!” Twilight said quickly, shaking her head.

“Twilight, I’ve known you too long to believe that,” Rarity said softly, “What is it?”

“It’s nothing, I’m just… Just, I don’t know! I don’t know what to do,” Twilight lamented.

“About what, darling?” Rarity said reassuringly.

“Everything…” Twilight’s head fell onto her desk.

Rarity sighed. There were times where Twilight’s inability to simply spit out what was bothering her wore on all of them. It often felt as if Twilight enjoyed dragging out her troubles, as was evidenced by Rainbow having to threaten her with a caffeinated Pinkie Pie just to get her to stop making excuses and go talk to Ascentia so many months ago.

“Twilight, what specifically is bothering you, sweetheart?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know, that’s the problem. I’m sick of the attention I’m getting where it’s not warranted, I don’t know where my relationship is going, and I feel more stressed about everything,” Twilight sighed, shaking her head.

“I thought your relationship was going wonderfully,” Rarity said, concerned, “Whatever is the problem?”

Twilight stared down at her notebook, idly doodling on one of the pages, “I just feel like everything changed after we slept together. Sure, at first I thought it was just the new step we took coming into effect. Now I just feel… strange, I don’t know why. I almost feel like we should’ve waited longer, like maybe it shouldn’t have happened. My mother barely talks to me, Ascentia pisses her off even when I ask her not to. Everyone talks about us… I just feel stressed and like I don’t know what to do or where to go.”

“Can’t you talk to your father? Or Shining or Cadance?” Rarity asked, “I’m certain they could help you.”

“They do, they really do, but it’s just… she’s my mother,” Twilight murmured.

“What is your mother’s problem with Ascentia anyway?” Rarity asked.

“She keeps saying that Ascentia manipulates me, will leave me hanging, is a whore, and all that backwards nonsense,” she said.

Rarity balked, “That’s horrible! I had no idea your mother was so… uncouth!”

“Not the first time it’s happened,” Twilight muttered, “Cadance had the same treatment, and she’s a Princess!”

“How… how does Ascentia deal with that?” Rarity asked.

“Purposely pissing her off. It was cute at first, now it’s getting old and it really doesn’t help because Mom gives me lectures afterward. I’ve asked her to stop doing that, but she doesn’t.”

“Goodness,” Rarity put a hand to her mouth, “Oh Twilight… I had no idea things were so rough… are you going to try and push through it or…” she trailed off, hoping Twilight would catch her meaning.

“I don’t even know anymore…” Twilight confessed, holding her head in her hands.

Rarity pursed her lips, seeing Twilight’s tendency for theatrics poking through and decided to nip it in the bud, “Twilight, I think what you should do first and foremost is talk to Ascentia about where your relationship might be going. Then you should talk to your mother. Calmly, and without Ascentia to provoke her. You do love Ascentia, right?”

“Of course I do,” Twilight said without hesitation, “You’re right, Rarity. I should talk to them about this. I just hope it helps.”

“Good. Now no more hysterics, darling,” Rarity said, laying a hand on her shoulder, “That’s my thing.”

Twilight giggled, placing her hand over hers, “Wouldn’t have it any other way, Rarity.”

“Hey Teacher’s Pet’s Pet!” a girl called out as she passed Ascentia in the hall, “How’s the-WAH!”

The girl tripped on Ascentia’s outstretched foot and was sent face first into the floor.

“Really? Six months and there are still people who don’t get it?” Ascentia asked.

“Hey,” Twilight came into view moments later, “We need to talk.”

Ascentia suddenly got a nervous look on her face, “About what?”

“Something is wrong here. I don’t even know where to start…” Twilight looked down at the floor, “You know I love you, right? It’s just… I’m wondering if that’s even enough.”

“What do you mean?” Ascentia asked, moving closer to her and running a hand over her shoulder, “What is it that’s wrong?”

“I just, I feel stressed out! Mom won’t get off my case, everyone still stares and makes rumours about us, it’s like I can’t sit back and enjoy what we have! I tried ignoring them, didn’t work. I tried telling on them, nothing happened. It’s never-ending!”

“The others aren’t an issue,” Ascentia waved, “High school is hell. Those who say otherwise are probably the reason it’s hell. But that ends, and in four months no less. On the other hand… I don’t know what to do about your mother. I’ve… never met someone so… insane.”

“I’m going to try talking to her, but please, for the love of Celestia, stop tormenting her. It’s not funny anymore and it gets me in trouble. I know you’re a practical joker and everything, but it needs to stop. It’s not helping,” Twilight pleaded.

Ascentia sighed, “Alright. I promise, I won’t antagonize her anymore.”

“Thank you. Now, look… I need to ask you something,” Twilight fiddled with her notebooks nervously, “You haven’t felt any… different in the past few months, have you?”

“I’ve felt good overall,” Ascentia smiled, “Lighter… elated. Why?”

“Just wondering…” Twilight shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“Have you been… having doubts?” Ascentia asked.

“No, not entirely. I just… I’m not even sure what’s going to happen now, what to do or where we’re going,” she admitted, looking down.

“What do you mean?” Ascentia asked, having never encountered this before, her previous relationships lasting a few days at the most.

“That’s the problem, I don’t know!” Twilight exclaimed.

“Well if you don’t know… why worry?” Ascentia asked.

