Chapter Eighteen: Intervention

Dash sighed. This day was going by slowly. She was relieved to finally be leaving the weather patrol headquarters, but she still had a lot to do in the few hours before she met Bonbon for dinner.

"Dinner with Bonbon..." she mumbled to herself. The thought made her anxious. Even so, she was looking forward to it, especially since her little chat with Thunderlane had taken the last of her patience.

As she walked through the slowly emptying market square, on her way to the library, she noticed Applejack fiddling with the sign on the apple stall.

"Hey AJ! How's it going?"

"Not great Rainbow. This here sign is comin' loose an' ah can't get it to cooperate long enough ta put a new nail in it," Applejack huffed. She took a step back and scratched her head as she examined the stall.

"Well why don't ya let me help? I'll hold it still for you," Dash said with a smile. She beat her wings and flew up beside the wooden sign. Placing a hoof on the post she examined the joints. "Um, Applejack, these nails are tight as can be. Are you sure this thing's coming loose?"

Applejack cocked her head. She stood on her hind legs and pressed a hoof on the joint. There was no give, no wiggle, no movement at all. Returning her hooves to the ground she backed away, examining the stall from the front. "Well it's not straight, ah'm sure it's loose. Just look."

Rainbow Dash floated to the ground beside Applejack. She squinted her eyes and held a hoof up, shielding herself from the sun that hung low in the sky. "I dunno AJ, looks fine to me."

"Hmm… Ah guess. But ah coulda sworn…" Applejack tipped her hat up, scratching at her hairline.

"Is something bothering you AJ?"

Applejack just sighed.

"It's Fluttershy isn't it?" Dash cocked an eyebrow. A glance at Applejack showed her gaze still locked on the sign, her eyes saying what she would not. "There is so much of this I don't have the first idea of how to deal with."

"Yer a good friend Dash. Ah get that ya wanna help an all, but you don't have ta trouble yerself on my account." Applejack smiled weakly, she knew that Dash's intentions were good, but she also knew how uncomfortable these things made her. "Ya said yerself that yer not good with these complicated romance things. Ah don't want ta drag you into something that'll make you uncomfortable"

"If you say so…. I actually have a 'complicated romance thing' I wanted to ask you about." A nervous grin grew on Rainbow's face.

Applejack smiled and turned to face Dash. Feeling relieved to have something other than Fluttershy to discuss. "Shoot. Ah'll help ya however ah can."

"Well, you gotta promise that ya won't tell anypony. I'm afraid of how everypony would react if they knew." Dash shuffled her hooves. Afraid to make eye contact, she focused her attention on the apple stall. "You promise?"

"Of course. You have mah word."

"Well, somepony asked me to dinner. They promised that it was going to be a friendly dinner but I think… well, I guess I know… they want it to be more than just friendly." Rainbow Dash looked away, blushing. "It's not that I'm entirely opposed to that, but it's WAY too soon for any of that."

"He~he. This is yer first date, ain't it?" Applejack grinned. She was nearly convinced that Rainbow would never take an interest in romance. "Ah'll be happy ta help in any way ah can."

Dash's blush intensified. "N-No, it's not a date, just a friendly dinner. Besides, I don't know if I… No, nevermind, it's nothing. Forget I asked."

"Ya don't know if you what?" Applejack giggled, seizing the opportunity to get Dash back for a few jabs she continued. "Look good in a dress? Have tha hips fer a corset? Are a good kisser? Ah can help ya with that one."

"NO! I'm not going to kiss you! I'm not going to kiss her either!" Dash shouted, rattled by Applejack's jabs. In her disarray she failed to realize that AJ was joking.

"Well then, 'not gonna kiss her' huh? Ah'll guess you were actually gonna say 'am into mares,' am ah right?" Applejack turned away from the apple stall. Now facing Rainbow dash, she cocked her head. "Can't say ah was expectin' that one."

"I… Uhh… Hnngh" Dash squeezed her eyes tight and leaned away from Applejack, as if she expected her to throw a punch.

