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// IV - Failed Intervention 
// Story: The Dangers of an Alcohol Induced Adventure 
// by 8-Beat Pulsar 
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	As the doors opened to the Canterlot Castle ballroom, Berry Punch stood anxiously next to Pinkie Pie, who was still bouncing up and down in giddy anticipation. Berry figured that Pinkie was going to be just as surprised as she was. After all, hadn't she mentioned something along the lines of Twilight Sparkle handling the decor. The very thought amused her as her mind was filled with images of books being used as decorations and essays as party favors. She was astounded and a little bit disappointed to see that everything looked normal for party standards.

Pinkie Pie immediately shot into the spacious room like a bullet, admiring all of the stuff. Streamers of all different colors hung from the high ceiling and walls. Tables, while not many, were covered in well organized, alternating patterns of pink and red. Confetti covered the floor and a steady stream of music from a well-hidden stereo was filling the area. None of this mattered to Berry Punch however, who saw the ever-recognizable mane of her childhood friend standing next to another obvious orange mane and a purple unicorn who seemed to be engaging them in conversation. Other than that, there weren't any other ponies around. For a party it was definitely pretty small. So why did they even need the ballroom? The other ponies didn't seem to notice the two ponies who had just entered, probably due to Twilight's conversation, until Pinkie Pie bounced into the group and pointed to Berry Punch, still standing in the doorway. Colgate was the first one to react.

"Berry! I was beginning to think that you wouldn't even come."

Berry Punch trotted over to the group. 

"So, what's the deal with the party?"

Before Colgate, Carrot Top, or, after Berry Punch recognized her, Twilight Sparkle could respond, Pinkie Pie jumped into the air and threw a hoof-full of confetti into the air.

"It's for you Berry Punch!"

With that the pink pony disappeared, probably in search for the cake, Berry Punch figured. Colgate smiled and shook her head with a sigh.

"We just figured that this was the only way we could get you out of your house. Looks like it worked."

"Why the party though? If you wanted to do something, you could have just asked."

"You normally just brush off any of our attempts to do anything, Berry."

Much to Colgate's annoyance, Carrot Top wasn't helping anything by sitting there silently. At least she was able to convince her to come. Maybe it was for the best that she didn't say anything. Carrot Top did have a knack for being brutally honest. She soon wished it had been Carrot Top who had said something when Twilight opened her mouth.

"Isn't it wonderful Berry Punch? I told Princess Celestia what we were doing and she insisted that we use the ballroom."

"The princess let you rent out the entire ballroom for a party of five ponies?"

"Of course. She did the same for my birthday earlier. Besides, this is a special party. She wouldn't be much of a princess if she didn't take the chance to aid her subjects."

"What do you mean by 'special party' exactly?"

Colgate immediately jumped forward before Twilight could respond in a manner betraying the clever ploy.

"Come on, Berry. Let's not worry about the details. We have a party to start! Look," she motioned to the pink tornado ripping through the cake and snacks, "Pinkie Pie is already having a blast without us."

"I guess you're right, Colgate. It might not be a crowd, but we can still have fun!"

Upon the completion of Berry Punch's statement, Pinkie Pie ceased her destruction of the food and pulled out what she called her "party cannon", firing an assortment of glitter and streamers into the group. The blast knocked them all over, but they were all soon laughing and having a good time.

As the party continued on, Colgate was starting feel much better about the whole situation. It seemed as if Berry Punch didn't even care about drinking at the moment. Even Carrot Top had managed to keep conversation going without too much of a hitch. This was turning out to be a great night and they might not even have to hold the intervention if they could convince Berry Punch it was possible to enjoy herself without alcohol. Colgate realized that maybe, just maybe, things were going to come together for once. 

These thoughts were immediately crushed when Berry Punch pulled out one of her wine bottles. The original plan was to allow her to have any throughout the party because the intervention was to follow,  but it seemed that no one gave Pinkie Pie the memo. She jumped up and kicked the bottle out of Berry Punch's hooves causing it to shatter on the floor. Impeccable timing kicked in as well when the speakers suddenly went quiet. Berry Punch was staring at the broken bottle on the ground when she spoke up.

"What was that for Pinkie Pie?"

"Well, duh! We couldn't have an inte-"

Carrot Top immediately grabbed Pinkie's mouth and interrupted.  

"Sorry, Berry Punch. She just got a bit too excited."

The tension built as Berry Punch kept looking back from the broken glass to her friends. When her eyes met Colgate's, she realized that she was hiding something. Colgate was never fantastic at keeping secrets because her face always gave it away. That was something Berry Punch had always noticed, but she found it endearing in a way. It meant that she could always be truthful with her without any worries. Whenever Colgate tried to hide something you could tell immediately that she was having trouble, just because she had her own principles and it was hard for her to betray them. This also meant that Berry Punch could get Colgate to spill info easily. She didn't like taking control of her like this, but everyone was hiding something and she knew only Colgate would let her know what that was. 

"What's going on Colgate? Why is everyone acting so weird?" She cast an accusing glance at the blue unicorn.

"Well....I-"

Carrot Top interrupted. "We just wanted to have a party Berry Punch! Can't we just have fun?"

"Not if you guys aren't being honest with me" Berry Punch started to back up as realization hit. "Wait...I know what this is. You are trying to get me to stop drinking. You think I've gone crazy."

Colgate moved toward Berry Punch with tears forming in her eyes.

"No, It's not like that at all."

Berry Punch shook her head. "You're lying Colgate! I can tell. You're trying to change me. I can't believe you'd do that!"

"Listen, we're not trying to stop you. You've just been going too far. We just wanted to show you how much you mean to us."

"If I meant that much to you, you'd let me live freely." She took out another bottle of wine and took a big drink. "This is something I'd expect from Carrot Top, but not you Colgate!"

"But...."

"But nothing! You're supposed to be my closest friend. I can't believe you!" Berry Punch turned towards the door and ran. 

Colgate fell to the floor. It wasn't supposed to end up this way. Things were going to be fixed by this. Why did things always screw up when she was around? Colgate began to weep. She couldn't do anything right. Who was she to think that she could help a friend like Berry Punch? A hoof placed on her brought her back. It was Twilight Sparkle.

"Listen, Colgate. I know this didn't go as planned, but we still need to get Berry Punch. If you care about her as much as it seems, then you shouldn't give up so easily. Carrot Top and Pinkie Pie have already gone after her. The castle is big so I doubt she'd find her way out. Come on, let's go find her."

Colgate looked up at Twilight with a weak smile. "You're right. I'm not going to give up on Berry Punch yet." She stood up and proceeded out the door to find Berry Punch. 

Twilight Sparkle stood in the ballroom and let out a long sigh. "One of these days I'm going to make a plan that doesn't screw up and cause more complications." With that, she too ran after the fugitive Berry Punch. The chase was on.