Knock, knock, knock!
Fluttershy rose quickly out of bed at the loud knocking and looked around her bedroom. The loud knocking was coming from downstairs. Fluttershy looked at the time to see it was 22 pm — way past her bedtime... Who could be knocking at her door this late?
The clattering knocks slammed against her door again, each time more fiercely.
Fluttershy took deep slow breaths as she got out of bed. She grabbed her baseball bat beside her bed and snuck downstairs. Fluttershy stared at the door and held her breath as she closed in on it. Fluttershy swallowed and prayed to Vishnu, hoping she wouldn't have to bash any creature's skull in...
Knock, knock, knock!
Fluttershy ducked and rolled as the hammering knocks threatened to break her door down. Whoever was on the other side was frantically looking to gain entrance.
Cradled on the floor beside the door, Fluttershy looked up and peeked outside a window and saw Twilight standing outside, slamming her hoof against door. Fluttershy dropped the bat and moved towards her door.
"Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, as she peeked out the door.
"Fluttershy! Good, you're awake," Twilight smiled, relieved to see her friend.
"Well, yeah... you woke m—"
"Fluttershy, listen!" Twilight said sternly. "I know Ponyville has these weird, repulsive traditions, but we can't let Applejack go through with this wedding! This is for her own sake!"
"Wha—"
"Think about it! Our best friend! Forced to follow an ancient family tradition! Held down by society! Never knowing what true love is like!" Twilight monologued, "Would you really wish that upon Applejack? Our favorite mudpony?"
"Um, I..." Fluttershy peeped nervously trying to underplay the situation.
"I saw you in the castle today. Standing in the corner. All quiet...and shy," Twilight glared accusingly. "And that's not like you!"
"I-It's not?" Fluttershy swallowed nervously as sweat began to form on her forehead.
"Admit it! You don't want this wedding to take place, do you?"
"W-What? No no, of course I do!" Fluttershy nervously tried to defend her position despite her uncontrolled panting. "I...I want Applejack to be happy!"
Fluttershy smiled hoping Twilight would drop the subject and go home, but Twilight did nothing but glare suspiciously at her friend. She knew. She had caught her being reluctant to the wedding. She had caught her being a bad friend. Fluttershy's smile withered and she stared sadly at Twilight who was demanding a confession.
"Alright, fine..." Fluttershy admitted silently. "I don't want this wedding to happen."
"Hah! I knew it!" Twilight lit up. "You're on my side! This is great!!"
By sheer happiness Twilight begun to dance on spot. She had been right! Everyone had called her crazy but she had been right! There were pure morals deep inside ponies that kept them from wanting insidious acts to happen. The two of them were proof of that.
Twilight slung her hooves around Fluttershy and squeezed her tightly in a victory hug. "Now we can both put an end to this and make the world a better place," Twilight sighed happily.
"P-Put an end to what?" Fluttershy asked as she instinctively returned the hug.
"The wedding, Fluttershy!" Twilight explained with brimming determination. "You and me have to stop it from happening."
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly do that!" Fluttershy peeped as she backed out of the hug and away from Twilight.
"B-But you just said—"
"I know what I said, but Twilight...we can't just sabotage Applejack's wedding. Didn't you hear what Rainbow Dash said? Applejack has been wanting this wedding to happen for years! She'd be heartbroken..."
Twilight looked upon Fluttershy who had shrunk under her concern for Applejack. Twilight placed her hooves upon Fluttershy in a sincere manner and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Fluttershy, listen... Applejack might not know it yet, but she's gonna thank us someday for this. She's our best friend and we're basically saving her from what might be the biggest mistake of her life."
Fluttershy looked away, "I don't know..."
"Would you really want her to go through with this? Big Mac is her brother, Fluttershy! Just imagine those two standing at the altar together. Could you really sit through and just let that happen?"
Fluttershy bit her lip in concern. She didn't want to imagine it, but she did. And seeing Applejack at the altar beside Big Mac hurt her. She didn't want it happen. She couldn't let it happen! Because if she did... Applejack would be lost to her forever! And nopony deserved to marry Applejack more than she did.
Fluttershy fought back her tears and gathered her strength as she looked upon Twilight.
"Alright, I'll do it," Fluttershy said sternly. "I'll help you sabotage the wedding."