Doctor Whooves was very smart, and everypony in Ponyville knew it. His ability to reason was unparalleled and his debating skills were top-notch. In fact, before he got involved with the Stallions Rights movement, he was a well-known political commentator and author, having written several books on philosophy, politics, and even religion. The fact that he held a Ph.d and several Masters degrees certainly helped the fact as well. Unfortunately, he was quickly discredited by the political opposition (Mostly the Sun Party) when he started casting his lot with Carmel. His current job was a low-paying one, stocking shelves at the Ponyville bookstore. Even there he was on probation for hiding the copies of Fifty Shades of Neigh and telling customers they were sold out.
Ditzy Doo is a mailmare, or was, until she got fired for badly battering several important packages. She had a sight disability, and to her everything was blurry and distorted unless she made a conscious effort to straighten her eyes, which was difficult and taxing. She also had a slightly air-headed personality, giving her the nickname "Ditzy". This did not mean, however, that she was stupid or incompetent. In fact, despite her bouts of clumsiness, she was famous for being a hard and dependable worker, friend, and even adopted mother to a sweet young Unicorn.
These two ponies, who seemed so different from each other to all observers, were getting ready to tie the knot. Everypony agreed that they were a cute couple, but nopony could have told you that they would ever get this serious. Their romance was truly one in a million, the exception and not the rule. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
Doctor Whooves was laughing as the music died down. "My dear, I must say I have never been so exhausted. Are all Pegusi as energetic as you? I haven't danced so much in my life!"
Ditzy smiled at him and nuzzled his side. "All I know is that I am approaching the happiest day of my life. I have never been so alive!" If it wasn't for her innocent tone, you would think she was being seductive.
The Doctor laughed. "I tell you, everything will be perfect. I have personally seen to all aspects of the wedding. There is not a mare out of place, or a problem left un-addressed." he smiled. If only Carmel would make his appearance...
---
Pinkie Pie bounced along the sidewalk, seemingly without a care in the world. She was talking at a hundred miles a minute, and every word seemed to change the direction of the string. It was classic Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie.
Whereas usually her friends politely listened, Twilight was lost in her own thoughts, and largely ignored the party pony. Carmel has been arrested, and here I go to the Doctor's rehearsal dinner to spoil it all. I hate being the bearer of bad news... And to think, this atrocity happened in Ponyville. If the Princess were here, she would never have...
Pinkie was suddenly interrupted by Twilight suddenly shouting. "The Princess! Pinkie, if the Princess knew what was going on, surely she would step in! She will never tolerate this kind of injustice!" Twilight's sudden outburst was soon followed by another one of the same tone.
Pinkie gasped. "The Princess will want to stop the wedding? But they are such a cute couple! And I already planned the party, and I'm gonna make cherry changas for the first time, and..."
Twilight shook her head. "No, Pinkie. I'm talking about Carmel getting arrested today. I think the wedding is going to go fine." She smiled. If there's one thing she knows will never change, it's Pinkie Pie.
"Wait, Carmel got arrested again?" Pinkie looked lost in thought.
Twilight hesitantly nodded. "Yes. He was arrested in the cafe you found me in."
"That's a new record for him, Twilight. That brings his arrest time record to two and a half hours. That's pretty impressive." She spoke as if he had just won a pie-eating contest.
"Wait... what?" Twilight stopped, confused. "What are you talking about?"
"Duh! Every time Carmel holds a rally, he gets arrested shortly after. Him and I have been keeping track of how long it takes, and the previous record was Twenty-Three and sixteen-seventeenths of an hour. This is the shortest it has ever taken!" She laughed. "I will have to throw him a party when he gets out."
"Pinkie. You realize Carmel has been imprisoned on trumped-up charges, waiting for a trial in an unjust system, and this is a serious affront to freedom, right?" Twilight was amazed at how nonchalant Pinkie was to this whole dilemma.
"Yup. But I am not complaining about something I can't change. Carmel never does." Pinkie said, and started bouncing down the road again.
"Maybe we can't, Pinkie." Twilight muttered. "But the Princess can."
