A Permanent Accident

Twilight's POV

"Argh! Ack! Ouch! Cadence, a little rough there with the sponge!"

"Twilight, I've not even touched you with it yet...That's the water dripping on your back."

"Well...that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt!" I complained.

"I wouldn't do this to you at all if it weren't for your own good Twilight! Your doctor told me you needed to have your whip lash cuts cleansed daily."

"Urgh! When will these things stop burning?"

"When they heal: which they won't if I don't clean them!" reminded my sister in law. I laid on my stomach while Cadence gingerly swept the cleansing sponge over my back. Under any other circumstance it would have been soothing, but with such a wound: it was agonizing. I didn't notice how badly it hurt until my eyes burred and the carpet I had been staring down at turned into a spiral. "Twilight?" Cadence asked. It sounded as if she was calling me from underwater.

"Cadence?" a familiar voice, also very distant, called.

"Shining, get in here! Something's really wrong with Twilight!"

Rainbow Dash's POV

Right turn, left turn, straight up, through the elementary school and land when you hit Sweet Apple acres. Right turn, left turn, straight up, through the elementary school and land when you hit Sweet Apple acres. Come on Dash, faster: you can do it! Don't chicken out now! Do this for the look of Scoot's face when you interrupt a boring algebra lesson- or whatever mindless subject they teach nowadays- with a spectacular flying routine! My speed just amped up from the thought! Man, I am an AWESOME big sister. I feel my mouth curl into a smile coupled with a tiny chuckle.

"Hang on Scoots," I whisper. I break through the school door twirling, showing off my absolute most impressive tricks and talents. All the while, I'm hunting for Scoot's desk. That kid better not be having a sick day on the ONE day I get this awesome idea. I can't risk stopping to look for her: I'd look like I was trying to impress one filly and that's totally lame. I feel some weird tension in the room, and nopony's cheering for me. Suddenly, I get a little angry.

"Ok, what gives?" I ask. My irritation spread throughout the classroom judging by the glare in some foal's eyes.

"You tell us, Rainbow twirl and hurl," Diamond Tiara spoke up. "You're the one that interrupted our algebra lesson!" I called it!

"Oh big deal, like any of you are actually upset over that!" Come to think of it, none of the CMC is in class today...oh my gosh. Yes! My "little sister" is a total ditcher! Not only that, but I bet she was the brains behind the whole group ditching! Geez, I couldn't be prouder. Too bad she had to miss my display though, it was one of my more impressive done in school.

"Miss Dash," Miss Cheerilee's shrill voice echoed in my ears. "Are you finished disrupting my students and I?'

"Oh, come off it Cheerilee! I was just trying to give these kids a little break!"

"Now, Rainbow Dash. I know you must be going through a very emotional and confusing time, but you cannot take it out on my classroom's time!"

"What are you even talking about?" Has this lady totally lost it?

"Well, I'm sorry about your loss, but Rainbow: go see a councilor. If you don't, your inappropriate outburst today will turn into worse outlets."

"Why would I need to see a councilor?" I scoffed. "What loss? Are you talking about that race with Sorin' last week? That was a total flunk! I would have won if Tank wouldn't have knocked over my milk that morning! I wasn't properly fueled!"

"Rainbow Dash, you do know, don't you?" Her face looked much less stern.

"Know?" I asked. "What are you trying to say to me Cheerilee?" I lowered myself to the ground, to save my wing's power.

"Rainbow," she started. Her eyes darted around the room to all the fillies and colts. "Students, take an early recess please." Why the heck is she acting so conspicuous?

"I can't believe no one told her. I mean, even I knew! I didn't care, but I knew!" Diamond giggled to her stupid sidekick on their way out the door.

"What didn't anypony tell me?" I asked.

"Rainbow...you know the stallion that injured Sweetie Belle, and sold Apple Bloom, don't you?"