“Don’t you think I wish I could stop worrying? But it’s like all of a sudden I’m worried that I made the wrong decisions or tackled things too soon!”

Ascentia pulled her into a hug, “Calm down, Twilight. I don’t know where this is going. Nor do I want to. Will we be together another few weeks? Months? Years? I don’t know. Will we break up? Stay together? Get married? I don’t know. I’m seventeen, I don’t need to know. I know I don’t regret anything, and that I love you. That sounds cheesy but… fuck it, it’s cheesy.”

“I love you too… I just hope we’re doing the right thing. The last thing I want is for either of us to get hurt,” Twilight hugged her back.

“Oh Twilight,” Ascentia joked, “I’m six foot three, what harm could you possibly do to me?”

Twilight bit her lip, unable to respond to that.

“I’m just playing, sweetheart,” Ascentia said warmly, kissing the top of her head.

“Okay,” Twilight murmured with a little nod, relaxing a bit.

Three girls passed them in the hall while they were hugging, two of them gave a quiet “Awwwwww!”

Squirming a bit from the attention, Twilight could at least find solace in the fact they found it cute.

“So, you’re going to go talk to your mother?” Ascentia asked.

“Yes, yes I am.”

“I hope she comes around,” Ascentia said quietly.

Twilight nodded, “Me too.”

Walking into the house after school left Twilight with a feeling of dread. She knew what she had to do, but the question was being able to at all. Not thinking of the result and just letting it happen was getting increasingly difficult. But the more she thought about it, the more she knew that she had to say something. She had to try letting her own mother know how she felt.

Going into the kitchen, she found her mother there, preparing that evening’s dinner. Exhaling, she slowly walked in.

“I’m home, Mom,” she said casually.

“Hello, Twilight,” Twilight Velvet said stiffly, dropping some vegetables into a pot of boiling water.

Crestfallen, Twilight almost wanted to retreat then and there, but knew she wouldn’t gather the nerve to do it again later. “Mom… Can I talk to you, please?”

“Of course,” she said, not turning around, “What is it?”

“Mom… I really, really don’t want to get into something here, but I just need to know. Why don’t you like Ascentia at all? I-I don’t mean to be confrontational, I just want to know why you don’t feel comfortable with her,” Twilight managed, keeping her voice steady.

“She is a bad influence on you, Twilight,” Twilight Velvet said stiffly, “She’s carrying this phase of yours farther than it should be going, and I’ve heard stories about how violent she is at school.”

Twilight nodded, “Fair enough, Mom. I’ll admit that I get really concerned about her violent tendencies. I try to keep her in line and tell her to calm down a bit as best I can. But I can assure you with all my heart that she has never raised her hand at me. I’m not hiding any bruises or scars whatsoever.”

“Be that as it may, you’re eighteen now Twilight. It’s time to stop this silly phase and grow up,” Twilight Velvet said, rolling her eyes.

“I’m not going through a phase, Mom,” Twilight said evenly, “Look, it’s not as if I’m eloping with her or anything. She’s my first girlfriend and probably not my last. I don’t do drugs, I’m not sleeping around, only with her, I’m not sneaking out at night, or anything. She’s just my girlfriend, that’s all. We hang out, we go out on dates, and we occasionally have sex. You have nothing to worry about. Now I know she agitates you and believe me, I’ve told her to stop. Even I think that’s unfair. But please, I just want you to know that this really hurts me. I do love you Mom, and I know you just want to look out for me. But I am a growing woman and I do need the freedom to make my own decisions. Please… I’m not asking you to be her best friend or anything like that. I just want you to understand that this is my life and my choice, and that I’m happy with her.”

Twilight Velvet turned around, a dismissive look on her face, “Well if you’re so happy, why do you care what I think? If you want freedom to make your own choices, then leave and make your choices. But so long as you live in my house, you’ll do what I say. And what I say is that that woman is not welcome around here, or around you. Understand?”

“Mom… I do care about what you think. I’m not going to shut down your opinions just because I disagree with them,” Twilight pleaded, “Mom… please. Don’t do this. I know this is a lot of adjusting for you, and I understand. I’m not exactly going through this very easily. You didn’t have to cut me off…”

“You heard me Twilight,” Twilight Velvet snapped, turning back around and resuming her cooking.

“Mom, I can’t right now. I still have to finish school. But I’ll be going back to Canterlot for private college study… So I’ll leave then…” Twilight turned, hiding her tears and going to leave the room.

“Hey Twiley, how’s it-” Shining stopped her in her tracks, “Whoa, what’s wrong?”

Twilight wiped her eyes, “I can’t get through to Mom… And until I leave after graduation… I don’t know what else to do.”

“Ignore Mom, she pulled the same crap with Cadance,” Shining said, hugging her, “The two of you make an adorable couple.”

Smiling, Twilight hugged him back, “Thanks… I’m glad some of you support us.”

Shining kissed the top of her head, “I’m always here for you, so is Dad, and so is Cadance.”

“I know, I appreciate it,” Twilight smiled brightly.

Shining smiled and let go of her, “No more crying, okay?”

“Okay, Shining,” she giggled, wiping her eyes. “Not when my awesome BBBFF is around!”

Shining smiled and left, heading to the den.

Next Chapter: Oh God, Why Did I Say That? Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 5 Minutes