*Thud thud thud thud thud*

"I'm coming, jeez. What's the fracas?" The door opened slowly and Rainbow Dash was sobbing, tears leaving her eyes almost blinding her as she barged in and laid on the wooden floor. "Rainbow Dash?" Suddenly awake she tried to understand why her friend was crying in front of her so late in the night.

"Twilight, she hates me. I don't know what to do, what do I do?"

"Uh, Rainbow. You have to give me context, is this Applejack you're talking about? She'd never hate you, tell me what happened." Twilight used her magic to bring a quill, inkwell and some note cards over then prepared to listen as a quill scribbling started against paper.

"After the party we raced back home then we were gonna do something in the cellar."

"I remember the cellar," Twilight said, her magic faltering slightly as she squeezed her eyes shut tightly as Rainbow continued.

"We got the new mattress in and a few barrels of cider fell over."

"Oh no! Were they damaged? You know each one can sell for about 3,000 bits, right?"

Rainbow started to cry into the floor loudly, all Twilight could think to do was place a hoof on Rainbow's side while trying to keep a safe distance away. Their friendship meant a lot to her and she didn't want to jeopardize it again. After a long minute Rainbow gasped and sat up. "I didn't spill them I drank them! Every last drop of six barrels since I first went in there. Twilight, I drank 10,000 bits from Applejack, what'll I do? I can't pay that back even if I saved for five years."

Twilight sat down and stared at Rainbow for a moment. "18,000 bits. You drank 18,000 bits. That's a full years salary for you as a cloud buster, Rainbow Dash. I-I don't know what to say or how to help," her writing equipment floated to the floor as she blinked at Rainbow, "I'm sorry but I think we have to sleep on this one. You can take the cot, I'll set it up since Spike is asleep. You know baby dragons need their rest."

Twilight went upstairs and pulled the cot from under her bed, all ready and made. "Just needs a lift and," while moving it to the other side of the room she set it up and with a click locked it legs into place. "There you go Rainbow Dash, one cot ready and, well ready for you to sleep in. I'm going to get the lights, if you need anything you know where the bathroom and kitchen are and Spike is just a nudge away from you," Twilight yawned and crawled back into bed, "I hope you have a great sleep, Rainbow Dash and we'll talk with Applejack and work this out in the morning."

Twilight pulled up her blanket and was almost asleep before she heard Rainbow sniffling. She tried to cover her ears and pull the pillow over her head but even the slight whimpering drove into the deepest parts of her skull and annoyed her to no end. "These have been the longest thirty seconds of my life! What's wrong Rainbow Dash, just tell me so we can go to sleep."

"Grrrrugh," Spike groaned as he woke up slightly, "Twilight, is everything okay? Need another glass of water or bedtime story?"

"No Spike, Rainbow Dash is spending the night and won't go, to, sleep," Twilight said frustrated.

"No, it's okay Twi. Spike, I think I should just go, maybe I can sleep at Fluttershy's."

"No, it's okay. I'm sorry Dash. I," Twilight stopped and got out of bed and placed a hoof on Spikes head pressing him back into bed. With little resistance he fell back asleep and Twilight pulled the blanket back over him.

"Rainbow Dash, lets talk. Mare to mare, not as anything else okay?"

Rainbow sat up and furrowed her brow raising her left eyebrow. "You want to actually talk? Not lecture or whatever?"

"I think we need to talk. We haven't spent any time alone since... We have to be friends again and," Twilight stopped and took a breath, "let's talk this out between us before I help you and Applejack."

Rainbow fluttered her wings to help her roll over and sat up in the cot cross legged as she peered at Twilight. "Okay, fine. Let's talk. You're an awful lover."

Twilight reeled back in horror as the words struck her heart. The pain stung for a moment as flashes of Lilli shouting about distrust and disgust at her actions as a lover and as a mare. "Rainbow, why?" Was all she could say as she sat and her shoulders drooped.

