Gambling Away the Twilight

"Rainbow." Twilight's voice rang from the bathroom.

Rainbow looked up from Daring Do. "Huh?"

"I'm gonna take a shower before we go for dinner. Do you want to go first?" said Twilight.

"No, you go. I'll read until you're done."  replied Rainbow. She settled down into her book as she heard the hum of the shower start up. She began to think about Twilight, that beautiful mare. Her first real crush. How am I going to do this. Will it ruin our friendship? The last thing I want is for Twi' to be mad with me.

She got up and walked over to her bed. Sighing she sat on the soft mattress. Not quite as soft and comfortable as the clouds she was used to, but they felt nice. She lay on her back and stretched her limbs across the sheets, groaning as she did so. All the while the pitter patter of the shower hummed in the background.

She reached for her saddlebags, carefully lifting them up and placing the before her. She opened one of the buckles and opened the bag. The lone cyan feather stood out against the beige lining of the bag. She picked it out and inspected it. The light from the setting sun catching the fibers making them glow in the middle of Rainbow's forehoof. She heard the shower stop and hoofsteps on the marble floor of the bathroom.

Carefully replacing her feather she set her saddlebags down by the sideof her bed and pickedup Daring Do, trying to look as innocent as possible. Twilight came out of the bathroom draped in a white towel, her mane dripping water. Rainbow couldn't help but stare.

"The shower's free Rainbow." she said giggling at Rainbow.

"Oh, yeah." she said, lifting herself from the bed and on to her hooves. She trotted past Twilight and through the door of the bathroom. "How long until dinner?"

Twilight glanced at the clock. It read seven. "We've got an hour until we've got to be there. Plenty of time." She sat down on the couch and began to think. I wonder what Rainbow really wanted to talk about. It sure wasn't anything to do with hotel floors. She's been acting weird around me for a while now. Especially since the coronation. I hope Spike's okay, I just hope the library hasn't been destroyed.

The splash of warm water on the neck made Rainbow feel calm, her muscles relaxed and she spread her wings out underneath the gentle stream of the shower. I can't think this way about Twi' can I? I mean, she's a princess. She's probably going to live forever. I'm just a normal old Pegasus, what can I give her?

She picked up the already used shower gel and poured a godly amount of it onto her hoof. Putting the bottle down she rubbed her hooves together  and began to work the gel around her body. Rubbing it in as she went, still thinking about Twilight. She didn't notice that she had started crying until she tasted the salty sweetness on her lips.

C'mon Rainbow. Get a hold of yourself. This'll work out. Won't it? She wiped the tears away from her eyes, the rims of which were already a distinctive red. She turned to the shower knob and twisted it until the warm trickle of water ceased. Opening the shower door she walked over to the mirror that occupied the wall behind the sinks.

Her eyes were bloodshot, the area around them was a pinkish hue. She sniffed and turned the tap. Cool water began to flow from the spout. She let the sink fill before she dunked her face into it, trying to get rid of the red marks around her eyes. After a few vain attempts she came up with an alibi and walked towards the bathroom door.

"Rainbow! Are you okay? Have you been crying?" Twilight rushed over to her friend to see why she looked terrible.

"It's fine Twi'. I just got a little shower gel in my eyes that's all. Nothing Rainbow Dash can't handle." She lied batting Twilight off.

"Well if you say so." Twilight backed off. "We should get ready." Saying this she pounceded over to her bag and undid the lock. Rarity had made Twilight several new dresses to accommodate her new wings, as well as modifying some of her old dresses.

Twilight looked across the room to see Rainbow staring at her glassy eyed. "Rainbow? Are you okay?" said Twilight, her voice showing concern.

The cyan pegasus's face turned a bright pink as she turned away from Twilight to hide the blush. "Uh, nothing Twi'. Just zoned out for a second there." she gave a half hearted laugh as she flew cautiously over to her bags.

Twilight pulled out a simple navy dress with gold trim. One of Rarity's attempts to tone down the ostentatiousness of her styling. She pulled it on and looked in the mirror, admiring its simplicity. "Rainbow. Do I look okay?" asked Twilight, turning to the mare.

Rainbow looked up. When she saw Twilight she gave out a small gasp, she looked beautiful. "You look awesome Twi'."

Rainbow began to dig in her own bags, looking for her favorite dress. At last she found it, she pulled it out. A little creased but not bad. It was a white dress with silver trim. She slipped it on and bounded over to the window. The sun was starting to set behind the mountains of the Mojave which jutted up above the clouds. Their red peaks burning in the last light of the sun.

Twilight glanced at the clock that lay on the bedside table. It's black hands indicated that it was half past seven. "Rainbow, we have half an hour until we have to meet the girls. I wanted to take a look at the grand library on my way down. Would you like to come with me?" asked Twilight enthusiastically.

"Sure Twi'." said Rainbow, turning away from the window and trotting towards the mare. C'mon Rainbow, now is as good a time as any. But what if she doesn't even like mares. What if I just make a huge embarrassment of myself. Ugghh, brain. You never help me. "So, Twilight. What floor is the library on anyways?" asked Rainbow.

"It's on the second floor. Same floor as the restaurant we're having dinner at tonight." chuckled Twilight, opening the door. She let Rainbow trot past her before walking out herself. The luxurious apartment fell under darkness as she closed the door.

The pair walked down the hallway, nopony else was around. Rainbow felt at the peak of her nerves. More so than before the young flyers competition, this had nothing to do with flying. But even trying to get off the ground to be able to speak to Twilight was proving impossible.

"So, Rainbow. I've heard they have a whole section on flying down in the library. I really want to get some practice in when we get back to Ponyville. I was wondering if you would maybe help me?" said Twilight as she pressed the button for the elevator.

~DING~

How can I not be able to do this. I mean, me, THE Rainbow Dash. Fastest flyer in all of...

"Ahem! Rainbow." Twilight stood in the elevator tapping her hoof on the marble floor. Rainbow gave a sheepish look and followed her in. The doors slid shut and the elevator began to drift downwards towards their destination. Every floor they passed was signified by a sharp buzz from the speaker system within the spacious box.

"So, um... Twilight. How do you think Spike is doing. Looking after those kids can be really tough." said Rainbow, unable to come up with a better topic of conversation, constantly avoiding the one the weighed heavily on her mind.

"I don't know. I just hope everything is alright." responded Twilight.