"Yeah, did they catch that creep yet?" I asked. The look of pity in her eyes made my brain run. Where was she going with this? Where COULD she be going with this? Did he come back for Sweetie, for Apple Bloom? Why was she acting like it was such a tragedy? Somepony must be hurt somehow...but-

"No, I'm afraid...nopony has found him yet. Actually, Rainbow," she took a deep pause. "Scootaloo...was the last to see him..."

"S-Scootaloo?" Red blurred into my reign of vision. "What are you talking about? Did he hurt her!? I swear if that coward did ANYTHING like what he did to Sweetie-"

"She's gone Rainbow!" she blurted. My breath stopped. I tried to pry open my lungs for a gasp, but it turned into an anger I've never felt before. It was unreal what was happening to me in seconds. Cheerilee had the audacity to stand in front of me and tell me that my SISTER was DEAD!

"You're a f-...you're a b-...YOU'RE A LIAR!" I screamed with a blow to her face. "She's not DEAD! My sister's not dead!" I was out of breath, panting worse than I do after a marathon. Still, I hadn't done anything. I was standing there, watching Cheerilee try to pull herself off the ground, but I kicked her back down. Dashing back out of the door, I started to fly. I flew higher into the clouds, brushing off the fact I ever entered that classroom today. I didn't go into a classroom. I've been flying all day. I'm way too high above the clouds to be anywhere near that school. I flew higher, and I flew even higher. Scootaloo? Who's that?

Twilight's POV

"She's awake Shining!"

"Oh my gosh, thank Celestia. Twili! Twili, can you hear me? It's your big brother." I felt a hoof grab mine. "You're gonna be ok, alright? I promise, Twilight I'm here. I'm going to make sure you're waited on hoof and hoof." It sounded like he'd been crying. Suddenly, I felt a shock of pain and whimpered. "Nurse! My sister's in pain!" I heard Shining say, sounding like a mortifying presence. Nurse? I slowly start to realize I haven't opened my eyes. My lungs felt like they weren't willing to work. I gasped and inhaled, but it hurt just to do that.

"Twilight," Cadence was undeniably in tears. "Please, don't strain yourself. You've got a breathing tube. You're in the infirmary, and you've got severe internal bleeding. Please, don't move.

"Is the purple mare ok Rarity?"

"Sweetie Belle, her name is Twilight: remember?"

"Oh yeah! The one that's helping find the stallion...she's who I made this picture for." The room went quiet at the mention of Sweetie's gift.

"That was very sweet, Sweetie Belle," Cadence sniffled. "When she gains the strength to open her eyes, we'll be sure to let her see it."

"She's going to open her eyes a lot sooner than you think Cadence." Shining mentioned.

"Shining, she doesn't need pressure. She'll open them when she can."

"Which will be soon!"

"Shining! Your denial and guilt won't make your sister heal any faster!"

"Guilt?" he sounded shocked. "If anyone should feel guilty it's HER!" He yelled. After that the room went silent. Followed by crying.

"Sweetie Belle, come with me. I'll take you for some ice cream..." I heard the anger and tension in Cadence's voice. The moment the door close, my heart skipped a beat.

"Your sister is not the ONLY victim in this situation Mr. Armor! My sister is a FOAL and she's been stricken with amnesia, lost her best friend, and now she's being blamed for THIS!" Shining didn't dare defend himself. "Now, both of our sisters are targets. Sitting, helpless, TARGETS! Nothing here is going to improve with your closed-minded, selfish, and miserable attitude! Now stop blaming, wallowing and sulking and start helping your sister. Also, don't you dare- EVER- make my sister cry again. Least you meet your OWN hospital bed." The door slammed, and Shining walked slowly over to me.

"I really hope you didn't hear any of that Twi...but I hope you hear this: I will do ANYTHING and everything to help you get better...I just wish I could do something...I love you."

"I..." I couldn't respond...but I loved him too. Surely he knew...he had to.