"You have to know the truth and that's it. You hurt AJ. You hurt Lilli... You hurt me when you cast that spell," Rainbow and Twilight winced at the flash of memory, "and I don't know how we'll get past that. Your turn."

"My turn? That was an awful thing to start with, Rainbow! I meant talk like adults not like that. Fine; you're a cocky... No, we're not doing this," Twilight gritted her teeth for a moment as she glared back at Rainbow who was now sitting up waiting calmly for a reply. Is, is she actually waiting for a rational response? Is this how she talks normally? I guess I've never really talked with her, it's always been with the others around or when I, wow. I really do lecture a lot, I don't listen to my own friends and they expect insults and lectures in return. Lilli was right.

"Rainbow, I loved Applejack a lot," she started, "and every pony was right; I am an egghead. I lecture too much and don't listen. I'm too focused on my studies and learning everything I can about everything that I sabotage every close relationship around me. But you have the chance to be with the most brave, dependable and honest mare in Equestria and you can't blow it.

Did I ever tell you about the first time I confessed to her?"

"Wait, you confessed to her? I thought she made the first move, you don't seem like the type. Is there a book here that's all about asking somepony out?" She looked seriously around at the books below them for a moment before Twilight coughed to get her attention.

"It was after the Mare Do Well incident. Remember?"

"Yeah, everypony dressed up in costumes to teach me to relax. Totally hilarious you thought it'd work that easy."

"Yeah, all it took was a week with Applejack to calm you down," Twilight said smirking, "anyway, I came back here and hung up my outfit and went to the bathroom to take a shower. All I could think of was how her hair looked in the costume, the smell of apples from her mask and the sweat that moistened it slightly."

"Woah, wait. You stole her hood? That's kinda creepy, Twi. Even for you."

"Hey, I am not creepy, except that once. I held it all night and when I woke up I put it on, then decided I had to take the chance. I heard a rumor she was looking at flanks and not cutie mark flanks, sexy flanks. Cherilee, Bonbon, even Pinkie Pie, those secrets fly faster than you Rainbow. So, I practiced and practiced over and over. I made a dozen lists of places to ask her but it never felt right and then one day a week later we were walking in town and she asked me if something was wrong.

I tripped and fell on my horn and started to cry like a filly and she held me. Right there in the middle of the street as ponies passed us and looked at me like I was... I can't even describe the looks. She asked me if there was any place I'd like to go to freshen up and I just pointed to a bench. She picked me up like it was nothing and tossed me on her back and carried me there. I remember smelling her as-"

"Okay, Twi. Stop with the details and get to the asking part, she's my fiance still."

"Sorry, anyway she let me lay my head on her chest and then asked me how I felt. I know she was being sincere but I blurted out the most embarrassing thing I could say. I feel perfect right here. I couldn't believe I said it and I felt her squeeze me tighter than she was just holding me. I looked up at her and the shadow on her face from her hat just made her eyes sparkle, even in the shadow. She bit her lip and I saw her muzzle tremble and I sat up. I said something more honest. I want to hold you next time, as close to my heart as I can.

That was it. The moment I though would end with us being happy together forever. But that was just an empty dream, I thought I'd live with her here and we'd grow old together and, you know. They whole filly dream of a perfect life we all have once in a while. Your turn, tell me about your relationship with Applejack."

"It's pretty cool."

"That's it? You need to talk more, tell me more and get it out so I can help you and we can fix us."

"I don't know what to say, except for me drinking her cider I know everything is perfect."

"Perfect how?"

"Well."

"Except the sex, how are you perfect?"

"Well, she helped me get my job back at weather control and introduced me to a lot of other ponies that're like us. Then I help her pick apples and..."

"And?"

"And, move clouds so they help her and she doesn't get to hot. And I help her sort the apples sometimes."

"And?"

"Why do you keep asking? We talk a lot about stuff."

"Like?"

Rainbow frowned as she looked at Twilight. "Cloud busting and how awesome it is to be together mostly."

