I sat on my favorite cloud, shivering. Was he not going to show up? I wanted it. I needed it. My eyes darted to and fro; I couldn't let anypony see me.
I ducked inside the cloud and slowly flew it so it sat just above the alley where I was supposed to meet my contact. Almost no one seemed to be able to get any, but the little guy seemed to have an unlimited supply of the stuff. My finely honed instincts told me that he probably had a source on the inside stealing it for him, but so long as he kept it coming, I didn't care.
The sky began to darken as I waited. Come on, this was taking forever! Eventually, a diminutive shape crept around a corner, looking both ways before ducking into a barrel and sticking a tiny umbrella atop it. A huge grin came over my face.
He was ready.
Trying not to attract attention, I lowered myself—still in the cloud—to the ground and hopped out. I rapped on the barrel, duplicating the rhythm of Sapphire Shores' newest hit song. I always got nervous at this part; I wasn't a musician, so I was sure my hoof drumming was a little off.
Still, like always, he anticipated this. In a voice that tried way too hard to be gravelly, he intoned, “Rainbow Dash?”
“Yeah. I got the bits. Do you have the stuff?” I tried not to show how jittery I was. Rainbow Dash didn't get withdrawals; I was too cool for that. Still, it had been almost a day since I had had any of it.
A short pause. “Money first, you know that!”
I sighed and upended the coin pouch hanging around my throat into the barrel.
After a short pause and clinking of coins, he made a growling noise that I guess was supposed to sound pleased, but it sounded kinda creepy. “Good. Now then, I've got a special treat for you this time.”
“Is that why you're charging me almost six times the usual price?” I didn't mean to complain, but it was seriously not cool to gouge a pony like that.
A throaty chuckle. “Oh, it's well worth the price. Today, I have for you...” He paused, knowing I would hang on his every word. “A whole barrel of it.”
“A whole... a whole... a whole barrel?! Oh man, you're the best!” Despite how silly it would have looked to anypony not privy to what was going on, I gave the barrel a hug. “Thanks! You're the best!”
I'm sure that inside that barrel, he had some kind of response, but all he said was, “The barrel is hidden in the usual spot.”
I cheered and zoomed off to the grove outside Ponyville where Spike always hid the cider he got for me, only to hear his echoing “evil” laughter behind me. I rolled my eyes; he spent way too much time around Rarity.
My mouth watered at the thought of it, pushing all else out of my mind. I would do any thing, pay any price, to see my need fulfilled. Anything was worth it to satisfy this craving.
I paced back and forth, casting nervous glances around the library. Rainbow Dash was still sound asleep in front of the Daring Do shelf, snoring rather loudly. A caked layer of dirt and mud covered her face and discolored her mane, adding streaks of brown into her rainbow tangle of hair. A thin line of drool ran from her mouth onto the floor. Fortunately, it hadn't gotten on any of the books, but I would still have to have Spike clean up the mess she'd made later.
I turned back to the others, keeping my voice low. Fluttershy, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all present and huddled around a table. I took a quick assessment of everypony's emotional state; if we were going to help Rainbow Dash, we needed to be at our best.
Fluttershy sat, trembling, trying to hold a cup of cocoa. The poor thing had been inconsolable ever since she had discovered poor Rainbow Dash, passed out in an alley. Tears gathered in the corner of her narrowed eyes. Was Fluttershy going to be able to keep it together? I walked over and put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. “Don't worry, Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash is tough. With our help, she'll make it through this,” I whispered.
Fluttershy sniffled and nodded. I offered her a gentle chuckle and a smile. We had to be at our best. We had to, for Rainbow Dash's sake. According to my reading, dealing with addiction was not easy.
Pinkie Pie, for once, was holding still, which made me nervous. As she was next in “line,” I walked to her and whispered, “You okay, Pinkie?”
All she did was nod and keep her huge eyes glued to the table. A thin line of perspiration rolled down my neck; if Pinkie Pie was this muted, she had to have been deeply troubled by what Rainbow Dash had done. Or, maybe more accurately, what the contents of that emptied barrel we'd found had done to her.
To my surprise, Rarity seemed composed, calmly sipping tea from a cup she held with her magic. Her eyes were closed as she lost herself in the minty bliss of her drink.
“You... seem fine, Rarity.”
“But of course, darling. After all, Rainbow Dash would hate to see us pitying her, would she not?” Her eyes opened in a watery movement, betraying her true sadness, and she smiled a bittersweet smile. “Don't worry Twilight—I'll be okay. Rainbow Dash is the one that needs help, not us.”
I nodded my silent thanks and moved on. Rarity could be quite strong when she needed to be.
Applejack was next, and if anything, she looked the worst for wear, aside from Rainbow Dash herself. She clutched her hat to her chest like it would blow away if she let go for even a moment, and she kept murmuring to herself, “Never meant for this to happen... Never meant for this to happen... Can't be my fault...”
