//------------------------------//
// A small change 
// Story: Twilight and Gilda 
// by PrincessCelestia123 
//------------------------------//

"GILDA!!!"

Gilda woke with a jump, falling off the side of the small bed, leaving a nasty claw mark down the blanket as she attempted to keep herself from falling. She looked at the bed and instantly knew who was yelling at her and for what reasons. First off, now she had been caught sleeping in Twilights bed, second the blanket now had a claw mark and mud all over it which hadn't been washed off from the rain. Also, she smelled horrid. And now the bedsheets smelled bad too. Twilight looked furious at her, and Gilda was shaking a little, like a baby gryphon while getting a scolding from their mother. Twilight could throw her out right now, for once, Gilda admitted she was scared, scared of a pony! Twilight took a step forward, and Gilda backed up a bit. "Gilda... What're you doing in my bed without washing? Have you been sleeping all day?! You were supposed to be doing you job! I'm not paying you to sleep Gilda! Jobs aren't a joke you got to take this seriously!"

Gilda fought for words, grasping for a lie, and finally after choking for words for a few seconds she found something that could probably work. She couldn't lose this job, she needed it desperately. "Well I uh... This one colt came over to return a book but I didn't know where the books are supposed to go and I didn't want to mess up it all by putting something in the wrong place so I decided to take a nap and ask you when you got home, but I forgot to wash. I'm really sorry about the bed Twilight, I'll work it off I promise you!" Gilda forced a smile, though it soon turned into a real smile. She was being as friendly as possible, not wanting to lose her job and where she currently lived. Twilight seemed pretty cool, cooler then her friends. Gilda was actually liking her a little bit. She was the first pony to actually help her in a while, and that was pretty awesome.

Twilight seemed to buy into it, because she sighed, nodding. "Alright Alright... You go wash up, and I'll show you how to reshelf everything. The bathrooms very easy to find, you won't need directions."

Gilda nodded, moving out from the side of the bed, walking past Twilight then giving a long sigh. She wasn't losing this job or her place to crash. That was good! Finding the bathroom rather quickly, the gryphon grumbled. The bathtub was pretty small, made for a pony not a gryphon. After several attempts, Gilda got into a comfortable position, turning the knob labeled "hot". The steamy water flooded out, causing a cry to come from her at how hot it was. She turned the cold knob a little, sighing as she relaxed as water filled the tub. When the tub was a little over half full Gilda turned it off, the water about up to her neck. It felt amazing to have warm, clean water from a house, not cold, freezing water from a stream or lake. Gilda was just glad when she had nothing that it wasn't winter.

She closed her eyes, letting the water soothe her. Her talons wrapped around the soap, and she began rubbing her filthy body.

Twilight headed downstairs, seeing the book Gilda had been talking about. Twilight used her magic, setting each book in different piles, so it'd be very easy to show her where everything went. It took her around seven minutes, her stomach growled. Deciding to get something to eat, just as she was about to go make something Rainbow Dash came walking in, grinning. "Hey Twi! Whatsup?"

"Oh nothing Dash. Just taking out all the books so I can show Gilda where they all go."

She saw Dash stumble a little "Gilda?! Gilda?! Don't tell me she's staying here with you! You know how mean she is! She yelled at Shy for Celestias sake!"

Twilight nodded. "Yes I know. But I couldn't just throw her back on the streets! She needs a place to sleep! Her roommate kicked her out, I'm not going to just let her wander the streets homeless!"

Rainbow Dash widened her eyes. "Twilight, what're you talking about? Gilda doesn't have a roommate.."

"What?! Yes she does! Gilda said she got kicked out!"

"Twilight, I've known Gil for a long, long time. She lives by herself up in Cloudsdale." Rainbow Dash explained to her. "She's lying to you Twilight, if I were you I'd probably tell her to get lost. She's gonna just keep making up lies and avoiding work and take your money, then once she can afford to leave you'll never see her again. Where is she? I'll go tell her to go!"

Gilda had finished washing up, the gryphon listening in on their conversation, but making sure not to be seen. Anger welled inside of her. Stupid Dash! She should just go away and stop trying to ruin this for her!

"No Rainbow. She's in no position to lie, you know that. If she loses this job she'll have no where to go. I don't want to throw her out at her weakest time. She has been mean in the past but anyone can change! Gildas staying here with me, now please, do you mind leaving? Me and her have lots of work to do, and I don't want you two fighting."

Rainbow Dash huffed, turning around, before exiting she mumbled "Alright... But you're going to regret keeping her." 

Gilda narrowed her eyes at Dashs last sentence, but she felt odd. Her emotions were a jumble. She was starting to like Twilight a lot more because of this, but Rainbow Dash seemed even more lame. Was she finally... Getting a friend? A real friend that actually cared about her? After so long of not having a friend, Gilda smiled happily; she wasn't going to admit she had been eavesdropping, so she was prepared to act super surprised when Twilight said Dash had come over and tried to kick her out. Stepping out from where she was hiding Gilda smelled lovely, every feather clean. She looked like her old self just missing some pounds. 

"Hey Twilight. Finished washing. What've you been doing out here? Anything happen?"

"Nope, just took out all the books and was waiting for you."

Gildas mouth fell open in disbelief. What?! Why was Twilight lying to her?! She wanted to come out and angrily ask why, but then again she didn't want to admit she had basically been spying on her. Closing her mouth Gilda nodded.

"Oh? Nothing. Well alright then. So... Come on. Show me how to do this. Please." Gilda added a little forced, still trying to be nice, but it was becoming easier as she was starting to open up to Twilight a little more.

She saw Twilight nod, she looked happy to be doing this! The unicorn began talking as she floated up books, setting them in certain places; explaining to her where everything went.