Whiskey Business

After an obnoxiously long walk, as Twilight didn't trust herself enough to fly and hold Rainbow Dash in her magic at the same time, the Ponyville clinic finally came into view.

"Alright Rainbow we'll just get you checked in and then I can start loo~".

"RAINBOW DAAAASH!" a piercing shout that shook the ground, and echoed in the distance. It hit the two ponies like a thunder clap and stopped them dead in their tracks. It was Fluttershy of all ponies. The normally shy and timid pony had shown multiple times in the past that she knew how to strike fear into the hearts of ponies, minotaurs, and in at least one case a dragon. She was stomping towards them a scowl on her face and a look of sheer doom in her eyes. Somepony was in a lot of trouble and it seemed that pony was Rainbow Dash.

"Hi Fluttershy!" Rainbow shouted uncomfortably close to Twilight's ear. The alcohol in her system made her not notice the hurricane trotting towards her. There's a reason they call it liquid courage.

Twilight tried to intercept the oncoming storm with a "Fluttershy what's wr~."

"WHAT DID YOU DO TO APPLEJACK?!" The incarnate fury roared in her high airy voice.

"FUCK YOU FLUTTERSHY!" Rainbow spat out instantly.

"Rainbow!" Twilight Sparkle scolded. Even Fluttershy's righteous indignation was halted for a moment by the suddenness of the response.

"What she yelled at me" Rainbow muttered apathetically. Twilight Sparkle put a hoof to the side of her muzzle in frustration. She was not ready for today. All she wanted to do was read some dark forbidden lore. Now she was stuck in the middle of this fuster cluck. She inhaled sharply to recenter herself.

"Fluttershy what's wrong?" Twilight Sparkle asked hoping to get the ball rolling.

"I found Applejack weeping and losing her mind on Apple whiskey." Across town at the Salt Lick tavern Berry Punch burst through the double doors. "She was drunk out of her mind and ranting about Rainbow Dash. I tried to calm her down but she wouldn't put the bottle down. I couldn't understand her through the intoxication, tears and." Fluttershy grew closer to her usual shy demeanor. "Her accent. I'd never seen hr like this so I managed to get my fuzzy friend here." a grizzly bear in the distance waved to the assembled ponies. "To carry her to the hospital." Twilight Sparkle reflected subconsciously that's it's terribly rude to bring a wild animal into a hospital, but her fore brain congratulated Fluttershy on being so resourceful.

"Wait so Applejack's at the hospital? Thank Celestia, we were so worried." Twilight started to resume her trot towards the hospital but Fluttershy stomped a hoof at her, sense of Justice not yet satisfied.

"That still doesn't explain why Rainbow Dash made her cry!"

"Calm down Fluttershy, Rainbow doesn't know either. And we're not going to be able to make heads or tails of this situation until both of them are sober." Fluttershy glanced at the ground in consideration .

"Well then let's get her inside." Fluttershy dismissed Lord Beartholomew Bearington of Witherfreth and they trotted over then entered the the automatic double doors. Twilight was going to call out to a doctor to explain the situation but a nurse wearing a nervous smile came up with a hospital bed for Rainbow Dash before she could open her mouth.

Twilight could only mutter "Thank" under her breath before the realization hit her. Everypony. From the doctors, to the nurses, to the mares clutching their foals close to them was staring in abject terror. She was concerned she had done something wrong when another leap of logic took place. They weren't staring at her, they were staring at Fluttershy. Gentle, quiet, reserved Fluttershy. What could they be scared of fro. . . . She suddenly remembered the absolute singularity of doom that had been her friend just a few short minutes ago. That combined with the fact that she brought a FUCKING. GRIZZLY. BEAR. into a hospital, and suddenly everyone's terror was suddenly understandable.

Twilight adopted an embarrassed grin and waved sheepishly while the offending pony in question, righteous mission completed, tried her best to hide behind her hair from all the fearful stares. Twilight felt the gentlest of taps at her shoulder.

"Princess Twilight?" One of the doctors quavered. "We put miss Rainbow Dash in the same room with miss Applejack, i i is that alright?" The doctor flinched and cowered behind his clipboard as if he was going to be struck. Twilight did her best to diffuse the situation.

