Twilight entered the library slowly, head down after a morning filled with much exhaustion and sadness. Her friends were waiting for her in the lobby. They were concerned about Twilight's health, especially Rainbow Dash.
"Morning Twilight," the group greeted in an unexpected, nerve wrecking order. Rainbow Dash was the last to say her greetings. Twilight looked up at her worried friends. Her eyes were heavy from lack of sleep. The bags under her eyes were as clear to see as Celestia's sun. She barely even bothered with her friends; she merely turned to the stairs and walked up. She stopped halfway and looked at the concerned mares. "Morning…" was all she mustered before she turned back to her stairs and into her room.
"… Morning." Rainbow Dash finally said before Twilight slammed the door.
Behind the door, Twilight sat down, back toward the wall. She curled up, shivering in her misery. "There's a chance," she whispered to herself as she bit back her tears, "There's a chance."
She wiped away the tear that rolled down her cheek. It was still early, but Twilight wanted to take another stroll...
Rainbow Dash had been worried about her for a long while. Twilight hadn't been the same after what happened a few days ago. It has her fault, after all. If she had listened to Twilight, she wouldn't be in this mess. Even Spike was really worried. He said that she only came down to eat breakfast before going back up to her room.
"Oh, poor darling," Rarity mourned, "I wish there's some way we can-"
Twilight opened her door while still looking down. Without paying much attention to her guests, she slowly walked down the stairs and to the door. She stopped before opening the door and barely looked at her friends.
"I'll be off…" She said.
With the opportunity at hand, Rainbow Dash rushed next to Twilight.
"I'm coming with you." she said quickly.
"Alright sugarcube. You be safe now, alright?" Applejack said concernedly, "Don't push yourself too hard now, Twilight."
She only nodded before opening the door. Twilight and Rainbow Dash exited the library, leaving the rest feeling uneasy. As the duo walked around, Rainbow felt restless and wanted to start a conversation to lighten the mood.
"So just yesterday, I made the most awesomest dive ever. I swooped down and spun at, like, a ridiculous speed! Then I-"
She turned and saw Twilight simply lumping as she walked. Her face showed no interest, but Rainbow Dash haven't given up yet. She changed the topic.
"We should've gone to Pinkie's, don't you think?" she started, "She's having this debate on which is better: regular sprinkles or chocolate sprinkles. I, honestly, think they are the same. What about-"
Twilight paid no heed and kept walking, ignoring Rainbow and everything in existence. Her head was down the whole time with the same dark, saddened look on her face.
"Twilight…" Rainbow Dash called, but her voice couldn't reach Twilight.
"Tomorrow," Twilight said to herself, "I need to send a letter to Celestia."
Rainbow Dash's ears perked up, surprised at Twilight's words.
"Huh?" Rainbow Dash questioned, "So, um, that was out of no-"
"Everything seems dull now…" Twilight muttered. Though it was faint, Rainbow Dash heard it all.
"Twilight…" Rainbow Dash thought, "This isn't like you… Please… Snap out of it… Please Twilight…"
Out of the corner of her eyes, Rainbow Dash saw the entrance to her secret hiding place. It was hidden behind a variety of bushes so nopony can see it.
"Twilight," Rainbow Dash decided, "Let's make a quick detour."
With an idea coming to mind, she rushed to the bushes and pointed, "It's right over here! There's a pretty cave that's awesome to look at, a-and-"
"Whatever," were the cold words that exited Twilight's mouth. Rainbow Dash descended and stood in shock.
"Twilight… Please..." she thought before running through the bushes and into her crystal cave. When she got inside, her body was trembling from Twilight's emotionless word. She fell and sat on the floor of the cave. Her head still held high, she looked at the back the cave she found. The entrance of the cave was a small hall that lead to a large, crystal dome. The light shining from the entrance got reflected, making the cave's crystals shine with a majestic glow. Every time Rainbow Dash had a bad day, she would come here, sit, and let the crystals shine, taking her worries away. But this time, her worries only grew by the second.
"Twilight…" she uttered, "I wanted to show you this cool place." With almost all hope lost, she set her head down and lay in the crystal cavern… until somepony came. Hearing sounds, Rainbow Dash shot up and turned around. Zecora came to her, holding a flask in her mouth. Surprised to see her as well, Zecora set the flask down and raised her head, looking at the cyan pony.
"What's this I see," began Zecora's famous rhymes, "A pony sad and unfree?"
"Oh hey Zecora…" Rainbow Dash greeted, "What are you doing here, and how did you find this place?"
"I walk around to seek, and what I seek is some meek." Zecora answered.
"Oh… ok?" Rainbow wondered. A few seconds passed until Zecora made a small "Hmph."
"So this pony is in a state of might, for she has fallen in love with Twilight," Zecora confirmed.