---
The rehearsal dinner had gone splendidly. The Doctor couldn't be more proud of himself, having planned the whole thing. Everypony had gone home, getting a good night's rest before the wedding. This wedding was going to be...
WHAM!
The door slammed open, and confetti flew everywhere. "I'm here!" Pinkie Pie shouted. "I'm ready to help set up everything! I am gonna need streamers, and balloons, and party favors, and candy, and..."
The Doctor, though initially startled, recovered his composure. "Candy for decorations, Pinkie?" he said, giving her a quizzical look.
"No. Candy for me. I get kinda hungry." Pinkie said, and started setting up the room. The Doctor shrugged. Pinkie being Pinkie, as usual.
"Doctor Whooves, is it?" a voice said, behind him.
"At your service." As he turned around, he looked at Twilight with a thoughtful expression written across his long face. "I think I know you from somewhere... Oh yes! You are Twilight Sparkle, the princess's personal protege and bearer of the Element of Magic, correct?" His face went from a thoughtful smile to a suspicious glare. "What brings you here?" The Doctor asked. Everypony knew that Twilight was friends with the other element-bearers, most of which were enemies of Carmel's.
"I was asked by Carmel to come and tell you that he will not be here tonight." She looked around at the empty ballroom. "Though, I suppose it's a bit late for that." She said sheepishly.
"Really? Do you know what is keeping him?" The Doctor asked. "I know he wouldn't miss it for nothing. I hope he's okay."
"He kind of got arrested." Twilight said, cutting straight to the chase. "I'm still having a hard time believing it myself."
"Oh, it's just that? I was afraid he would be hurt or something." The Doctor said, tension leaving his face. "Carmel will be okay. He always finds a way out of those situations. I am down one best stallion, though. Maybe I can call..."
"Wha- I just told you that your best friend has been arrested on trumped-up charges, and that he is being held in custody for no good reason, and all you can think about is your best stallion at your wedding? What is wrong with everypony? Don't they realize this is a horrible miscarriage of justice and..."
He shushed her. "What kind of a stallion do you take me for, Miss Sparkle? I do care about Carmel, very deeply too." The Doctor, noting Twilight's confused expression, clarified. "He will be out within a few days. They never have enough to keep him for long, no matter how much dirt the prosecutor tries to dig up. I know this for certain. We have kept his record completely clean. It has almost become a routine, at this point. He is arrested, I create a public outcry, they have no evidence, and he goes free. We set up another rally, and the cycle starts over. We have tried to change the cycle, but all our attempts have been, at least thus far, fruitless."
The purple unicorn thought for a second. "I think I might have a solution to this mess. I can send a letter to the Princess, she can fix everything..."
The Doctor looked her square in the eyes. "I don't think that would be the best idea, Miss Sparkle. The Princess may be powerful, yes, but any interference of hers would put our mission of public acceptance in jeopardy. We are trying to win the public over, and such an affront to democracy would only make the public opinion sway away from our side."
"But... We must do something-"
"We can. We can fight. We are close. We have been struggling for this cause for years, and I feel that we are approaching the crux of our battle. You watch, Miss Sparkle. Mark my words. By the next election, things will be different." Whooves said, reassuringly. "I promise".
---
Dear Princess Celestia,
I am writing to you about an issue that has recently been brought to my attention. The local democratic elections have been exciting to watch, but there is one small issue. The local laws regulate that only mares may vote, own land, or travel without papers. It is only because of the voting law that the others remain in play.
As if this weren't bad enough, recently the only stallion with the bravery to stand up to these laws has been imprisoned. I am afraid that these developments are leading in a direction that will be detrimental to our society. Democracy is well and good, but it must be stopped when the majority decisions infringe on the rights of the minority. Surely you can see this!
I was sent here to study the magic of friendship, and so far I have been successful. But, I am not so certain friendship can overcome all, anymore. All of my friends (except Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie) are siding against this equality movement. I fear that if I do anything, it may drive us apart. What is the correct course of action? Which is more important?
I suppose I am asking your advice, Princess. What should I do?
Your Faithful Student,
Twilight Sparkle.