"Yes yes that's perfect thank you doctor thank you very much." She said in her most comforting conciliatory voice. She put a hoof on the doctor's shoulder and he relaxed slightly. Regaining a bit of his professional medical composure.

"Well right this way ladies." He said still not looking at Fluttershy. He led them to room 420 and said they could stay as long as they need. He then did his level best to flee with any kind of dignity. Twilight cracked open the door slightly and saw the pair of innebrieates sleeping gently. I.V.s replenishing the fluids they had both lost from alcohol poisoning, machines beeped softly, the blinds were closed to let the two sleep, and all appeared as it should. Twilight closed the door and heaved a small sigh of relief that the worst was over. Fluttershy started to say something but all that came out was a small squeak when Twilight Sparkle rounded on her and asked in a low but very intense voice.

"What was all that in the waiting room?!" Why was everypony staring at you like you were about to attack them?" Fluttershy pawed at the ground as she always did while explaining something she wasn't terribly comfortable with. Which was most things.

"Well I couldn't carry Applejack by myself so I asked Lord Beartholomew Bearington of Witherfreth to carry her. I got through the doors before him and explained that Applejack needed help but the." Fluttershy dug through her mind for the worst thing she could call a pony. She whispered the word as if saying it, even when used properly, was still uncouth "jerk! at the reception desk said 'this is a clinic not a drunk tank. Take your lowlife friend somewhere else'. So I said 'listen Missy this pony has saved Equestria more times than you can count. Now she needs your help', and that's then Lord Bearington walked in and noticed that I was arguing with the receptionist so he started growling. He's very defensive about his friends. Then I said 'and she's gonna get it, or you're gonna get it!'"

Twilight Sparkle was crouched against the wall taking shelter behind her wing. Fluttershy's recital had included both historically accurate voices and choreography. Twilight knew from experience that Fluttershy could be scary when she wanted to be, and was delighted that she was being more assertive but they'd have to have a serious talk about brandishing a bear when someone is less than cordial with you.

"Well the first part of this is over. Once they're sober we can sit down and hammer this whole thing out." Twilight and Fluttershy both got comfortable on the bench outside the door and Twilight put her spinning head in her hooves. "What do you think happened? I mean we know Applejack. She'd never put herself in a way that she couldn't work, and I guarantee you if you're drunk enough to go to the hospital means you won't be at work tomorrow."

Fluttershy nodded along with Twilight's train of thought. She knew when Twilight was in this state of mind input wouldn't be acknowledged but if you listen and follow along eventually she would get there. "And Apple whiskey!". On the ground floor of Ponyville clinic Berry Punch burst through the door.

"That's not a common spirit for the Apple family. They don't even make it every year like they do cider. This must have been a special occasion. I don't think she would've just breached a barrel and filled 267 individual bottles just for an afternoon of casual drinking. What could've possessed Applejack to go through all this trouble." Fluttershy knowing it was a long shot but trusting in her friend not to ignore her as they'd had many a twenty two minute adventures about it spoke up.

"Well uhm Applejack in her uhm drunken flailing did keep saying something about uhm liquid courage."

"Liquid courage?" Miracle of miracles Twilight heard outside input. "Why would Applejack, the second bravest pony in Equestria, need liquid courage?" The princess more considered the point than actually asked. A sound was heard in the room and Twilight got up and steeled herself for the uncomfortable ordeal ahead. "Okay I think they're awake let's try and be as understanding as possible these are our friends and our friendship is strong enough to survive ANY OBST~."

Twilight's stirring oration was cut short by slamming the door that she had just cracked barely open. Twilight's face was glowing red. Fluttershy never got a chance to ask what the situation was because Twilight grabbed Fluttershy and squeaked "EVERYTHING SOLVED FOREVER", and teleported them both out of the hospital. A manic Berry Punch sprinted right to where they had been standing and cast her head around looking for the source of her craving. Seeing no Apple whiskey or anypony to interrogate for Apple whiskey she hung her head, grimaced, and muttered to herself discontentedly about the trail going cold.