Guilt

"BABS!"

Inside the Golden Apple Float, Babs Seed tried desperately to steer. But the trap had gone off and she had no control over the float. She could only watch as the lake came nearer and nearer, green eyes widening in terror.

"BABS!"

The Cutie Mark Crusaders leapt into the float, determination in their eyes. Scootaloo rammed Babs as hard as she could, sending the maple colored filly flying towards the wall. With the momentum, the earth pony should've gone right through the wall.

Babs felt something slam into her ribs and she was sent flying. Her back collided with the wall and she could hear something tear. But her force and weight weren't enough and she fell back to the floor, dazed. Her head was spinning, pounding and she could see stars as they did their turns around her head. She could hear muffled screaming from the horrified fillies and she realized they were tipping to the side.

With the blow to the side, the float was sent off balance and it crashed onto its side. Planks and material from the roof crashed down and the float rolled right into the lake, sinking into the muddy water. There was the sound of glass shattering and soon red rose up into the water, blooming across the mud.

Underneath the water, Babs Seed struggled with all the planks and material pinning her down. She could feel her ribs starting to ache, she wouldn't be able to hold herself up for long. Every muscle was strained as bubbles streamed from her nose and mouth, her supply of air running low. She opened her eyes and saw something that made her nearly fall over in shock.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had found the exit and were climbing onto the bank, but as Apple Bloom followed the apple stem slid down the wall and slammed into her. There was a muffled crack as she was twisted around before she was pinned beneath it, unconscious with her face screwed up in pain.

Babs's adrenaline started coursing through her. Fear and guilt reared their heads and she started fighting the material trying to pin her. With a mighty heave she wrestled free, kicking the broken junk off of her. She stumbled over to Apple Bloom, but tripped over the broken steering wheel and slammed roughly into the floor. She was starting to feel her lungs ache, she needed air! But Apple Bloom needed her, even if her savior was the filly who had tormented her. She got to her hooves and swam over to Apple Bloom, who had slid when Babs had hit the floor. One caramel forehoof grabbed onto Apple Bloom's torso and heaved her up as the filly started swimming up, lungs screaming for dry relief.

The Manehattan filly broke the surface and paddled to the shore, Apple Bloom held in her forelegs. She was dragged out of the water by a powerful pair of orange forelegs and she looked up at her, eyes full of guilt. "I-I..." She never finished, trailing off as the shock started to set in. Her form swayed and she let out a low moan before falling back, sinking into a tempting black void.

~~~~~

Babs Seed paced around the room, biting her lip and playing with her short mane. She felt horrible, absolutely horrible. Apple Bloom was hurt and it was all her fault! She heard the door close and instantly jumped towards Applejack, eyes wide. "Is she ok? Is Apple Bloom gonna be ok?" She asked, eyes filling with tears.

Applejack sighed. "She's lucky y'all got her out of there, or it coulda been much worse. That crash went and broke her leg, so she won't be able ta do anything around the farm for a spell. Y'all can go in and see her now, she was askin' for ya." The older mare sighed, eyes tired. She'd been up all night with her little sister, trying to soothe her to sleep long enough to bandage her injured leg.

Babs gulped and nodded, blinking back the tears. On heavy hooves she walked into the room and looked at her cousin, lying on the bed with her left back leg wrapped up. There was a tired and pained look in her orange eyes before she turned and saw Babs come into the room. "Howdy." She murmured as her cousin climbed up on the bed.

Babs took one look at her cousin and felt the tears threatening to spill down her face. "H-Hi Apple Bloom... How's your leg?" She asked, biting her lip as she tried to keep the stutter out of her voice. Don't you dare cry Babs Seed...

Apple Bloom sighed. "It doesn't hurt as bad as it did last night, but it's still aching. Ah'm gonna be stuck in bed for the next while..." Tears started filling her bright eyes and she sniffed, biting her lip as they started dripping down her face. "Ah'm so sorry Babs! This is mah fault, Ah pulled that stupid stunt and nearly got us all killed!" She wailed.

Babs's shield broke down and she started crying her eyes out, hugging her cousin. "No! Don't ya dare blame dis on yaself. Dis is MY fault, I'm da one who was such a big bully ta youze fo' no reason! Dis ain't youze fault Bloom, dis is MY fault!" She argued, shaking her head and feeling even worse. "I'm sorry Apple Bloom... Dis is all my fault..." She choked out, crying even harder.

Apple Bloom hugged her crying cousin, pulling her in and feeling a pair of orange forelegs wrap around her waist. "It's ok Babs... Ah forgive ya, y'all were just tryin' ta keep from bein' bullied. It'll be ok..." She soothed, running her hoof through the short red and pink mane.

The Manehattan filly sniffled and looked her cousin in the eye, tears still rolling down her face.  "I've gotta make it up ta ya!" She insisted, "I know! I'll take care of youze while your leg's getting betta!" She exclaimed, smiling a bit as she sat up. "I'll do your work, bring youze food an' do everthin' youze would be doin'!" She added, eyes growing brighter.

Apple Bloom gulped and bit her lip. "Ah don't know Babs..." She murmured.

"Please?"

"Ah have a lot of chores, not all of them are easy..."

"I can handle it!"

"Yer not exactly a farmer pony..."

That's when Babs pulled out her secret weapon; her eyes. Her pupils expanded and her eyes filled with what she called  "crocodile tears", reflecting the light. To add to her devious plan, her lower lip jutted out in a pout and lowered her head, making her eyes shine even more *.

Apple Bloom couldn't look away from the puppy eyes, they were irresistible!