"Is that why ya ain't never been in a relationship?" Applejack began to smirk, of all ponies, Dash had chosen her to confide in. "If yer afraid of bein' judged…"

"No, it's not that. I've never been interested in romance of any sort. It's just a friendly dinner, but she keeps leaning on me and nuzzling my neck. It's kinda nice and all, but it just… it feels wrong." Dash gestured with a hoof, slowly opening her eyes and relaxing her stance.

"Ya made sure she knows yer not interested in her right? If she thinks yer open ta her advances then ya can't blame her for makin' a move." Applejack raised an eyebrow. "Are you interested?"

"Well I… I don't… I dunno AJ. She's really nice and all. I did tell her that I'm not interested, but…" Rainbow Dash looked to the clock tower in the distance. "Hey Applejack, I gotta go to the library before dinner, gonna talk to Twilight about Fluttershy."

"Something wrong with Fluttershy?" Applejack asked, concerned.

Dash looked around quickly, making sure nopony was within earshot. "I'm only telling you this cause we're all friends, but we think she may have a problem with alcohol. It… uh… may explain a few things." She faced Applejack, but did her best to avoid eye contact. She kicked at the ground with a hoof.

Applejack swallowed hard. "A problem with alcohol ya say? You wouldn't mind if ah tagged along would ya? It's something that concerns me, ya know?"

"I suppose."

Fluttershy watched Sugarcube Corner shrink behind them as she and Pinkie Pie made their way to the library. As she turned her head to watch ahead of her, she caught sight of Rarity approaching a nearby intersection.

"Hi Rarity!" Pinkie shouted down the street. She motioned at Fluttershy, urging her to follow as she trotted quickly forward.

"Hi girls!" Rarity shouted back, smiling, as she quickened her pace to meet them. "How are you today?"

"Could be better," Fluttershy answered. "We're on our way to see Twilight. A-are you busy?"

"Not at all. I was just on my way home. I was going to come visit you Fluttershy, but something came up." Rarity's pace slowed as the three drew near.

"Cloud Kicker told us that you passed out in the market," Pinkie said as she came to a stop. "Are you okay? What happened?"

"Well..." Rarity started, smiling "...I got into an argument. Things got kind of crazy. Long story short, I'm fine. Thanks for asking."

Fluttershy gave a concerned look. "Why were you in an argument?"

"It's not important," Rarity stated, attempting to brush the issue aside. She continued. "You seem tired Fluttershy, you haven't been up all night have you?"

Pinkie gave Fluttershy a stern look. They had talked between each other about her need to confront her problem, now was the time to begin. Pinkie put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder. Looking her in the eyes she gave a supportive nod.

Fluttershy drew a shaky breath and began. "I-I'm not tired, I've, uhm… I've b-been drinking, Rarity." She was certain that her already wobbly knees were not going to hold her up much longer. She sat down on her flank.

Rarity stood silent for a moment, confused. She exchanged a glance with Pinkie, who just nodded. After some thought she said "Why? Is something wrong?"

Fluttershy stared at her hooves. She nodded her head, never looking up. "If you really aren't busy I have a pretty big favor to ask you."

"You know you can ask me anything Fluttershy," Rarity said cautiously. "What's on your mind?"

Pinkie silently wrapped her hoof over Fluttershy's shoulder.

"Would you come with us to see Twilight? I made a promise to face this problem, but I don't think I can do it alone." Fluttershy shuddered as she spoke. Even among friends, she was terrified. "It would mean a lot if you were there with me."

"O-Okay."

Twilight took a sip of her tea. If being a princess had changed anything about her, it was her taste for tea. The current blend was a gift Celestia had brought back with her from some diplomatic visit or another. She and her two guests sipped the exotic beverage from mismatched mugs that were already in the cabinets when she moved here from Canterlot.

After a quiet moment Twilight spoke. "I don't understand how not one of us could have noticed this before now. She wasn't acting strange at the party. But she told you both that she had been drinking?"

"Yeah, she told me at breakfast yesterday. I didn't know she was already drunk though," Applejack said from her chair, sitting at the table opposite Twilight.

