The Shala train does its rounds

Shadow walked up behind her, glaring at her. Her logic just proved she had a problem with drinking.

"Drinking won't solve your problems or make them go away. It makes you forget and feel good for awhile until you wake up the next morning. Its a substitute for the things you push away, true happiness surrounded by ponies who care, drinking only gives you momentary pleasure. You can drink with friends or to have a good time, but using it to deal with depression only makes you worse.."

Shala didn't want to hear it anymore. It was all what anypony who she didn't like had to say. She was begining to feel her patience grow thin and her emotions breaking through.

"...Just....get out...." She said sounding solumbly and restrained.

Shadowfax stands there awkwardly for a bit then turns towards the door and takes a few steps. She stops and looks back.

"I know you don't like it but its the truth... I just want to help."

She turns back and heads towards the door.

Shala was streaming tears down her face a this point. She pointed to the door and whimpered. "Just....get out....Go away!"

Shadow stopped and looked back frowning, feeling a deep sadness at the sight. She slowly walks back over and stands behind Shala. She waits a bit the slowly buts a shaking hoof on her shoulder gently.

"..."

Shala kept shaking her head, trying to hold back the sobs that began to squeak out of her. Her emotions were clearly winning. Fortunately for Shadow, it was not the angry ones this time. Gradually, she began to break down and crumble.

"Just....please go...."

Shadow bite her lip, wondering what to do. She slowly moves into a gentle hug, holding shala in a soothing way.

"Shh... just... let it all out."

Shala didn't want to but her body was beyond cooperating. She did what was now becoming routine for her as she poured her eyes out and cried into Shadow's embrace. Nothing held her back as she weeped and sobbed into her.

"I....I....couldn't....s-stop it......."

Shadow gently squeezed Shala and rubbed a hoof in circles on her back.

"It's not your fault.. addictions are hard to overcome.."

Shala kept shaking her head and sobbing. Everything was falling apart. But this time, she felt a little bit of resolution.

"I...couldn't save her...."

Shadow blinks and looks at her confused.

"What?"

Shala groaned and clutched her head. Whether it was physical pain or an emotional reaction, she was hurting. "...More alcohol...Damn ticking...." She began to mutter numbers again, sounding faintly like the time.

Shadow had no idea what Shala was doing or talking about but hugged her more firmly.

"Save who? Who couldn't you save?"

Shala shuddered and reached out a hoof to feel around the table, her eyes closed tight. She was looking for something.

"...I need a DRINK!"

Shadow pushed her hoof away from the table and lightly shook Shala.

"Get ahold of yourself, you're not downing your problems in alcohol."

Shala whined like a child and tried to reach out again. "Pleeease. I need something!" Her desperation was almost comedic, but it was serious. She had so little to hold onto that alcohol was considered her 'saving grace'.

Shadow holds her still and raises her head to look into her eyes.

"You need help. You need a friend.... you need me.."

Shadow presses her lips against hers, she was still quite drunk and making a bold move but she felt it was right and maybe would cut through Shala's barrier.

Shala was surprised by the kiss. At first she pushed her to get her off, but it was hard for her to throw away the positive emotions that came with it. As the kiss came to a close, she whined and looked away.

"...Get me a drink." Her face was still sad and depressed, but it was not actively in misery. Nothing else could be read beyond that, or what the kiss could mean.

Shadow thought for a second, and slowly nodded her head.

"Alright.. just one.. and then you head straight to bed, you need to rest."

She slowly released her hug on Shala and picked up a bottle, handing it to her.

"Go easy on it."

Shala looked to Shadow and then to the bottle. Her face seemed to drop a little as if a small part of her was lost, but it lost out to a slight smirk that came when she put it to her lips. It didn't take her long to drain it down.

"Bwuh....Whatever..." She laid out more comfortably on the couch, feeling too lazy to relocate to the bedroom. At least not by herself.

Shadow grabbed her hoof, puling Shala to her hooves and let her lean on her side.

"Alright, come on.. to the bedroom."

She grinned and laid her wing over Shala's back in a wing hug.

Shala protested with whines as she was forced to her hooves. She eventually complied and groveled as she was lead to the bedroom. Once there she lazily plopped herself on the mattress.

Shadow pulls the covers up and lays them over Shala, tucking her in. She kisses her forehead and grins .
"Mind if I crash on the couch?"

Shala grunts and nods, already feeling sleep heavily set on her. She didn't know she was so tired.

Shadow grins and brushes her mane.

"Sleep tight."

She leaves the bedroom and heads to the couch, clearing the couch of bottles and crashing, quickly falling asleeep.