"So, you're saying your whole relationship is about her working hard and you watching, basically? Is that what she needs in love, do you think?"

"Twi, I don't know! I don't know what else to do or how to do it or even when. It's always been about me since I was a filly trying to impress my parents and school mates. I befriended any pony or griffin weaker than me so I could show them up and when I met Applejack I though she was the same, then she turned out to be the same as me. No matter what I tried her matched me or bested me and it was awesome," Rainbow flapped her wings subconsciously raising her into the air, hovering as she continued, "she'd race me and tie my wings down and it was so hot.

She'd challenge me and let me win a few I knew but I was okay with it. It was always in fun until the last time we raced before we, well. You and the town knew after that night. Ya see, something Pegasi don't talk about is that our wings being tied down is super sexy and reserved mostly for foreplay before we get. It. On." She grinned wide, "then I guess rumors spread before that night that we were an item but I blew it off. Then she made a few moves that night that really made me all confused and then I gave in to her.

She did things to me and made me feel a way no stallion ever had before or since. I felt like my whole life was a lie before her and then everything was going to be okay when I was with her. Then," Rainbow stopped and landed back onto the bed with her legs over the side. Her body facing half away from Twilight as her wings drooped along with the rest of her. "Then she showed me the secret room. It was so cool to see her secret place and then what we did. But then as soon as it was over she was asleep, smiling so cute and panting fast."

Twilight scrunched her muzzle as she imagined Rainbow and Applejack making love in the room as Rainbow continued. "I, I got out of bed quietly and grabbed a tasting mug and tapped a barrel then poured a taste. It was so good. Slightly chilled and sweet and fermented just right. I drank six more mugs before she woke up and then I lied to her so good she believed me. I told her I only had one, to taste it. Well, I told her that later. Then I started sneaking back for more and more until I finished a barrel. Then another. And another.

I figured I could pay her back or help her harvest more apples before it was a problem but I kept going back and moving the barrels around closer to the entrance where they'd be out of her counting."

"Inventory."

"Twi, my turn. Now, we moved a new bed in and it knocked over the empty barrels and she got mad. Twilight, I have a problem with cider. I can't get enough and it might have ended my marriage before it started, but I guess I deserve it."

"Rainbow Dash," Twilight said moving to the cot and sitting next to her friend, "You don't deserve anything like that and it's not over. It's barely begun; you were both so happy that no pony could end that so easily, not even you. I think you're an alcoholic, I can help you and a few of us will always be here for you to keep you on the right path. You can do it, right? Stop drinking hard cider and ales and beer?"

"What? But those are awesome and delicious. I can't just quit being fun."

"But you can quit on Applejack?"

Rainbow sunk a little lower as she realized the choice she had in front of her. This is gonna be tough.

The next morning Twilight woke Rainbow up early and led her to the hospital to check her into phase one of treatment. "I'll let Applejack know you're here and you're working on your problem. I'll be a scroll away if you need me. Just send a message to me anytime and I'll be here with Applejack in no time, just call out the window really loud and one of us will-"

"I get it Twi. I've got this, it's no big deal. I'll have this licked in no time flat."

Later that morning while Twilight was talking with an upset Applejack they saw Rainbow Dashes trail heading back into town. "What the heck is she doing? Twi, you said she was at the hospital. What's goin' on here?"

"I don't know, she was there a little while ago. Let's follow her trail and see where she's going."

The two of them galloped quickly into town and followed the trail to the Ponyville Pub. A small bar that never closed and served all types of alcohol to ponies who needed a drink to stop a hangover or start a new one.

"Oh heavens ta Betsy. She's drinkin' this early? Twi, let's get her."

Barging in the scanned the room and saw Rainbow sitting at the bar on the far side of the room. "Rainbow Dash, what are you doing in here?" Twilight scolded.

"I'm having one last drink before I go in."

"You were already in! How'd you get out?"

