The streets of Canterlot City were laden with snow, the season of winter taking its turn in this part of the world. Few people were out, the cold keeping them indoors where they would be warm. Of course there were a few crazy people who actually enjoyed the frigid weather, finding it the opportune time to play and exercise. And then there were the poor souls that had to brave the cold for work and school, like the students of Canterlot High. Some sought the warm comfort of the school immediately while others relished and played in the fluffy frozen rain. Sunset, Rarity, Pinkie, AJ and Fluttershy all sat by the statue/portal, catching their breath after having engaged in a courtyard-wide snowball fight. At first it started out harmlessly enough, just between the five girls. But when a stay snowball thrown by Pinkie hit the silent neon haired DJ causing her to fall; her musical companion angrily hurled a snowball that hit the Great and Powerful Trixie when Applejack's reflexes proved too quick. After that all hell broke loose, and the fight was engaged. But now that the dust had settled and everyone ceased fire those who remained outside sat and simply relaxed.
As the five friends conversed, Sunset spoke up, "Hey, does anyone know where Dash is?"
"Ya know, now that ya mention it I ain't seen her all mornin' - and I usually see her when I'm walking to school, practicing on the field or finishing up. Kinda weird ah didn't today."
"Oh... I do hope nothing happened to her," Rarity spoke up, playing with the hem of her coat - a nervous habit she'd done for as long as any of her friends could remember.
"Oh look! Here she comes!", Pinkie exclaimed," HIII DASHIE!"
Lo and behold, the Rainbow-haired athlete was running towards them, but as she made to slow down she found herself slipping on a patch of black ice. Unfortunately her right foot slid too far and she ended up going down hard on her knee. She couldn't stop the small cry of pain as she rolled across the pavement into the main area of the courtyard.
"DASH!", all of her friends cried as they rushed to her side.
"Goodness, darling! Are you are okay? That was a nasty spill.", Rarity asked, kneeling down to check her friend and noticing her clenched fists.
Gently brushing Dash's hair behind her ear, Fluttershy took note of the extremely pained look her friend was giving.
Before she could say anything AJ sounded from beside her, "Oh man, that don't look too good."
Easing Dash's left leg off of her right it revealed her knee twisted in a way it shouldn't be. All of her friends gasped.
"Fluttershy," Sunset ordered, "go get the nurse."
"No! There's no need for that," Rainbow said, stopping Fluttershy.
"What? Rainbow, your knee..."
"Is just dislocated," Dash interrupted as she sat up. "I felt it when I went down - I've dealt with this a bunch of times." Taking her knee in steady hands, Dash took a deep breath wrenched her knee to the side with a dull pop. Biting back a cry of pain she took her shin and yanked her knee up and towards herself. Another dull pop and she heaved a groan of displeasure before sighing.
"There we go, all good."
With practiced ease she pushed herself up and stood, waving off her friends' worried protests. Squatting and giving a few good jumps, she went through the full range of motion. She even walked around giving her friends a wide grin, "See? Good as new, it's like nothing ever happened."
"How can you just walk that off?!" Sunset shouted, grabbing Rainbow by the shoulders. "You just dislocated your knee, and then set it back in place like it was nothing - how many times has this happened to you?"
It was more a demand than a question.
"I-I don't know. I just kinda lost count after a while. It's just not something I worry about, okay? It's never been too big of an issue. The only time I really have a problem is when I pop them both out of place at the same time. It's nothing new for me - I've been fine up till now, so there's no need to worry."
"...What?" Sunset drew back one hand to cover her mouth, the other one gripping Dash's shirt so tight that it threatened to tear at the seams. The mix of of horror and sadness displayed on her face as she looked up at Dash made her look like a child that had just seen their favorite pet die.
"Rainbow Dash why wouldn't ya tell us all about somethin' like this?"
"Because it's not worth making such a big deal about. Yes, I have a little problem, but I've been dealing with it just fine. You're making it seem worse than it really is. Besides - if something happens to me, that's on me. I'm responsible for my own actions and any consequences that happen after the fact."
"How can you be so casual about this? Yes, you might have been okay up till now - but what if next time you aren't so lucky and something worse happens?" Sunset shouted, voice strained. As her emotions built up, her eyes shone with unshed tears. "I've only just learned how to have friends. Don't force me to learn how to deal with the possibility of losing someone I care about. I'm not ready to learn that lesson - not now, not ever. Please Dash, please don't put me or anyone else through that," she begged choking out the the last part before she broke down, sobbing into the taller girls chest, hugging her tightly.