I could only shake my head. Applejack would just have to come around. Then again, were I in her horseshoes, I would probably feel much the same. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I had hurt one of my friends, even if I hadn't meant it; Applejack just needed to hear that Rainbow Dash forgave her.
The sharp clack of a hoof hitting wood sounded from behind me, and after I gave Spike a quick signal to lock the door, I turned back to Rainbow Dash, who was stirring at last.
“Ugh, my head...” she moaned. Her eyes opened lethargically, only to shoot wide open in surprise when she spotted all of us. “Huh? What? What are you guys doing here?” She swayed to her hooves, looking for all the world like a drunk trying to act sober in front of a guardpony. “What's... are we having a party, Pinkie?”
Her eyes traveled upwards of their own accord until they came to rest on the banner I had made. She mouthed the words as she read them. “Wh—'intervention?' Is this some kind of joke?” Her wings flared out, and she stared at us with a mixture of anger and confusion.
I stepped forward, figuring it was best to address the elephant in the room. “Rainbow Dash, this is an intervention. We're all here because we care about you, and we're all really worried for you.” I turned. “Right?”
A chorus of nods and assorted murmurs of assent answered me.
“Wh-what the hay are you talking about? I don't have any kind of problem.” She took to the air, rising unsteadily on unsure wings. “Guys, for a prank, this isn't very funny.”
Before she could take off, Rarity and I grabbed her with our magic. “This isn't a joke! You have a serious problem, and we want to help you with it.”
Rarity stepped forward, wearing her very best pout. “Please, Rainbow Dash. I beg of you, let us help.”
With her help, we lowered Rainbow Dash back to the floor, ignoring how thin of a line her mouth was drawn into. Her forelegs crossed, and it was clear she was not amused with what we were doing. “Fine. But I'm telling you, I don't have a problem! I-I could quit any time I wanted!”
Once Dash's rump was on solid wood again, Rarity rushed forward and held Rainbow Dash close, burying her head in that prismatic mane. “Oh, Rainbow Dash! I simply cannot stand to see you like this!” She pulled her head out in disgust, noticing how dirty the mane she was nuzzling was. “Why, just look at yourself!”
Rarity floated a small mirror over from her saddlebags lying near the door and held it in front of Rainbow Dash, letting her examine herself. Judging by her flattened ears, she didn't really like what she saw.
“Rainbow Dash, I know you don't like to spend much time on your appearance, but you've always been such an elegant mare, with your natural style. Why, just look at what this addiction has done to you! I hate to see you do this to yourself... please, Rainbow Dash, you have to beat this thing.”
I watched, fascinated, as Rainbow Dash first puffed up from Rarity's words, then deflated. Interesting. I made a mental note to ask Rarity if she had ever studied psychology; she certainly knew how to push a pony's buttons well enough. However, manipulation didn't seem like the correct solution to this problem. What we needed was some honest, truthful advice.
I glanced over to Applejack, whose eyes were everywhere except Rainbow Dash. I suppressed a sigh; she didn't deal with guilt well, and we all knew it. She knew her stubbornness kept landing her in uncomfortable situations, yet she was helpless to correct it. Still, change didn't happen overnight. I knew that quite well.
Fluttershy stepped forward, clearly not wanting to break up the moment Rarity and Rainbow Dash were having, but the firm mold her face was set into spoke of a slow determination. “Um, excuse me... I have something to say.”
Rarity backed off, letting Fluttershy have a turn.
“Rainbow Dash, I know you didn't mean to hurt anypony, and I know how nice it feels to, um... indulge every once in a while...” Fluttershy blushed. Funny: I hadn't pegged her as the type. “But we're all worried about you.”
The addict looked up, misery carved into her mud-caked features. “But it feels so good!” Her eyes watered in desperation. I could tell, even now, all she was thinking about was how to get her next fix. How had she fallen so low?
Fluttershy wrapped her forelegs and wings around her in a gentle hug. “I know it does, but you need to take these things in moderation. I was so worried when I found you passed out behind Sugarcube Corner. And when you get started, we never know where you're going to go! What if... what if you get into an accident? What if you wind up hurting somepony?” Her grip on Rainbow Dash tightened. “Oh, that'd just be awful.”
“Fluttershy...” Rainbow's voice cracked. Nopony could resist Fluttershy for long.
“It's okay,” Fluttershy cooed, stroking Rainbow Dash's mane with a tentative hoof. “It's okay.”
“Yeah, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie popped up, full of pep and pizazz as always. She joined the hug somehow, causing Fluttershy to squeak in surprise. “I mean, it's fun to let loose and use that stuff and party hearty, but I mean, obviously it's better if it's not causing you trouble, although some ponies think parties are trouble in and of themselves which just makes me laugh because it's so silly. I mean, really, who would think that a party is anything but fun? That's what a party's for, silly ponies, not just laying passed out in a corner while other ponies do things allll around you and sometimes to you, because being asleep can be fun depending on the kind of dreams you have but being awake is waaaaay more fun! I mean, when you're awake you can spend time with all your friends even though I dream about you guys all the time even though the dreams are sometimes weird and make me ask myself, 'Pinkie, is there something you're not telling yourself?' but then I laugh in the mirror about how silly I'm being once I wake up!”
