> The Closet > by Rain Light > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > is Not a Good Place to Hide in > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Closet "One... Two... Three..." Applejack's voice echoed around the castle. The five other ponies scattered about, galloping down hallways and peeking inside rooms to see if there were any suitable hiding spots. Twilight ran past an entrance to one of the unused rooms. She thought she glimpsed a closet inside, obvious only because it was open. She backtracked, and took a closer look. The room wasn't large, but nor was it small. There wasn't anything too significant about it — it was much like any other unused room. There was some furniture, but like the rest of the room, it was not utilized. The perfect detail about the room, though, was that the closet door, with its color of crystal, blended quite well with the rest of the walls of the room. She quickly peered back, straining to hear the voice of Applejack. It sounded like she was nearing the end of her countdown, meaning Twilight had to hide quickly. She ran to the closet, and fit herself inside. She immediately regretted her choice of closet. This closet was so small, she could barely fit there. The backwall was too close to the door, and the width didn't improve the situation. What was more, though, was that her initial inspection of the room proved wrong — this closet was used, and the contents inside diminished the already small space. Nevertheless, left without another choice, she fitted herself snugly within. Twilight glanced at the door of the room through the shutters, ready to close the closet. She couldn't close the room's door, because that would automatically reveal her position through deductive and inductive reasoning. Most rooms had their doors open, so— Her heart skipped a beat as she saw a pony dashing by. She sighed in relief when she realized that whoever ran by had a cyan coat, not orange — probably Rainbow Dash. However, Rainbow Dash showed herself again, this time peering into the room. Panic showed on her face as she galloped inside, seeming to ignore the presence of Twilight, who hadn't gotten to hiding properly yet. Of course, Rainbow Dash noticed her when she approached the closet, evaluating it to be the best hiding location in the room. "Get out and let me hide here!" Rainbow half-pleaded, half-demanded. Twilight looked bewildered at her friend. "What? No! I got here first. Find somewhere else to hide; you're the fastest pony, you should be able to manage that." Rainbow looked back at the door, training her ears to listen to the countdown — it was no longer there. "No time!" Rainbow Dash tried stuffing herself into the closet with Twilight without regard for anything other than hiding. This slightly annoyed Twilight, but she moved herself to better fit the two of them inside. The both of them had to stand up on the hindlegs. "Close the closet door!" Twilight whispered harshly. Rainbow did as she was told, and leaned her head out to get a grip on the closet handle, turning it. The cramped closet darkened, and Twilight released the tension in her body with a sigh. Finally, silently, the door was shut. Rainbow turned to look at Twilight — the darkness made that unpractical, but the motion was a habit — and came muzzle-to-muzzle with her. Their faces weren't just close, they were touching. Their breaths touched the other, mixing and mingling. An invisible redness overtook their faces, increasing as they realized more and more what situation they put themselves into. Neither shifted in their spots, not out of a need to stay silent, but out of being stunned. Time continued, but space froze, disrupted only by soft but irregular breathing. Twilight and Rainbow Dash looked at each other, their imaginations providing the sight reality did not. Twilight marveled at the contact of Rainbow's lips against her own. It was barely any, but it was so unlike anything she felt before — so exotic, so foreign, but so riveting! When she did research papers, one of her favorite tasks, she held her attention to her work, but this, this held her attention for her, drawing her in. Absentmindedly, Twilight leaned her head further ahead, wanting more of this, whatever it was. She felt more softness press against her lips as slight shivers of pleasure coursed through her body. Rainbow Dash, on the other hoof, remained stock-still. This wasn't what she expected to get into! She never bothered to think about any mushy romance — she was tough, brave, not sappy! Now, however, she found herself at not the end of a conversation about romance, but at the receiving end of what appeared to be an unintentional kiss. Although... she found herself not minding it much — besides the shock of the situation, that is. There wasn't anything particularly unappealing about it. Nopony was looking, either. That doesn't mean I would chicken out if somepony was looking, though! Rainbow thought to herself. Hay, I shouldn't chicken out of anything! What's so scary about a kiss anyways? She summarily turned her attention towards her source of wonderment. Her friend's lips felt warm and smooth, their slight moving adding to the vividness of the sensations. Not wanting to leave her friend the only one leading, Rainbow tilted her head slightly and pressed forward herself. Her eyes closed naturally as she enjoyed the kiss. Twilight felt blissful, not clouded by any coherent disturbances of the consciousness. All her life, she thought and she thought that thinking was the backbone of all life. This moment was one that crumbled all such theories. Nothing could compare to the feeling of Rainbow Dash pressed so closely to her, the warmth radiating comfortably and their lips interlocked. This was a moment Twilight felt she would be fine with stretching forever. It lasted for a bit more, until it was suddenly interrupted by the closet door swinging open. The disorientation caused by the intruding bright light and the lack of support from one side caused them to topple out, them losing their already loose grip on each other. "Woah nelly!" Applejack exclaimed. "Uhh, girls, are y'all alright?" Twilight was the first to recover. "Applejack? What are y— Oh, right! Uhh..." Twilight's gaze wandered off, until it refocused when Twilight realized she was asked a question. "Y-yes, I'm alright." Rainbow Dash was quick to stand up next, but she didn't say anything, a blush obvious on her face out in the open light. "Pardon me for disturbing you two, but were ya two... kissing?" An incredulous face imprinted itself on Applejack; she wasn't sure she believed her own eyes. The silence and the scuffing of hooves provided their own answer. Applejack chuckled in her low voice. "Ah didn't know your barn door swung that way, Rainbow!" Rainbow Dash was conflicted. "I— I didn't—" She quickly turned her head to look anywhere but at Applejack, but then she saw Twilight, and her embarrassed staring onto the floor. The fact that she was embarrassed was clear enough, but Rainbow saw something else in that gaze — the slightest of sadness and dismay. Rainbow didn't dare continue her previous statement, lest she upset her friend further. 'That doesn't mean I would chicken out if somepony was looking, though!' Yeah right. Pony up, Rainbow! Prove that you're not afraid! "You know what?—" Rainbow Dash challenged. She used her hooves to guide Twilight's face to look at hers, and advanced, pressing her muzzle against Twilight's once more. After several seconds, she released the kiss. "—I just might like Twilight!" Rainbow Dash bore her gaze at Applejack, daring the other to contest her answer. No reply came. At least, none from Applejack. "Y-you do?" A timid voice came from Rainbow's side. Rainbow tossed a smile and a nod to her friend, and received an even happier smile back, along with a hug. Ugh, sappiness, thought Rainbow, At least I don't mind this. Mentally shrugging, she threw her hooves in an embrace around Twilight, smiling and putting unusual warmth into the hug. Applejack stood off to the side, and commented to herself. "Never thought I'd see the day! Rainbow, and with Twilight, of all ponies!" Chuckling to herself, she left the room, leaving the two ponies inside to themselves, and went off to find the rest of her friends hiding in the castle.