Galaxy Guard tapped her hoof impatiently from the top of Canterlot Castle’s tallest spire. Confetti Surprise was running late, and she was getting antsy. She needed to vent badly. Finally, her friend touched down next to her with a thud. “What kept you Connie?”

Confetti was unkempt and out of breath, and visibly stressed out. But still, her smile was bright as ever. “Sorry, busy night with the kids. You know how it goes!” She paused to fully catch her breath. “Oof, I’m out of shape for this. Haven’t done it in awhile, right?”

“I suppose not,” Galaxy nodded, stretching her wings out. “The joys of family and all that jazz. How is the brat pack doing?”

Confetti followed after her, shooting her a look for the term “brat pack”. “My wonderful family is doing fine! Coco’s birthday is coming up next month, and we’ve been planning a special surprise for her. Something to help her truly spread her wings,” She smiled. “And yours?”

“Just peachy.” Galaxy swooped over a cloud. “Everyday Lunar is growing into the perfect princess.”

“That’s great! And your little Paragon?”

Galaxy frowned. She focused on a banking turn, lips tightly shut.

Confetti pursed her lips, recognizing Galaxy’s expression. “Not so good, huh?”

“I just don’t know what’s gotten into her these days!” Galaxy sighed exsasperatedly. “She used to be such a good, sweet little girl. Now every other word out of her mouth is why. ‘Why can’t I have a sleepover?’ ‘Why are ponies in charge and not changelings?’ ‘Why am I not allowed to play with that filly?’ It’s driving me up the walls, Connie!”

Confetti couldn’t help but laugh a little. “It sounds to me like just another filly growing up. They want to know more about how things work and test the limits a little. It happened with Cheesy and Creamy, and it's starting to happen to my oldest as well. It’s normal!”

Galaxy shook her head. “She was never this way before, and Lunar has never questioned what I say. I just don’t understand why she can’t accept that my word is law. I’m her mother, for Celestia’s sake…”

Confetti thought for a moment. “You know my little Cotton Candy? My sweet little filly who used to follow me around and chew on my tail?”

Galaxy smirked a little. “The one you call PB? Your kids have a lot of nicknames.”

“Yep! That’s her!” Confetti laughed. “Well, she’s come a long way since those days. Kind of like your Paragon, she’s always questioning our rules. Wondering why she can’t have her friends over all the time, why she can’t stay out late, that kind of thing. And just recently she yelled at me and said I was an embarrassment to her good name…” She couldn’t help but grow a little solemn at that memory.

“She’s asking for a smacked bottom with that sass,” galaxy bristled.

“No,” Confetti retorted, a bit defensively. “She’s spreading her wings and becoming her own pony, like every growing filly should. We can’t agree with our parents all the time, I guess. I’m still getting used to it myself. You didn’t agree with your parents on everything, did you?”

“No…” Galaxy admitted. “Mom and I butted heads. Still do, actually. But me and Dad never fought at all.”

”See, though?” Confetti pointed out. “You and your mom don’t always agree. You have your own identity separate from hers. Paragon is really no different. Maybe you two have more in common than you think.”

“I guess,” Galaxy muttered. “Still, I don’t like it when she meets friends behind my back after I’ve explicitly told her no.”

“Well, you still gotta support her. Maybe not in doing what she was told not to, but in growing as an individual. Let her know you have her back, that you love her even when she pushes the limits. And listen to her too. Maybe then you’ll see eye to eye more.”

“Fine, fine,” Galaxy said dismissively. “I promise to at least think about it. What do you say to one more lap around the castle, then I’ll buy you a drink at Shamrocks to close out the night?”

“Sounds like a deal!” Confetti grinned, following her friend for another lap. “I’m glad we were able to get together again, Galaxy. I think we both needed this.”

“I suppose so,” Galaxy smiled. “shall we do it again next month?”

“Definitely!” And with that, she took off after her best friend into the sunset.