Rainbow Dash, sitting at the head of the table, nodded and twirled the empty mug on the table in front of her. "She told me and Bonbon this morning that she was drunk at the party. She said she drinks a lot so that she doesn't always panic when she goes out."

Twilight stared into the steam rising from her mug. "If it's really that bad then I guess we don't have a choice. We'll have to talk to her," she said flatly. "I'll send Spike out for a bit. Dash, can you bring Fluttershy here?"

"Yeah, but can we do it later tonight? I've got somewhere to be at seven." Dash fumbled the mug, which hit the table with a loud thunk. "It's kinda important."

The bell chimed. Twilight jumped out of her chair with a start. The library closed half an hour ago and she was not expecting visitors. She cautiously peeked her head out of the kitchen in time to hear a familiar voice.

"TWILIGHT! ARE YOU HOME? WE NEED TO TALK TO YOU!" Pinkie Pie was shouting. She often shouted for all manner of reasons, sometimes for the simple reason of wanting to shout. This was different, she sounded serious.

"I'm in the kitchen!" Twilight called as she returned to her seat. "Come on back!"

After a short moment Pinkie Pie, accompanied by Rarity and Fluttershy, rounded the corner into the kitchen. "Oh, I didn't know Dash and Applejack were here. This is even better. Mind if we have a seat?"

"Not at all, we were just chatting. Would you girls like some tea?" Twilight's horn lit up. A soft glow surrounded the three empty chairs around the table, pulling them out for the new arrivals. Three empty mugs floated to the table from the counter, touching down gently in front of each of the three chairs.

Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy each took a seat, Pinkie beside Applejack, Fluttershy beside Twilight, Rarity at the end. Pinkie spoke again "We need to talk to you gals, it's important. Fluttershy has something to confess." She gave a knowing nod to Fluttershy, who shrank behind her mane.

Applejack removed her hat. Fidgeting with the brim she cautiously spoke. "We were just talkin' 'bout ya. 'Bout yer drinkin problem ta be blunt."

Fluttershy's mind began to race. Her breathing growing rapid. "You knew? How long have you girls known?"

"Well, not long, the uh… the incident after Pinkie's party really brought it ta light." Applejack nervously looked around the table, fearing judgment from her friends. "Is that what ya came ta talk about?"

"Mmhmm," Fluttershy mumbled, slowly nodding her head. "I… uh… Pinkie?" she whimpered, still hidden behind her locks.

Pinkie nodded. "Fluttershy has had a problem for a while, I've been helping her try to kick it in private for a while but..."

"You KNEW about this Pinkie? How long were you going to keep it a secret?" Dash growled indignantly, slamming a hoof on the table. "Do you have any idea how much trouble could have been avoided if you had told somepony in the beginning?"

"She was making good progress Dash. We made a pinkie promise that she was going to get better and I would keep it a secret." Pinkie glared harshly at Rainbow Dash.

"I agree with Dash," Twilight added calmly. "If Fluttershy's drinking had gotten worse she could have gotten hurt. Then you would be partially responsible."

Rarity scoffed "HA! You call what Applejack did 'not hurting'? Fluttershy is traumatized. I say after something like that it's a wonder she's only been drinking as much as she has." She crossed her forelegs, a scowl on her face.

Applejack sunk down in her chair. "An ah feel just terrible about that. Ah've liked Fluttershy for as long as ah can remember. Ah never wanted ta hurt her."

"How do you think that makes her feel? Finding out that all the times you were nice to her in the past were just cheap attempts to get in her pants." Rarity seethed, baring her teeth and hissing her breath. "Nothing says 'I never want to hurt you' like your uninvited tongue."

Applejack stood, both front legs stamped on the table. Her eyes like daggers fixed on Rarity, she pointed an accusative hoof. "There weren't nothin' uninvited about it! Ya weren't there. Ya didn't see how she was actin'. Ah would never do nothin ta nopony that they didn't want!"

"Please stop," Fluttershy squeaked weakly. Even within the safety of her mane, the shouting of her friends was terrifying.

"You're lucky Fluttershy is so timid," Rarity hissed. "If I were her I would make you regret ever touching me."