The cyan pony blushing and standing up was enough confirmation for Zecora.
"W-what?!" Rainbow Dash stuttered, "It's n-not like that!"
"Then I'll be the listener, if you want to be the talker." Zecora comforted.
With some looking around, Zecora took the flask and walked toward Rainbow Dash and sat down. She gestured to her to relax and do the same. Reluctant at first, she sat down next to Zecora.
"When I first met her," Rainbow Dash began, "I accidentally crashed into her. We landed in this mud puddle and she was all muddy. I was nervous, so I went to get a rain cloud to wash off the mud. After that, she looked mad. I guess that's when I thought about her, but it wasn't much. Then, we became friends, and every time I see her, my mind would go everywhere and I had to act cool. I just want to return her back to the way she use to be, that happy, smiling, energetic bookworm I know and-"
"Rainbow Dash," Zecora butted in, "I maybe alone in the wood, but I can see you are in that mood. It's not okay to hold it in, but tell her what you feel from within. That's the only option: tell her your emotion."
Rainbow Dash was taken aback by what Zecora said. She stopped and thought for a moment, but she knew it all along. Sighing, she replied, "Alright…"
She got up and ran toward the lavender mare. She hopped over the bushes and searched. Knowing Twilight well enough, she dashed to the library. Not wanting to go to the entrance, she looked around for an opening and found one. Twilight's window was open, and she was laying on the bed, face down. Slowly and silently, Rainbow Dash flew through the open window and sat next to the sleeping pony.
"Get up, Sleepyhead," Rainbow Dash commanded, but had no luck. "Geez," she thought, "This is harder then I thought."
She sat on the bed and laid next to Twilight, who still had her head down. She smiled and cuddled her.
"Hey," Rainbow Dash started, "Listen carefully. I don't care if you respond, but... cheer up. I know that's not an easy thing to do. You can be depressed all you want. I'll wait for you, Twilight. I'll wait for that smile you always wear, and when it's over, let's go to Sugarcube Corner and dine on Pinkie's awesome cupcakes. So, even if it's a little while... cheer up soon, Twilight."
Twilight blinked and rose, startling Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash quickly got off and stood next to the bed.
"Morn…ing…" Rainbow Dash managed to say.
"I want some cupcakes…" Twilight said sheepishly.
…
"Phahahaha!" Rainbow Dash laughed.
Twilight was confused as to what happened. She shielded her eyes from the brutal shine of Celestia's sun.
"Uhg," she whined, "So bright even though it's the afternoon…"
"Well, that's what you get for sleeping this late," Rainbow Dash pointed out. Twilight slowly got off of the bed and slowly headed for the door.
"Hey Twilight," Rainbow Dash asked with a huge grin.
Twilight gave a small grunt.
"Welcome back."
Zecora sat in the cave and breathed in peace, but something in her mind made her restless.
"So, Rainbow Dash, you have come," she began, "I thought you would be out with them someone."
Knowing that Zecora would anticipate her coming to the cave, she defended and walked towards Zecora.
"Yeah, Twilight's having fun with the gang so I thought I'd come here and sit for a while."
"So how did the story go, with you giving out what you can show."
"Uh… I don't know." she replied with a dumbfounded face.
Zecora blinked a several times before replying with a "What?"
"Yeah," Rainbow Dash chuckled, "Turns out she was asleep the whole time, and after I finished, she woke up. Kinda embarrassing if you ask me. Then after that, we all went to Sugarcube Corner and ate some of Pinkie's cupcakes."
"So,-" Zecora started, but she was interrupted.
"Then," Rainbow Dash continued as she sat down next to Zecora, "She finally laughed after so long. Come to think of it, we were all laughing. Pinkie's crazy parties are always fun. We all laughed through the whole party." She paused and grinned joyfully, "It was fun."
Zecora tilted her head and smiled.
"That is good," she said, "You changed her mood."
The cyan pony looked at the zebra with confusion.
"I… I did?" she asked.
She replied with a simple nod.
"I guess… I did." Rainbow Dash thought as she looked up at the shining crystals hanging above them.
"Hey, Zecora?" she asked while looking at the crystals.
The zebra looked at Rainbow Dash with much thought.
"…Thank you."
As the two walked out, Rainbow Dash suddenly had a question.
"Hey Zecora," she asked, "You could've searched for another place to find peace and quiet. Why go here?"
Zecora looked at the mare and explained, "To be true, I was hearing from you."
The cyan pony was taken aback by Zecora's response.
"Huh?" she replied with a non-believing expression.
"Now that is impolite," Zecora pointed out, "I am telling with such might. Your voice that I hear, came from what most can't go near."
"Right~…" Rainbow Dash trailed off.
The two ponies said their farewells before splitting apart.
As Rainbow Dash continue to walk, she was a step closer to finding out the truth behind those words.
