Would Michelle's accident happen in the books?

[DTF955]

Some changes were made in the Chronology after research by Paul (RKORadio on www.fanfiction.net) for his Sam Series. However, he also wondered about Michelle's accident in books. Originally, it was figured it happened, but with the sisters closer and kinder and all in books, the argument isn't as bad beforehand, and Steph just pulls out the embarrassing photos of Michelle for Andrew, to get back at her, like with D.J. in "Crushed."

Note that in the TVU, she's said to be home after a couple days, to make it mroe realistic, and remember bits and pieces gradually, as the Chronology does exist, in part, to make things realistic as many fans clamored for a few years back.

Anyway, there are good arguments both ways:

Pro-accident:
1. Yes, the sisters are a lot closer in most books, and ones where they're not quite can easily be TVU canon. But, 13/14 and 8/9 are awkward ages, and D.J. would have to have had a *huge* impact as background mother. It's still more likely Michelle being injured forced Steph to be nicer.
2. In the book "Dude of My Dreams," which would take place a month or so before, Steph wants nothing to dow tih helping Michelle practice for a play. Again, something changed that, as the rest is clearly Book Universe.
3. Also, nothing is there that keeps Michelle from wandering out onto the trail with Elizabeth, since danny's still going to have the confrontation with Elizabeth's mom.
4. Paul's argument is partly based on the neglected girl whom the Tanners help in his great fan fiction series (which also explains some oddities in books, like Steph having more money than most that age, she could be babysitting a lot). he feels that Sam would naturally want to be witht he Tanners. But, how likely in it that she's in the stables beforehand, Steph's with her watching her, and Steph lectures Danny & Elizabeth's mom and convinces Michelle to do something else rather than wander off? A lot of things have to come together, and Sam does have other good friends by this point, which is where it was figured she was originally. (After all, she can't be argued to be in every story, but even in books we don't know everything that happens, so she could be argued to be in some.)
5. One book does imply Michelle was out for a moment and didnt' remember that, if nothing else; she get a subconscious fear of heights after falling while trying a trick in a harness at circus camp. That book is almost certainly Book Universe, not TV Unvierse, canon.
6. Another book, "How To Hide A Horse," implies some kind of accident somewhere; Cassie doesn't want to enter a horse jumping contest a year or two later because of the things she thinks of as aprt of horse jumping is one's body hitting the ground.

Anti-accident:
1. The injury was a freak on the level of the 1924 World Series' ending. (2 balls striking the same pebble in different innings, the wicked hops giving Washington the win.) Or, or the ball that bounced up and his Tony Kibek int he throat. Even arguing that in the "real Tanner universe" Michelle did fall on her head, she would have to have hit a hard stone *just right*.
2. If Michelle was out for 20 seconds, then woozy, rather than 20 minutes (the most possible to be realistic) then woozy, it would still scare Steph enough that she realizes she needs to be nicer to Michelle. Remember, this is Stephanie, who is always very hard on herself. She doesn't need Michelle's amnesia to do that, merely to see Michelle woozy, like a football player who's been dinged. And, like said football player, Michelle could still not remember the fall, thus allowing the book to remain Book Universe canon. It would also have the same impact on Cassie, who isn't afraid to ride horses but might be too tiimid about jumping.
3. It is hard, but possible, to argue for that book to be TV Universe, as it mentions Michelle having been at overnight camp the previous year, and it's after 4th grade.
4. Even without an injury, Steph's going to want to draw closer to Michelle and more helpful and co-operative for two reasons. First, D.J. *could* have had that big an influence on her if she was proactive enough and was that way with Steph. Second, with Steph the main one trying to help Sam/Samantha, then that's going to cause her to be mroe thoughtful and mothering anyway.
5. Things have to come together, but it's not that hard to fathom, if Samantha really wants to see Michelle ride; Michelle is her "emotional sister," as Paul said a psychologist friend termed it. With Sam being a tad younger than Michele, and Steph pretty protective at this point (you'd have to read the series to know why), Steph would want to be there. And, she would speak up and suggest to Michelle the same thing she did during "Gotta Dance."
6. Riding out on the trail in that spot is something Jesse would do. And, Book Michelle takes after D.J. very much, and has none of the Jesse attitude or anything, though he and Joey have still been there to help. (Jesse has always been in the attic apartment, hence she'd go to D.J. a lot more, on the same floor.) She might need some advice, but not much of a push, to be just like her other sister, Stephanie. Thus, she and Elizabeth just canter around when it's their turn, like Steph did the wrong dance.

I might change it, if peple think I should, but we'll see how y'all vote.