"Uh, hello?" Rainbow flashed her wings and grinned. "Fastest pony in Equestria, got out before they knew I was out."

"Sweetie, ya do have a problem. Do you do this often?"

"Every day! She's one of my best regulars. Every morning afternoon and evening she comes in. I know I like the business but she's here as much as I am some days. Rainbow Dash," the bar owner turned to her, "even I think you need help. You can't live like this and throw your bits away on the drink. It'll ruin you like it did Saddle Sore over there." He pointed to a stallion that was ragged and disheveled, asleep at a table with a mug in his hoof.

"That's who I smelled when we walked in?" Twilight said covering her nose. "Rainbow, come with us or I'll take you."

"After my last drink, Twi. AJ, I mean it. Please trust me, honey." Applejack looked between Twilight and Rainbow before sighing.

"One last drink, Dashing. Then we leave." Twilight gasped and followed Applejack to a table arguing her point as they sat and Rainbow sipped her drink.

Finishing the drink almost twenty minutes later she got up and trotted happily to the others. "Hey, can I do my shift at work, I need to talk to them before I disappear for a while. I'll meet you at the library in an hour, tops."

"Twilight, I don't see a problem with that."

"I do, she's making excuses to stay out of treatment. Rainbow, we have to go now."

"No, I trust her Twi. She'll get her bosses to know then she'll meet us up at the library. Right Dashing?"

Rainbow smiled wide and nodded as she trotted past them and left, taking to the air and flying away. "Applejack, you just got taken as a chump by your fiance. She's not going to work and if she does she'll end up right back here."

"No she ain't. She'll meet us at the library like she said. Ya gotta have faith Twi."

"We wait here until an hour passes, if she doesn't come back I'll but you lunch."

"Fine, then you get to buy lunch and smoothies."

They stared at each other before Twilight got up to get some water and nuts for while they waited.

Thirty minutes later Rainbow galloped back into the pub and to the bar. "An ale, quickly. I've got a place to be."

"Rainbow Dash!" Applejack shouted. Rainbow gasped and dropped her bits to the floor as she snapped around to see her friends sitting at the same table as before. Twilight looked almost proud she was right while Applejack was shocked and angry. "Ya get over here now." Rainbow froze in place as she debated begging for forgiveness or another drink before she was taken out.

"Barkeep, get me that ale fast!" He stood still and frowned at Rainbow.

"No, go with your friends. I'm cutting you off, Rainbow Dash." Rainbow growled and tried jumping over the counter as Twilight grabbed her in a force field and levitated her out of the bar with herself and Applejack. Rainbow was screaming and fighting valiantly as ponies watched her thrashing in the field as she was carried through town.

"Let me go, I don't have any problems! Tell her AJ. I'm fine, you can trust me!"

Applejack hung her head. I understand why she loves cider so much now. Why she drank those barrels dry and why she won't open up a lot of the time unless we're about to make love. Oh, Celestia. "Rainbow, I'm gonna make sure you get help. All the help you can get."

"Applejack, please. Let me go, I've told you already that everything is fine. Work knows I'm gonna be gone for a couple days so everything's taken care of. That was gonna be my last ale. No more cider, ale or anything. I promise, AJ. Believe me, I love you. Don't take me there." Rainbow was beginning to feel tears streaming down her face, ignoring the ponies staring at her display.

"Twilight, what's going on here?" A voice called from above as Quill came closer and landed. Rainbow stopped thrashing and locked her eyes onto Quill.

"Quill, ya gotta help me. They're gonna lock me up!"

"We are not locking you up. You have a problem and we're helping you."

"Against my will and I don't wanna go cuz I don't have a problem."

"Quill, she's been drinking a lot. She needs help, we're taking her to the hospital."

"What? Rainbow Dash, is this true? You're an alcoholic? Well, that explains a lot actually. Twilight, come with me. The hospital won't help, they'll watch her for a day then let her go because she says she doesn't have a problem. Follow me, I know a safe place we can help her. I've dealt with this before."