"You think ah don't regret it? Ah'm losin' everything because of that stupid decision. Mah home, mah family, an most of all, mah friendship with Fluttershy," Applejack shouted as tears formed in her eyes. "Nothin's worth all that!"

"STOP! BOTH OF YOU!" Twilight yelled. "Your fighting isn't helping anything. Just look at Fluttershy." She pointed a hoof at the yellow pegasus, crying her eyes out as she covered her ears with her hooves and rocked back and forth in her chair.

"P-please st-t-top." Fluttershy stammered weakly between sobs.

Pinkie Pie interjected "Girls, we're here to deal with Fluttershy's problem." She reached across the table, offering a hoof. "You're safe Flutters, go ahead and tell them more."

Fluttershy wiped her eyes. Taking Pinkie's hoof in her own she began again. "You all know that I have anxiety problems. I used to take pills for it, but when I moved to Ponyville I couldn't afford them anymore. Somepony couldn't afford treatment for their pet snake, so as payment they gave me a case of palinka. When I was drinking it I didn't feel so anxious. That's how it got started."

Pinkie smiled, in a soft tone she said "You're doing great, I'm proud of you."

"Well then I guess the first step is getting you those pills," Dash said with a smirk. "How much do they cost?"

"When I was taking them they were about a thousand bits a month, plus the doctor's visits," Fluttershy said. Still hiding behind her mane, she blocked out her view of everypony save for Pinkie Pie, who was sitting across from her.

Dash whistled in amazement. "Wow, that's… that's a lot."

Applejack leaned in, looking Twilight in the eyes. "Ah don't s'pose there's somethin' you can do is there? Maybe she can be yer royal vet or somethin."

"I'm sorry Applejack, I can't" Twilight looked away. She had been worried this might come up.

"Why not? Ya made me an Lyra agriculture reps just so we'd have a place ta stay for a week," Applejack huffed. "Ah'd say this is a might more important."

"She did what?" Dash blurted incredulously. "She gave you and Lyra official titles and a room together? What the hay Applejack?"

"Ah got kicked out of mah home cause Granny found out about me and Fluttershy after ah let Lyra stay in our guest room." Applejack stated matter-of-factly "We needed a place ta stay."

"Bonbon and Lyra just broke up yesterday! Bonbon is my friend. You know she has a thing for you, why the hay are you moving in with Lyra?" Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, Applejack couldn't possibly be that oblivious.

"Isn't it obvious Dash?" Rarity snickered. "If Applejack would take advantage of a friend like Fluttershy, why would she care how her new plaything's ex feels?"

"YOU BEST SHUT YER BUCKIN MOUTH! AH DON'T HAVE TA TAKE THIS FROM A TWO BIT WHORE LIKE YOU!" Applejack shot out of her chair. In an instant she was face to face with Rarity. Rage boiled in her voice as she continued. "Don't act like yer so high and mighty, goin' all doe-eyed over anypony with a little popularity and coin. Tell us all about Mister Fancypants back in Canterlot! Tell us ya didn't screw his brains out so he'd invite ya to parties."

Applejack pressed a hoof into Rarity's chest. Through gritted teeth she hissed "Ah did not, and would never take advantage of Fluttershy. An ah never once even looked at Lyra improper."

Rarity's horn lit up. Something behind Applejack rattled and scraped across the counter. "Take your hooves off me you.."

"STOP!" Twilight shouted as a bright purple glow enveloped Applejack, Rarity, and the toaster hanging in the air, mere inches from Applejack's head. "If you two don't stop this idiotic fighting I'm going to throw you both in a dungeon! I can do that, I'm a princess!"

Pinkie, who had abandoned her chair during Applejack's outburst, gave Twilight a quizzical look. "You'd really do that?"

"Well… no. But I could! And these two should remember that," Twilight said as she floated the two mares to opposite sides of the room. As she let them go she took care to place the toaster back in it's original location. "I think everypony needs to just go home before this gets any further out of hoof."

"Twilight…" Fluttershy's tiny voice called softly from under the table. "Can I borrow your mop? I was scared. I barfed."