“Um...” Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy said at the same time, making them both give each other blinking stares.
“What's your point, Pinkie?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Pinkie giggled. “Silly! It's that you should do things with your friends, and we're happier when you're okay!”
Even for those three, a hug had to end sometime, and when I felt they'd had enough time, I walked over. They broke apart, awaiting my words of wisdom. Not that I liked to brag, but if Applejack was still a little out of it, I was the best candidate for some down-to-earth wisdom.
“Rainbow Dash, this isn't like you. I know you like to live life to the extreme, but there comes a time when a little moderation is in order. There's definitely such a thing as too much of a good thing.” I paused. “Except for books, of course.”
Rainbow Dash snorted and rolled her eyes, no doubt thinking of Daring Do.
“The bottom line is we're all worried about you, Rainbow Dash. This stuff, this obsession—no, let's call it what it is and just get it out there—this addiction is screwing up your life! We just want to see you be happy, and while you are happy enough when you have some in you, the minute you run out, it's like nothing in your life matters except getting some!” I softened my tone and my expression, going for a gentle smile that offered hope. “You're better than this, and you can beat this thing. And we can help. We're all your friends, and we love you. Right, Applejack?” After a few beats of silence, I turned my head, hoping Applejack wasn't still in her catatonic state. “Applejack?” I dreaded what was to come next. If Applejack didn't come through, it was all for naught.
Applejack remained still for a moment and didn't budge from her seat at the table. Slowly, she rose. “Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry.”
Rainbow Dash shifted, chuckling. “W-what are you apologizing for? I'm the one with the problem here, r-right?” Her eyes begged Applejack not to go on, but once Applejack decided on a path, there was no dissuading her from it.
“No. It's my fault and I won't have you saying otherwise.” Applejack walked over to us. Each step was purposeful, laden with heavy thought and purpose. I wondered at the very floor not shaking from impact. “I know what you're on came from me, and that thought hurts me more than you can imagine.” Applejack paused, drawing in a heavy breath before blowing it out in a heavy exhale.
Rainbow Dash squirmed, clearly uncomfortable.
“I should just stop selling the stuff altogether, if it's gonna cause this much heartache and consternation.”
“No!” we all cried, only to look at each other in mutual astonishment.
“It's great!” Pinkie Pie said.
“We all enjoy it so,” Rarity said.
“I need more of it!” Rainbow Dash wailed.
“I can't ever get enough!” I said.
“I think it's quite lovely,” Fluttershy added.
Applejack blinked, taken aback by our ardor. With a breathy chuckle, she said, “Well, I reckon I didn't have much notion that y'all enjoyed it so much. Still, I feel pretty miserable about this here deal. Is it really worth the trouble?”
“Yes!” the rest of us said in unison.
She chuckled. “Well, all right, if you say so. I guess the problem came when I limited how much any one pony could buy—figured it'd make the supply last longer, but I hear tell some ponies have been reselling the stuff at a premium price.”
“You're telling me,” Rainbow Dash said with a moan and a quick glare at Spike, for some reason. She covered her face with her hooves in regret.
“Still, it didn't rightly seem quite fair that I couldn't supply all the ponies who wanted some with their fix. That was the whole reasoning behind the limit per customer...”
As interesting as this might be to a pony who studied business ethics, this was getting us nowhere. “Uh, Applejack? Could we focus?”
Even though she shot me an annoyed glare, she took my meaning. “Right. Rainbow, it might be a little hypocritical of me to say this, because I'm the one dealin' you this stuff, but you need to stop.”
Tears gathered in the corner of Rainbow Dash's trembling eyes. “You're... you're cutting me off?”
Applejack put a gentle hoof on Rainbow Dash's shoulder. “Of course not, sugarcube. All I'm saying is that you need to slow down a little. There's more to life than just cider, after all.”
Rainbow Dash chuckled. “I... I guess so. You're right, Applejack. Sorry, everypony.” She wiped the mud off her muzzle with one clean sweep of her right forehoof. “Guess I got carried away.”
We gathered around her for a group hug, filled with expressions of good will and helpful sentiments.
What followed was clearly going to be a fun-filled day spent with friends, just as it should have been. While I was sure Rainbow Dash wasn't going to be able to curb her cider habit just like that, she was surely on the road to recovery. I felt a warm glow in my heart from knowing that my friends would always be there for each other. We could always count on that.
“Alright, who's up for a round of cider to celebrate?” Rainbow Dash asked, speaking so quickly I could barely hear her. Before any of us could answer, she zoomed out from our group hug and out the window.
Spike hopped up from his seat. “I, uh... I better go after her!”
I smacked myself in the face with a hoof. Today was going to be a very long day.