Rainbow resumed her fighting and shouting as they followed Quill outside town. "Fluttershy's cottage? This is your safe place? I can see why but I didn't know she helped ponies with problems, only critters."

"No, she'll help any creature in need. She helped me when I was," Quill paused as the others walked and then looked back. She quickly caught back up. "I was hooked on Diel Weeds."

"Really? Aren't those just for putting foals to sleep?"

"In large doses it numbs any mind, I hurt my wing once and I tried it with a former friend. After a few tries I was hooked, spend hours a day drooling on my couch before I'd pass out from drinking wine when I started to come down. Just to keep the effect going, I almost died a few times and Davenport carried me here. Fluttershy opened her door without asking a question and put me in bed and helped me get better. It was really hard and it's going to hurt, Rainbow Dash. But you're gonna be so much happier once you're better and your life will be so much brighter."

"No it's not, I don't need help. All I need is AJ and..." Rainbow stopped and began looking at the trio carrying her as she stopped and the thought passed through her mind again. She finally gave in and floated with Twilight's magic to Fluttershy's door.

With four heavy knocks and a few seconds Fluttershy opened the door and smiled at the three and then Rainbow in an energy field. "Um, hello everypony. Are you here for pre-afternoon tea?"

"No Fluttershy," Quill started, "Rainbow needs your help like I did." Fluttershy stepped back and gestured for the others to enter.

"I understand. Rainbow Dash, what's wrong?"

"Nothing! It's a misunderstanding, that's all."

"She's a drinker, 'Shy. I need her back to her old self and our lives together again."

"Oh my, I need your help then girls. One of you will have to stay with us to keep her from escaping and I'll need your help tying her wings down so she can't fly away." Rainbows eyes widened as she started shouting and thrashing again.

A few minutes later Rainbow had her wings tied to her body and was tied across her midsection to a soft bed upstairs screaming as they went downstairs to talk. "Who's going to stay with us, girls?"

The trio looked at each other then at Applejack. "Ah'll do it. We'll be spending the rest of our lives together and this' as good a start as any. I'll see ya later and have a great day. Can ya tell Granny and Big Mac I'm gonna be busy for the next couple days?"

"Actually, Applejack. This may take a while longer, depending on how much she's used to." Applejack huffed and kicked her foreleg under her body casually leaning on herself.

"It's no big deal, this'll be as easy as bucking an apple tree. Let's get this over with." Applejack beamed confidence while inside she begged Celestia for the strength for herself and Rainbow to make it through.

"Call us if you need help, AJ. I'll take care of her job and keeping this quiet Twilight, can you find a spell that will help her with her addiction?"

"I'm sure I can find something, but there's no cure for addiction. The best I've heard is alleviating the need, I'll scour my books for something useful and maybe another pony in town knows... Nevermind, we have to keep this quiet. I almost forgot, we'll do all we can, Applejack."

With a big group hug they separated and Applejack looked at Fluttershy. "What do we do now?"

"We help her. It is going to be very hard for you, Applejack. You have to stay strong for you both and you can't trust your feelings when she says she's better, alright?" Applejack let her smile fall and sighed then took her hat and tossed it to a chair, a half dozen critters scurried to hide from it as it landed. The critters gathered around it and examined it intently as Applejack let her facade fall completely. Collapsing to the floor she groaned and covered her head, her ears fell and she shuddered slightly.

"Fluttershy, I had no idea this was goin' on. She lied to me, a lot. And she was so good I couldn't even sense it, how can I be such a fool? Listen to her up there, raisin' Tartarus and it's partly my fault."

"Applejack," Fluttershy said sweetly as she laid a hoof between Applejack's whithers, "that's what love can do. Now your love can help heal the both of you. Come with me, we have to brew some tea; a lot of tea."

Whew, a big change to the background of the story! Let me know what you think honestly.