Where Do Your Loyalties Lie?

Rainbow Lightning Dash was seated on the sofa in the den, watching TV while her brother, Stormy, was preparing breakfast. She stared aimlessly as she thought over recent events. Her deciding not to go back to school for some time until she was certain things had cooled down, Hoops and his gang discovering her diary, her parents dying, and of all things, her wondering what happened to her twin sister. It's like she was there one moment and gone the next. She had trouble even remembering what her name was or how close they really were.

"Lightning," called her older brother. "Breakfast is ready!"

Smelling the sweet, mouthwatering aroma of peanut butter-chocolate pancakes topped with maple syrup and butter, she jerked up from the sofa, turned off the television set, and galloped into the dining room, eager for some of her brother's fantastic cooking. She sat down at the at the other end of the six-person marble table, across from Stormy. She looked up at her cyan brother's deep blue eyes with a questioning look. He realized what it was she was asking for and said, "Sure, go on ahead! I'm not gonna keep you from your pancakes!" They both laughed and then Lightning took a huge fork full into her mouth, savoring every bit of it.

She swallowed and said, "Perfect, like always. Just like daddy's!"

Stormy sighed. A single lock from his stormy grey mane fell in front of the bridge of his muzzle. He analyzed its rainbow colored tip. He blinked and said in mournful tone as terrible memories flooded his vision, "Yeah... Just like dad's..."

He took a bite, chewed a bit, and then swallowed hard. He admired his beautiful work for a mere second, then looked down at his plate in disgust. He took his dominate, left hoof and pushed it away an inch or so. He then sharply stood up from the table and sauntered away. Lightning at first shrugged, but after hearing some of his sobs from the drawing room in the next hall way, she put down her fork and went to go talk to him.

She walked up to the door and attempted to turn its handle, but found it was being kept in place by the dreaded mechanism in its skeleton. She cursed the lock and banged on the door.

"Go away!" Stormy shouted from within. He was drawing another sketch of the only family left: Him and Lightning. A hot tear streamed down his cheek. This is what he did when he was upset in any way. He would draw, sometimes for hours and he sketched, colored, and painted his troubles away.

Lightning knocked at the door again. She heard his shouting, wishing for her to leave him be.

"Look, Stormy, I'm sorry, I really am! Just please, let me in, I need to talk to you," she declared.

"Go away, you've spoken enough!"

"Stormy, I'm sorry! I realize I shouldn't have said it like that because it would hurt you, but, please, please, let me talk to you! I know your hurting and that you've had more trouble getting over Mom and Dad's death, but if you keep sulking in your drawing room, never coming out except to eat and use the restroom, you'll never amount to anything, even if you already have achieved so much! And I want you to know that even if you hate me with all you're heart, I will always, always stay by your side! Just, please, let me make it up to you, please! You know Dad wouldn't approve of this!" She did her best to help him come to his senses, but she didn't know if it would work.

Stormy got up from his desk and slowly strode over to the door. He turned the lock so it was open and free, then opened the door to let his sister in. She immediately flew into his hooves with that hug that always softened him.

He finally broke the silence with a few tearful words. "Lightning, I'm sorry I yelled at you."

Dash looked. Her voice cracking, she said, "And I'm sorry for hurting your feelings."

They finally broke away, and Stormy said, "Now, let's go finish our breakfast before it gets cold!"

Dash responded back, "It probably already is!", and they both giggled.