Conflict

Dash and teenage Phoenix

Rainbow wasn't a bad mom (in fact she got softer and more empathetic as the years went on), but she made a similar mistake as Lightning Dust- viewing her kids as extensions of herself. At least while Stormy and Phoenix were kids. She pushed her own interests onto them, and while Stormy took to high level flying from the moment his flight feathers grew in, Phoenix.....didn't. She was an okay flier. Average, really. She preferred to box and wrestle with her dad. Dash was disappointed, but she'd never force Phoenix into flying if she really didn't want it. Instead, Dash focused her attention on her son, Aerostorm, diligently training him as a ruthless flight coach. Stormy, lazy and uncompetitive though he was, enjoyed this nonetheless, because he's a big dumb mama's boy at heart. So he and Dash moved forward, forging an iron-strong bond. And Phoenix sort of....got left behind.

Rainbow didn't mean to do it. She thought Nixie was happier this way. Stormy's training (and her own career) kept her pretty busy, but she still tried to make time for Nixie's little roller derbies and mathathons and what-have-you. Most of the time. Some of the time. Look, Dumbbell had it covered, alright?

Then Cloudy was born, teeny-tiny and needing near-constant care, and Phoenix was once again pushed into the background. Dash didn't mean to. Nixie started trying harder to capture her mom's attention. Getting good grades (pfft, no competition against dumb-dumb Stormy), helping out with Cloudy, even entering (and losing) a few Junior Speedster races. Dash made time for her daughter when she could, but it wasn't enough. But that was okay, right? Nixie had more in common with her dad anyway. Nixie was a big girl now. Nixie would understand. They could always catch a buckball game tomorrow, after all. Or maybe next week.

And slowly.....Phoenix began to resent her mom. Resent Stormy. Resent the stupid Wonderbolts, and all the shiny flight trophies in the house. And that's when she began acting out......Because any attention was better than none.