//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: The Intervention // by EverlastingWishes //------------------------------// Rarity's face had yet to go back to it's normal airy state, for the last couple of seconds it had decided it was content in the twisted position it was in. What was going on? She drew back her knee kind of scooting a bit further behind herself so that she was positive that Spike and the Princess could not see her. Pleased with her movements she leaned in a bit more to get a better view of them, her ears shooting up the minute she could hear Spike's voice. "Look no one wants to tell the Spike man nothing. Haven't seen any of the ponies today. None that could give me a trace of where the Pinkster is anyways..." He trailed off with his words, lifting his hand to scratch at his head. Spike's pinkened eyes continued to trace up to Princess Celestia's as if wondering what she would say to the obvious disappointment. Rarity gulped slightly. "This will not do. Ponies are beginning to question my authority since Pinkie went missing. Poor thing must be crying with withdrawal right now..." The guilt in Rarity's heart tripled, and she shuffled in place nervously.Pinkie Pie was doing better, all of this benefited the small pink pony somehow. Or at least, she hoped it did.... What was Princess Celestia going on about? Everyone knew of her authority, everyone respected her everywhere she went. Why would she be having problems now of all things? "Spike...find her now. Or all of Equestria will begin to sink. I'm counting on you. I've a meeting with that leader from that far land now. He is inquiring about the latest batch, but I have yet to show him Pinkie Pie..." Princess Celestia's tone was loud and harsh, Rarity could have swarn she heard the faintest hint of a growl coming from her princess as she spoke to Spike. She had never seen her like this. She was usually so regal and elegant that it was hard for Rarity to even think of her being this way. Somehow she must have been hearing and seeing things. Perhaps when she had lifted that drug from Pinkie's bag it had affected her slightly? She had that side affect Pinkie would have that was known as a hallucination? Rarity shook her head to herself scoldingly. That was not possible. This all seemed so vivid and all too real to be of her own imagination. She could even smell Princess Celestia's perfume, the same that she always wore... That did it. This was not a hallucination, but a true scene in front of her. No hallucination could cause her to smell the radiant perfume her princess was wearing. Rarity's stomach turned over slightly, it was making her sick to even think of Celestia as her princess right now. No pony would want a princess who did this to her subjects. She had to tell her friends and try to figure this all out before it was too late... Rarity moved from her crouched position, scooting quietly from the bushes where Spike and Celestia where. Enough so that she could leave quickly. Rarity turned to the road, galloping away from her spying place of Spike and Celestia as fast as she could. God this was just so much to take in and how was she to prove this to her friends; would they believe her? She could ask Pinkie Pie, but it was unlikely the pink pony was in a state that she could answer such inquiries. Rainbow Dash's cloud came in to view sooner than Rarity's mind could register. What with all the thoughts dashing through her head at that moment. Nonetheless she gulped, clearing her throat so that she could shout up to her friend. "Rainbow dear! We have a problem and I'm awfully worried for Pinkie!" Rarity ran a hoove through her mane as she waited for Rainbow's blue face to peer back at her the way it normally did. She waited fifteen minutes. Nothing. Rainbow Dash was not up there....Why would Rainbow Dash not be up there? What was going on? Rarity wanted answers now. Trying to keep her composure in case any other pony came down this road, she trotted silently and slowly, looking from side to side as she did so. The way Rarity normally would when her dresses began to get stressful. This current problem was a bit more important than any of her gowns, making it a lot harder for her to calm herself. Rarity approached Sweet Apple Acres, trying to keep herself from breathing as heavily as she was currently. It had taken her a minute to realize she was breathing so harshly and quickly. Galloping to the barn, Rarity suddenly burst into the room, startling the all three sleeping ponies. Sleeping? She shook her head, watching Flutter Shy and Apple Jack's eyes open suddenly, the two looking back and forth frantically in the whirl of their startled state. Finally their eyes found Rarity's and they looked up at her. Apple Jack cleared her throat first though. "Now why in the hay are you startling us like that? You look like you just saw a ghost." Apple Jack demanded her explanation, picking up her hooves to stand upright. Her gaze continued to Rarity. "The princess, she was talking to Spike about Pinkie. Something about Pinkie needing her drugs and why Spike hadn't given her them. She was going on about us, her subjects, not respecting her authority now that Pinkie wasn't around with the drugs...Now I know this makes no sense, but you have to believe me....." The words all but flew from Rarity's mouth, she had spoken them so exasperated that she wondered idly if they understood it. Looking from Flutter Shy to Apple Jack, she turned to Pinkie Pie who had somehow turned her chair to them. "I know why." Stated the pink pony matter of factly, her eyes drooping slightly and her head somewhat hanging down. She looked horrid. Her eyes had bags under them so deep that it was hard to recognize her..... Nonetheless Rarity tilted her head in question. "Yes?" "Celestia uses me to show her drug friends how strong the product is. She's worried about her stupid subjects falling into a depression, since she's been spending all of the money on drugs. Why waste a perfectly good other pony as a guinea pig when she has me? Lovely Pinkie Pie." Pinkie Pie's voice was heavy and monotone. She scoffed at the three ponies in front of her however, tilting her head darkly to them. "What? Didn't expect it from goody goody Celestia? The hardworking and loving leader of all of Equestria? More like hardworking actress."